Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
EVERYONE FACES TESTS IN LIFE. There is no
one that escapes the tests of this life. Allah Ta’ala clearly informs us that
He will test us.
“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.”
[Surah
Al-Baqarah 2 : 155/156/157]
So problems and difficulties will arise …
which could be in respect to the individual himself or herself, or relating to
the family or community. A person may have a financial problem, domestic
problem; there may be fights in the family, a divorce, someone who is
terminally ill or bedridden and the list of tests and challenges goes on.
When faced with difficulty, we generally
adopt the wrong mind-set and approach. We sometimes see the problem as a huge obstacle,
disregarding the millions and billions of bounties we have been blessed with,
or we entertain negative thoughts about Allah Ta’ala, or we become despondent,
or we just want to give up or choose to give up … and sadly, there are those
who even contemplate suicide … whereas suicide is no escape.
When a person has a wrong mind-set and
looks at his problem as the “be all and end all” of his life, making it the
main focus in his life, then it will be an unsurmountable mountain for him. It
will seem larger than his life. …And we know that often, in desperation, people
try all kinds of treatments and therapies – some of which have their association
and affiliation with other religions – and this then causes harm to the person’s Dien and
only increases his problems.
Many go for ‘Umrah to get some relief from
their problems; some go out in Jamaat seeking to find some solution; others go
to the Khanqah with the hope that their problems will dissipate. And some go
to the Buzurgs for Taweezes, hoping that will solve their problems.
Sometimes the request is for a Taweez for money, or for Barkat, or for Shifa, or for something else. …It should be understood that the
Taweez itself is not what solves problems. Allah
Ta’ala is One who places effect and benefit in something. However, the best course of action to solve
one’s problems is to give up all sins, be obedient to Allah Ta’ala, to live the
Sunnah, bring into one’s daily routine the various Masnoon Duas, and to give
quality time to the Qur’aan Sharief – which invites Barakah and Rahmah and is a
means of tremendous goodness.
Some people take Bay`at but the intention
is not Islaah (reformation). The purpose is to sort out the difficulties or the
crises that the person is faced with. The intention for Bay’at is due to
financial, marital, health or other problems – not with sincerity to reform. One
person came to the Khanqah of our respected Sheikh, Hadhrat Moulana Hakim
Muhammad Akhtar Saheb (Rahmatullah ‘alaih) and requested permission to
take Bay’at. When asked why he wanted to take Ba’yat, the brother said: “To
solve my problems.”
Hadhrat Moulana said to him, and would
tell others as well: “Bay’at is a separate matter. Sort out your problems
first, then take Bay'at. ”
Understanding Tests
Our seniors have said that we look at our
problems from a very narrow perspective. We think: In my life, this is my problem and it is a very big problem. …And
we then allow it to consume our lives. At times, we may make a mountain out of
a mole hill or we may stir up a storm in a teacup – because we lack coping
skills or we may not have the knowledge and understanding. No doubt, some afflictions
are great tests. However, from Allah Ta’ala’s Side, Allah Ta’ala does not
burden us more than we can bear:
“On no soul does Allah place a
burden greater than it can bear…’
[Surah
Al-Baqarah 2: 286]
Furthermore, Allah Ta’ala gives us the
reassurance and guarantee that with every hardship there will be ease:
“So indeed with
hardship [will be] ease. Indeed, with hardship [will be] ease.”
[Surah
Al-Inshirah 94:6]
Then again, were we to reflect,
we would find that some setbacks and hardships are due to our sins and
disobedience to Allah Ta’ala, so that we turn to Him and return to Him.
For many of us, our tests are not as major
as they seem – especially when compared to the tests that our brothers and
sisters face in Syria, Palestine, Burma, Central Africa and other parts of the
world – where there is oppression, incarceration, rape, persecution,
starvation, bombings, murder of their children and entire families, razing of
their homes, living as refugees, denied freedom of religion, etc. May Allah
Ta’ala ease their conditions and grant them peace after all the adversity, and
grant them happiness after all their grief.
The Hereafter
One easy way to change our thinking and
perception of our tests is to think of the Aakhirah. This worldly life is so
fleeting and so insignificant that Rasulullah ﷺ said: “The life of
this world compared to the hereafter is as if one of you were to put his finger
in the ocean and take it out again then compare the water that remains on his
finger to the water that remains in the ocean.”[1]
A person may live 60 years or 70 years,
but in comparison to the Aakhirah which is forever, those 60 or 70 years are
not even two minutes. Allah Ta’ala safeguard us all, but if a person is in a
coma for 10 years or even 20 years, then in comparison to the Aakhirah it is like
a second or two seconds. Allah Ta’ala presents a comparison to the Aakhirah:
“He (Allah) will say:
"What number of years did you stay on earth?"
They will say: "We stayed
a day or part of a day. Ask of those who keep account."
He (Allah) will say: "You stayed not but a little, if you
had only known!”
[Surah al-Muminun 23: 112-114]
Our pain and our grief may seem
overwhelming in this world, but when we reach the Aakhirah, it will be
considered less than a prick of a needle…. In a Hadith, Rasulullah ﷺ described the day of Judgement and said regarding the
person who experienced the most hardship: “One of the people of Jannah who had
experienced extreme misery in the life of this world will be dipped in Jannah.
Then he will be asked: "O son of Adam! Did you ever experience any misery?
Did you ever encounter difficulty?" He will say: "By Allah, no, I neither experienced misery nor passed through
hardship".[2]
So why make one problem of your life, your
whole life’s problem?
Trust in Allah Ta’ala
Keep the gaze on Allah Ta’ala, Who is
Al-Wadud (Loving) and full of Mercy and Kindness. ...During the Hijrah, difficulties
and hardships had to be endured; great sacrifices had to be made – by
Rasulullah ﷺ as well as
his noble compantions (Radhiyallahu 'anhum).
At the time of Hijrah, when Rasulullah ﷺ left the outskirts of Makkah Sharief, he ﷺ stopped his camel, turned and looked back at Makkatul
Mukkaramah - his birthplace, where he had spent his youth, where he had
married, where his family resided, where he passed all of the years of his life,
until that moment. He ﷺ said: “Of all Allah’s earth, you are the dearest place to
me and the dearest to Allah. Had my people not driven me out from you, I would
not have left you.”
Whilst in the cave of Thaur, in
hiding, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallahu 'anhu) was overcome with fear and concern for the safety
of Rasulullah ﷺ. Rasulullah ﷺ calmed him with these beautiful words, which clearly made
manifest his full and beautiful trust in Allah Ta’ala:
“Don’t be sad; indeed, Allah
is with us.”
[Surah
At-Taubah 9:40]
A Believer maintains his faith and
hope in the promises of Allah Ta’ala. He takes comfort and courage knowing that
Allah Ta’ala is with him.
A Believer keeps his attention on the Aakhirah, which is what is real and lasting. If we do so, we will find our
tests easier to deal with and also find it easier to get over. Otherwise, a
negative mindset is like a leak in a boat … and this negativity sometimes sinks
the boat of life. …Our life is like a boat and our Imaan (Faith) and Tawakkul
(Trust) in Allah Ta’ala are our oars that we use to steer our boats to the
shore of the Aakhirah, and Insha-Allah, reach safety. Rowing a boat requires a
lot of power and strength and rowing the boat of life requires much more
strength – spiritually, physically, emotionally and mentally. The Believer
draws tremendous strength from the Qur’aan Sharief and the Sunnah. There’s just
no giving up for one who establishes contact with Allah Ta’ala.
Of course, we should not ask for
difficulty. Ask Allah Ta’ala for Aafiyah (well-being and protection). Rasulullah ﷺ said: “Ask Allah
for forgiveness and Aafiyah, for verily after Imaan, none is given anything
better than Aafiyah.”[3]
Allah Ta’ala guides us to a prescription
and treatment, which is sure to heal our grief and lighten the burden upon the heart
and soul:
“O you who believe! Seek help
in patience and the prayer. Certainly, Allah is with the patient. …”
(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:153)
Indeed, the person who adopts patience will
find that Allah Ta’ala is his companion and source of strength; and when he takes
to standing before His Rabb in Salaah, and presents his broken heart or the
wounds of his heart, will find that his Salaah is a means of mending his broken
heart and healing the wounds of his heart.
Allah Ta’ala also informs us that patience
draws great rewards; rewards without measure!
“…Those who patiently persevere
will truly receive a reward without measure!”
[Surah Az-Zumar 39 : 10]
Hadhrat Hasan al-Basri (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh)
had said: “Do not despise the calamities that come and the tragedies that occur. It may be that in something that you dislike, lies your salvation, and
perhaps in something that you like, lies your ruin.”
Tafweez and Ridha bil Qadha
Whilst we will adopt Tadbeer – that is, we
will adopt the correct Asbaab (means) and will make an effort, we will resign
ourselves to the final outcome – Taqdeer. When it comes to tests and challenges
that come a person’s way, the proper solution is to adopt Tafweez. The thinking
should be: O Allah, You have decreed it and I accept Your decision.
At one time, the great Scholar Hadhrat Moulana
Anwar Shah Kashmiri (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) had the condition of piles …and piles
can be very painful and also causes bleeding. The condition persisted for two
or three weeks. A close associate, who made Hadhrat Moulana’s Khidmat said to
him: “Hadhrat, you are an Amaanat of the Ummah. …The Ummah is in need of your
knowledge …and you cannot serve the Ummah in this illness. Take treatment.”
The Khaadim encouraged in that direction until
Hadhrat Moulana raised his hand and said: “This is a gift from above … This is
a gift from Allah Ta’ala.”
That was his lofty level of Tafweez and
Ridha bil Qadha. It goes without saying that we are not of that category. We
are weak and we should take treatment and medication, which is also in
conformity with the Sunnah. However, after adopting the means, adopt Tafweez
and nurture the quality of Ridha bil Qadha – be satisfied with whatever Allah
Ta’ala decides for you.
...On one
occasion, Hadhrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullah ‘alaih) asked
Hadhrat Moulana Abdul Ghani Phulpoori (Rahmatullah ‘alaih): “Is there a stage higher than Ikhlaas
(sincerity)?”
Hadhrat Moulana
Abdul Ghani (Rahmatullah ‘alaih) replied: “Ikhlaas is a very high stage; I cannot think of anything higher than
that.”
Moulana
Ashraf Ali Thanvi (Rahmatullah ‘alaih) then said: “Ridha Bil Qadha is higher than even Ikhlaas.”
…Hadhrat Hāji Imdadullah (Rahmatullah
‘alaih) had said that Ikhlaas is amongst the last accomplishments of a Seeker
(Saalik). However, we take it that we have Ikhlaas from the beginning. This is
the deception of nafs and shaytaan.
Take the example of mountains: many
mountain ranges have different crests or peaks before the summit is reached.
These are just subsidiary peaks of the mountain. There is a long way up. …Mount
Everest, Mount Kilimanjro and other mountains are not climbed overnight. It
takes months of preparation and training and then weeks to climb and reach the
summit. In this spiritual journey to Allah Ta’ala, sometimes we reach just one
of the crests of the mountain, and we think we have reached the top. However,
we need to continue; we need to climb higher.
So higher than Ikhlaas is being content
with Allah Ta’ala’s decisions. There is no doubt, that it is not play when
adverse conditions come. It is not easy … but the true servant of Allah Ta’ala accepts
and adapts himself to what Allah Ta’ala’s decrees. He will not complain about
Allah Ta’ala’s Decisions.
Hadhrat Mirza Jaane Jaan (Rahmatullahi
‘alayh) was a great Wali of Allah Ta’ala and was made Shaheed. He was shot at
close range. At that time, he was asked about his condition. He replied: “My
heart is 100% content but my nature is sensitive and I cannot take the smell of
gun powder.”
Hadhrat Mirza Jaane Jaan (Rahmatullahi
‘alayh) was known for his extremely sensitive disposition and therefore
mentioned that the smell of the gun powder could not be endured. However he
still maintained Ridha Bil Qadha on his condition.
May Allah Ta’ala also grant us these noble
qualities.
Good Expectations of Allah Ta’ala
Rasulullah ﷺ said, “Allah Ta’ala
said, ‘I am as My servant thinks (expects) I am.’”[4]
Imam Nawawi (Rahmatullahi alayh) had said
that the ‘Ulama had explained that to expect the best of Allah Ta’ala is to
expect that He will have Mercy on one and relieve one of hardship. Our Akaabir
and Aslaaf would say: “When a crisis
comes your way, utilise your good expectations of Allah in order to repel it.
This will bring you closer to relief.”
Hadhrat Sa’id bin Jubayr (Rahmatullahi ‘alayh) would make Dua: “O Allah, I ask you to grant me true reliance
on You and good expectations of You.”
Rasulullah ﷺ advised Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbas (Radiyallahu ‘anhu):
“Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allah in
prosperity and He will know you in adversity. And know that what has passed you
by [and you have failed to attain] was not going to befall you, and what has
befallen you was not going to pass you by. And know that help comes with
patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship.”[5]
One of our Aslaaf had beautifully said:
“There are blessings in calamity and tragedy that the wise man should not
ignore. It erases sins and gives one the opportunity to obtain the immense rewards for
patience. It dispels negligence and heedlessness, reminds one of blessings at the time of
health, invites one to repent and encourages one to spend in charity.”
May Allah Ta’ala grant us ease in this
worldly life, grant us the qualities of Tafweez and Ridha Bil Qadha in all
situations and conditions, grant us good expectations of Allah Ta’ala and grant
us a safe passage out of this world, that we return to Him on Imaan and Islam. Aameen.
By Hadhrat
Moulana AbdulHamid Is`haq Saheb (Daamat Barakaatuhum)
[1] Sahih Muslim
[2] Sahih Muslim
[3] Sunan Tirmidhi, Hadīth: 3558
[4] Sahih
Al-Bukhari
[5]
Tirmidhi
