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» “ Along With Every Hardship Is Relief ” - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
“ Along With Every Hardship Is Relief ” - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
“
Along With Every Hardship Is Relief ”
By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
Dear Muslims:
Fear
Allah (SWT) and perform righteous deeds which Allah loves and accepts; be
cautious through your lives and believe that everything that occurs does so
according to the decree of Allah (SWT). Do not replace the guidance which Allah
(SWT) guided you to, meaning his obedience, with disobedience otherwise, Allah
will change your situation to one of misery and desolation.
Just as your
lives contain problems, afflictions and disasters, they also have great
bounties and favours from Allah (SWT), who is the Most Generous. In addition
Allah (SWT) has blessed your lives by giving you ease through times of grief
and hardships as well as protecting you from other trials and tribulations
which did not affect you.
This life is the abode of hardship and ease, sorrow
and joy, happiness and sadness and laughter and weeping. Things are constantly
changing and the trials that we face are always different. People are tested in
different ways so that the wise can learn lessons from this and the successful
can take advantage of them.
Through trials, the heedless become deceived and those
who are doomed will go into further destruction. Regarding this, Allah (SWT)
said that which translates as: “Every soul will taste death. And We test you
with evil and with good as a trial; and to Us you will be returned." (21:
35). He (SWT) also said that which translates as: “In order that you not
despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has
given you. And Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful."
(57:23).
Dear Muslims:
As for those who believe in Allah (SWT), realise the
insignificance of this life and fully submit to their Lord in all that He (SWT)
has decreed and predestined; you will see them patient, persevering and
obedient to Allah at times of hardship and grateful at times of ease.
These people remember Allah (SWT) at all times and
know very well that Allah (SWT) is with His servants whenever they mention and
remember Him; they know that Allah (SWT) will be exactly as His servants think
of him. They realise that Allah (SWT) tests his slaves with good and evil to
check their patience and purify their faith and to make them practice reliance
on Him (SWT). This is so that Allah (SWT) can increase their rewards and rank
in Paradise . Also, so that Allah (SWT) can
show mankind in this life and in the hereafter that such people are worthy of
being honoured and being close to Allah (SWT) in paradise.
Allah (SWT) forgives the believer for every harm
afflicts him even if it is very small. Abu Hurayrah (RAA) narrated that the
Prophet (PBUH) said: “Never is a believer stricken with a discomfort, an
illness, an anxiety, a grief or mental
worry, or even the pricking of a thorn except that some of his sins are expiated for him (as a
consequence)." (Bukhari and Muslim).
He (PBUH) also said: “If any Muslim is afflicted with
any adversity, even as small as a prick of a thorn or anything greater than
that, then Allah will expiate some of his sins (due to this), just as a tree
sheds its leaves." (Bukhari and Muslim).
Dear
Muslims:
If a
believer suffers from continuous hardships but he endures them with patience he
may be purified from all his sins. Abu Hurayrah (RAA) narrated that the (PBUH)
said: “The believing man or woman will continue to be afflicted by hardships in
themselves, their families and their wealth until they meet Allah with absolutely
no sins”. (Tirmidhi).
When Allah (SWT) wills good for his slave, He (SWT)
tries him in this world: Anas ibn Maalik (RAA) reported that the Messenger of
Allah (PBUH) said: "If Allah wills good for his slave, he tries him in
this world, but if He wills evil for him then He does not hasten to punish him
for his sins, but will delay him until he is called to account on the Day of
Resurrection”. (Tirmidhi).
Also the Prophet (PBUH) said: “The amount of reward
(from Allah) is proportional to the amount of hardship (that His slave goes
through) and if Allah loves a group of people he will afflict them with
hardships. So whosoever is content, Allah will be pleased with him and
whosoever is discontent, Allah will be displeased with him”. (Tirmidhi).
Moreover, he (PBUH) said: “If Allah has decreed a rank
for one of his servants to reach, but his deeds would not suffice him to reach
this rank, then Allah will afflict him with hardship in his body, wealth and
offspring, therefore, he will persevere through this until he reaches the rank
that Allah has decreed for him to reach”. (Ahmad).
Dear Muslims:
How many hardships carry blessings and mercy and how
many adversities befall a slave of Allah (SWT), due to which he reaches an
exalted rank and becomes honourable in the sight of Allah? Allah (SWT) has said
that which translates as: “…Indeed, your Lord is Wise and Knowing." (6:83).
He (SWT) also said that which translates as:
"Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without limit". (39:
10).
Also, Allah (SWT)
says that which translates as: "Whatever Allah grants to people of mercy –
none can withhold it; and whatever He withholds – none can release it
thereafter. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise.” (35:2).
Dear Brothers And Siaters In
Islam:
Our world is currently going through terrible times,
great adversities and tough continual hardships. The bloody events, tragic
scenes; murder and destruction are
tragedies which make one’s heart shiver and ones eyes flood with tears. The
media brings to every concerned man, day and night, information about our
brothers and sisters in Iraq
and Palestine
Despite all
these calamities, we must be optimistic. We should know that when the night
becomes its darkest, then dawn is very near. Faith and pessimism cannot
co-exist, for being pessimistic is to give up on the mercy of Allaah, as Allaah
says that which translates as: “… Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allaah
except the disbelieving people.” (12:87).
Dear Muslims:
We should pray
for the innocent people who have done nothing wrong to be punished for. We
should pray for the children, women and the elders of Iraq
The language
of peace and dialogue shold prevail over that of ruin and destruction. The
sense of revenge must give way to dialogue and mutual understanding. The
countries of the world are in dire need of cooperation and unity in order to
reside in peace and stop every destructive war.
O Allah, strengthen our resolve and give us courage and patience to
endure hardship and overcome evil.
May Allah (SWT) forgive our sins, increase our Iman,
bestow our world more peace and security and bless us all. May Allah (SWT)
grant our world more peace and security. May He (SWT) stop our bloodshed, save
every body from all sources of evil, and put an end to all crises. May He (SWT)
help us to acknowledge our own shortcomings with honesty and humility. May He
(SWT) enables us to improve ourselves and uplift our communities. (Ameen).
