A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| The Tea Cup (truly inspirational) |
|---|
| Nisa |
| 07/03/03 at 07:12:49 |
| This is a great story that we could all benefit from. It is a simple reminder of how "Allah" is the potter of our life and we are the clay. "Allah" is the shaper of each of our lives and when struggles seem overwhelming, we need to remind ourselves that these struggles serve a purpose in making us stronger, wiser, and in the perfect image that "Allah" has for each of His creations. THE TEA CUP ~ There was a couple who used to go to England to shop in the beautiful stores. They both liked antiques and pottery and especially teacups. This was their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. One day in this beautiful shop they saw a beautiful teacup. They said, "May we see that? We've never seen one quite so beautiful." As the lady handed it to them, suddenly the teacup spoke. "You don't understand," it said. "I haven't always been a teacup. There was a time when I was red and I was clay. My master took me and rolled me and patted me over and over and I yelled out, 'Let me alone', but he only smiled, 'Not yet.' "Then I was placed on a spinning wheel," the teacup said, "and suddenly I was spun around and around and around. Stop it! I'm getting dizzy! I screamed. But the master only nodded and said,'Not yet.' Then he put me in the oven. I never felt such heat. I wondered why he wanted to burn me, and I yelled and knocked at the door. I could see him through the opening and I could read his lips as he shook his head, 'Not yet.' Finally the door opened, he put me on the shelf, and I began to cool. 'There, that's better', I said. And he brushed and painted me all over. The fumes were horrible. I thought I would gag. 'Stop it, stop it!' I cried. He only nodded, 'Not yet.' Then suddenly he put me back into the oven, not like the first one. This was twice as hot and I knew I would suffocate. I begged. I pleaded. I screamed. I cried. All the time I could see him through the opening nodding his head saying, 'Not yet.' Then I knew there wasn't any hope. I would never make it. I was ready to give up. But the door opened and he took me out and placed me on the shelf. One hour later he handed me a mirror and I couldn't believe it was me. It's beautiful. I'm beautiful.' 'I want you to remember, then,' he said, 'I know it hurts to be rolled and patted, but if I had left you alone, you would have dried up. I know it made you dizzy to spin around on the wheel, but if I had stopped, you would have crumbled. I knew it hurt and was hot and disagreeable in the oven, but if I hadn't put you there, you would have cracked. I know the fumes were bad when I brushed and painted you all over, but if I hadn't done that, you never would have hardened; you would not have had any colour in your life. And if I hadn't put you back in that second oven, you wouldn't survive for very long because the hardness would not have held. Now you are a finished product. You are what I had in mind when I first began with you'. MORAL: "Allah" knows what He's doing for all of us. He is the potter, and we are His clay. He will mold us and make us, so that we may be made into a flawless piece of work to fulfill His good, pleasing, and perfect will, which we can never escape. |
| Re: The Tea Cup (truly inspirational) |
|---|
| timbuktu |
| 07/04/03 at 00:50:47 |
| [slm] what a beautiful & true story when i reflect on my life, & the times i have cried "leave me alona", "why are you doing this to me", & complaints ad infinitum ........ i shudder at my audacity to question Allah's (swt) wisdom, power & right to shape my life, here & in the hereafter i also see that every trouble or unattained ambition was to shape me into a better person but i can't help it, at every inconvenience i cry & the teacup isn't made yet. wonder what more i have to go thru'? & whether it will be a pretty teacup, or will it be pieces of burnt clay? dear brothers & sisters: please, please pray that i do not end up as burnt clay may Allah grant us all shelter under HIS "arsh", & the comapny of the prophet (pbuh) in Firdaws-e-a'alaa, with our near & near ones aameeen |
| 07/04/03 at 01:05:42 |
| timbuktu |
| Re: The Tea Cup (truly inspirational) |
|---|
| deenb4dunya |
| 07/04/03 at 03:31:46 |
| Assalamu Alaikum, It is said that part of the belief in al-qadaa'i wal-Qadar is to know that of if one knew about the the kheir (good) and the beneficial consequences that result from whatever befalls us, if we were made to choose what if we wanted it, it is actually what we would choose. Subhanallaah.... this always helps. If you dont understand... let me know and ill rephrase inshallaah. Wassalamu Alaikum, Deen :-) |
| Re: The Tea Cup (truly inspirational) |
|---|
| timbuktu |
| 07/04/03 at 04:55:58 |
| [slm] although i think i understand, but it isn't very clear, so yes, please rephrase |
| Re: The Tea Cup (truly inspirational) |
|---|
| Nisa |
| 07/04/03 at 11:57:47 |
| [slm] Ameen to the duas...theres a beautiful hadith which sums things up: Suhaib reported that Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it. (Muslim) When we go through things in life, there are times when we think the situation could be the worst thing we have ever experienced, and often we lose hope and heart....but when we hold in our hearts the fact that everything, no matter how bad or how low we feel, it is ultimately and in the long run, the best thing for us.......for truly Allahu a'lam, Allah swt knows what is best for His servant. We as muslims submit our will to that of the Almighty, and in turn are happy and content with all that comes our way, for we believe that it is for the best. Pray this helps you akhi, Ameen. May Allah swt guide us all on the Straight path, and may we be blessed with understanding of the deen, Ameeen! [wlm] :-) |
| Re: The Tea Cup (truly inspirational) |
|---|
| timbuktu |
| 07/06/03 at 07:52:54 |
| [slm] thanx. deenb5dunya & Nisa it has helped jazakallahu khairan |
| Re: The Tea Cup (truly inspirational) |
|---|
| Nisa |
| 07/07/03 at 06:23:20 |
| [slm] Ameen wa iyakum akhi :) Glad we could be of some help alhamdulillah. [wlm] :-) |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |