There was a time when a question lingered in my mind—a whisper of doubt in the quiet moments between prayers. Would I rather die or live with disabilities? To even entertain that thought feels like questioning Allah’s wisdom, a challenge to the very core of my faith. Allah (SWT) reminds us in Surah At-Tin (95:4): "We have certainly created man in the best of stature." To suggest that a life touched by disability is somehow less worthy feels like a betrayal of that divine truth.
Yet, doubt comes in waves. In Surah Al-Baqarah (2:155-157), we are reminded that trials are a test, and through patience and reliance on Him, we find guidance and blessings. I see this truth in my daughter, Muji.
Muji’s Light: A Life of Radiance Beyond Hardship
Muji is twenty. Her smile—a sunrise that chases away the deepest darkness. She has cerebral palsy. She cannot speak, her body is bound to a wheelchair, she is fed through a tube, and epilepsy sometimes steals her breath. By worldly standards, her life is challenging, marked by difficulties I wouldn’t wish on anyone.
But to me, her mother, her life is a witness to resilience, a pure expression of love that transforms all who know her. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for all of his affairs are good… If something good happens to him, he is grateful, and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he is patient, and that is good for him.” (Muslim)
Before Muji, that question—“what if?”—might have echoed in my mind, making me picture suffering and limitation. But Muji changed everything. She taught me the true meaning of sabr—patience and perseverance. She uncovered the depth of human nature, the firm strength that resides even in the most fragile of bodies.
"O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient." (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:153)
The Moment That Changed Everything
I remember her birth—the doctors’ serious faces, their words heavy with uncertainty, painting a future filled with fear.
"There is no cure for brain damage," they told me, their answer striking me like a finality I wasn’t ready to accept. I prayed for a miracle, for healing. But as I held her tiny, fragile body, something shifted within me—not a miracle of physical healing, but a miracle of the heart. Love, overwhelming and absolute, replaced fear.
In that moment, I understood: healing does not always come as we expect. But sometimes, it arrives in the form of enduring love.
Faith Over Fear: Embracing Muji’s Light
Muji’s life isn’t defined by her disabilities. It’s defined by her laughter, the way her eyes light up when she hears the recitation of the Quran, the gentle movement of her eyes that tells me she understands. It’s defined by the loving care of her siblings, the quiet strength of her father.
Her life is built upon love, patience, and unshakable faith. In Surah At-Taghabun (64:2), we are reminded: “He is the One who created you, and among you are disbelievers, and among you are believers. And Allah, of what you do, is Seeing.”
Allah created Muji exactly as she is, and her existence serves as a witness to the diversity of His creation and the strength of the human soul.
A Life Worth Living
So, would I rather die than live with disabilities? That question no longer exists.
The “I” that once asked it is gone—replaced by Muji’s mother. For her, I would go through any hardship. Her life, in all its complexity and beauty, is a gift. It’s a reminder that Allah (SWT) does not burden a soul beyond its capacity (Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286).
Muji’s existence is the answer to that question. Her life is a witness to immeasurable beauty, solid strength, and boundless love, even in the face of great challenges. She is not defined by limitations but by the way she fills hearts with light, by the wisdom she imparts without words.
And that, I believe, is a life blessed by Allah (SWT)—a life truly worth living.
How has faith shaped your understanding of hardship? Share your reflections in the comments—I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Until next post, stay blessed!
Nur / Muji’s Mum
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