In The Time Of Difficulty!

By, Juwairiyah Faisal Khan

Sometimes, when we go through the ups and downs of life we feel compelled to think if we are really treading on the right path and if we are seriously doing what we were created for?

As Allah (the real name of one true God in Islam) says in the Qur’an (Holy Book of Muslims: Last Testament) in Chapter Adh Dhariyat, Verse 56, “I have not created Jinn and Men except to worship me”, Allah u Akbar (Allah is the greatest)! How mighty a task if you think for a second!

So then we question ourselves if our creator is really happy with us or is it that we are travelling towards a mirage? Thinking that Allah is pleased with us while in reality we are far away from Him and everything in our lives including all the chaos and difficulties that we are facing are witnessing to the fact that Allah is nowhere near to be found in our lives otherwise we would have surely seen the blessings of His presence.

At times, nature forces us to look within ourselves rather than pointing finger at others. It forces us to wear a lens of an observer and to observe what is happening around us and how people are suffering in this cruel world. It makes us realise that no matter if we are going through a certain difficulty we are still better than gazillions of people out there who are going through unimaginable crisis, may God have mercy on them and on us too, amen.

My readers, all we should remember at the time of difficulty is that Allah says in the Qur’an in Chapter At Taghabun verse 11,

And at other places Allah says several other things which I am unable to include in this post but all those sayings, in the form of verses of the Qur’an and authentic ahadith (sayings of Prophet Muhammad saw), give glad tidings to the believers. Glad tidings? You may wonder. Well yeah, I am in my right mind and I did say glad tidings as a believer is always in a very ‘safe position’ so to say. Whether he be suffering or in a pleasant state. If a believer is suffering even if it be as little a suffering as comes with a prick of a thorn then according to an authentic hadith Allah writes off his evil deeds, indeed amazing and a very joyous moment for a believer who gives thanks even in the time of difficulty and does not moan.

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 007, Book 070, Hadith Number 545.
Narated By Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri and Abu Huraira : The Prophet said, “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that.”

Then comes a believer who despite being in a pleasant state remembers Allah much and thanks Him day and night, spends in His way out of what He has given him and takes care of all the obligations and responsibilities he has been given by Allah the Almighty then needless to say that such a believer gathers unimaginable and uncountable rewards from Allah swt as he remembers Allah the way He deserves to be remembered.

Sahih Bukhari, Volume 007, Book 070, Hadith Number 547.
Narated By Abu Huraira : Allah’s Apostle said, “The example of a believer is that of a fresh tender plant; from whatever direction the wind comes, it bends it, but when the wind becomes quiet, it becomes straight again. Similarly, a believer is afflicted with calamities (but he remains patient till Allah removes his difficulties.) And an impious wicked person is like a pine tree which keeps hard and straight till Allah cuts (breaks) it down when He wishes.” (See Hadith No. 558, Vol. 9.)

This topic is so deep that I feel like going into more detail but insha Allah I will leave this task for some other time. for now I would like to leave you with something we all should benefit from.

If we are in a state of unease or difficulty and want Allah swt to take care of our affairs, we must look into ourselves and analyse our way of life. Analyse if what we do and say during the course of a normal day pleases Allah or displeases Him? Address all the possible sins that we might be committing and then direct our attention towards rectifying those sins and worshipping Allah as He has prescribed in the Qur’an and as His Prophet Muhammad (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam) explained through his sunnah (way of life).

We adhere to the advice given by a doctor in case of any illness we want to treat. We take all the medicines just the way he prescribes without making any alteration to it! Then why is it that when Allah asks us to worship Him the way He has prescribed for us to rid us of all known and unknown diseases, we deviate away and prefer what our desires dictate to us, what a waste of time! We must always search for the authentic ways to worship and supplicate in front of Allah.

Always remember a very interesting rule that Allah has established in the Qur’an for those of us who wish to live a life of honour and happiness. Allah NEVER opens the door of eternal happiness to a sinning individual! And Allah NEVER accepts a repentance of a person who is not sincere in asking for forgiveness and who fails to take corrective measures after sinning! As Allah says in the Qur’an in Chapter Al Maeda, Verse 39,

In the end, I would like to quote an authentic Hadith for you to ponder upon.

It was narrated that Ubay ibn Ka’ab said,

“I said: O Messenger of Allah, I send blessings upon you a great deal; how much of my prayer (dua) should be for you? He said: “Whatever you wish.”

I said: One quarter? He said: “Whatever you wish, and if you do more it is better for you.”

I said: Half? He said: “Whatever you wish, and if you do more it is better for you.”

I said: Two thirds? He said: “Whatever you wish, and if you do more it is better for you.”

I said: Should I make all my du’aa’ for you? He said: “Then your concerns will be taken care of and your sins will be forgiven.”

Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2457); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

Chapter Ash Shura, Verse 30,