Bukhari Reflection: Who controls my body?

Today’s Hadith lesson with Dr. Farhat Hashmi was absolutely phenomenal mashaAllah. I think time and time again, the underlying theme of each of these ahadith discussed, was control. We run into problems with ourselves and in our relationships when we try to be in control, when in fact control belongs to Allah.  

حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ أَسْمَاءَ، حَدَّثَنَا جُوَيْرِيَةُ، عَنْ مَالِكِ بْنِ أَنَسٍ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ ابْنِ مُحَيْرِيزٍ، عَنْ أَبِي سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيِّ، قَالَ أَصَبْنَا سَبْيًا فَكُنَّا نَعْزِلُ فَسَأَلْنَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ ‏ "‏ أَوَإِنَّكُمْ لَتَفْعَلُونَ قَالَهَا ثَلاَثًا مَا مِنْ نَسَمَةٍ كَائِنَةٍ إِلَى يَوْمِ الْقِيَامَةِ إِلاَّ هِيَ كَائِنَةٌ ‏"‏‏.‏

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:

We got female captives in the war booty and we used to do coitus interruptus with them. So we asked Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about it and he said, "Do you really do that?" repeating the question thrice, "There is no soul that is destined to exist but will come into existence, till the Day of Resurrection."

Sahih al-Bukhari 5210
	Book 67, Hadith 143
	Vol. 7, Book 62, Hadith 13

First, the hadith on natural contraception teaches us that Allah is in control of our bodies. 

Our culture teaches us, “My body is mine to do whatever I want to with it.” 

But in truth, this hadith tells us that we do not have any authority over our bodies. We cannot control the intricate functions and mechanisms, which are at work inside of us. We experience that everyday. How many times, people get a flu shot, during winter but get sick anyway or use a contraceptive but get pregnant anyway. This is because ultimately, our bodies obey Allah, not modern technology or even medicines. We can and we should take preventative measures to secure good health and physical well being. At the same time, we need to believe that earthly procedures can never outmaneuver Allah’s will and plans. Our bodies surrender to Allah’s power and His decisions.  Many of us live lives of great pain, confusion and rejection because we are struggling to accept our bodies the way Allah had made them. All our challenges with our bodies can be healed, when we accept wholeheartedly that Allah is the Owner and Master of our bodies.

Our culture tells us to seek respect, a sense of fulfillment and lasting happiness in our bodies. But these unique characteristics are found only in the truth and beauty of Allah’s Words, Intent and Design. When we fully and utterly give ourselves to Allah, we realize and experience love and compassion.