Transforming Traffic: A Blessed Formula

There are times when memorizing the Qur'ān can provide difficulties and uncertainties. Finding motivation and inspiration during these periods can be crucial to rekindling the journey's enthusiasm. I will share a moving account of a young guy who will encourage you to learn the Qur'ān. 

This is Dr. Amr Khaled's story:

Have you ever wondered how to maximize your time in traffic? Do you ever feel bored and frustrated spending long, tedious hours driving? What is your attitude like in traffic? I will give you a magical recipe through an authentic narrative about myself that I will share!

I went to London when I was twenty years old to work and study for a year. Like any other young person my age, I had fears and concerns. I carry the Qur'ān in my pocket, constantly accessible, as a comfort.

I once came into a lovely passage from Surat Yaseen while reading. An insightful notion crossed my mind: What if I always had this knowledgeable book? What kind of life would it be if the Qur'ān accompanied me in all of my daily activities? I was really devoted to the Qur'ān.

Because of the high expense of renting in central London, where I worked, I had to take an hour underground to get to my place of employment. One hour of daily commute is one of the most tedious and difficult things to undertake. I thus made the decision to recite the Qur'ān on my hour-long commutes. Over time, my connection to the Qur'ān grew more robust, and I eventually learned Surat Al-Nisa'.

I did something underground that I had never done before. The commute I used to loathe has become one of my favorite parts of the day. I was eager to start reviewing the previous lessons I had learned before the end of the day. I no longer felt as down on myself. The boredom and melancholy that had before plagued me vanished.

After returning to Egypt, with its notoriously congested roads, I continued reading the Qur'ān and saying prayers (tasbeeh, which mentions ALLAH) while driving. I also listened to informative and helpful stuff on the radio. I thus achieved a fantastic feat: in my transportation alone, I learned 20 chapters (Juz') of the Qur'ān!

Moreover, thus, this is my account of how I came to know the Qur'ān, the Book of Allah. I will give you a simple tip: make the most of your time stuck in traffic. Turn that seemingly spent time into a priceless chance for personal development by reading the Qur'ān, perusing a helpful book, or praying. If you make the time for this, you will find that there is optimism for the future even in the middle of the traffic jam.

I hope this story encourages you to seize every opportunity to make the ordinary extraordinary. The secret is to make the most of life's moments by finding meaning and purpose in them so that every day brings us one step closer to spiritual fulfillment and self-actualization.