Do not fear to step into the unknown for where there is risk, there is also reward.
– Lori Hard
The fear of the unknown is a common fear in us all. And if we’re not careful, it can be crippling. We are beings of expansive intelligence, we like to understand everything and everyone around us. But this, with no surprise, is impossible. There comes a point in life where we have to make the big acceptance that we, are not omniscient.
But how can we ease into that acceptance?
We Remember that Allah is all Knowing:
He knows what is within the heavens and earth and knows what you conceal and what you declare. And Allah is Knowing of that within the breasts.
– The Holy Quran, Surah At Taghaabun 64:4
In the busyness and fast pace of life, we become disillusioned into thinking we have power over what happens next. But the truth is, we don’t. We have no idea what the next second will bring let alone the next day. And this can feel like a reason to panic. But reminding yourself that there is Someone Who always knows can eradicate that fear. We have to remember that we are never left isolated, and that everything has already been planned for us. Allah (subhaana wa talaa) never leaves us alone.
It is within our nature to plan, to think ahead and try to prepare for what is to come. And there is nothing wrong with that, it’s when we become obsessive over things going our own way that creates problems. We become frustrated, saddened and disheartened when our plan doesn’t succeed, but remember what our Creator says,
But they plan, and Allah plans. And Allah is the best of planners.
– The Holy Quran, Surah Al-Anfaal: verse 30
Perhaps not Knowing is a Protection:
Planning and preparing allows some of us to feel somewhat in control. Trying to think of every possible scenario and its outcome can be so stressful, but it can also make us feel safe. We don’t like to be caught off guard whatever the scenario, because it can leave us feeling vulnerable. But what if knowing everything could cause us more harm than good?
Of the six pillars of faith, is believing in Allah, whom we cannot see and His angels, who we also cannot see. In accepting that there are elements in this life that are hidden from us, we have to accept that we are not all knowing. Nothing is created to directly harm us, and so, perhaps even our inability to know and understand everything is a protection. This leads us to the mindset of having the best opinion of our Lord, for as the Hadith states,
Narrated Abu Huraira: The Prophet (Peace be upon him) said, “Allah says, ‘I am just as My slaves thinks I am, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him) and I am with him if He remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I too remember him in Myself; and if he remembers Me in a group of people, I remember him in a group that is better than they; and if he comes one span nearer to Me, I go one cubit nearer to him; and if he comes one cubit nearer to Me, I go a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.’ “
– Sahih al Bukhari 7405 (Book 97, Hadith 34)
Not Knowing can be Humbling:
The acceptance of not being in control can be extremely humbling, and the opposite can be a source of arrogance. But accepting we are just human entails us surrendering wholeheartedly to the One who does know, and trusting that He will always take care of us. And we are told that Allah (Subhaana wa talaa) never breaks His promises,
Verily, Allah never breaks His promise
– The Holy Quran, Surah Ali Imran 3:9
As far as our intelligence has carried us and how powerful it may have made us feel, the truth is, is that we too are creations. We have limited abilities and a very limited amount of knowledge – irrespective of how much we continue to learn and understand. Human beings were not created to know everything, and that’s perfectly okay.
We are all on a journey, and on this journey we are all tested in very different ways. How we face these tests are testaments to our characters. But having humility in every dimension of life can only be rewarding, and this begins with surrendering. Surrendering to the fact that we can never know everything, and that we can never be in full control.
There’s beauty in the unexpected:
Imagine never being surprised again. Or never having anticipation for anything. Imagine knowing about something you wished you didn’t, and never being able to be rid of that knowledge.
Perhaps sometimes, ignorance is bliss.
With everything good thing in life, comes a form of harsh reality. And this doesn’t always feel positive. Not knowing what is going to happen next can feel like you’re floating in the middle of nowhere. It can make you feel lost, but it can also feel exciting if you choose to embrace its beauty. Being lost is only scary if you’re completely alone, but we know that we never are,
And We are closer to him than [his] jugular vein
– The Holy Quran, Surah Qaaf, ayah 16
Accepting that what tomorrow brings is out fo your control, can also feel really liberating. It allows us to look forward with hope rather than with dread and anxiety. Because we now trust the One who is in control, and we now understand that it isn’t our job to understand and know everything. So what is our job?
Our job is to ensure that we are constantly trying to be the best version of ourselves, whatever the future brings. Our job, is to live in the moment and to allow ourselves to feel gratitude for the fact we’ve been allowed to experience new things. We were not put on this earth to have everything figured out, but to rely on Allah (subhaana wa talaa) and what He has planned for us.
The unknown may appear scary, but if you look close enough, it’s actually really beautiful.
Unaisa Baker
I write from the perspective of a mixed race Muslim woman in the 21st century. I aspire to write about things that may have been forgotten about, unnoticed and misunderstood. What may seem alien to you, is familiar to someone else. I hope through this journey we build a bridge of understanding.
