A Muslim is the one who is satisfied and pleased with their Lord, Allahسبحانه و تعالى at all times and in all aspects of life. That’s what we say every morning and every evening.
رَضيـتُ بِاللهِ رَبَّـاً وَبِالإسْلامِ ديـناً وَبِمُحَـمَّدٍ نَبِيّـاً
“I am pleased with Allah سبحانه و تعالى as a Lord, and Islam as a religion and Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم as a Prophet.”
What does it mean when we say that we are ‘pleased’ with Allah سبحانه و تعالى ? It means we are satisfied and contented with whatever He has decreed for us. We are pleased with all His plans. It means we have faith in His infinite wisdom and we truly believe that He is the Most – Wise. It means we believe that both good and bad comes from Him alone.
Having this faith doesn’t mean we are going to live a merry life full of enjoyment and pleasures according to our whims and desires. It doesn’t mean that we will only have prosperity and joys coming our way. It means that it will bring about different episodes of bliss and despair. It means it will bring about tests, trials, and hardships so that we know if we are truly faithful to ourselves and our Lord. It means that it is an opportunity to raise our ranks and position It means that it is an opportunity to attain paradise ultimately and for eternity. إن شاء الله
Allah سبحانه و تعالى, himself says, “Or you think that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty, ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who had faith with him said, ‘When will the Help of Allah come?’ Yes! Indeed Allah’s help is close!” [2:214]
Allah سبحانه و تعالى says that how is it possible to attain Jannah without having to strive for it. How is it possible that we say ‘we believe’ but we don’t expect hardships.
Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allah have mercy on him) said: “Do not resent the calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom.”
Therefore, a true believer knows that these hardships are rather a blessing in disguise because it is that beautiful way of strengthening our relationship with Allah سبحانه و تعالى and using it as a path to go on the straight path.
Allah سبحانه و تعالى says, in the Glorious Quran, “No disaster strikes except by permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah – He will guide his heart. And Allah is Knowing of all things.” [ 64 : 11]
But, how will a believer react and respond to such trials and hardships which Allah سبحانه و تعالى has decreed for him? Allah سبحانه و تعالى, Our Merciful Creator has also provided us with a magnificent present so that we may succeed the tests. The Most Benevolent has gifted His thankful slaves with the most comprehensive gift. It is a gift that is the best of all. It is a gift that envelops all the attributes of a true believer. It is a gift that is enjoyed only by those who truly Love Allah سبحانه و تعالى. It is a Gift from our Beloved Rabb to His beloved slaves.
It is the GIFT of SABR. It is the GIFT of PATIENCE.
وَمَا أُعْطِيَ أَحَدٌ عَطَاءً خَيْرًا وَأَوْسَعَ مِنْ الصَّبْرِ
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “Whoever would be patient, then Allah will make him patient. There is no gift that is better and more comprehensive than patience.” [ Sahih al -Bukhari ]
Yes. Sabr صبر is the combination of forbearance, endurance, steadfastness, perseverance, and restraint. SABR is the powerful armor for the believers in order to save themselves from depression, sorrow, grief, ingratitude, and Shirk. It is this gift that allows the believers to rise in their status and in their positions of faith. It is this gift that allows them to get closer to their Lord. It is this gift which disguises the hardships as blessings. It is this gift that pushes the believers to rush for repentance, to await the great rewards, to be thankful for all the blessings, and to do good and righteous deeds.
The greater the faith. The greater shall be the trial.
The greater the trial. The greater the gift should be used.
The greater the gift is used. The greater is the reward.
And indeed the reward of Patience is without measure!!
The believers are like diamonds.
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم said,
“Whoever Allah سبحانه و تعالى wants good for him, he puts
them to test. He puts them through difficulties. Like a
diamond or some metal that has to be burnt and then that
which is bad from it is removed so that you have that
which is the pure diamond or the pure gold or whatever.
Put them to tests, trials and difficulties.” [ Tirmidhi]
Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم has provided us a message of relief for those who endure difficulties with patience. Showing displeasure and discontent with Allah سبحانه و تعالى’s decree is not the attitude of a believer or the proof of possessing a diamond faith.
Now, the question is what kind of tests and trials are the beloved slaves of Allah سبحانه و تعالى out into?
Allah سبحانه و تعالى says, in the Quran, “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
Who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return.”
Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.”[ 2 : 155 ]
Subhaan Allah. A true believer is aware that whatever comes is from The Creator alone and truly belongs to Him alone.
When we face trials in fear…. Say الحَمْدُ ِلله
Whenever we face trials in hunger… Say الحَمْدُ ِلله
Whenever we face trials in loss of wealth… Say الحَمْدُ ِلله
Whenever we face trials in loss of lives and fruits… Say الحَمْدُ ِلله
In every situation, a believer says, الْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ عَلَى كُلِّ حَالٍ
All praise and thanks are only for Allah سبحانه و تعالى in all circumstances.
“Surely, Allah takes what is His, and what He gives is His, and to all things He has appointed a time… so have patience and be rewarded.” [ Sahih Al Bukhari ]
إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعون
Wealth, health, life, happiness, sorrow, anything, everything.
A true believer doesn’t complain to anyone except to Allah سبحانه و تعالى. A true believer is not ignorant and does that whine or wail when calamity strikes him. He doesn’t utter anything that displeases Allah سبحانه و تعالى.
إِنَّ الْعَيْنَ تَدْمَعُ، وَالْقَلْبَ يَحْزَنُ، وَلاَ نَقُولُ إِلاَّ مَا يَرْضَى رَبُّنا
Narrated Anas bin Malik: We went with Allah’s Messenger ﷺ to the blacksmith Abu Saif, and he was the husband of the wet-nurse of Ibrahim (the son of the Prophet). Allah’s Messenger ﷺ took Ibrahim and kissed him and smelled him and later we entered Abu Saif’s house and at that time Ibrahim was in his last breaths, and the eyes of Allah’s Messenger ﷺ started shedding tears. Abdur Rahman bin Auf said, “O Allah’s Apostle, even you are weeping!” He said, “O Ibn `Auf, this is mercy.” Then he wept more and said, “The eyes are shedding tears and the heart is grieved, and we will not say except what pleases our Lord, O Ibrahim ! Indeed we are grieved by your separation.“
Subhaan Allah. A believe doesn’t resort to cursing or blaming others. He doesn’t attribute calamities to evil omens. He doesn’t go out of control that could open the doors of Shirk. Rather, a believer is calm and composed. He is patient and resistant.
Some merciful words of Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم :
“How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” [ Sahih Al Muslim]
“If Allah wills good for His slave, He hastens his punishment in this world, and if He wills bad for His slave, He withholds from him (the punishment for) his sin, until He requites him for it on the Day of Resurrection.” [ Al Tirmidhi ]
“Nothing befalls a believer, a (prick of a) thorn or more than that, but Allah will raise him one degree in status thereby, or erase a bad deed.”[Saheeayn]
All these sayings of Our Beloved Prophet Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم are the guide in the darkness and in the wells of sorrow and grief. They enlighten our hearts with joys and optimism.
Whenever you face difficulties, remember everything mentioned above and know that we are only here to strive and struggle to achieve that which we are promised for, the rewards from Allah سبحانه و تعالى. And this life is temporary.
This “Patience” is the path to higher levels of righteousness and piety. It is the path to PEACE.
“Peace be upon you for what you patiently endured. And excellent is the final home.” [ 13 : 24 ]
See you next time. Till then, stay happy, await the great rewards and use the precious gift at all times.
