Bismillaah

"Go you and your brother with My Ayat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.), and do not, you both, slacken and become weak in My Remembrance. (ayah 42)

I was in a position of organizing seminars to educate masses with Islamic courses in Toronto. I remember when I was organizing my first seminar couple years ago, there was a lot of work to do, and my team was late. I was running around attending phone calls and getting things done. Just before the seminar started, the time for 'Asr came in. I told myself, let's go pray 'quickly' and finish the remaining tasks later.

I made my way to the prayer room and found one of my team members there. Because I was stressed out, I asked her to lead me in prayer. Ma sha Allaah, the sister did not rush the prayer and prayed so calmly. It reminded me that even though I may be doing something for Allaah subhanahu wa ta'ala, Salaah is His Haqq over us and I should have never compromised on it. It is the most important obligation.
I asked Allaah subhanahu wa ta'ala for forgiveness and thanked Him for teaching me this lesson on the first day of my position. I was so happy with the sister's akhlaaq, I immediately promoted her position to be my right-hand after the seminar so that she may remind me like she did (without saying a word) whenever I'll forget.

It taught me another important lesson: STRESS IS THE ABSENCE OF GRATITUDE. A mu'min is always thankful to Allaah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Whenever you find yourself stressing, you are forgetting to be thankful to Allaah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
O our Rabb! Make us amongst the saabireen and the shaakireen, ameen.