Habeeba Husain

In one of my final weeks teaching at a local Sunday School, a previous student’s parent came into my classroom. She gave a gift and words of advice as my upcoming wedding was a few days away.

“You know who your Best Friend is,” she told me at the end of our conversation. Her nod communicated she was somehow confident I would be just fine as a married woman. It was interesting to hear those words coming from a parent I hardly spoke with after her daughter moved up multiple levels since being my student years prior. Yet, her piece of advice is one that stood out.

My Best Friend, Allah. What a beautiful way to put it.

What makes someone a best friend anyway? Beyond the fun chill sessions and weekend outings, a best friend is more importantly someone who is there for you in your time of need. Someone you can confide in. Someone who is always willing to lend an ear or a hand or a shoulder to cry on. After moving miles away from all of my family and friends, it became especially apparent that yes, Allah is my Best Friend.

There are some things you do not want to mention to your mother, sister, or friend because you know the issues shall pass and they are simply not worth worrying your loved ones. More often than not, I was my own problem allowing little non-issues occupy too much space in my heart. These were bumps in the road—not permanently damaging bumps, but ones that everyone needs to overcome. I had to deal with them while still making sure my husband and mother knew I was happy. So who could I turn to?

My Best Friend, of course. He is the only one who can turn my heart toward good, calm my nerves, and make everything all better.

But I cannot just pick up the phone to call Him. The line to Allah is so much more direct than that. There is no chance of a call drop, no worries of disturbing someone’s dinner, and no headache of leaving a voicemail then hopelessly waiting for a response.

Instead, there is a guarantee He is there, He is listening, and He will answer. The Quran says, “And your Lord says, ‘Call upon Me; I will respond to you.’” (Q. 40:60) All we have to do is lower our head, raise our hands, and speak whatever is in our mind and in our heart. Allah already knows what we have to say, but it is up to us to actually say it and realize He has all the answers we need and desperately search for.

He is that type of Best Friend who constantly has your back, can read your mind, and loves when you reach out to Him. If you have never done so, raise your hands to pray to Allah. Supplicate to Him. Tell Him about all your worries, about all your happinesses. Ask Him to help you make things right with yourself and with others. It will be like your own therapy session, except after a chat with this Best Friend, you are guaranteed to go about the rest of your day feeling better.

Go on, what are you waiting for?