In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
Whether in ease or difficulty, a believer ends up finding good and they benefit from what happens to them.
The Prophet (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
"Strange indeed are the affairs of the believer, for all their affairs are good for them – and that is for none except for a believer. If pleasing things occur to them, they’re thankful, and that is best for them; and if distressful things occur to them, they are patient, and that is best for them."
Some scholars said that a servant of Allah does not go outside of the fluctuation between four states. Each has a right response with respect to one's Creator.
The first: is the state of (receiving a) blessing. The right response is thankfulness and display gratitude.
In blessing one has to be thankful. This is the most difficult of the four. Allah Almighty tells us in His address to the family of Daud alayhissalaam:
ٱعْمَلُوٓا۟ ءَالَ دَاوُۥدَ شُكْرًا ۚ وَقَلِيلٌ مِّنْ عِبَادِىَ ٱلشَّكُورُ ﴿١٣ ...[Qur'an Saba 34:13]
...[We said], "Work, O family of Daud, in gratitude." And few of My servants are grateful. (13)
If we were truly grateful we would smile much more than we do. Why? Because someone who recognizes that we are drowning in blessings of Allah, they would be thankful in every moment for that blessing. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassallam was always full of concern and full of things that would make him sorrow yet he was always cheerful.
Allah Almighty says,
قُلْ بِفَضْلِ ٱللَّـهِ وَبِرَحْمَتِهِۦ فَبِذَٰلِكَ فَلْيَفْرَحُوا۟ هُوَ خَيْرٌ مِّمَّا يَجْمَعُونَ ﴿٥٨[Qur'an Yunus 10:58]
Say, "In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy - in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate." (58)
We rejoice in the things we gather but those things don't last. The way to benefit with the blessing is to be thankful to the Bestower of the gifts and then and only then that blessing truly a blessing in real terms -- to secure the good of this life and the next. The sincere believer, the believer who is conscious of his Lord is thankful. He recognizes the blessing is from Allah, appreciates and expresses his gratitude for the blessing.
Very often the greatest trials in our lives are not difficulties, tribulations, distress or loss but rather ease and apparent success. When things are difficult, everyone knows what to do. They return to Allah. But when something pleasing happen -- getting promoted, having a new baby, passing exams, finding a desirable spouse, they rejoice in those things.
The thing that appears to be a blessing, the reality is that it is a tribulation if you are not thankful. Likewise, difficulties, tribulations, distress or loss, its outward experience is that it is bad, but the reality is that this is a blessing from Allah if you are patient, and it is good for you. It is a means of you connecting with Allah.
The second: is in some good you have done. When you do something good, don't ascribe it to yourself. You ascribe it to the One who chose it for you. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wassalaam said, "Whoever finds the good let them praise Allah." Many people strive but that granting is from Allah. So you praise the One who gave it to you, not just with your tongue but also with your heart.
The third: is the state (of being) tested. The right response is to be patient...Patience is to remain firm on what is pleasing to Allah -- to have the right attitude, without any objection to how Allah has made things unfold, without complaints. As it relates to Allah you accept what He sends to you and you respond in a manner that is pleasing to Him.
If someone oppresses you, for example, patience does not mean you accept the oppression. You stand up to the wrong in the right way.
The fourth: is the state (of committing) a sin -- you have disobeyed Allah, you have fallen short in fulfilling your duties to Allah, you have wronged yourself, you have wronged others. The right response is not to be miserable but to repent. Allah accepts the repentance of His servants until they breathe their last. Not only Allah accepts the repentance but Allah rejoices in His servants repentance. Repentance has many levels but it is a return to Allah -- you return from sin to submission, from disbelief to belief, from lack of concern of Allah to having complete concern of Allah, from distraction to complete devotion and consciousness. You feel remorseful for your sins but elated for the blessing of repentance. Your repentance means success.
We ask Allah for well being. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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