The Second Hurdle

As early as age 9, with his family in dire economic straits, a young African American began robbing food from stores in Lansing.

Later on, in Boston and New York, he got involved in drug dealing, gambling, and prostitution rackets, spending much of his time in seedy nightclubs.

At age 19, he was arrested for the first time for allegedly stealing and pawning his half-sister’s fur coat.

A second arrest followed for allegedly mugging an acquaintance at gunpoint, and a third arrest came after he burglarized a series of Boston-area homes.

Sentenced to state prison in 1946, his cellblock mates called him “Satan” for his habit of pacing around and muttering curses at God and the Bible. 

The young African American became Malik El Shabazz, an inspiration to generations.

The moral of the story?

What is important is not how far we fall but how quickly we rise.

High spiritual ranks are not achieved by staying stagnant but by being in continuous progression and self-improvement. Our past does not limit the height of our ambitions and goals; rather, it propels us to become better individuals.

Through this process, we constantly return to the Divine, asking for forgiveness and seeking guidance. Perhaps, at times, we may feel the heaviness of our past sins weighing us down, holding us back from pursuing righteousness. However, these are the moments when we have to seek strength from our unwavering faith in the promise of Allah.

We may stumble and experience trials and tribulations, but what matters is that we persistently strive to learn from our past, repent for our wrongdoings, and genuinely try to better ourselves.

There is immense hope and mercy, for we are assured that our past does not define our future. These stories remind us about the limitless power of change and redemption at our faith's core. They assure us that we all have the potential to turn a new leaf, irrespective of our past, as long as we harbor the conviction to do so.

Repentance is a powerful process.

It cleanses our hearts and minds and prepares us to embark on the journey towards righteousness. It brings us closer to the Divine and puts us on a path where we are constantly aware of our actions, intentions, and absolute reliance on Allah’s mercy.

When we find ourselves overwhelmed by the weight of past mistakes, remember this:

The door is always open.

Allah's mercy and forgiveness are always open for those who seek it, humble enough to accept their flaws and earnest enough to correct them.

So, on this journey, let us not despair over our past misgivings but instead utilize them as stepping stones towards a higher plane of spiritual growth.

It's not about who you are now; it's about who you believe you can become.

We have Allah's promises.

We must put in the effort, fueled by faith and perseverance.

UPDATE: Please view the latest impact report from our partners, MATW, or look at our top-line impact number below. We need your help to raise $100,000 before the new year to prepare for the expansion of relief aid entering Gaza.