In Trying Times

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

The central role of the Qur'an is nourishing and sustaining Faith. In these trying times, in fact all times are trying, we can't survive without Faith in Islam.

لَقَدْ خَلَقْنَا الْإِنسَانَ فِي كَبَدٍ ﴿٤

Verily We have created man into toil and struggle. (4)

[Qur'an Al-Balad 90:4]

If you are not toiling and struggling, you are in trouble because you are either deluded or you don't know it is a trial.

Trials are a way to purify us. They ease our burden on the Day of Judgment, if we respond them with patience.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.

[Bukhari].

Trials are also to remind us of our purpose in life. If we are distant from Allah Almighty, the test is usually to bring us close to Him. The test should make one realizes that he has no one at all, but Allah.

أَيَحْسَبُ أَن لَّن يَقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ أَحَدٌ ﴿٥

Does he think that never will anyone overcome him? (5)

[Qur'an Al-Balad 90:5]

If you are close to Allah Almighty, it is a test of your resilience. Can you maintain and sustain the good actions when times are trying and the cloud is changing? Some people lose it when times are difficult, and the Qur'an mention this kind of people.

وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّـهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍ ۖ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ ۖ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُ ﴿١١

And of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face [to the other direction]. He has lost [this] world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss. (11)

[Qur'an Al-Hajj 22:11]

Tests are also out of Allah’s love. His beloved Messengerﷺ was the most tested.

The Prophet ﷺ said:

When Allah loves a servant, He tests him.

[Tirmidhi].

In a hadith qudsi (a hadith relating the words of Allah Almighty, Allah Almighty tells Jibril to delay the response to the supplication of a servant because Allah Almighty loves hearing his voice [Tabarani].

Trials don't have to be hardship. Sometimes the greatest trial is ease. If you don't know this, at the level of faith this is problematic.

When everything is okay, you may feel that you have no need for Allah. If you say this, that is disbelief. On the other hand, if you do not feel that desperate need of Allah in all your states, you are deficient in faith because that is not how a believer is.

True believers are those who when Allah is mentioned, their heart quakes and when Qur'an is recited to them, it increases them in faith and they put trust in Allah. Outwardly, they establish the prayers and they spend of what Allah has provided them.

إِنَّمَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ الَّذِينَ إِذَا ذُكِرَ اللَّـهُ وَجِلَتْ قُلُوبُهُمْ وَإِذَا تُلِيَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ آيَاتُهُ زَادَتْهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَعَلَىٰ رَبِّهِمْ يَتَوَكَّلُونَ ﴿٢﴾ الَّذِينَ يُقِيمُونَ الصَّلَاةَ وَمِمَّا رَزَقْنَاهُمْ يُنفِقُونَ ﴿٣

The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, their hearts become fearful, and when His verses are recited to them, it increases them in faith; and upon their Lord they rely - (2) The ones who establish prayer, and from what We have provided them, they spend. (3)

[Qur'an Al-Anfal 8:2-3]

Allah makes it clear that not all believers are the same--there are limitless ranks.

أُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ حَقًّا ۚ لَّهُمْ دَرَجَاتٌ عِندَ رَبِّهِمْ وَمَغْفِرَةٌ وَرِزْقٌ كَرِيمٌ ﴿٤

Those are the believers, truly. For them are degrees [of high position] with their Lord and forgiveness and noble provision. (4)

[Qur'an Al-Anfal 8:4]

May Allah make us among the true believers. Ameen.

Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
related archives:
Strengthening Our Certainty
Unshaken Belief
You Were Born Muslim