All the time I come across people who've lost all hope but one. Even if they don't pray on a daily basis, even if they have never fasted, even if they hold back on charity (Allah'u alam, by the way, who are we to judge?) - when they're lost, when they're scared and they have no hope left - they always, always turn to Allah.

Man is oft mistaken. And when there's no way out, he turns to the only One who can turn this around. He can't see Him, He can not feel Him, but he will always feel His presence. It is almost natural instinct to feel Him, when you can feel nothing else.

And then I wonder, Allah has given us so many reasons to smile. Parents to make proud, family to make happy, friends to cherish, and yet we don't realize anything in our happiness. We only realize it in our short comings. Maybe that is why Allah sends them down to us anyway - for it is He who has power over all.

How come we don't recognize Allah ta'la in everything? In that peace you get after saying your prayers? The confidence you get after making Dua'a? The tossing and turning and restlessness you feel until and unless you say your Isha'a prayers? How your hands raise up automatically in a tense moment, as if almost in instinct - making Dua'a? The compelling power of the words of the Quran? The safety you feel in Hijab? How you're completely safe from all kinds of issues of the Western society simply because you follow Islam? How Islam helps us through anything and everything? How there are rules in Islam for everything in the entire world? How come we do not value all of this? How come we've taken it for granted?

Alhumdulilah for every smile you've given me, Allah ta'la. I should definitely thank you so much more over the things you have blessed me with. It's true, even if I spend my whole life counting your blessings, I will never be able to finish. Thankyou for everything.