A young, new Ustaadh (teacher) was walking with an older, more seasoned Ustaadh in the garden one day. Feeling a bit insecure about what Allaah had for him to do, he was asking the older Ustaadh for some advice. The older Ustaadh walked up to a rosebush and handed the young Ustaadh a rosebud and told him to open it without tearing off any petals. The young Ustaadh looked in disbelief at the older Ustaadh and was trying to figure out what a rosebud could possibly have to do with his wanting to know the will of Allaah for his life and ministry.
But because of his great respect for the older Ustaadh, he proceeded to try to unfold the rose, while keeping every petal intact… It wasn’t long before he realized how impossible this was to do. Noticing the younger Ustaadh’s inability to unfold the rosebud without tearing it, the older Ustaadh began to recite the following poem…
“It is only a tiny rosebud,
A flower of Allah’s design;
But I cannot unfold the petals
With these clumsy hands of mine.
The secret of unfolding flowers
Is not known to such as I.
Allaah opens this flower so sweetly,
Then in my hands they die.
If I cannot unfold a rosebud,
This flower of Allaah’s design,
Then how can I have the wisdom
To unfold this life of mine?
So I’ll trust in Allaah for leading
Each moment of my day.
I will look to Allaah for His guidance
Each step of the way.
The pathway that lies before me,
Only Allaah knows.
I’ll trust Him to unfold the moments,
Just as He unfolds the rose.”
{Say: “Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us. He is our Mawla (protector).” And in Allah let the believers put their trust.} (Qur’aan, Surah Tawbah, Verse 51)