Have you ever wondered why there’s so much we don’t know in this life?
Why are there oceans of knowledge we haven’t touched, corners of the world we’ve never seen, paths we’ve never walked, experiences we’ve never lived?
Have you ever wondered just how small our lives truly are in comparison to the vastness of the universe, or even to the mysteries of our own hearts?
What do we really know about life?
What does life truly mean, for someone like you or me?
Why are some people born with privileges while others are not?
Why does discrimination exist based on race, religion, gender, or status?
Why are some souls kind, gentle, and full of mercy, while others seem hardened, cold, or cruel?
Have you ever wondered why religion exists in the first place?
Why, across the world, do people still turn to divine texts, to higher powers, to the concept of God?
Have you ever asked yourself, ‘What does it mean to have enough?’
Enough wealth? Enough love? Enough success?
And in your quietest moments, have you ever wondered when you will die?
What kind of person do you want to become before that moment arrives?
What career will you pursue, and what legacy will you leave behind?
What does it all mean—this complicated, fragile, beautiful thing called life?
Some say it’s luck. Others call it fate.
Some say it’s rezeki. Others call it destiny—takdir.
In Islam, we call it Qada’ and Qadar—divine will and predestination. That everything which happens—whether it appears good or bad in our eyes—has been written by Allah (SWT) long before we even took our first breath.
And yet, there we have the power of choice. That with every intention and every action, we are writing our own stories. These thoughts, these wonderings, aren’t just philosophical. They’re deeply spiritual.
They arise in the hearts of students adjusting to new environments, far from home, as they navigate unfamiliar cultures, surrounded by new ideas, identities, and belief systems. In those moments, the core of who you are—your fitrah, the natural inclination toward truth—can feel tested, reshaped, or even lost.
Studying overseas is not just an academic journey. It’s a spiritual one. It opens your perception of life, but also exposes you to the risk of absorbing beliefs and values that may conflict with your upbringing, your roots, and your spiritual path. And for some, this transformation happens so subtly, so quietly, that one day they wake up and realise: they no longer believe what they once believed. Not because they consciously rejected their faith, but because it was slowly replaced, diluted, or forgotten.
The Prophet Muhammad warned us that in the end of times, holding onto faith (religion) would be like holding onto burning coal. (Hadith narrated by Anas bin Malik, Jami‘ at-Tirmidhi 2260; graded sahih by multiple scholars.)
A time would come when right would appear wrong, and wrong would feel right.
“And it may be that you hate a thing which is good for you, and that you love a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know.”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:216)
So we ask:
Who defines right and wrong?
Who deserves a reward, and who deserves punishment?
Why do some prosper while spreading harm, and others suffer while doing good?
Why do those who care carry heavy hearts, while those who seem indifferent live freely?
The answer lies again in that this world is not the end.
“Do people think they will be left alone after saying ‘We believe’ without being tested?”
(Surah Al-‘Ankabut 29:2)
Allah (SWT) never promised that this life would be easy.
He promised it would be meaningful.
He promised tests, trials, and fitnah—not to break us, but to refine us. Every injustice, every hardship, every unexplainable event is part of a greater plan that we may not fully understand now, but will one day see with perfect clarity.
Does it encourage us to wonder?
To seek knowledge.
To ask questions—not to fall into despair, but to find direction.
Because with every question, there is a deeper answer.
And when you wonder: What is enough?
“Richness is not having many possessions. Rather, true richness is the richness of the soul.”
(Sahih al-Bukhari & Muslim)
So maybe the question isn’t just what will I be in life…
But who will I be before I return to the One who created me?
Because at the end of the day, our journey in this life isn’t about having all the answers.
It’s about trusting the One who does.
In all this wondering, quietly and powerfully, anchors everything is our niat (intention).
Our intention is what transforms an ordinary act into a sacred one.
A mundane task becomes an act of worship.
It’s what gives meaning to our actions, even when the world doesn’t see them.
Even when we ourselves aren’t sure of the outcome.
So in everything we do—in our studies, our careers, our relationships, our silence, our words, our struggles—the real question is not how far will this take me?
But why am I doing this?
Because it isn’t just about doing the right thing.
But to do it for the right reason.
And when it is pure—when it flows from the heart and aligns with the values of the spiritual path—it becomes a compass, a sense of purpose.
A quiet guide in the noise of the world.
A shield when we’re lost.
A light when we can’t see the way forward.
