Taqdees

THE STORY BEHIND

“I don’t remember what year it was, time after Covid has the unprecedented quality of being hazy. I was running after diagnoses after having gotten Covid and then Long Covid. It was in those months of social isolation, uncertainty, and fluctuating levels of ability that I felt the need for something like Taqdees. It had to be a one-stop place so I didn’t have to subscribe to a million different services, check their trustability, keep track of them, and so on. Something which took care of all my needs across different spheres of life- from something as external as work outputs to something as intimate as faith while helping me live a daily life of peace where I feel fulfilled in the mundane. Something which would understand my health and its consequences on my functionality and life in general. That thing would help me to not overcome it (because sometimes it can’t be overcome, it’s incurable or chronic), but would rather help me live with it, peacefully, meaningfully, mindfully, and with the highest level of contentment possible at a given time. Something which would also support me in achieving my goals, not just typically-where-our-minds-go professional goals which tend to be more declarable and tangible, which can be put on a CV. But also other goals which are equally or more crucial, related to health, both mental and physical; related to the social sphere like becoming part of a wholesome community or making sure I talk to a human being regularly, not superficial but have real, meaningful conversations. I wanted this thing to help with my personal development. And I wanted it to help with my faith-related goals or to-do’s which inhabit an intimate sphere in everyone’s lives. I know this is a lot, but I wanted even more. I wanted this something to also help me figure out what my goals in life are, both long-term and short-term, across all spheres of life that may exist. I wanted it to not let me lose sight of those, help me be accountable, review my progress, reflect, and so on. And I wanted this thing to not be scary and intimidating, not something which I had signed up to but hated going through because it took my self-esteem, confidence, and mental health in general through a rough car wash. I wanted it to be supportive and enjoyable, something I looked forward to, a safe space which would not judge or criticize if I failed which I would, countless times, but be the anti to the self-critical voice in my head. I wanted effective coaching and mentorship as I needed it, I wanted good friends and community, and and and. I wanted all of this, and perhaps more which I am not able to articulate, and I wanted it all in a single place. 

You can laugh. This was ridiculous, too much of an ask. Obviously, I don’t remember finding anything that responded well to let alone all, not even one of these asks. 

And then!

I wouldn’t say I founded Taqdees or the earliest iteration of it. Because I truly don’t think I did. If you were to ask me how I did it, it would be difficult for me to answer. Because it was all Allah. I was only tying the camel. I kept tying it and Allah gave me Taqdees. SubhanAllah. Can’t praise or thank Allah enough. Prophet Dāwūd A.S. realized the limitation of our acts of shukr and reportedly stated, “O my Lord, if every hair on my body had two tongues, praising you day and night, for all of eternity, then it would never repay the full debt of having just one blessing.” … Only by admitting the impossibility of praising Allah in exchange for everything He has given us can we truly attain the ranks of the grateful. Prophet Mūsā A.S. came to this realization and asked, “O my Lord, how can I give shukr to You when the smallest blessing You bestowed upon me cannot be properly repaid with all of my good deeds?” So a revelation came to him: “O Mūsā, now you have thanked Me.” Source

Now, it’s not just mine but everybody’s, whoever wants to join. Allah will always be greater, He will always give more. Now, not only is there a solution to all my asks, but there is a solution to your asks too, anybody’s. All in one place. I could never have imagined or even dreamt of this. But Allah works in unimaginably, ungraspab-ly beautiful ways. Surely, we plan and He plans. And Allah is the best of planners. 

JazakAllahu Khairan if you’ve read this. Assalaamu ‘alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh!