During Tadarus today, we read from Juz 8 and subhān’Allah, I kept stopping at many ayats, specifically in surah Al-A‘raf [7]. One of them was ayah 54, where Allah says:

“Indeed your Lord is Allah Who created the heavens and the earth in six Days, then established Himself on the Throne. He makes the day and night overlap in rapid succession. He created the sun, the moon, and the stars, all subjected by His command. The creation and the command belong to Him ˹alone˺. Blessed is Allah, Lord of all worlds!” [7:54]

The part of the ayah that struck me the most was where Allah says, “The creation and the command belong to Him.” Being a true type A, the kind who used to have a Plan A, Plan B, and even a Plan C, and knowing how much I used to struggle with uncertainty, I thought of all the times I tried to take control of my life and my future. All the decisions and plans I made, thinking I had it all figured out. And how many times Allah tested my tawakkul and yaqeen by completely replacing my plans with what, in His wisdom, He knew was better for me.

And so when I read this ayah, it became clear to me: He created everything, and everything happens and functions by His command. What is there for me to worry about? Why do I feel the need to take control when control was never mine to begin with? I make plans, I struggle, I worry, and remain anxious with bated breath for the outcomes of my plans. However, in the end, nothing moves except by His command. So truly, nothing is in my hands, subhān’Allah.

He is Al-Khāliq, Al-Qādir, The Creator, The Most Powerful, The All-Capable. He is the One who creates out of nothing and has the power and capability to do with it as He wills. Just as He created the heavens and the earth, the night and day, the sun, the moon, and the stars, He created me. Not by accident or by chance, but by His choice. And my creation, and the entirety of my life, are His to command.

As I sat with this thought, I asked myself: if my entire being, my life, and everything that happens within it are His, then why do I allow myself to be maimed by my worries and anxieties? What Al-Khāliq asks of me through this ayah is full surrender, complete trust in Him, knowing He can make anything happen by His power. Blessed is He, Lord of all worlds.

While my thoughts wandered in reflection on this ayah, another sister reflected on the ayah right after it, ayah 55, where Allah says:

“Call upon your Lord humbly and secretly. Surely, He does not like the transgressors.” [7:55]

She spoke about the power of du’a and reminded us of the hadith of the Prophet ﷺ in which he tells us that du’a is the only thing that can change qadr (divine decree) [Sunan Ibn Majah 90, https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:90]. While listening to her, it finally clicked.

Now, with this mighty realization that He is Al-Khāliq, Al-Qādir, the One to whom creation and command belong, what does surrender and trust in Him actually look like? It is to call upon Him humbly and secretly. It is to make qadr-changing du’a. It is to know, without a doubt and with complete certainty, even if I may seem delusional to others, that He is capable of all things.

And so I whispered to myself, “Ya Khāliq, Ya Qādir, make me among those who make delulu qadr-changing du’a.” I laughed at myself, but I meant every word of it. Because what is “delusional” to creation is simply yaqeen in the Creator.

Ya Khāliq, Ya Qādir, Blessed are You, Lord of all worlds, the One who creates and the One who commands, the One most capable of all things. I ask that You continue to command my heart to turn in obedience toward You. Continue to create opportunities for me to know You and to love You. Make me among those who call upon You humbly and intimately. Do not make me among the transgressors.

Make me whole through Your remembrance. Grant me the understanding that my life, and all that’s in it, is a mercy from You and a purposeful act of Your creation and wisdom. Allahumma Amin ya Rabb.

With Love,

Ibtisam