The Problem Isn't The Problem

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

Assalaamu alaykum

Dear Friends

I pray that you are well.

When you are hungry, it is not a problem if you have food. When you are thirsty, it is not a problem if you have water. When you are cold, it is not a problem if you have the proper clothing or heater to warm you up, or when it is hot, it is not a problem if you have shade or an air conditioner. So the problem isn't the problem itself. If you have provision needed when that hunger or thirst or cold or heat strikes, neither hunger, thirst, cold nor heat will touch you. The problem is only when the hunger comes and you don’t have food, when the thirst comes and you don't have water, when the temperature hit below freezing and you don't have thick clothing to cover yourself or a working heater in the home to warm your bodies, or when the temperature is in the 3 digits and you don't have a cooling system.

So many of us can't even handle when someone looks at us the wrong way. Why? Because we lack the cooling system, i.e. patience. Patience is a huge provision to keep asking Allah for.

Indeed, Allah sends us trials, so we may be purified, strengthened and returned to Him. But, know that with that hunger, thirst, cold or hot, Allah also sends the provision to overcome it. Allah sends the test, but with it He can send the sabr (patience), and even the ridha (contentment) to withstand it.

Indeed, Allah tests those whom He loves and He tests in proportion to the level of faith. But Allah too may send His Divine assistance whereby any test can be made easy and any fire can be made cool.

Remember the story of Ibrahim alayhissalaam who was thrown into the fire but he came out of it as if he was coming out from a garden, peaceful, his face illuminated, and not a trace of smoke on his clothes.

Remember the story of Asiyah, the wife of Fir'aun. In her final moments, Pharoah tortured her severely. But Asiyah smiled. Why? Because she saw her palace in Jannah with her Lord. And her du'a is recorded in the Qur'an for us to understand.

وَضَرَبَ اللَّـهُ مَثَلًا لِّلَّذِينَ آمَنُوا امْرَأَتَ فِرْعَوْنَ إِذْ قَالَتْ رَبِّ ابْنِ لِي عِندَكَ بَيْتًا فِي الْجَنَّةِ وَنَجِّنِي مِن فِرْعَوْنَ وَعَمَلِهِ وَنَجِّنِي مِنَ الْقَوْمِ الظَّالِمِينَ ﴿١١

And Allah presents an example of those who believed: the wife of Pharaoh, when she said, "My Lord, build for me near You a house in Paradise and save me from Pharaoh and his deeds and save me from the wrongdoing people." (11)

[Qur'an At-Tahrim 66:11]

Allah too may send His Divine assistance whereby a single glimpse of His light and the home with Him can make you smile — even in the midst of the flames of trial. For that we have to remember Him by day and by night, be grateful to Him and turn to Him in repentance often.

فَٱذْكُرُونِىٓ أَذْكُرْكُمْ وَٱشْكُرُوا۟ لِى وَلَا تَكْفُرُونِ ﴿١٥٢

So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me.

[Qur'an al-Baqarah 2:152]

May Allah ease our difficulties and send relief to those who are in difficulties all over the world. Ameen.

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

And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam