Overcoming Difficult Situation

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

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

Recall the story of Prophet Yunus, alayhissalaam.

He was swallowed by a whale by the decree of Allah. Three layers of darkness enveloped him, one above the other; the darkness of the whale's stomach, the darkness of the bottom of the sea, the darkness of the night. Prophet Yunus imaged himself to be dead, but his senses became alert when he found he could move. He knew that he was alive and imprisoned in the midst of three layers of darkness. His heart was moved by remembering Allah.

Prophet Yunus cried through the darkness: لَّا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ [none has the right to be worshipped but You, Glorified and Exalted are You, truly, I have been of the wrongdoers].

Allah narrates the story of Prophet Yunus in the Quran. Thus Allah made this event into a daily life lesson for every believer. No matter how dark your situation is, turn to Him, recognize His position, realize your position and He will give you a way out.

وَذَا النُّونِ إِذ ذَّهَبَ مُغَاضِبًا فَظَنَّ أَن لَّن نَّقْدِرَ عَلَيْهِ فَنَادَىٰ فِي الظُّلُمَاتِ أَن لَّا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿٨٧﴾ فَاسْتَجَبْنَا لَهُ وَنَجَّيْنَاهُ مِنَ الْغَمِّ ۚ وَكَذَٰلِكَ نُنجِي الْمُؤْمِنِينَ ﴿٨٨
And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darknesses, "There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers." (87) So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers. (88)

[Qu'ran Al-Anbiya 81:86-87]

The whale ejected Prophet Yunus onto a remote island. His body was inflamed because of the acids inside the whale's stomach. He was ill, and when the sun rose, its ray burned his inflamed body so that he was on the verge of screaming for the pain. However, he endured the pain and continued to repeat his invocation to Allah.

Almighty Allah caused a vine to grow to considerable length over him for protection. Then Allah Exalted caused Prophet Yunus to recover and forgave him. Allah told Prophet Yunus that if it had not been for his praying to Him, he would have stayed in the whale's stomach till the Day of Judgment.

Almighty Allah recounted:

وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ الْمُرْسَلِينَ ﴿١٣٩﴾ إِذْ أَبَقَ إِلَى الْفُلْكِ الْمَشْحُونِ ﴿١٤٠﴾ فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ الْمُدْحَضِينَ ﴿١٤١﴾ فَالْتَقَمَهُ الْحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ ﴿١٤٢﴾ فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ ﴿١٤٣﴾ لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ ﴿١٤٤﴾ فَنَبَذْنَاهُ بِالْعَرَاءِ وَهُوَ سَقِيمٌ ﴿١٤٥﴾ وَأَنبَتْنَا عَلَيْهِ شَجَرَةً مِّن يَقْطِينٍ ﴿١٤٦﴾ وَأَرْسَلْنَاهُ إِلَىٰ مِائَةِ أَلْفٍ أَوْ يَزِيدُونَ ﴿١٤٧﴾ فَآمَنُوا فَمَتَّعْنَاهُمْ إِلَىٰ حِينٍ ﴿١٤٨
And indeed, Jonah was among the messengers. (139) [Mention] when he ran away to the laden ship. (140) And he drew lots and was among the losers. (141) Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy. (142) And had he not been of those who exalt Allah, (143) He would have remained inside its belly until the Day they are resurrected. (144) But We threw him onto the open shore while he was ill. (145) And We caused to grow over him a gourd vine. (146) And We sent him to [his people of] a hundred thousand or more. (147) And they believed, so We gave them enjoyment [of life] for a time. (148)

[Qur'an 37:139-148]

Gradually Prophet Yunus regained his strength and found his way to his hometown, Nineveh. He was pleasantly surprised to notice the change that had taken place there. The entire population turned out to welcome him. They informed him that they had turned to believe in Allah. Together they led a prayer of thanks to their Merciful Lord.

Ibn Abbas narrated: "The Prophet Muhammad, Allah bless him and grant him peace,) said: 'One should not say I am better than Yunus Ibn Matta.'" [Sahih Bukhari]

May Allah enable us to turn to Him day and night and moist our tongues with His remembrance. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam