# The Shadows of My Worries | Daily Reminders

**Author:** Dr. Omar Suleiman
**Series:** Reminders
**Published:** 2020-04-03
**YouTube:** https://youtu.be/L2wVIpbkMhY
**URL:** https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-shadows-of-my-worries-daily-reminders
**Topics:** Acts of Worship, Sharia

## Description
There is a proverb that goes: worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. When we are faced with a challenge and focus on the big shadow of that challenge, we give too much weight to it and it stops us from taking the means necessary to conquer it. Sh. Omar Suleiman describes how we can deal with...

## Transcript
**[0:00]** Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh. Abdullah Suleiman al-Shaytan al-Rajeem. Bismillahirrahmanirrahim. Alhamdulillah wa salatu wassalamu ala rasulillah, wa ala alihi wa sahbihi wa man wala. So I want to welcome you all back. Alhamdulillah, we are continuing our nightly reflections.

**[0:15]** As I said, the only exception is going to be our Wednesday nights where we'll have a webinar at webinar.yaqeeninstitute.org. And yesterday we covered community, institution. Next week we'll cover family, inshallah, on Wednesday night. And then the week after that we'll talk about the individual

**[0:31]** and how to build resilience as an individual. And then the week after that, inshallah, the Wednesday before Ramadan, bi'idhninahi ta'ala, we'll be doing Ramadan prep, inshallah. So what I wanted to talk about today was actually this profound saying that I feel like matches up very much so with what we're encountering right now.

**[0:50]** We have worries. We have obstacles. We have things in front of us that cause us great anxiety. And our worries are often of a changing nature. And one worry goes away only to be replaced by another. So you get out of one circumstance and another one presents itself to you.

**[1:07]** Sometimes things that could be anticipated. Sometimes things that were feared for a long time. Sometimes things that you never could have anticipated at all. So if anyone were to tell us a few months ago that this would be our situation right now with this coronavirus pandemic,

**[1:23]** very few of us would have been able to fathom such a thing. And that's sort of the state of our politics. It's a state of so many different things. The changing nature of things around us. And of course, as we said two nights ago when we talked about this idea of 99 names of one God,

**[1:39]** you need to be able to connect every single one of those circumstances to a name of Allah so that as you connect to all of Allah's names, with your changing circumstances, you develop a connection to the one who never changes, to the one who is never shaken, to the one who is never affected by the changes that take place around.

**[1:59]** Now, with those worries though, oftentimes it comes down to perspective. And there's a wrong way to look at them and a very proper way to look at them. The wrong way to look at them is to say that they don't exist,

**[2:15]** is to dismiss them, is to pretend like there's nothing to be afraid of, is to say that there is no concern and there's nothing that we can do about our situation. And what that leads to is a lack of taking our own means to better our situation,

**[2:30]** as well as a lack of trust in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. The other thing, the other way of looking at this, is to keep your worries in perspective. And the saying that I was talking about, and you notice the title is the shadows of our worries.

**[2:46]** There's a proverb that I really love that worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. And if you think about the hadith of the Prophet salallahu alayhi wa sallam, where he talked about poverty.

**[3:02]** And he said salallahu alayhi wa sallam, whoever wakes up in the night and this dunya, the material world, is their greatest hem, is their greatest worry, جعل الله ثقره بين عينين Allah will put poverty between his two eyes. And so if you think about an object in front of your two eyes,

**[3:19]** and if you put it right between your two eyes, the inflated size of that object is significant. And the saying that worry often gives a small thing a big shadow, kind of reminds me of that. Why? Because if you think about the things that are in front of us,

**[3:38]** when you take a challenge that's ahead of you, and you focus on the shadow of that challenge, then you give it too much weight in your life, and so you don't bother conquering that obstacle. You don't take the means that are necessary to be able to conquer that challenge

**[3:53]** or that obstacle that lies ahead. Because you're so worried about the shadow. You always go worst case scenario. You're thinking about things in a very troubling way,

**[4:08]** in which you assign greater weight to your challenges. Now, how do we deal with that? If you think about the beauty of the simple words, Allah Akbar, God is greater.

**[4:23]** God is greater. Allah Akbar min hamdik. Allah is greater than your worries. Allah Akbar min huznik. Allah is greater than your grief. Allah is greater than your obstacles. Allah is greater than your ease. Allah is greater than all of those things.

**[4:40]** The way that we say that every single time, not just when we start our prayers, but every motion that we make in prayer, we remind ourselves, Allah Akbar, God is greater. And we constantly say that throughout the day. What that does is, instead of the shadow of the concern and the challenge that lies ahead,

**[4:59]** it minimizes the shadow, and it causes you to focus on the enormity of Allah's all-encompassing greatness. Allah's greatness encompasses all things, encompasses the heavens and the earth. The obstacle that's ahead of you, while it may be an obstacle,

**[5:16]** doesn't need to be given a shadow. Focus on the size of that obstacle. And as big as you think the obstacle is, remember, Allah Akbar, God is greater than that obstacle. And this is something that we often will remind ourselves of

**[5:31]** when you're talking about an enemy or someone that oppresses you or someone that harms you. فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَخْشَوْنِي Don't fear them, fear me. إِذَا كَانَ اللَّهُ مَعَكُ فَمَنْ عَلَيْكِ If God is with you, who can be against you? So we often think about this in terms of putting our enemies in perspective,

**[5:48]** that God is greater than our enemies, God is greater than those who persecute, God is greater than those dictators and those oppressors and those that harm. But what happens when you remove the personification of that enemy, of that challenge, and you still see it in the same light? Don't fear it, fear Him.

**[6:05]** Don't be intimidated by it, but instead focus on Him. This cannot defeat you, this cannot overcome you. Allah can overcome it. You can overcome it with your Lord, with your trust in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

**[6:21]** So take the means, and this is that balance that we constantly speak of. Do what you have to do to overcome that obstacle, but don't give it a greater shadow than it actually has. And don't forget the greatness of your Lord that would allow you to conquer that obstacle no matter what.

**[6:37]** So, فَلَا تَخْشَوْهُمْ وَخْشَوْنِي Don't worry about them, worry about me. Don't worry about it, worry about me. Focus on Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Allah can help us overcome anything that's ahead of us.

**[6:52]** And yes, these challenges are legitimate. The things that we're going to face as individuals, obviously with varying degrees, are going to be significant. But Allah is greater than whatever challenge lies ahead. Minimize the shadow, focus on Allah's greatness.

**[7:09]** Minimize the fear of it, focus on the greatness of Him. We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to allow us to be amongst those that truly put our trust in Him. And to allow us to conquer whatever challenges lie ahead, we ask Him not to leave us to ourselves.

**[7:25]** For when we are left to ourselves, then we will be defeated even by the smallest thing in front of us. But instead to be with us so that we can defeat and overcome even things that appear to be greater than us with His greatness subhanahu wa ta'ala. Allahumma ameen.

**[7:40]** Jazakumullahu khayran. I'll see you all tomorrow insha'Allah ta'ala. I'll be going live insha'Allah at 2pm Eastern, because it's Friday tomorrow. And also tomorrow night insha'Allah. Assalamualaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh.

## Other Episodes in "Reminders"
- [A Believer’s Animal Personality Test | Dr. Hassan Elwan](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/a-believers-animal-personality-test-hassan-elwan.md)
- [This Is A Sign That You’ll Go To Jannah | Dr. Hassan Elwan](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/this-is-a-sign-that-you-will-go-to-jannah-hassan-elwan.md)
- [How Allah Shows Love For Us | Dr. Hassan Elwan](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/how-allah-shows-love-for-us-hassan-elwan.md)
- [How Life Changes When You Find the Truth](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/how-life-changes-when-you-find-the-truth-reminder-hassan-elwan.md)
- [Questions About the 6 Days of Shawwal | Live Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/questions-about-the-6-days-of-shawwal-live-reminders.md)
- [What's the best way to read Qur'an? | Live Reminder](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/whats-the-best-way-to-read-quran-live-reminder.md)
- [Better Than Praying All Night | Live Reminder](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/better-than-praying-all-night-live-reminder.md)
- [The Prophets Advice On Having a Clean Heart](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-prophets-advice-on-having-a-clean-heart.md)
- [A Major Hidden Benefit of Fasting Regularly | Live Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/a-major-hidden-benefit-of-fasting-regularly-live-reminders.md)
- [Invisible Wounds & Visible Flaws | Live Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/invisible-wounds-visible-flaws-live-reminders.md)
- [Justice in the Court of Allah | Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/justice-in-the-court-of-allah-reminders.md)
- [The Days of Allah | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-days-of-allah-daily-reminders.md)
- [To Kill Or Be Killed By a Prophet | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/to-kill-or-be-killed-by-a-prophet-daily-reminders.md)
- [Moses was Not Just Sent to Drown the Pharaoh | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/moses-was-not-just-sent-to-drown-the-pharaoh-daily-reminders.md)
- [The Meaning of Al-Azeez (The Almighty) | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-meaning-of-al-azeez-the-almighty-daily-reminders.md)
- [Finding the Right Messenger | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/finding-the-right-messenger-daily-reminders.md)
- [Sincere Advice to an Unwilling Recipient | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/sincere-advice-to-an-unwilling-recipient-daily-reminders.md)
- [Setting Boundaries for Your Paradise and Inner Peace | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/setting-boundaries-for-your-paradise-and-inner-peace-daily-reminders.md)
- [Degrees of Success | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/degrees-of-success-daily-reminders.md)
- [Is It OK to Wish for Death? | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/is-it-ok-to-wish-for-death-daily-reminders.md)
- [What If You Were Never Born? | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/what-if-you-were-never-born-daily-reminders.md)
- [Prepare for Dhul Hijjah Like You Do Ramadan | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/prepare-for-dhul-hijjah-like-you-do-ramadan-daily-reminders.md)
- [Layers of Misguidance | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/layers-of-misguidance-daily-reminders.md)
- [The Untwisted Truth and the Straight Path | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-untwisted-truth-and-the-straight-path-daily-reminders.md)
- [Misery Loves Company | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/misery-loves-company-daily-reminders.md)
- [Hold Yourself to Higher Standards | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/hold-yourself-to-higher-standards-daily-reminders.md)
- [Loving the World Too Much | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/loving-the-world-too-much-daily-reminders.md)
- [How You Act From A Place of Power | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/how-you-act-from-a-place-of-power-daily-reminders.md)
- [When You Can't Be Broken or Bought | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/when-you-cant-be-broken-or-bought-daily-reminders.md)
- [Self Actualization and the One Who Needs No Praise | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/self-actualization-and-the-one-who-needs-no-praise-daily-reminders.md)
- [Fleeing from Darkness to Allah's Light | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/fleeing-from-darkness-to-allahs-light-daily-reminders.md)
- [You Are Responsible, but Not in Control | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/you-are-responsible-but-not-in-control-daily-reminders.md)
- [Book Recommendations from Dr. Jonathan Brown](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/book-recommendations-from-dr-jonathan-brown.md)
- [Keeping Peace Within Our Homes | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/keeping-peace-within-our-homes-daily-reminders.md)
- [How Ali (ra) Spent 4 Dirhams in Search of Allah's Mercy | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/how-ali-spent-4-dirhams-in-search-of-allahs-mercy-daily-reminders.md)
- [When the Prophet Sent People Home from the Masajid for Taraweeh | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/when-the-prophet-sent-people-home-from-the-masajid-for-taraweeh-daily-reminders.md)
- [The Bedouin Who Mastered His Praise with Two Words | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-bedouin-who-mastered-his-praise-with-two-words-daily-reminders.md)
- [In that Moment, What Do You Say? | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/in-that-moment-what-do-you-say-daily-reminders.md)
- [The Greatest Way to Seek Allah's Forgiveness | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-greatest-way-to-seek-allahs-forgiveness-daily-reminders.md)
- [Expanding and Blessing Your Wealth - Rizq Part 2 | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/expanding-and-blessing-your-wealth-daily-reminders.md)
- [Two Things Allah Keeps Hidden From Us | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/two-things-allah-keeps-hidden-from-us-daily-reminders.md)
- [Gems of Seclusion | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/gems-of-seclusion-daily-reminders.md)
- [The Prophetic Way of Calling Upon Allah | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-prophetic-way-of-calling-upon-allah-daily-reminders.md)
- [Tapping into Allah's Treasure - Rizq Part 1 | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/tapping-into-allahs-treasure-daily-reminders.md)
- [Understanding Invisible Wounds | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/understanding-invisible-wounds-daily-reminders.md)
- [Dealing with your Thoughts - Cognitive Distortion Part 3 | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/dealing-with-your-thoughts-cognitive-distortion-part-3-daily-reminders.md)
- [The Du'a That Answers Every Prayer & Removes Every Hardship | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-dua-that-answers-every-prayer-removes-every-hardship-daily-reminders.md)
- [Allah Provides for You | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/allah-provides-for-you-daily-reminders.md)
- ['Oh Allah, Reduce My Pain But Not My Reward' | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/oh-allah-reduce-my-pain-but-not-my-reward-daily-reminders.md)
- [Does God Ever Give Us Tests We Can't Handle? | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/does-god-ever-give-us-tests-we-cant-handle-daily-reminders.md)
- [Uncertainty Tolerance | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/uncertainty-tolerance-daily-reminders.md)
- [Feeling Lonely and It's Getting Worse | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/feeling-lonely-and-its-getting-worse-daily-reminders.md)
- [Do Not Wish to Meet Your Enemy in Battle | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/do-not-wish-to-meet-your-enemy-in-battle-daily-reminders.md)
- [Giving Empathy | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/giving-empathy-daily-reminders.md)
- ["What Have You Put Forth?" | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/what-have-you-put-forth-daily-reminders.md)
- [How to Observe the 15th Night of Sha'ban | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/how-to-observe-the-15th-night-of-shaban-daily-reminders.md)
- [Working on the Base - Cognitive Distortion Part 2 | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/working-on-the-base-cognitive-distortion-part-2-daily-reminders.md)
- [Do Not Fear the Virus | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/do-not-fear-the-virus-daily-reminders.md)
- [Heaven's Celebrities are Often Unknown on Earth | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/heavens-celebrities-are-often-unknown-on-earth-daily-reminders.md)
- [“To be spared and grateful is more beloved than to be tested and patient” | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/to-be-spared-and-grateful-is-more-beloved-than-to-be-tested-and-patient-daily-reminders.md)
- [Do Not Forget Who You Are | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/do-not-forget-who-you-are-daily-reminders.md)
- [Don’t Just Ask for the Loss to be Less, Ask for the Replacement to be More | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/dont-just-ask-for-the-loss-to-be-less-ask-for-the-replacement-to-be-more-daily-reminders.md)
- [Seeing Allah's Majesty in Everything | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/seeing-allahs-majesty-in-everything-daily-reminders.md)
- [The Scholar Who Pretended He Couldn't Hear | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-scholar-who-pretended-he-could-not-hear-daily-reminder.md)
- [Falling Into Your Thoughts - Cognitive Distortion Part 1 | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/falling-into-your-thoughts-cognitive-distortion-part-1-daily-reminders.md)
- [A Means of Purification | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/a-means-of-purification-daily-reminders.md)
- [99 gods vs 99 names of one God | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/99-gods-vs-99-names-of-one-god-daily-reminders.md)
- [Expressing Love for Those Around Us | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/expressing-love-for-those-around-us-daily-reminders.md)
- [Assuming the Best of Allah | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/assuming-the-best-of-allah-daily-reminders.md)
- [Buying What You Want When You Feel Like It | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/buying-what-you-want-when-you-feel-like-it-daily-reminders.md)
- [The Glass is Half Full | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-glass-is-half-full-daily-reminders.md)
- [Two Blessings that are Rarely Combined | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/two-blessings-that-are-rarely-combined-daily-reminders.md)
- [Building Our Faith with Consistency | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/building-our-faith-with-consistency-daily-reminders.md)
- [Finding the Positives During Hard Times | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/finding-the-positives-during-hard-times-daily-reminders.md)
- [Make Peace and Move On | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/make-peace-and-move-on-daily-reminders.md)
- [Not Going Back, but Growing Forward | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/not-going-back-but-growing-forward-daily-reminders.md)
- [Maintaining a Positive Assumption of Allah During the COVID-19 Pandemic | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/maintaining-a-positive-assumption-of-allah-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-daily-reminders.md)
- [The Death of the Prophet & the Vision of Ibn Abbas | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-death-of-the-prophet-the-vision-of-ibn-abbas-daily-reminders.md)
- [Processing News and Seeking the One True Source of News | Daily Reminder](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/processing-news-and-seeking-the-one-true-source-of-news-daily-reminder.md)
- [The Role of Remembrance in a Crisis | Daily Reminder](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/the-role-of-remembrance-in-a-crisis-daily-reminder.md)
- ["Avoiding that which doesn't concern you” | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/avoiding-that-which-doesnt-concern-you-daily-reminders.md)
- ["When will life go back to normal?" | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/when-will-life-go-back-to-normal-daily-reminders.md)
- [To Put a Smile on the Face of your Brother or Sister | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/to-put-a-smile-on-the-face-of-your-brother-or-sister.md)
- [Lightening Calamities with Conviction | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/lightening-calamities-with-conviction-daily-reminders.md)
- [2 Things We Take for Granted | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/2-things-we-take-for-granted-daily-reminders.md)
- [Find Clarity in Your Cave | Daily Reminders](https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/reminders/find-clarity-in-your-cave-daily-reminders.md)