We All Go Through Difficult Periods In Life - Day 10 (1444.h)
إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا
Verily, along with every hardship is relief (i.e. there is one hardship with two reliefs, so one hardship cannot overcome two reliefs).
Sūrah Ash-Sharh, Āyah 6
﷽
At some point in our lives, we’ve all been through difficulties that seemed like the end of the world, and Allāh’s help is sought, sometimes we feel as though we’re on the verge of giving up all hope, and subḥān-Allāh many of us start to listen to the whispers of Shayṭān in such times.
Lots of us fall prey to uttering unbefitting statements for the believer, such as: “Why me”, “If I had just done ‘x’ ‘y’ would have happened”, or more common amongst the youth in our times “God when”. We ask Allāh to save us from impatience and misguidance.
Allāh, The Mighty and Majestic, mentioned:
لَا يُكَلِّفُ ٱللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا مَآ ءَاتَىٰهَا ۚ سَيَجْعَلُ ٱللَّهُ بَعْدَ عُسْرٍۢ يُسْرًۭا
Allâh puts no burden on any person beyond what He has given him. Allâh will grant after hardship, ease.
Sūrah Aṭ-Ṭalāq:7
In life you will face difficult times, it’s a must because Allāh must make apparent those who are true believers from those who merely claim to be believers. The true believers in Tawḥīd, those with true Ēmān (correct belief) in the Qadr (pre-decree) of Allāh know that when they are tested they must be patient, and they understand that Allāh has prepared an unmeasurable reward for those who strive to remain patient upon what is difficult for them (both in their religious and world affairs), as He said:
إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى ٱلصَّـٰبِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍۢ
Only those who are patient shall receive their reward in full, without reckoning.
Sūrah Az-Zumar:10
So be patient o striving soul. So strive to attend those gatherings of knowledge, strive to listen and benefit from the recorded lessons of the scholars and students of knowledge… My beloved sister, be patient upon your Jilbāb, the people will call you names but the pleasure of your Lord means more to you! My noble brother, ignore the comments of the laymen who just don’t understand that there is no extremism in keeping a beard or wearing raised garments. Especially for us youth, we should be more patient in the field of marriage! Our spouses have been written, so why go to Ḥarām relationships which will only bring about the anger of your Lord? Indeed the pen has been lifted and the ink has dried, so trust in Allāh!
At the death of the son of The Prophet (ﷺ), he mentioned a very profound statement. He said, “indeed the eyes shed tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord.” (1)
And indeed in the Messenger (ﷺ) we find the best of examples. Wherever we are, and regardless of the situation we find ourselves in, our goal should always be to please our Lord, our Creator, The All-Knowing, Allāh, and to stay well away from His displeasure, with the beliefs we hold in our hearts, the statement on our tongues and the actions on our limbs. Allāh has informed us:
وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىۡءٍ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصٍ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَٰلِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٰتِۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirûn (the patient).
Sūrah Al-Baqarah:155
And He also mentioned (ﷻ):
إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًۭا
Verily, along with every hardship is relief (i.e. there is one hardship with two reliefs, so one hardship cannot overcome two reliefs).
Sūrah Ash-Sharḥ:6
Thus we should preserve to be patient when faced with difficulty, hoping for Allah’s reward and being certain that the help of Allāh will come to us. Just reflect on the trials you may have faced previously… Did Allāh not get you through them? Did you not taste ease? So don’t be sad, or dispair, indeed the help of your Lord is near! And remember the statement of The Prophet (ﷺ) narrated by Anas ibn Mālik (رضي الله عنه): "the real patience is at the first strike of the calamity." (2)
So wear the garment of patience, o seeker of good, for that was the beautiful garment which every prophet and messenger has worn, and upon us is to follow their footsteps if it is success we truly seek.
And don’t forget to call upon Allāh, for all your needs, He said (ﷻ):
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ٱدْعُونِىٓ أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِى سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَ
And your Lord said: "Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islâmic Monotheism) and ask Me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islâmic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!"
Sūrah Al-Ghāfir:60
We ask Allāh for safety and security. We ask Him to make us from the patient ones when we are tested and to give us the reward of the patient ones. We ask Allāh to make us from those who put their trust in Him Alone, without any partners.
وصلّى الله وسلّم عل نبيّنا محمّد وعلى آله وصحبه أجمعين
(1) - Ḥadīth narrated by Anas bin Malik (Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Bukhārī: 1303)
(2) - Ṣaḥīḥ Al-Bukhārī: 1302
