All praise is due to Allah. Peace and blessings be upon our Master Muḥammad ﷺ, the one who taught us to reflect upon the signs around us.
Recently, I found myself by the seashore seeking nothing more than fresh air while the children enjoyed the waves. However, Allah, in His infinite mercy, turned a mundane moment into a mirror for deep contemplation.
As I sat quietly, I noticed small crabs scuttling about. They emerged with energy and purpose, digging their modest burrows into the sand. Then, without warning, a wave came crashing over them, erasing all that they had labored to build. But to my amazement, they did not retreat in sorrow. Without hesitation, they resumed their task.
There was no despair. No resistance. No self-pity.
This seemingly insignificant sight stirred something within me. These creatures, void of reason and intellect, displayed a purity of effort and surrender many of us lack. Their actions echoed a profound truth: what is in our control is effort; the outcome rests with Allah.
As the Holy Prophet ﷺ said:
“If you were to rely upon Allah with the required reliance, then He would provide for you just as a bird is provided for, it goes out in the morning empty, and returns full.” [Tirmidhi]
These crabs too, live in full surrender to their divine decree.
Each wave that demolished their dwelling served as a reminder of the temporality of all worldly constructs. How often do we build our lives upon sand? Relationships, careers, ambitions, and collapse when the tide shifts?
Allah states in the Qur’an:
“Every living being must taste death; and We test you with harm and good - a trial; and to Us only you have to return.” [Surah al-Ambiyaa, 21:35]
The crabs do not mourn their homes. They accept loss with grace and begin anew. Can we, as ashraf al-makhlooqaat (the noblest of creation), learn to do the same?
Detachment, Not Indifference
Islam does not call us to indifference, but to detachment. To build, while recognizing that permanence is the Hereafter.
Our Beloved Prophet ﷺ, despite being the most beloved to Allah, would sleep on a simple mat that left imprints on his blessed back. When asked why (out of love and concern for His ﷺ comfort), He ﷺ replied: “What do I have to do with the world! I am not in the world but as a rider seeking shade under a tree, then he catches his breath and leaves it.” [Tirmidhi]
These crabs, in their instinctive simplicity, reflect that truth. Build, yes, but know the shade is brief.
The Core of Resilience
True resilience is not in avoiding hardship, but in responding to it with reliance on Allah. As the scholars mention, tawbah is to return—not only from sin, but from despair, from heedlessness, from attachment to the ephemeral.
The Qur’an declares:
“And trust Allah; and Allah is Sufficient as a Trustee.” (Surah al-Ahzab, 33:3)
Build with purpose, not permanence – Our actions should be for the sake of Allah, not for worldly recognition or stability.
Do not mourn the wave – Every wave is a decree. Acceptance is not weakness, but strength born from Imaan.
Return to your task with hope – Just as the crab resumes building, the believer must resume striving; each fall is a means to rise closer to Allah.
Your Moment of Contemplation
Next time your efforts are undone, do not despair. Reflect upon the wisdom of the tide. Consider: what do you build your life upon; stones of sincerity or sands of self-interest?
O Allah, grant us hearts that are steadfast amidst the waves of fate. Let our actions be for Your sake alone and not for worldly recognition. Make us hopeful like those crabs who rise after every fall, rebuild after every loss, and turn to You after every tide.
آمِينَ يَا رَبَّ الْعَالَمِينَ
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