Deprivation: A Divine Blessing

DEPRIVATION: A DIVINE BLESSING Orphanhood is a transformative state that fosters selfawareness and instils in a person the determination to become self-sufficient. Such deprivation transforms an individual into a hero. I n May 2000, I embarked on a journey to Bihar, where I had the privilege of visiting Batia orphanage. This establishment, founded in 1928, made me realize that being an orphan is not a misfortune but a blessing bestowed by nature. If being an orphan were not a blessing, God Almighty would not have chosen orphanhood for the Prophet of Islam. For any child, being an orphan is a good tiding. It signifies that they have been entrusted with a unique path in life’s journey, granted to an individual whom both Muslims and nonMuslims recognize as the most successful human being in history: the Messenger of God. When an individual is born as an orphan, he is given the opportunity to actualize his inherent potential and receive what he needs in this world. The Quranic verse, “Did He not find you orphaned and shelter you?” (93:6), unveils the divine plan. It reveals that God did not leave you as an orphan but sheltered