Wisdom of Journeys

This article appeared in “The Sentinel” a local Newspaper in Staffordshire, England.

(Wednesday February 28, 2007)

Journeys of Wisdom

In the story of Joseph, there is inspiration for us all, especially those of us who have had first-hand experience of migration from our homelands to these shores. This should help us to understand better the greater journey, which is the journey of life itself.

In our monotonous lifestyles, it is easy to forget that journeys offer great lessons to us; whether in the guise of the daily drive to work or an unnerving mass movement of people across continents. Hence, it is possible to see a Divine purpose in the act of movement, because it is evident that human beings are not the only ones on the move.

For example, behind the outward serenity, there is a motion of protons and neutrons in an atom and the spinning of the earth. All move in an anti-clockwise direction. The pilgrims at Mecca follow this precise movement around the Ka’bah. By following His command, all are worshipping their Lord, signifying their submission which is Islam. Similarly, our migration to distant lands cannot possibly be for the sake of bread alone, but to fulfil a higher purpose.

In Joseph’s journey, God sets a precedent. Hence the interactions of a migrant with the indigenous population are worthy examples to emulate. Therefore, from a mere slave to becoming a minister in the government of a prosperous Egypt, Joseph does not let the power corrupt him, nor does he lose sight of the fact that all his actions must be a form of worship of His Lord.

He is firstly enticed by his master’s wife through her sexual advances, but he rejects them, preferring imprisonment to lewdness. Yes, of course, he is upset by trials and tribulations, but his attitude is not a nihilistic, despairing one. Instead, he shows perseverance in patience and prayer during hardship and is thankful to his Lord at times of ease. Furthermore, he never boasts about his unique skills of dream interpretation and far sighted wisdom. Instead, he attributes these qualities to God, as being His gifts. Above all, rather than seeking revenge he chooses to forgive his brothers.

Notwithstanding the high stature of Joseph, how much of the above have we been able to achieve during our time, not just in the city of Stoke-On-Trent, but these isles as a whole? Have we resisted the temptations, dealt honestly with people, used our God-given talents to help, albeit in a small way? Do we even feel we even belong to this soil, or do we prefer to partake in the politics of our lands many miles away? Do we eat the same curries that we feed our customers in our famous Baltis?

In brief, are we dynamically worshipping our Lord through our actions or restricting our worship to prayers alone? Only if the answer to these questions is yes can we hope to be emulating Joseph and only then can we feel that we have made the best use of our journeys.