The Burn [Lessons on Healing]

The other day I was cooking in the kitchen, vegetable and tuna to be more precise when I had suddenly burnt myself whilst taking the pasta out of the oven. Although, I had oven gloves on, part of my hand was still exposed and so I hit it against the interior of the oven, which was at that time, piping hot. I remember feeling an intense sting in the part of the hand, so I quickly moved my hand away only to find that it had left quite a sore mark. I didn’t dwell on it at that moment and continued cooking away; the burning sensation was still there but I kept my mind occupied.

I got home and whilst making Wudhu’, rolled up my sleeves only to find that it had began to swell and now looked like a round, oval-shaped lump. It was also hurting like heck. Over the days, I’ve closely been observing the healing process of the burn. How it changed colour, slowly, how the pain decreased, slowly, and how it became worse before it got any better. It taught me a few lessons about pain, tests and healing, which I want to share with you today.

• The first tinge of pain will hurt – a lot

When we are hit with a sudden or unexpected calamity, hardship, or a test, for example in this case the sudden burn; the moment it strikes is the most painful and the most intense. However, it is also the defining moment. A moment we can choose to either be patient with gritted teeth, or react with foul language and other words that are displeasing to our Creator. The pain I felt the moment my skin touched the scorching oven (which was huuuuge by the way), hurt a lot. But the pain thereafter was not as much as it was in those few milliseconds. It reminded me of a hadith of Rasulullah (salallahu alayhi wasallam) where he said:

The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wassallam) said, “Verily, patience is at the first strike.”

Remember, the defining moment, the moment that could raise your ranks to levels you never imagined, and a moment that carries magnanimous rewards is at the moment the calamity strikes.

• It sometimes gets worse before it gets better

Oh yes, my burn actually got worse before it got better. It went from pink, to red to maroon to a horrible black colour before it even began to scab over. Some nights I felt like itching it so much but held back because it would make it worse. But what I realized was, although it looked and felt as though it wasn’t getting any better, it actually was. Healing wasn’t meant to be easy nor was it meant to be pain free. However, the greater the pain the greater the feeling of ease and relief will follow after it. 

When you go through a test the process of healing and adapting back to reality is probably going to be hard before it gets easier. That’s because sweetness is appreciated more when one has tasted bitterness, similarly a rainbow is clearer when its followed by a heavy rainfall. The difficult part is all part of the healing process. Turn back to Him and He will bind your heart with the coolness of faith and mend your heart, which has been broken or frozen shut.

•    Healing takes time

Don’t expect to heal straight away. When we’re ill and are taking medication how long does it sometimes take for the medication to kick in and begin to work? And does a person recover right away or over a period of time? Similarly, when we’ve had our heart broken, or when we’ve wronged our own souls, or when we have been struck by a test, it can take time for our hearts to completely mend. Sometimes it will require for us to make a lot of Du’aa, istighfaar and a change of perspective to begin the healing journey.

My burn didn’t heal instantly after I applied cream to it. It took time. But the entire healing journey consisted of change. Change in pain, change in the colour and look of the burn. Similarly, the healing process or the period of hardship is supposed to change us for the better. Allah is always teaching us something through the experiences we go through so pay heed to the signs throughout the journey.

• Scars heal but never truly fade

My burn has healed, well not completely, but its getting there. :) Yet, it will leave a beautiful, pinky scar on my hand.  It reminded me of how our tests, struggles and scars are a mark of our strength and perseverance. They remind us of how we battled and fought and made it through by the will of Allah. They remind us to remain humble and represent the lessons we learnt through our experiences.

Many of us often think that the experiences we went through remain in the past. But sometimes, some experiences remain with us, reminding us. Though it is unhealthy to be a prisoner of our past, it is important for us to understand who we are and the lessons that have shaped us by reflecting on our past. Our broken pieces and vulnerabilities are a unique part of us, so are our scars. They accompany us through life. They should teach us to not be afraid to take risks for fear of the past, or the fear of hurt. But instead to assure ourselves that Allah will heal, always, like He always has done. That He will protect and cure. And that every experience is different, no two is the same; each teaching us its own unique lessons to better us as human beings and to draw us closer to Him.

• Al-Jabbar – The One who Mends And Restores

No one could have mended my burn besides Al-Jabber. He is the One who heals and fixes. He is the One who cures and mends. When going through a test or when you’re heart has been broken, always turn to Allah. Raise your hands and call upon Him by this beautiful name. Regardless of how rusty, broken, hurt, dark or sorrowful your heart has become, He has the ability to remake it, stronger than it ever was before. Just turn to Him and let the healing process begin.