Assalamu'alaikum by dear brothers and sister in
Islam,
Perhaps in this current moment you are in a situation that you find to be most
distressing. You have prayed to Allah to deliver you and have followed up your prayers
with concrete action with a view to getting out of your vexing status. You have wept many
tears and your life has been filled with inner turmoil and stress. Despite all of your
efforts nothing has changed and you continue to suffer. In fact, you may even feel that
Allah is not listening to your prayers at all!! There may be no one around to talk to
about what you are going through or you may be afraid to speak with anyone as you may feel
embarrassed or ashamed in some way. Or maybe you have received advice but it was not
efficacious in solving your problem. You ask yourself what can you do other than
what you have already done in order to obtain deliverance.
I want to here offer you a bit of advice because, trust me, I know what you are going
through.
It is most important that first of all you to continue to make supplication to Allah and
never give up asking for help and patience. Allah says: And
when My servants question thee concerning Me, then surely I am near. I answer the prayer
of the suppliant when he crieth unto Me. So let them hear My call and let them trust in
Me, in order that they may be led aright. [Sûrah al-Baqarah, 186]
Secondly, don't allow you heart to become filled with despair or bitterness, Instead
think good thoughts about your Creator, as He is most merciful and most compassionate.
On the authority of Abu Harayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that
the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: Allah the Almighty said: I am
as My servant thinks I am. I am with him when he makes mention of Me. If he makes mention
of Me to himself, I make mention of him to Myself; and if he makes mention of Me in an
assembly, I make mention of him in an assemble better than it. And if he draws near to Me
an arm's length, I draw near to him a fathom's length. And if he comes to Me walking, I go
to him at speed. It was related by al-Buhkari (also by Muslim, at-Tirmidhi and
Ibn-Majah).
Thirdly, the possibility may exist that the thing which you hate may actually, in the
long run, be good for you but your current suffering blinds you from this reality. (See
Quran 2:215-216) So try to see the good in what you are going through. Take a piece of
paper and write down three possible advantages to your current situation and ponder over
what you have written. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "When Allah desires
good for someone, He tries him with hardships." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî]. The
Prophet has also said “Truly amazing is the believer’s affair. Everything
transpiring in his life is good for him. This is something that only occurs for the
believer. If a blessing is his lot, he gives thanks for it, and this is good for him. And
if he is afflicted with hardship, he patiently endures it, and this is good for him.”
Fourthly, read the Quran and some hadeeth every single day and try to extract lessons from
the Quranic verses and life of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). Pay close
attention to the stories of those people from the past who have been victorious in the
face of seemingly insurmountable odds. Allah says "There were certainly in their
stories a lesson for those of understanding." [Yusuf 12:111]. Every single
problem you have has already been addressed in the Quran and you can continually return to
its pages for comfort and guidance. I suggest reading or listening to Surah Rahman. I have
listened to this amazing Surah numerous times during periods of personally distress and
have found great comfort in it. (See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Fifthly, do not look at those more "fortunate" than you, but look at those who
are less fortunate. It will put your current suffering into perspective. No matter
how bad off you are there are people who are worse off. Actually, this is not my advice,
it was the Prophet (peace be upon him) who stated: “Do not look to those above you
who are more fortunate, instead, look to those below you or less fortunate…”
Sixthly, remain obedient to Allah. If you remain a faithful and humble servant, Allah will
make a way out for you.
Finally, continue to remember Allah in all that you do and maintain a spirit of continual
thankfulness. Allah says in the Quran " Then do ye remember Me I will remember
you." [Sûrah al-Baqarah:152]
Also, be mindful that Allah says in the Holy Quran:
“Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods,
lives and the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently
persevere. Those who, when misfortune strikes them, say: ‘Indeed we belong to Allah
and to Him is our return. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings and mercy from their
Lord and it is those who are rightly guided.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah: 155]
And the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said in an authentic
hadeeth: "No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow, harm or sadness afflicts any
Muslim, even to the extent of a thorn pricking him, without Allah wiping out his sins by
it." [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]
I ask Allah to make a way out for you and to reduce your suffering. I ask Allah to make
you amoung those who are patient and thankful. Finally, I ask Allah to make it easy for
you be obedient and faithful to Him.
"Our Lord! Put not on us a burden greater than we have strength to bear. Pardon us
and grant us Forgiveness. Have mercy on us. You are our Maula (Patron, Supporter and
Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people." [Sûrah
al-Baqarah: 286]
Yahya Abdul Rahman (Sept 10, 2009)