The Leap Of Faith

"1... 2..... 3.... JUUUMP!" I cheered to my baby cousin as she lunged off the high place she was standing on.

I caught her in my embrace and brought her close to me in a tight cuddle.

She giggled.

"That was fun wasn't it!"

She smiled widely. The gap between the cluster of her tiny teeth made her facial expression look that much cuter.

I always find it strange how babies (well toddlers) display such euphoric behaviours when they're about to jump from high places. They have this brave and fearless, a kind of 'I'm not afraid of anything' attitude. With this added surety that when they jump off, their parent or guardian will without doubt catch them in their flight towards the ground.

Usually, this sort of attitude is only displayed with someone they deeply trust, love and comfortable with. Normally, the mother.

It reminded me of Allah's names, Al-Wakil (The Trustee), Al Karim (The Generous), but specically Al-Wadud (The All-Loving).

Many of us fear taking the plunge. We fear the jump from evil to good, the step towards redemption or the leap of faith that is required when pursuing our dreams. We are afraid, fearful and anxious to follow the path of truth, to let go of the evil things we are attached to, to separate from our addictions. Yet, if we truly understood that our Lord was the All-Loving, and if we had trust that He would catch us in our leap and take care of us, would we be afraid to traverse the challenges, the experiences, the struggles that come with earning His pleasure? No.

For just like a child, we would trust Allah to catch us. We would smile knowing that if were to leave a sin or evil for His sake, He would compensate us with so much better. We would be content in trusting that He is taking care of our matters with precision and full knowledge.

A child trusts it's mother and close ones, for it acknowledges the qualities of love, concern and care. Your Lord is More Merciful than a mother is to her child, so think good of Him, for He is without doubt, perfectly handling our every affair.