As I enter his apartment I notice a set of flags adorning the dining room wall. He tells me that those are the Palestinian flags, the country of his parents’ birth. He himself was born in Iraq after his parents fled Palestine in the aftermath of the Israeli occupation. The flags are his piece of history and identity, his past, his connection with his people. He used to think of Iraq as his homeland for that is where he was born and raised and where he was raising his family. But he too became a refugee like his parents when Iraq came under attack. In 2007 he left lraq to take refuge in a camp situated in no-man’s land between the borders of Syria and Iraq.
Abu O has been living in his new adopted country, the United States of America, for more than 10 months. The government stopped paying his rent almost 6 months ago. He survives on food-stamps and occasional help from aid agencies, local churches or kind people. He has been looking for a job since he came here but has had no luck so far. His wife and 2 young sons are his emotional support and living right next to the masjid gives him peace and helps him bear the difficult situation with patience. He says he has everything and wants for nothing. He just needs a job so he doesn’t have to ask anyone for help and can support his family. He wants to settle down somewhere and call it his home. He does not want to be a refugee for life!
The Prophet (pbuh) said: “Verily, if Allah loves a people, He makes them go through trials. Whoever is satisfied, for him is contentment, and whoever is angry upon him is wrath.” [Tirmidhi]
Abu O is satisfied and his trust in Allah’s promise of ‘Verily, after hardship comes ease’ is enough to keep a smile on his face.
may Allah bless you my dear brother and sister in this life and the hereafter.INSHAALLAH!!!! bear the pain in patience you will be a successful person. dont complain of your sadness and your troublesome life instead bear it and reap bouquets of fruit in the hereafter.
“the person who enters jannah first is he who doesnt has any materialistic possessions and dont have anything to answer to Allah. INSHAALLAH you will be the one.”
be happy with what you have.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Saad Ahmad, Al Amaanah. Al Amaanah said: From the blog…A Refugee For Life! http://alamaanah.wordpress.com/2011/02/14/a-refugee-for-life/ [...]