In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Who on this earth doesn't have difficulties? We can look at difficulties as problems or as gifts.
Difficulties are a problem when we make them a problem. If we focus on the difficulties themselves and not paying attention to the benefits that they may bring and we forget the blessings we have, then even a small difficulty is a big problem. This is actually our weakness and shortsightedness that we should strive to wean out of.
Everything will pass, including the difficulties you are suffering right now. After that difficulty has passed, you forget that it ever happened, like many other ones you experienced before. At the time it happened, you think you will never make it.
Imagine, if you can remember all the pains, all the sufferings you have endured from the time you were born, even just all the pains and sufferings of the last 5 years, you would be in bed, unable to lift yourself up to do what you are doing right now. This is out of Allah's mercy and in itself a great blessing that Allah saves you from remembering every calamity in your life all at once.
So, when you are hit with another difficulty, remember the All Merciful. Don't panic...for it makes your enemy rejoice and makes your friend feel sad, and it makes Allah angry and makes the shaytan happy, and it destroys reward and weakens resolve. Be patient and strive to please Allah, turn to Allah and say Inna Lillaahi wa inna ilayhi raaji’un (Verily to Allah we belong and unto Him is our return), make your friend happy, console your friends before they console you. This is steadfastness and a sign of perfection – not slapping one's cheeks, rending one's garment, wishing for death and being discontent with the Divine decree.
Yes, we don't want difficulties and we always ask Allah to save us from the trials and tribulations of this life and the next. But Allah will test us--with difficulties and with ease.
Allah Almighty says,
أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾ وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّـهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ ﴿٣[Qur'an Ankabut 29:2-3]
Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried? (2) But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. (3)
Sometimes the test of ease is more difficult than the test of difficulties.
Shaykh al-Islam [Ibn Taymiyah] said: "A calamity that makes you turn to Allah is better for you than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of Allah.”
The higher your station with Allah, the harder the tests. Just like the tests during our grade and high school--there were not easy from our little perspective at the time, but you know now that they were not near as difficult as the college exams or bar exams you had just taken but you endured and passed the exams nonetheless, because you want this promise of a good career and to reach the status of those who are successful in the field.
Likewise, if you respond well to Allah's test for you, it can become a great gift for you...for if you are patient and content with the Divine decree, Allah has stored up for you something that is many times greater than what you have suffered through the difficulty, and if He willed He could have made the calamity even greater. [Similarly, if you show gratitude for the blessing of ease and it drives you to higher and lofty goals, it is a means of increase for you from the Most Generous.]
Have faith in the All Merciful and trust in Him and although, sometimes we may not understand the reason behind certain things, know that as long as you obey Him, whatever He will do for you is, in fact for your betterment.
Allah Almighty says,
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّـهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّـهَ بَـٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّـهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍ قَدْرًا ﴿٣[Qur'an at-Talaaq 65:3]
And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent. (3)
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: 'If you put your trust completely in Allah, He will arrange for your sustenance in the same way as He provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with their stomachs empty and return filled in the evening.' (Tirmidhi-saheeh).
If you have been ill for a long time, sure it is not easy for you and for everyone around you. But know that this is better for you. Be patient and you do your best to treat your sickness, while believing that only Allah cures, not the medicine. Sickness is a means of expiation for your sins and a source of great reward.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: 'There is nothing that befalls a believer, not even a thorn that pricks him, but Allah will record one good deed for him and will remove one bad deed from him.' (Muslim)
And He, Allah bless him and grant him peace, also said: 'On the Day of Resurrection, when people who had suffered affliction are given their reward, those who were healthy will wish their skins had been cut to pieces with scissors when they were in the world (when they see the immense rewards for the afflictions they suffered).' (Tirmidhi-Saheeh by al-Albaani)
If you don't have that big house, that nice car, that high career, or you can't find any job except pushing carts or cleaning toilets or sweeping floors or flipping hamburgers, or you don't have that many fans or speaking engagements, or you don't have that beautiful spouse/children, or you cannot have children, know that it is better for you. Maybe these things that you desire would have become a source of 'fitnah' (trial) for you. Perhaps you would have become arrogant, proud and conceited because of it, and Allah saved you from it.
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: 'Any one in whose heart is even a mustard seed's worth of pride will not enter Paradise.' (Muslim)
If one of your loved one passed away, believe that it is for the best. You never know, had the one who passed away lived longer, may be his life would have been one of sins and disobedience and Allah, out of His Mercy, took him before that....in a state of Iman.
If life has been difficult, one difficulty after another hits you, hear the good news from the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, who said: 'Trials will continue to befall the believing man and woman, with regard to themselves, their children and their wealth, until they meet Allah with no sin on them.' (Tirmidhi--saheeh by al-Albaani)
Remember that the One Who is testing you is the Most Wise, the Most Merciful and the Most Loving. He did not send the difficulties to cause you pain or to destroy you. Rather, He wants you to come close to Him--through your supplication to Him, seeking His protection filled with humility, and complaining to Him, alone, in the depths of the night. The difficulties you are facing is a reminder for you to return to Allah and ask for His forgiveness. Who knows, if He didn't give you this difficulty, maybe you would have strayed away from Him far, far away.
When we go through pain and suffering, keep in mind that as long as we fear Allah and stay away from the forbidden and try our best to obey His Commands, He will never do us wrong. Have good opinion of Allah, that He will protect us, guide us and do the best for us.
Allah says in a hadith Qudsi: 'I am as my slave thinks of me and I am with him whenever he remembers me.' (Agreed Upon).
وَمَن يَتَّقِ ٱللَّـهَ يَجْعَل لَّهُۥ مَخْرَجًا ﴿٢ ...
... And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out (2) [Qur'an At-Talaaq 65:2]
Difficulties are like medicine: even though it is bitter, yet, in spite of its bitterness you still give it to the one whom you love. Your difficulties are a sign of Allah's love for you. Be patient and wait for the fruits of your patience.
Think what the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said: “Paradise is surrounded with difficulties, and Hell is surrounded with desires.”
The bitterness of this world is the essence of sweetness in the Hereafter. Similarly the sweetness of this world is the essence of bitterness in the Hereafter. It is better to move from temporary bitterness to eternal sweetness than the other way round.
May Allah make give ease to those who are in difficulties and help us to remember Him and worship Him with excellence, and save us from the trials and tribulation of this life and the next. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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