The Four Ladies under the Baobab Tree

While going on an ATV ride to the beach, we stopped at a giant fallen Baobab tree. Our guide took us around the tree showing us its interesting features and fun facts. As we snapped photos with the giant tree we completely overlooked 4 ladies sitting under the tree selling bracelets and other trinkets. When it looked like we were about ready to leave, one of the ladies pulled me and my sister over to the area where their items were laid out and urged us to buy something.

Though neither of us wanted anything, my sister took some money from her bag and told the ladies, “I don’t want anything, but here is a gift.” While it wasn’t much in our currency, it apparently meant the world to these ladies as they sang and danced with joy and made dua (supplication) profusely for my sister. They said that they had been under that tree all day and hadn’t made a single sale.

Once all the excitement of their joy had settled and we left, I thought about that for a while. I thought about how Allah provides his rizq (provisions) in some of the most wonderful ways. He intended those ladies to have a significant sum of money in their currency. And so he brought my sister all the way from America to gift them that money.

 وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًۭا ٢…

وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا ٣

…And whoever is mindful of Allah, He will make a way out for them, (2)

and provide for them from sources they could never imagine. And whoever puts their trust in Allah, then He ˹alone˺ is sufficient for them. Certainly Allah achieves His Will. Allah has already set a destiny for everything. (3)

The Holy Quran | Chapter 65, Verse 2-3

How amazing is it that Allah has created and intertwined our destinies with such extraordinary purpose!