FususAlHikam

Suppose your child goes to take a test, Mcats or Lsats or test for MBBS or whatever it is your child studied. The high school SAT exams, the Caribbean annual exams, whatever exam he/she has to do.

The exams are held in a particular place, a testing center, a great hall. Your child goes there and he is amazed and bewildered at the sight of the great hall. What would you tell your child? "Yes its a pretty hall, its huge, but please focus on your exam!"

Your child is given the scantron test paper, pens and pencils, he/she is amazed, bewildered, so happy at what he has been given. What would you advise them at this point? "The scantron test paper is great, the pencil and pens are wonderful, but please utilize them now - take the test, focus on the exam."

Your child is finally taking their test. Your child loves math, or loves science, just wants to clinge to that subject, they have already answered the questions in the English section but absolutely does not want to move forward with the rest of the exam. What would you say?

Your child has finished the exam but has spent the past hour, 2 hours, 6 hours with that particular pen/pencil/paper, has been sitting enjoying that particular desk and does not want to leave it, does not want to go submit the test. Your child is happy in their desk, clinging to it. What would you advise your child?

This great world we are in is just like the testing center. Its wonderful no doubt, but we are here for a test. Our home, job, wife, kids, parents, neighbors, teachers, these are all part of the test. Our actions and words, all part of the test. The commandments of Allah swt, the sunnah way of life, these are the answers. I'm sure you can add 1+1. You take the answers, apply them on the questions, then submit the test and you go. You will only know how well you did after the test comes back - the conditions in the testing center don't mean anything. Just because you had a good view of the outside while the next guy didn't during the testing period means nothing - just because you had the fan on you during the test and the next guy didn't doesn't mean you did well - its only when you get the results you will know if you did well or not.

Don't get lost in the ambiance of this testing center nor the utensils used for the test nor the seat you are sitting in or the great view you have or that all your friends are sitting around you during the test. Once the testing period is over you gotta move along. Only after the results come in will you know how well you did.