The Only Shelter in the Storm (By:Yasmin Mogahed)

It’s never easy to stand when the storm hits. As soon as it starts raining, lightning shortly follows. Dark clouds replace the sun and all you can see are the waves of an ocean, once calm, surrounding you. No longer able to find your way, you reach out for help.

You begin by calling the coast guard. No reply. You try again to redirect the boat. No use. You look for the lifeboat. It’s gone. You reach for a life jacket. Torn. Finally after you’ve exhausted every means, you turn your face upward.

And ask God.

But there’s something completely unique about this moment. At this instant, you experience something you otherwise could only theorize about: true tawheed. Oneness. See, on shore, you may have called on God. But you called on Him along with so many others. You may have depended on God. But you depended on Him along with so many other handholds. But for this singular moment, everything else is closed. Everything. There is nothing left to call on. Nothing left to depend on. But Him.

And that’s the point.

Do you ever wonder why when you’re most in need, every door you seek of the creation remains closed? You knock on one, but it’s slammed shut. So you go to another. It’s also shut. You go from door to door, knocking, pounding on each one, but nothing opens. And even those doors you had once depended on, suddenly shut. Why? Why does that happen?

See, we humans have certain qualities which God knows well. We are constantly in a state of need. We are weak. But, we are also hasty and impatient. When we are in trouble, we will be pushed to seek assistance. And that’s the design. Why would we seek shelter if it’s sunny and the weather is nice? When does one seek refuge? It is when the storm hits. So Allah subahanahu wa ta`ala (exlated is He) sends the storm; He makes the need through a created situation, so that we will be driven to seek shelter.

But when we do seek assistance, because of our impatience, we seek it in what is near and what seems easy. We seek it in what we can see and hear and touch. We look for shortcuts. We seek help in the creation, including our own selves. We look for help in what seems closest. And isn’t that exactly what dunya (wordly life) is? What seems near. The word ‘dunya’ itself means ‘that which is lower’. Dunya is what seems closest. But, this is only an illusion.

There is something closer.

Think for a moment about what’s nearest to us. If asked this question, many would say it is the heart and the self that are nearest. But, Allah (swt) says:

“It was We Who created man, and We know what dark suggestions his nafs (self) makes to him: for We are nearer to him than (his) jugular vein,” (Qur’an 50:16).

In this verse, Allah (swt) begins by showing us that He knows our struggles. There is comfort in knowing that someone sees our struggles. He knows what our own self calls us to. But He is closer. He is closer than our own self and what it calls for.  He is closer than our jugular vein. And why the jugular? What is striking about this part of us? The jugular vein is the most important vein that brings blood to the heart. If severed, we die almost immediately. It is literally our lifeline. But Allah (swt) is closer. Allah (swt) is closer than our own life, than our own Self, than our own nafs. And He is closer than the most important pathway to our heart.

In another verse, Allah (swt) says:

“O ye who believe! give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calleth you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah cometh in between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Whom ye shall (all) be gathered,” (Qur’an 8:24).

Allah (swt) knows we have a nafs. Allah knows we have a heart. Allah knows that these things drive us. But Allah tells us that He is closer to us than even these. So when we reach for other than Him, we are not only reaching for what is weaker, we are also reaching past what is closer, for what is further and more distant. Subhan Allah (Glory be to God).

So since this is our nature, as Allah (swt) knows best, He protects and redirects us by keeping all other doors of refuge closed during the storm. He knows that behind each false door is a drop. And if we enter it, we will fall. In His mercy, He keeps those false doors closed.

In His mercy, He sent the storm itself to make us seek Him. And then knowing that we’re likely to get the wrong answer, He gives us a multiple choice exam with only one option to choose from: the correct answer.  The hardship itself is ease.  By taking away all other handholds, all other multiple choice options, He has made the test simple.

It’s never easy to stand when the storm hits. And that’s exactly the point. By sending the wind, He brings us to our knees: the perfect position to pray.

Brief Account About Books To Study For FCPS Part 1

1. FIRST THINGS FIRST! Solve all the Qbooks (MCQs) available in the market:

Let it be said that despite the fact there are lots of mistakes in those but still these are REALLY MUST and therefore should be thoroughly read and hence memorized. THIS CAN NOT BE OVER EMPHASIZED. These include MS MURAD, AZEEM SHEIKH, CHANDKIAN, QBOOK by Kaplan plus any other source you can avail to read past papers’ questions. This is of utmost significance and is the master key to unlock the examination. See, for the questions actually repeated in the exam, there is no room of mistake and thus these should be definitely attempted correctly.

2. Anatomy:
“Your anatomy has to be very good!”
i. Gross - Snell Review book (if you want to be more sure on the exam, use RJ Last.
ii. Embryology - High Yield (Very important subject, should be revised a day before the examination)
iii. Neuroanatomy - Kaplan's anatomy (Snell’s Neuroanatomy is a better choice if you have enough time)
iv. Histology - Kaplan's anatomy (sometimes only two questions from Histology but always remember that every question counts!)

Note: wherever you study it from anatomy remains the same, it’s all about learning the minutest details of things in anatomy as long as you wish to score good in anatomy portion of the exam. If you have longer time than what I had (~2 months) I would beyond any doubt recommend either RJ LAST or any other good detailed text book for gross anatomy. That’s of extreme importance.


3. Physiology:
Kaplan or BRS or both: depending upon the time you have. There is a major chunk of questions from physiology alone and thus there is definite need to master the same.


4. Pathology:
Goljan: You must solve all questions given in both Goljan & BRS. For microbiology & immunology all what is given in first aid for USMLE step 1 is fairly enough.



5. Pharmacology:
Its roughly under 5% of the total i.e. less than ten questions in total out of 200, but as every question actually counts, so never ignore this subject.

6. Misc. Biochemistry, Biostatistics, Behavioral Sciences etc:
Less than 5% of the total. No need to put extra efforts into these, just follow the stuff given in First Aid.

7. After everything mentioned above, FIRST AID for USMLE STEP 1 is mandatory to read as many times as possible: at least twice.

I am a firm believer of the fact that you must put your maximum to pass this exam. Never pay any heed to people telling u that they passed without studying at all etc. This statement with due apology is nothing but an exaggeration.