As long as I can remember people have made the observation that I’m a tad clumsy. Whether it be in my university days where flat mates would laugh when, after spending 40 minutes cooking my dinner, I’d pour my food into the sink in a botched attempt at draining excess water from the pan; or my childhood memories of standing in front of my mother after having broken something and seeing her red faced shouting about me being ”ham-fisted”. Despite much soul searching I’m left with no explanation as to why I regularly seem to break, smash, fall, slip, trip, drop, crash, etc.

Here’s a photographic journal of a two week period. I’ve omitted things like misjudging the distance between the bottle neck and the glass as I pour myself (and the table) a drink, as I assume everyone does that kind of stuff - right? These were all taken at work and I didn’t do any of this on purpose just to get a picture (in case anyone is thinking that).

I guess however there is a plus side to this bungling habit of mine. In a similar way to how every summer I reflect on the blessing that accompanies my hay fever, that is I’ll say al-hamdu lillāh more often than a person who doesn’t spend their holidays with their nose buried in a tissue sneezing; I feel that breaking things more often than the next man provides me with more opportunities to remain patient and make dhikr of Allāh.

For instance, I’d much rather knock over a vase of flowers and say, Subhāna Allāh, Allāhu akbar or Lā ilāha illā Allāh in response, than blurt out some of the colourful language that I hear from work colleagues in a similar scenario.

Swearing is commonly asserted to be a sign of a limited vocabulary. Whereas the phrases found in the Sunnah are noted for there rich, extensive and concise meanings. Indeed, the Messenger of Allāh (salla Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) explained that he had been sent with Jawāmi’ al-kalim (short, concise speech that carries extensive meanings) (Bukhāri)

So why not, when things like this happen, try and earn reward by making some dhikr of Allāh? Say we trip over a child’s toy that’s been left on the floor, why not simply plant a tree as a response?

Jābir reported that the Messenger of Allāh (salla Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said, “Whoever recites the words Subhāna Allāhi al-’Azhīm wa bihamdih (Glory be to Allāh and His is the praise) will have a palm tree planted for him in the Garden.” (al-Tirmidhī)

Or the next time something happens that we dislike, rather than scowling how’s about saying:

Qaddar Allāhu wa mā shā’a fa’l

“Allāh decreed and what He wills happens.”?

Or if we move onto the larger calamities that a person can face in their life, the story of Umm Salamah (radiya Allāhu ‘anhā) contains a truly amazing du’ā that we should certainly ensure that we have amongst our arsenal. She’d heard from her husband that the Messenger of Allāh (salla Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) had said “There is no calamity that befalls one of the Muslims and he responds by saying ’Innā lillāhi wa innā ilayhi rāji’ūn (Truly, to Allāh we belong, and truly, to Him we shall return)’ then he says ’Allāhumma ujurnī fī musībatī w’ukhluf lī khayran minhā (O Allāh, reward me in this calamity and compensate me with something better than it)’ but Allāh will do that for him.” (Ahmad)

Then after the death of her husband Abū Salamah, she made this du’ā and who did Allāh bless her with as a husband? None other than the Messenger of Allāh (salla Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam).

There is even a residual benefit in calamities still present long after the event.

Al-Husayn ibn ‘Alī narrates that the Messenger of Allāh (salla Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said “If any Muslim man or woman suffers a calamity and keeps it in his memory, even if it happened a long time ago, saying each time it is remembered, ‘We belong to Allāh and to Him do we return,’ Allāh, who is Blessed and Exalted will give a fresh reward each time it is said, equivalent to the reward when it happened.” (al-Tirmidhi, Ahmad and al-Bayhaqi)

So I guess the life of a klutz isn’t all that bad. And besides, after having wrote all this, I’ve noticed a pattern in the photographs and a short term solution has come to mind as to how to avoid similar such breakages in the future - I could always try giving up drinking coffee at work.