Verily, After Hardship Comes Ease
At a time in which the Muslims are beset with trials from every periphery, it is a time when Muslims should continue being Muslims, only better Muslims.
I would say to my dear brothers and sisters in Islam “don’t be sad”; if you are on the true religion – believing in One God and all the Messengers sent to mankind, then don’t be sad.
Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala says in Quran
“…Bear with patience whatever befalls you….” (31:17) and “Be not sad, surely Allah is with us.” (9:40)
Our Prophet Sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:
“Verily, if Allah loves a people, He makes them go through trials. Whoever is satisfied, for him is contentment, and whoever is angry upon him is wrath.” [Tirmidhi]
Being sad is not encouraged in Islam
“So do not become weak, nor be sad…” (3:139)
“And grieve not over them, and be not distressed because of what they plot.” (16:127)
Sadness prevents one from action instead of compelling one towards it. The heart does not benefit through grief. The most beloved thing to the devil is to hinder the worshiper in the path of Allah. The Muslim must repel sadness and fight in any way that is permissible in Islam.
Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta’aala is sufficient for us
“Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs. So they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the owner of Great Bounty.” (3:173-174)
“And put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed…” (5:23)
“O you who believe! Seek help in patience and the prayer…” (2:153)
By leaving your affairs to Allah, by depending on Him, by trusting in His promise, by being pleased with His decree, by thinking favorably of Him, and by waiting patiently for His help, you reap some of the greater fruits of faith. When you incorporate these qualities, you will be at peace concerning the future, because you will depend on your Lord for everything. As a result, you will find care, help, protection and victory.
Human Nature And Nature Of Allah’s Apostle(may blessings and peace be upon him)
Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The similitude of mine and that of my Umma is that of a person who lit fire and there began to fall into it insects and moths. And I am there to hold you back, but you plunge into it.
Sahih Muslim Book 30, Number 5670:
Hammam b. Munabbih reported: Abu Huraira reported us some a hadith from Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) amongst many, (and) one is this that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: A person lit fire and when the atmosphere was a glow, moths and insects began to fall into the fire, but I am there to hold them back, but they are plunging into it despite my efforts, and he further added: That is your example and mine. I am there to hold you back from fire and to save you from it, but you are plunging into it despite my efforts.
Sahih Muslim Book 30, Number 5671:
Jabir b. Abdullah reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying. My example and your example is that of a person who lit the fire and insects and moths began to fall in it and he would be making efforts to take them out, and I am going to hold you back from fire, but you are slipping from my hand.
Sahih Muslim Book 30, Number 5672:
Relations With Parents
We bestowed wisdom on Luqman: ‘Be grateful to God; for he who is grateful is only grateful for his own benefit. As for the one who is ungrateful; well, God is self-sufficient, ever to be praised.’ Luqman said to his son, admonishing him: ‘My dear son! Do not associate any partners with God; for, to associate partners with Him is indeed a great wrong.’ We have enjoined upon man goodness to his parents: his mother bore him going from weakness to weakness, and his weaning takes place within two years. Be grateful to Me and to your parents. With Me is the end of all journeys. Yet should they endeavor to make you associate as partner with Me something of which you have no knowledge, do not obey them, but (even then) bear them company in this world’s life with kindness, and follow the path of those who turn toward Me. In the end, it is to Me that you shall all return, when I shall inform you about all that you were doing (in life). (Luqman: 31: 12-15)
The second presentation starts with a new construction, using narration and indirect advice. It takes up the question of gratitude to God alone, believing in His absolute oneness, and the question of the hereafter, reward and requital.
“We bestowed wisdom on Luqman: ‘Be grateful to God; for he who is grateful is only grateful for his own benefit. As for the one who is ungrateful; well, God is self-sufficient, ever to be praised.” The surah chooses Luqman as its spokesman on the questions of God’s oneness and the life to come. Reports on Luqman’s identity vary, with some suggesting that he was a prophet, while others say that he was a devout person, but not a prophet. Whoever Luqman truly was, the Qur’an states that he was a man endowed with wisdom, embodied in gratitude to God : “We bestowed wisdom on Luqman: ‘Be grateful to God.'” The verse thus contains an implicit directive to show gratitude to God, emulating this sage who is chosen as an example to be followed. This is coupled with another directive making it clear that being grateful to God is of benefit only to the person expressing such gratitude, while it is of no benefit to God, who is ever praised even though none of His creatures offers any such praise: “He who is grateful is only grateful for his own benefit. As for the one who is ungrateful; well, God is self-sufficient, ever to be praised.” Thus, the person who abandons wisdom and who does not keep something for his future life betrays the worst type of stupidity.
Biwi Ka Intekhab
Remember Allah Through Worship
ONE’S heart should always be filled with the remembrance of Allah. Forgetfulness and negligence are the main weaknesses of human beings. The only remedy is that the believer should develop God-consciousness and be constantly aware that Almighty Allah watches him. All acts of worship aim at drawing man closer to Allah.
The Qur’an asks us to establish prayers. (Ta-Ha 20:14). The Friday sermon, too, constitutes the commands and remembrance of Allah (Al-Jumuah 62:10). But we must be clear that the remembrance of Allah is not restricted to certain acts of formal worship. The point is that one should always remember Him standing, sitting, and lying on one’s sides. (Aal Imran 3:191). Thabit Al-Banani (may Allah have mercy on him) once exclaimed, “I know when my Lord remembers me.” Upon hearing this, those present trembled in fear and asked him how he knew this. In response he recited from verse 152 of Surat Al-Baqarah, (Therefore Remember Me (by praying, glorifying). I will remember you and be grateful to Me . . .)
It is recorded in the Hadith: I come up to the expectations of My servant. I am with him when he remembers Me. When he makes mention of Me in his heart, I make mention of him to Myself. When he mentions Me in a gathering, I mention him in a better gathering (of the angels). (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
It is the height of felicity for a human being that Allah remembers him and mentions him in the blessed gathering of the angels.
We have taken note of the important and blessed nature of the remembrance of Allah. By the same token, one’s neglect of it is fatal, bringing disgrace upon oneself. Those who forget Allah are forgotten by Him (At-Tawbah 9:67). Allah then lets them wander in the web of their own self (Al-Hashr 59:19). One’s disregard for Allah culminates in the ruin of the self.
It is worthy to note that everything in the universe is preoccupied with remembering and glorifying Allah. This point is explicitly made in the first verse of Surat Al-Hadid (Surah 57) and in many other places in the Qur’an. As one is engaged in remembering, praising and glorifying Allah, one becomes at one with the entire universe and the gate for all goodness and success is opened.
The Truth Of Worldly Life
The mind of a person, worn out with age, is occupied with many questions. These are actually important questions to consider and answering them truthfully is essential to understanding all aspects of life: “What is the purpose of this life that passes so quickly? Why should I remain positive with all the age-related problems I have? What will the future bring?”
The possible answers to these questions fall into two major categories: those given by people who trust Allah and those given by disbelievers who do not trust Him.
Someone who does not trust Allah would say, “I spent my life chasing vain pursuits. I have put 70 years behind me, but to tell the truth, I still have not been able to grasp what I lived for. When I was a child, my parents were the centers of my life. I found all happiness and joy in their love. Later in life, as a young woman, I devoted myself to my husband and children. During that time, I set many goals for myself. Yet by the time they were achieved, each of them proved to have been a passing whim. When I rejoiced in my success, I headed toward other goals and they occupied me so that I did not think about the real meaning of life. Now at 70, in the tranquility of old age, I try to find out what was the purpose of my past days. Is it that I lived for people of whom I have only dim memories now? For my parents? For my husband whom I lost years ago? Or my children whom I see rarely now that they have their own families? I am confused. The only truth is that I feel close to death. Soon I will die and I will become a faint memory in people’s minds. What will happen afterwards? I really have no idea. Even the thought of it is frightening!”
There is surely a reason for why a person falls into such hopelessness. That is simply because he or she cannot comprehend that the universe, all living things and human beings have purposes to fulfill in life.
These purposes owe their existence to the fact that everything has been created. An intelligent person notices that plan, design and wisdom exist in every detail of the infinitely varied world. This draws him to recognition of the Creator. He further concludes that since all living things are not the consequences of a random or mindless process they all serve important purposes.
In the Qur’an, the last surviving revealed guide to the true path for humanity, Allah repeatedly reminds us of the purpose of our life, which we tend to forget, and thereby summons us to clarity of mind and consciousness. “And He it is Who has created the heavens and the earth in six days and His Throne was on the waters, that He might try you, which of you is best in deeds….” (11: 7)
This verse provides a full understanding of the purpose of life for believers. They know that this life is a place where they are tried and tested by their Creator. Therefore, they hope to succeed in this test and attain the good pleasure of Allah and hence the Paradise.
Get Alert About Chief Deceiver (Shaytan)
Some verses of Quran about Satan (Shaytan) are pasted here for your brainstorming, if you are a true Allah believer and desire that the “Chief Deceiver” should not deceive you about ALLAH. Then get alert about the companionship, suggestions, assaults, promises, threats, handworks, plans, footsteps of Satan (Shaytan) and Party of the Evil.
In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
Az-Zukhruf (The Gold Adornments) [43:36]
If anyone withdraws himself from remembrance of ((Allah)) Most Gracious, We appoint for him an evil one, to be an intimate companion to him.
Al-A’raf (The Heights) [7:200]
And if an evil suggestion comes to you from Satan, then seek refuge in Allah . Indeed, He is Hearing and Knowing.
Al-A’raf (The Heights) [7:201]
Indeed, those who fear Allah – when an impulse touches them from Satan, they remember [Him] and at once they have insight.
An-Nisa (The Women) [4:120]
Satan promises them and arouses desire in them. But Satan does not promise them except delusion.
Al-Baqara (The Cow) [2:268]
Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.
Al-Isra (The Journey by Night) [17:27]
Indeed, the wasteful are brothers of the devils, and ever has Satan been to his Lord ungrateful.
An-Nisa (The Women) [4:38]
And [also] those who spend of their wealth to be seen by the people and believe not in Allah nor in the Last Day. And he to whom Satan is a companion – then evil is he as a companion.
Fazail-E-Ilm
Dwellings Of Prophets Which No One Will Be Able To Reach
Dwellings of Prophets which no one will be able to reach”! (Bukhari & Muslim)
Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (May Allah be pleased with him) said;
The Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him) said:-
“The dwellers of Jannah will look at those in the upper abodes above them as you look at a shining star which remains in the eastern or western horizon;
such will be the difference in superiority which some of them have over others.”
The Messenger of Allah (Peace Be Upon Him) was asked:-
“Will those be the dwellings of the Prophets which no one else will be able to reach?” He (Peace Be Upon Him) replied:-
“Yes, but by Him in Whose Hand my soul is! men who believed in Allah and acknowledged the truthfulness of the Messengers will reach them.”
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim] # 1887.
Commentary:-
In Jannah, people will have different grades according to the strength of their Belief and love of Allah. Some people will be on a position near that of the Prophets.
May Allah grant us such lofty places. Ameen.
“Therefore remember Me I will remember you, &
be Thankful to Me, & do not be Ungrateful to Me “.
“Quran” 2: 152.