The Freedom of Choice

This morning, we have a CPC (clinical pathological case) in the morning entitled: Uterine artery embolization, 'Another Choice'. There's something which triggered me on the important of the word of CHOICE, as highlighted by the chaiperson. In this life, t's all about the choice we've made that matters. We have many options and decisions need to be done everyday, every minutes and seconds in life but in the end, it will all depend on the choice that we've decided to do, right?For example:




We may woke up early in the morning at 5am but it is our choice to go back to sleep and miss our qiamullail...

We may have the all night free but it is our choice to watch a movie instead of read books...

We may have the opportunity to ask questions but it is our choice to be silent, afraid of being labelled as a fool...

We may have the free time but it is our choice to go for shopping instead of clerking patients in wards...


Phew, it's all stiking me back on what choices I've made in this life. But I've got this phrases from a book that really inspired me:

"It's never too late to be what you might have been" - George Eliott.

I've also remembered on a poem I've learned when I was at high school: The Road Not Taken, by Robert Frost. It illustrates that once one takes a certain road, there is no turning back. Although one might change paths later on, the past cannot be changed. Therefore, the choice one took is very important, and need to be considered cautiously.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

As a Muslim, I also believe that Allah alone is the One Who has the Power of Creation, Knowledge and Choice and there is no one who can dispute with Him in that or reverse His judgement. Allah already mentioned in the Qur'an that everyone will be judged in the heareafter based on what the've done in the life with their own choice, and each one should be responsible for their own doing. For example, the choices being given to the people of Saba' as mentioned in the Qur'an:

And We placed, between them and towns which We had blessed, town easy to be seen, and We made the stages (of journey) between them easy (saying): “Travel in them safely both by night and day.” But they said:”Our Lord! Make the stages between our journey longer,” and they wronged themselves; so We made them as tales (in the land), and We dispersed them all totally. Verily, in this are indeed signs for every steadfast, grateful (person). (Saba’: 18-19)

Therefore, freedom of choice is not a TOTAL freedom to do whatever we want to do. Instead, it must be guided by the divine teaching as to not deviate from the staight pathway of this life. Listen to your heart, doesn't necessarily means listen to your needs or interest... Some things that u want most may be not good for you and some things that u least want may be good for you.

…and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know. (Al-Baqarah: 216)

O man! Verily, you are returning towards your Lord with your deeds and actions (good or bad), a sure returning, and you will meet (the results of your deeds which you did). (Al-Inshiqaq: 6)