The math says: parallel lines never meet. No matter how far we extend them, they stay separated. I used to think of this quote as two people with different goals, moving in different ways. Even if they try to draw closer, they end up facing the inevitable distance that keeps them apart.
But maturity has brought me to realize that there are more to it. It can be about the paths we have in life. If we see through the lens of Islam, we are given two main directions: one is the straight path (ṣirāṭ al-mustaqīm), and the other leads to misguidance. Just like those parallel lines, these two paths never intersect. They are distinct and lead to very different places.
And that, this is My path, which is straight, so follow it; and do not follow [other] paths, for they will separate you from His way.
[Surah al-An'am: 153]
The right path takes us closer to Allah, while the other path leads us away from Him. If we are following the right path, we can't be on another path at the same time. It's like trying to make parallel lines meet. They just don't.
Staying on the straight path is really about consistency. This path isn't always the easiest, it's definitely not as "straight" as it sounds, but it's the one that keeps us grounded.
Another thing about parallel lines that I like is, they don't just symbolize paths. They can also be about who we walk with. That's what makes it a line, not a dot. It's equally crucial to surround ourselves with good company. People who share our values, who are trying to get closer to Allah, just as we are.
A man follows the religion of his friend; so each one should consider whom he makes his friend.
[Status: Hasan | Sunan Abi Dawud 4833]
Walking the straight path alongside others who share the same goal is like being on a shared journey. We band together by a common mission and vision, supporting and uplifting one another to stay motivated. And if one person misreads the map, it impacts everyone on the ride. The Qur'an reminds us of the deep regret people will feel for choosing the wrong companions:
Oh, woe to me! I wish I had not taken so-and-so as a close friend. He led me away from the remembrance after it had come to me.
[Surah al-Furqan: 28-29]
Technically, whoever we spend our time with, our path is being carved by them too. This doesn’t mean we should limit ourselves to a specific group of people and avoid those who are different to us, but it does mean we need to be mindful of how and when to protect our values and boundaries.
Of course, there will be times when we are tempted to leave this path. Maybe it's something we see in the world around us, or maybe it's a personal struggle we face. But there is something beautiful you should know. There is a promise that the faithful will be united in the Hereafter.
And those who believe and whose descendants followed them in faith—we will join with them their descendants, and We will not deprive them of anything of their deeds. Every person, for what he earned, is retained.
[Surah at-Tur: 21]
This is the final convergence in Paradise, we will be with the ones we love, all of us having stayed true to His Way.
So there's the art of noticing. Parallel lines can be more than just a line from a math concept. They are about the choices we make in life, the direction we decide to follow and the company we keep. May Allah guide us all to stay on the right, and may we find peace in the company of those who walk with us toward Him.
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