WalaHaja #3: The Opener
There is something beautiful and graceful about the idea and gesture of “opening doors”. When you open the door for someone you communicate that they are welcome without effort. That I’m not only inviting you, but I will also take the effort and open the door for you, so, you only usher yourself inside.
You could also stay on the other side of the door and hand them over the keys, gesturing that now, it’s all yours. Having experience with hosting people, I can tell you people eventually pick up on these gestures even if they don’t exactly understand the meaning right away, they pick up the vibe.
We grew up with the idea that certain doors are meant to be closed. Or to be particular, it’s closed for certain “types” of people. It’s passed down to us as a rule and as a fact. Though, if we creatively and curiously question the potential of opening certain “closed doors” and how it might bring good, we at least feel that we deserve a conversation with whoever has the power to keep that door closed.
The Opener, is one of the 99 names of god, the name brings the power of opening whatever door that certain “powers” mean for it to be closed.
I grew up with an obsession for systems and structures, and structures require the exploration of all doors and their potential and the answer to the question of why? Why are we keeping these doors closed?
The patriarchy and/or the matriarchy or whoever gives themselves the power to open and close, set rules, probably tens, hundreds or thousands of years ago, that certain doors are open and certain doors are closed.
But what if the time has come to question the validity of keeping a certain door closed? Can we even have a conversation about it?
If God is the opener of everything beautiful, then who would like to give themselves the privilege of closing a door that brings goodness to people? And what is their decision based on?
And if we are gifted with the inspiration to allow certain doors to be open and if we are willing to pay the price of the adventure of demonstrating the potential beauty that certain doors could lead to, are we even given the chance to express our inspiration?
Hold the door
Hold the door
Hold the door
There are certain doors that are meant to be shut and we all appreciate the sacrifice exerted on keeping the doors of evil shut and secured. Honor and tribute are to be paid in full to the beautiful souls that keep these doors shut.
But what if certain doors are only shut because of fear? or lack of vision? or lack of understanding?
What if the world changes so fast and it’s time for certain doors to be open? Who shall give themselves the privilege to keep a door shut that holds treasures of goodness for the people?
And if we catch the vision of a beautiful open door, isn’t it our duty and responsibility to, not violently open the door but to question, demonstrate and gather a discussion of what it might hold?
What is our greatest mission on earth?
وَإِذْ قَالَ رَبُّكَ لِلْمَلَائِكَةِ إِنِّي جَاعِلٌ فِي الْأَرْضِ خَلِيفَةً ۖ قَالُوا أَتَجْعَلُ فِيهَا مَن يُفْسِدُ فِيهَا وَيَسْفِكُ الدِّمَاءَ وَنَحْنُ نُسَبِّحُ بِحَمْدِكَ وَنُقَدِّسُ لَكَ ۖ قَالَ إِنِّي أَعْلَمُ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ (30)
(30) And [mention, O Muhammad], when your Lord said to the angels, “Indeed, I will make upon the earth a successive authority.” They said, “Will You place upon it one who causes corruption therein and sheds blood, while we declare Your praise and sanctify You?” Allah said, “Indeed, I know that which you do not know.”
And isn’t that inspiration in the heart and in the vision a duty and responsibility humankind is meant to deliver?
{ إنا عرضنا الأمانة على السماوات والأرض والجبال فأبين أن يحملنها وأشفقن منها وحملها الإنسان إنه كان ظلوما جهولا } ( الأحزاب : 72 )
(72) Indeed, we offered the Trust to the heavens and the earth and the mountains, and they declined to bear it and feared it; but man [undertook to] bear it. Indeed, he was unjust and ignorant.
Some messages bear a cost for it to be delivered. And the best we can do in life is to offer the world the cost it demands us to deliver our inspiration. And question not whether our fellow men and women shall deliver theirs, but leave it up to them to do as they wish with theirs.
So as none of us is capable of opening a door god did not mean for it to be open yet. And also, none of us shall be able to keep a door closed that god has determined for it to be open.
Then no matter what it takes, the tender smiles of a passionate advocate, or the red eyes of a berserker rage, come hell or high water, the keys shall be delivered…
Also published on Medium.
