inspiration
When Certainty in Allah Changes Destinies
A Story of True Yaqeen (اليقين)
My brother, Salah Ahmad Muslih, once said to me: “Do you remember the story of our shaykh with his sons when they wanted to enroll in university?”
I replied: “Remind me.”
I replied: “Remind me.”
And as he did, it was as if a spark lit up my mind—reviving a memory of our beloved teacher, may Allah have mercy on him.
Our shaykh, Al-Muqarimi (rahimahullah), when speaking about certainty in Allah, spoke the way a farmer speaks about his crops or a traveler about his first stations on the road—words of someone who had walked the path, tasted tranquility, and lived under the shade of true reliance upon Allah. Every word from him carried light, because he spoke not from books, but from a heart firmly planted in the soil of yaqīn (certainty).
One day, he told us that his two sons had graduated from high school. They spent their nights studying and their days striving, hoping for grades that would take them into the College of Engineering. But the results came back weak, and the window of hope seemed to close before them.
They said, saddened:
“Father, we will repeat the year.”
“Father, we will repeat the year.”
He looked at them with the gaze of a caring father and wise mentor and asked calmly:
“One question… Will you work harder if you repeat the year than you did before?”
They replied, “No.”
He said, “Then you will reach the same result. Is there another door?”
“One question… Will you work harder if you repeat the year than you did before?”
They replied, “No.”
He said, “Then you will reach the same result. Is there another door?”
They said, with hesitant hope:
“Yes… we could enroll in the University of Science and Technology.”
He asked, “How much are the fees?”
“Five thousand dollars per year.”
“Yes… we could enroll in the University of Science and Technology.”
He asked, “How much are the fees?”
“Five thousand dollars per year.”
He said, with the calm certainty of one who trusts Allah completely:
“Go and register.”
“Go and register.”
The two sons exchanged glances, as if hearing a promise that sounded like a miracle:
“Father… from where? Your salary barely supports the household.”
“Father… from where? Your salary barely supports the household.”
He smiled and said:
“You learn everything… except this. Certainty in Allah is not taught in classrooms—it is poured into hearts.”
“You learn everything… except this. Certainty in Allah is not taught in classrooms—it is poured into hearts.”
They registered the next day.
Then came the moment of truth.
A week before exams, the university announced:
Anyone who had not paid the tuition would not be allowed into the exam hall.
Anyone who had not paid the tuition would not be allowed into the exam hall.
The sons returned, carrying the weight of the final days:
“Father… only one week remains, and we have nothing.”
“Father… only one week remains, and we have nothing.”
He replied calmly:
“You will not enter the exam except with the money.”
“Do you have it now?”
“No.”
“Then where will it come from?”
“You will not enter the exam except with the money.”
“Do you have it now?”
“No.”
“Then where will it come from?”
He smiled again:
“This is what schools do not teach you.”
“This is what schools do not teach you.”
At that time, the shaykh was working on the new Sana’a airport project—a project caught between corruption that dimmed hope and reform efforts that tried to revive it. Suddenly, a decision came to change the administration, and a foreign director arrived to select a new team.
A long list of candidates was printed… without the shaykh’s name.
A passing employee noticed and said:
“This list is incomplete without Muhammad Al-Muqarimi.”
“This list is incomplete without Muhammad Al-Muqarimi.”
He took a pen, wrote the shaykh’s name by hand, and returned the paper.
When officials gathered to select the team, none of the printed names were chosen… except the one written hastily by hand at the bottom of the page:
Engineer Muhammad Al-Muqarimi.
Engineer Muhammad Al-Muqarimi.
The shaykh was summoned and told:
“In two days, there will be a meeting with the new team.”
“In two days, there will be a meeting with the new team.”
During the meeting, the director spoke, then said:
“We want you fully dedicated to the project. Each of you will receive a financial support amount to help organize your life.”
“We want you fully dedicated to the project. Each of you will receive a financial support amount to help organize your life.”
The amount was… five thousand dollars.
The shaykh returned home with provision that came on Allah’s timing—not human calculations.
His sons came to him:
“Father… tomorrow are the exams. If we don’t pay, we won’t be allowed in!”
“Father… tomorrow are the exams. If we don’t pay, we won’t be allowed in!”
He reached into his pocket, took out the money, and placed it in their hands like someone placing light into two small palms.
They gasped:
“Father… where did this come from?!”
“Father… where did this come from?!”
He replied, with a voice filled with contentment:
“Didn’t I tell you? You learn everything… except certainty in Allah. This knowledge is taught only in the school of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and it is granted only to those who are sincere.”
“Didn’t I tell you? You learn everything… except certainty in Allah. This knowledge is taught only in the school of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, and it is granted only to those who are sincere.”
May Allah envelop our beloved shaykh in His vast mercy.
— Shaykh Abdullah Al-Shareef