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TAG: Forgiveness

Wise Quotes: Guidance from Quran

1) And when you speak [i.e., testify], be just, even if [it concerns] a near relative [Al-An’aam 6:152]

2) “O you who believe! Be afraid of Allah, and be with those who are true (in words and deeds).” (At-Tawbah 9:119)

3) “And eat up not one another’s property unjustly.” (Al-Baqarah 2:188)

4) O you who have believed, do not consume one another’s wealth unjustly but only [in lawful] business by mutual consent. [Qur’an Surah An-Nisaa 4/29]

5) Come not near the wealth of the orphan except with that which is, better (to improve it). [Surah Al-Israa 17/34]

6) And seek help through patience and prayer; and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]. [Al-Baqarah 2:45]

7) And speak to people good [words] and establish prayer and give zakat. [Al-Baqarah 2:83]

8) And fulfill the covenant of Allah when you have taken it [Al-Nahl 16:91]

9) Indeed, Allah commands you to render trusts to whom they are due, and when you judge between people to
judge with justice. [Al-Nisa’ 4:58]

10) And whoever fears Allah – He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty) [Al-Talaaq 65:2]

11) And whoever relies upon Allah – then He is sufficient for him. [Al-Talaaq 65:3]

12) He who obeys the Messenger has obeyed Allah. [Al-Nisa’ 4:80]

13) Never will you attain the good [reward] until you spend [in the way of Allah] from that which you love. [Aal ‘Imraan 3:92]

14) Allah does not allow the reward of believers to be lost. [Aal ‘Imraan 3:171]

15) Indeed, Allah does not like every self-deluded and boastful (person). [Luqmaan 31:18]

16) And be moderate in your pace and lower your voice. [Luqmaan 31:19]

17) And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me – indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me.[Al-Baqara 2:186]

18) Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a share [i.e.reward] therefrom; and whoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a portion [i.e., burden] there from. And ever is Allah, over all things, a Keeper. [An-Nisa 4:85]

19) And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden [i.e.Paradise] as wide as the heavens and earth, prepared for the righteous. Who spend [in the cause of Allah] during ease and hardship and who restrain anger and who pardon the people – and Allah loves the doers of good; [Aal-Imran 3:133-134]

20) Whoever does righteousness, whether male or female, while he is a believer – We will surely cause him to live a good life. [An-Nahl 16:97]

21) (And then you slay not your) children because of poverty. We provide for you and for them. [Al-An’aam 6:151]

22) And repulse not those who )ask. [Ad-Dhuha 93:10]

23) And do good. Truly, Allah loves the good-doers.” (Al-Baqarah 2:195)

24)“Indeed, Allah orders and good conduct.” (An-Nahl 16:90)

25)“O you who believe! Fulfil (your) obligations.”(Al-Maaidah 5:1)

26) “So whosoever does good equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant) shall see it. And whosoever does evil equal to the weight of an atom (or a small ant), shall see it.” (Az-Zalzalah 99:7-8)

Most Surely Man Is Despairing, Ungrateful And Exulting, Boasting

[11. Surah Hud: Ayah 9] And if We make man taste mercy from Us, then take it off from him, most surely he is despairing, ungrateful.

[11. Surah Hud: Ayah 10] And if We make him taste a favor after distress has afflicted him, he will certainly say: The evils are gone away from me. Most surely he is exulting, boasting.

[11. Surah Hud: Ayah 11] Except those who are patient and do good, they shall have forgiveness and a great reward.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 19] Surely man is created of a hasty temperament.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 20] Being greatly grieved when evil afflicts him.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 21] And niggardly when good befalls him.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 22] Except those who pray.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 23] Those who are constant at their prayer.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 24] And those in whose wealth there is a fixed portion.

[70. Surah Al-Ma’arij: Ayah 25] For him who begs and for him who is denied (good).

Our Lord! grant us good in this world and good in the hereafter, and save us from the chastisement of the fire.

Extract The Honey, But Do Not Break The Hive

Everything that has gentleness within it is beautified, and whatever lacks it is spoiled. When you meet someone, giving them a bright smile and a kind word, you are displaying the characteristic of a truly successful person, a characteristic that even a bee exhibits. When a bee lands on a flower (doing so for a practical purpose) it does not destroy it, because Allah rewards gentleness with that which He does give for harshness. There are certain people whose personalities are like magnets, attracting everyone who is nearby, simply because they are loved for their gentle talk, their good manners, and their noble deeds.

Winning the friendship of others is an art mastered by those who are noble and pious; a circle of people constantly surrounds them. Their mere presence in a gathering is a blessing, and when they are absent they are missed and asked about.

These blessed people have a code of conduct entitled: “Repel (the evil) with one which is better( ie. Allah ordered the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! He, between whom and you there was enmity(will become) as though he was a close friend.” [Qur’an 41:34]

They suck out malice from others with sincerity, forgiveness, and gentleness. They forget the evil that was enacted upon them and preserve the memory of kindness received. Biting, harsh words may be aimed at them, but such words pass by their ears without entering and continue on their path without ever returning. They are in a state of calmness. People in general, and Muslims in particular, are safe from suffering any harm at their hands.

The Prophet Muhammad(blessings and peace be upon him) said: ” The Muslim is the person whose tongue and hand do not harm others. And the Believer is he, whom others trust, about their blood and wealth.”

He further said: “Verily Allah ordered me to keep relations with those that cut me off, to forgive the one who does injustice with me, and to give to those who withhold from me. ”

The noble Qur’an put it: ” Those who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves the good-doers.” [Qur’an 3:134]

Give to such people glad tidings of a reward close at hand in terms of peace and tranquility. Also, give glad tidings to them a reward in the Hereafter, of gardens and rivers, wherein they will be in close proximity to their forgiving Creator.”

Hadiths On Remembrance Of Allah

Which status would be higher than having your humble person appreciated and mentioned by Allah Almighty to a gathering of high-esteemed Angels?

That is only one of the many valuable advantages you gain through frequent remembrance of Allah ( dhikr Allah ). The special position of this easy act of worship is frequently emphasized by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) who “used to remember Allah all the time” (Abu Dawud)

Reviewing rewards promised for those who remember Allah should fill us with pity for all the hours we waste without seizing these amazingly easy opportunities. The following collection reveals the significance of this beautiful type of worship and the great reward you can reap through it.

Best Deed
1. Abu Ad-Darda’ (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet said: “Shall I not inform you of the best of your actions, the purest in the sight of your Lord, which raises your rank to the highest, which is better for you than spending gold and silver, better than meeting your enemy so that you strike at their necks and they strike at yours?’ They replied: ‘Yes, indeed,’ and he said: ‘It is the remembrance of Allah.” (At-Tirmidhi)

A Special Status
2. Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet said: “Allah says, “I treat My servant as he hopes that I would treat him. I am with him whenever he remembers Me:
if he thinks of Me, I think of him;
if he mentions Me in the company, I mention him in an even better company.
if he draws near to Me a hand’s span, I draw near to him an arm’s length;
if he draws near to Me an arm’s length, I draw closer by a distance of two outstretched arms nearer to him; and if he comes to Me walking, I go to him running.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Follow the Shari’ah Zone
3. Abu Musa Al-Ash’ari (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet said: “The similitude of someone who remembers his Lord and someone who does not is like that of the living and the dead. ” (Al-Bukhari)

4. Abdullah ibn Busr (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that One of the Prophet’s Companions said, “O Messenger of Allah. I am overwhelmed by the so many injunctions of Islam. So tell me something to which I may hold fast.” The Prophet replied, ” Keep your tongue wet with the remembrance of Allah. ” (At Tirmidhi)

Abundant Forgiveness
5. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) also reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He who says, ‘ Subhan-Allahi wa bihamdih ‘ (Glory and praise be to Allah) one hundred times a day, his sins will be obliterated even if they are equal to the extent of the foam of the sea. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

6. Zaid ibn Harithah narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Whosoever says: ‘ Astaghfirullaha al-`Azeem al-ladhi la ilaha illa howa Al-Hayy al-Qayyum wa atubu illayh (I ask forgiveness of Allah, the Magnificent, than Whom there is no deity, the Living, the Sustainer of existence, and I turn to Him in repentance,)
his sins will be forgiven even if he should have run away from the battlefield (while he was engaged in fighting for the Cause of Allah, which is a grave sin in Islam). (Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani)

Huge Reward
7. Anas ibn Malik narrated that the Prophet said: ” Whoever prays Fajr Prayer in the congregation, and then sits and remembers Allah until the sun rises, then (after a while) prays two rak’has , he will gain a reward equal to that of making perfect Hajj and `Umrah. [The Prophet repeated the word “perfect” thrice.] (At-Tirmidhi)

8. Abu Hurayrah reported that the Prophet said: He who repeats after every prayer:
Subhan Allah ( Glory be to Allah ) thirty-three times,
Al-hamdu lillah (praise be to Allah) thirty-three times,
Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest) thirty-three times;
and completes the hundred with:
La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahul-mulku wa lahul-hamdu, wa Huwa `ala kulli shai’in qadir
(There is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent) will have all his sins pardoned even if they may be as large as the foam on the surface of the sea. (Muslim)

9. Abu Ayyub Al-Ansari (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: He who utters ten times: La ilaha illallahu, wahdahu la sharika lahu, lahulmulku wa lahulhamdu, wa Huwa ala kulli sha’in qadir
(There is no true god except Allah. He is One and He has no partner. His is the sovereignty and His is the praise, and He is Omnipotent), he will have a reward equal to that for freeing four slaves from the progeny of Prophet Isma`il. (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

10. Abu Hurayrah (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet said: ” There are two statements that are light on the tongue, heavy on the scales, and beloved to the Most Merciful: Subahana Allahi wa bihamdih
Subhana Allahi Al-`Azeem (Glory and praise be to Allah, Glorified is Allah, the Most Great.) ” (Al-Bukhari)

By Muhammad Fathi

The Last Prophet (PBUH)

You have already heard about Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), Adam (Alaih Assalaam) was the first prophet and Muhammad (PBUH) was the last prophet. Allah had given Muhammad (PBUH) a book, which is called the Quran. All the stories about the prophets which you have now read can be found in the Quran. In the Quran is also written what you should do and what you are not allowed to do.

Muhammad (PBUH) was the last prophet because Allah gave him the Quran and all that we must know about Allah can be found in the Quran. Everybody can look in the Quran to discover what he should do. Therefore, there is no need for another prophet after Muhammad (PBUH).

Muhammad (PBUH), like the other prophets, told the people: You should worship only Allah. Allah has created you, He has made plants and animals so that you can eat them. He made the earth, sky, water, air, and the day and the night for you. So be grateful to Him and do good.

Now you know the stories of many prophets. But remember that there are more prophets in addition to these, for Allah has sent His prophets to all peoples. You must also have noticed that all the prophets had been saying the same thing: Mankind should worship only Allah. Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)has taught us how we should worship Allah. You can also learn it: it is not difficult.

There are, however, other things that we should do. We must believe in Allah, we must pray, fast, share our money with the poor and needy, and go on a pilgrimage to Makkah once in our lifetime, if we can afford it.

Resurrection and the Day of Judgment
As you know, Allah always sent prophets to mankind. These prophets told man what is good and what is bad. The prophets have also told many other things. They said: When we die, we will be buried, but Allah is Almighty. He will wake us all from death. This will happen on the Day of Resurrection. On this day, all of us will be gathered to Allah. Those of us who have done good will remain with Allah forever. But those who have done evil, and have not repented, or asked Allah’s forgiveness, will not be allowed to remain with Allah. Such is the Day of Judgment. To strive to do good means to listen to the words of the prophets and thus obey Allah. In this way, one can always remain with Allah after death. But to turn to evil means not to listen to the word of the prophets and to disobey Allah. Therefore those who do evil may not remain with Allah after they are dead.

So you may ask, why doesn’t everybody want to do good? The reason is that some people think they don’t have to listen to the prophets. But they are wrong to think: The prophets have told people what they should do. We should do good as long as we live. Doing good brings more happiness in life than anything else. We shall have friends for as long as we live, and after we die.

However, the people who do evil will have evil people with them. They will have many enemies. They will have enemies all their life and when they die, too.

The prophets and the people who worship Allah are our friends. The people who do evil and who turn away from Allah are not our friends.

Our Beliefs
We believe in Allah, the one and only almighty God, Lord and Creator. Him we trust and Him alone we fear.
We believe in the angels created by Allah. We know them even though they are not visible to us. They are the obedient servants of Allah and they carry out all His orders.

We believe that the words that Allah revealed to the prophets were written down in books. The last book, which was given to Muhammad (PBUH) is the Qur’an. The Quran is the only book from Allah that is complete and preserved in its original form.

We believe that Allah has sent His prophets to all mankind with the message to worship only Allah and to do good.
We believe in the Day of Resurrection when Allah will wake us from our deaths. We will be rewarded for the good that we have done and those of us who did not believe in Allah and did evil will be punished.

We believe that Allah has taught us to understand what good and evil are so that we can decide for the good and against the evil.

The Prophet’s Inexhaustible Patience

The source of the Prophet’s courageous determination in the face of all the traumatic experiences he suffered was his strong faith in God. One of the marvelous qualities of the beloved Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) was his infinite patience.

God was with Muhammad, as He is always with those who patiently persevere: {God is indeed with those who patiently persevere.} (2:153)

The Quranic word used for patience is sabr, and there is no English equivalent for it.

We can convey the idea of sabr only by phrases such as endurance against afflictions, patience with delay, perseverance against hardships, steadfastness in the face of setbacks, courage against hostilities, self-restraint against provocations, will power against temptations, and equanimity or calmness of mind as regards fortunes and misfortunes.

Persecution against the Prophet
In all the meanings indicated by the above expressions, the Prophet was a perfect model to his followers.

Indeed his life presents the shining example of a man of extraordinary endurance: His father died before his birth; his mother died when he was only six years old, and his grandfather who took up his guardianship also died soon. Then it was his uncle Abu Talib who protected him.

And when God appointed him His last Prophet, he faced the most brutal persecution and hostility from his own people. But these harsh experiences of life did not make him a cynic; on the contrary, they perfected his faith in God, making him all the more strongly committed to his God-given mission.

The records of the Prophet’s life by his contemporaries bear testimony that during the 13 years of his life in Makkah as the messenger of God, he faced all forms of abuse, boycott, expulsion, and threats of physical violence. And yet the Prophet did not budge an inch away from his mission. And all the while, he was gentle, considerate, and sympathetic even to his enemies.

During the early days of his preaching, the people of Makkah had approached him through his uncle Abu Talib and made very tempting offers to him, such as the leadership of the City of Makkah, the most beautiful girl in marriage, and wealth of immense proportions.

The Prophet spurned all these offers and said: “I swear by the name of God, O Uncle, that if they place the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left hand in return for giving up this matter (calling people to Islam), I will never desist until either God makes it triumph or I perish defending it.”

This steadfastness and constancy against temptations were unusual in an Arab of those days.

Grieve Not, God is with Us
And imagine the day when the Prophet had to leave his home, his city, and his people and emigrate to another place! The Hijrah, as the emigration of the Prophet from Makkah to Madinah, is known, was a great sacrifice and a painful decision for the Prophet at the time when he undertook it. But his personal comforts, likes, and dislikes had no value in the face of the immense task before him.

One remembers the time when he and his Companion Abu Bakr were almost overcome by their pursuers in the Cave of Thawr. When Abu Bakr in dismay told the Prophet that they were only two persons against the enemy, he told him with unflinching faith in the Almighty not to grieve, as God was with them. God in the Quran admonishes the Muslims:

{If you will not aid him [Prophet Muhammad], God certainly aided him when those who disbelieved expelled him, he being the second of the two, when they were both in the cave when he said to his companion: Grieve not, surely God is with us. So God sent down His tranquility upon him, strengthened him with hosts that you did not see, and made lowest the word of those who disbelieved; and the word of God, that is the highest; and God is Mighty, Wise..} (9:40)

In the matter of complete reliance on God and faithful submission to Him, the Prophet was an unparalleled model to all Muslims. For he taught his followers:

“When you ask for anything, ask it from God, and if you seek help, seek the help of God. Know that if the people were to unite to do you some benefit, they could benefit you only with what God had recorded for you and that if they were to unite to do you some injury, they could injure you only with what God had recorded for you. The pens are withdrawn and the pages are dry.” (At-Tirmidhi, 1515)

The source of the Prophet’s courageous determination in the face of all the traumatic experiences he suffered was his strong faith in God and his dependence on Him. The Prophet’s conviction that God was with him when he was struggling with adverse circumstances, is evident from this teaching:

“Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his, and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer; for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God); thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.” (Muslim, 2999)

Do Patience and Gentleness Go Hand in Hand?
The Prophet was always considerate and understanding, even towards those who were ignorant and arrogant towards him. Indeed his gentleness and patience with them earned their love and respect, as God says in the Quran:

{Thus it is due to mercy from God that you deal with them gently, and had you been rough and hard-hearted, they would certainly have dispersed from around you.} (3:159)

An incident at the Prophet’s mosque in Madinah demonstrates how lenient and kind the Prophet was to ignorant people. Abu Hurairah reports: “A bedouin urinated in the mosque and some people rushed to beat him. The Prophet said, ‘Leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over it. You have been sent to make things easy and not to make them difficult’ (Al-Bukhari,6025)

Once a man approached the Prophet seeking advice, and the Prophet said: “Do not get angry.” The man asked for advice several times and the Prophet replied every time, “Do not get angry” (Al-Bukhari, 48)

The questioner was probably one disposed to a quick temper, and so the Prophet was stressing the need to control his anger. The Prophet also said: “He who is deprived of forbearance and gentleness is, in fact, deprived of all good” (Muslim, 638)

The Prophet of Islam announced forgiveness and amnesty to all his former enemies
We may remember the day of Makkah Victory: The Prophet reentered the city after 10 long years of living in Madinah, and practically there was no opposition as he was accompanied by an overwhelming number of Muslims. The whole of Makkah lay at his feet as he marched in. His enemies stood in surrender awaiting his verdict, and he could very well have cried “havoc” or “let slip the dogs of war” as the triumphant commanders of those days used to do.

Instead, in a historic break from the old tradition, the Prophet of Islam announced forgiveness and amnesty to all his former enemies. He told them simply: “You may go. You are a free people.” (Authenticated by al-Albani)

Such kindness and generosity could not have been in vain, as the whole of the community of Makkah thereafter embraced Islam, a feat that could never have been achieved by the use of force. And certainly, this superb act of forgiveness was in keeping with the Quranic injunction: {Let there be no compulsion in religion.} (2:256)

Unfaltering loyalty to the cause of God is the virtue of prophets. Prophet Muhammad was a brilliant example of a man committed to his divinely appointed mission. So it is no wonder that he stood firm against all opposition and finally succeeded in winning over the hearts and minds of millions.

Living in a fast-moving, high-tech environment of “instant nirvana” and “preemptive redemption,” most people of this postmodern world are programmed to brush aside a religion that insists on a slow-paced, meditative, prayerful form of worship five times a day (salah), as well as on a rigorous form of fasting during the daytime for a whole month (sawm).

Also, zakah and Hajj are indicative of the importance of practicing sabr in our daily life. And it is no exaggeration to say that our beloved Prophet has amply demonstrated through his own life that Islam (submission) is sabr itself; sabr with the fortunes and misfortunes our Creator has apportioned to us in this world.

For those who practice sabr in Islam, there is always the unfailing promise and prospect of a never-ending world of felicity.
By Shahul Hameed

Losing Hope In Finding A Spouse

We learn from the guidance of the Beloved of Allah to seek the strongest and most effective means available while placing one’s trust in Allah.

Sayyiduna Umar (Allah be pleased with him) said, “I heard the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) say, “If you relied on Allah as He should be relied on, He would provide for you as He provides for birds. They go out hungry in the early morning, and return full in the evening.” [Tirmidhi] . The scholars note that birds do not merely place their trust in Allah: they go out early and take all means to fulfill their goals.

In every community, there are people who set up marriages, who know suitable would-be spouses, and who should be sought out if one wants to marry. If it does not work through one’s family, try going through other elders in the community (such as one’s friends’ parents, community leaders, imams of mosques, marriage services, etc.)

Perform the Prayer of Need (Salat al-Haja): make wudu and perform 2 rakats after which you make heartfelt supplication, asking for a suitable spouse.

Be certain that Allah will answer your duas, in the best of ways:
“Say (unto them, O Muhammad): Who provides for you from the sky and the earth, or Who owns hearing and sight; and Who brings forth the living from the dead and bringeth forth the dead from the living; and Who directs the course? They will say, Allah. Then say: Will you not then keep your duty (unto Him) ?” [Qur’an, 10.31]

Allah reminds us:
“And in the heaven is your providence and that which you are promised;

And by the Lord of the heavens and the earth, it is the truth, even as (it is true) that you speak.” [51.22-23]

So keep taking the best of means, with complete trust in Allah and certainty that if you do that which He has asked of you, He will most certainly give you all that is best for you, in this life and the next.

Allah tells us:
“The devil promises you destitution and enjoins on you lewdness. But Allah promises you forgiveness from Himself with bounty. Allah is All-Embracing, All-knowing.” [Qur’an, 2.268]

And:
“And the believers, men, and women are protecting friends one of another; they enjoin the right and forbid the wrong, and they establish worship and they pay the poor-due, and they obey Allah and His messenger. As for these, Allah will have mercy on them. Lo! Allah is Mighty, Wise.

Allah promises to the believers, men and women, Gardens underneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide – blessed dwellings in Gardens of Eden. And – greater (far)! – acceptance from Allah. That is the supreme triumph.” [Qur’an, 9.71]

And be patient. The Beloved of Allah (Allah bless him & give him peace) reminded us that:
“No tiredness, illness, difficulty, sorrow, harm or sadness afflicts a Muslim, even to a thorn pricking him, without Allah wiping away his errors through it.” [Recorded by Bukhari and Muslim, from Abu Sa’id and Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with them)]

And Allah alone gives success.

Tired of Life Difficulties?

Never Despair! Allah’s Mercy Is Always There

Abu Sa`id and Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “No fatigue, nor disease, nor anxiety, 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” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

This world is no more than a test in which all humans are bound to face some hardships and challenges that reveal their patience and steadfastness.

The forms of this test are numerous and diverse: Some people suffer poverty, some suffer physical illnesses, some live in a state of insecurity, some are deprived of their cherished and beloved ones, and still others suffer psychiatric disorders. Referring to this fact, Allah says:

{And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the patient, Who says, when afflicted with calamity: “To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return”: They are those on whom (descend) Blessings from Allah and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.} (Al-Baqarah 2:155-157)

In another verse, He Almighty says: {He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.} (Al-Mulk 67:2)

Since trials and hardships are inevitable, Islam does not let them pass by without instructing Muslims on the best course of action or by guiding them to the safest and most appropriate attitude. The Hadith reveals one dimension of Islam’s recipe for successfully dealing with life’s challenges.

In order to balance the negative effects posed by afflictions, Islam draws our attention to their expected fruit. Problems and troubles serve as means to expiate sins and elevate the believer’s rank in the Hereafter.

This optimistic and positive approach safeguards one from falling prey to despair and grief. Here, it is fitting to cite some Prophetic hadiths that emphasize this concept:

Abu Yahya Suhaib bin Sinan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “How wonderful is the case of a believer; it is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is good for him” (Muslim).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “He whom Allah intends good, He makes him suffer from some affliction” (Al-Bukhari).

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A Muslim, male or female, continues to remain under trial in respect of his life, property, and offspring until he faces Allah, the Exalted, with no sin record” (At-Tirmidhi).

The above hadiths should not be mistaken for a call to fatalism and defeatism. The message the hadiths convey is that every Muslim should expect hardships and prepare to weather them. This point makes a distinction between one who trusts in Allah and believes in His mercy and one who feels that he is alone in this world, that he faces its formidable challenges isolated from any source of support or assistance.

So, these hadiths are meant to infuse Muslims with hope and vigor and drive away the destructive thoughts of failure and hopelessness. To get a better understanding of them, they should be considered the light of the following hadiths:

Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak one, and both are good.

Adhere to that which is beneficial for you. Keep asking Allah for help and do not refrain from it.

(If you are afflicted in any way), do not say: ‘If I had taken this or that step, it would have resulted into such and such,’ but say only: ‘Allah so determined and did as He willed.’ The word ‘if’ opens the gates of satanic (thoughts)” (Muslim).

In line with this hadith comes the Prophet’s advice to his cousin Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) to know that with patience comes victory, with distress, comes relief, and with hardship comes ease.

In this respect, one idea may be a source of worry and disturbance. How can we approach afflictions with such optimism when they are clear signs of Allah’s wrath and manifestations of His punishment? Has not Allah said,

{Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of the things your hands have wrought, and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness} (Ash-Shura 42:30)?

Actually, these questions haunt many people, especially the practicing ones when they are afflicted with a calamity, deprived of a cherished person, or plagued with an illness. The problem is that in many cases this thought becomes a source of frustration and depression.

Instead of being an incentive to hasten to Allah and drawing closer to him, the idea serves sometimes as a dispiriting factor. So, let’s see how the Companions viewed the above verse and how they took it positively and optimistically.

In his comment on this verse, Imam Al-Qurtubi reports that `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, “This verse is the most hopeful one in the Quran; if my sins are to be expiated through afflictions and calamities, and in addition to that, Allah forgives many other sins, then what will remain after such expiation and forgiveness?”

True, life’s disasters leave hearts broken and loved ones deprived, but the bright believer knows how to turn them into a source of determination and a fountain of strength.

I conclude with the beautiful authentic hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) tells us that the people who face the harshest trial (bla’) are the prophets, then those next to them (in faith and devotion), and then the next. Everyone will be tried according to his level of faith; one who has strong faith will undergo a harsh trial and one who is of weak faith will receive a weak trial. And the affliction will encompass one until he becomes free of sins altogether.

Life Difficulties Are Rewarding 

A person’s life in this world is not stable. One passes through alternating periods of happiness and dismay, strength and weakness, wealth and poverty, health and sickness, etc. A true believer is one who maintains a clear level of faith throughout worldly fluctuations. He continues to remember Allah and ascribe the bounties to Him, and he turns to Him in submission, asking for relief from his affliction. This is described by the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), who said:

“Indeed amazing are the affairs of a believer! They are all for his benefit. If he is granted the ease of living he is thankful, and this is best for him. And if he is afflicted with a hardship, he perseveres; and this is best for him.” (Muslim)

And Allah said: {Certainly, We shall test you with fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits; but give glad tidings to the patient—those who, when afflicted with calamity say, “Truly to Allah we belong, and truly to Him shall we return.” It is those who will be awarded blessings and mercy from their Lord, and it is those who are the guided ones.} (Al-Baqarah 2:155–157)

Thus, a believer shows gratitude and thankfulness for all the wonderful blessings that Allah grants him. And he displays patience and submission during sickness and hardships, hunger, or other afflictions.

Hardships Benefit the Believer
Allah has decreed that, in this life, hardships and disasters strike both believers and non-believers. For a non-believer, they are inconveniences that hinder him from proceeding with his normal involvement in worldly life. For a believer, on the other hand, they are instances of test and remembrance, tests that promise great rewards, and indications of atonement and expiation of sins.

Regardless of how little the harm strikes a believer, it carries with it good news of forgiveness and elevated rank in Paradise. The Righteous Predecessors used to be pleased when hardship afflicted them, seeing it as a token of Allah’s forgiveness and benevolence.

Expiations of Sins
1. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet said, “Hardships continue to befall a believing man and woman in their body, family, and property until they meet Allah burdened with no sins” (At-Tirmidhi).

Sign of Allah’s Love
2. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects him to adversity” (Al-Bukhari and others).

Sign of Faith
3. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Ka`b ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The parable of a believer is that of a fresh and moist plant; the wind tilts it this way and that way; and so is the believer; he continues to be subject to affliction.

And the parable of a hypocrite is that of a firm cedar tree; it does not shake—until it is uprooted all at once.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Sign of Righteousness
The prophets and righteous people are afflicted the most, and their rewards are the highest.

4. Sa`d (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The most in their suffering among the people are the prophets, then the best, then the (next) best. One is afflicted in accordance with his faith. If his faith is firm, his affliction is hard, and if his faith is weak, his affliction is light.

Indeed, one would be so much subjected to adversity until he walks among the people without any sins.” (Ahmad and At-Tirmidhi)

Early Punishment
5. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “When Allah wills good for a servant of His, He expedites his punishment in this life; and when He wills retribution for a servant of His, He holds his sins for Him to judge him by them on the Day of Resurrection.” (At-Tirmidhi)

Multiplication of Rewards
6. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “The amount of reward is in accordance with the amount of suffering. When Allah loves some people, He tries them (with affliction). He who then is content (with Allah’s decree) has achieved the acceptance (of Allah), and he who is dissatisfied (with Allah’s decree) will attain the anger (of Allah).” (At-Tirmidhi)

Rewards for Sickness
One should not look to sickness as a gloomy episode but should remember the great good in it. It is one form of affliction with which Allah tests His servants, giving them a chance to acquire rewards, as was explained above, as is further emphasized below.

Removal of Sins and Elevation in Ranks
7. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whenever a Muslim is afflicted by harm from sickness or other matters, Allah will drop his sins because of that, like a tree drops its leaves” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

8. Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A Muslim is not afflicted by hardship, sickness, sadness, worry, harm, or depression—even if pricked by a thorn—but Allah expiates his sins because of that” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

9. Sa`id said, “I was with Salman (may Allah be pleased with him) when he visited a sick man in Kindah (in Persia), and he said to him, “Expect good because Allah makes a believer’s sickness an expiation (for his sins) and a period of rest. However, when a disbeliever falls sick, he is like a camel whose owner ties it then lets it loose—it does not understand why it was tied nor why it was freed.” (Al-Bukhari)

10. `A’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrated that once some pain afflicted the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) causing him to suffer and turn about in his bed. She said, “Had one of us done this, you would have blamed him.” He (peace and blessings be upon him) replied: “An ailment is intensified for the righteous. Whenever a believer is afflicted by a hardship, whether it is a thorn or more, a sin is taken off from him because of it, and he is elevated by one rank (in Paradise).”(Ahmad)

Retaining Rewards for Deeds Before Sickness
Usually, when a believer falls sick, he would not be able to do the same amount of good (prayer, fasting, helping Muslims, etc.) that he used to do when he was well. But Allah, out of His great mercy, continues to record for him the good deeds that he was forced to stop because of his sickness.

11. Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “For a traveling or sick person, his deeds will be recorded in accordance with what he used to do when he was resident or well.” (Al-Bukhari)

How to Beat Hard Times
12. `Abdullah ibn `Amr reported that the Prophet said, “No (believing) person gets sick, but (his deeds) will be recorded for him in accordance with what he used to do when he was well.” (Al-Bukhari)

13. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

“No Muslim body is afflicted by Allah, but He will record (his deeds) for him in accordance with what he used to do when he was well—as long as he is sick. Thus, if He takes his life, He forgives him; and if He cures him, He washes him (from sins).” (Al-Bukhari)

Reason for the Reward
14. `Atta ibn Rabaah reported that Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) told him, “Do you want to see a woman from the people of Paradise?”

He said, “Yes.”

He said, “It is this black woman. She came to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) saying, ‘I have (epileptic) seizures, and I get exposed, so supplicate to Allah for me.’ He (peace and blessings be upon him) said, ‘If you wish, be patient and you will attain Paradise; or if you wish, I will ask Allah to cure you.’

She replied, ‘I will be patient! But my body gets exposed (because of the fall), so supplicate to Allah for me that I do not become exposed.’ And he (peace and blessings be upon him) did.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)

Scholars have differed in opinion as to whether a sick person will be rewarded for the sickness itself or for being patient during it. The correct opinion is that if he is patient and submits to Allah’s will, as in the above hadith, he would be rewarded for both the submission and the sickness; otherwise, he would not be rewarded at all because he resented Allah’s decree. This is what should be understood from Ibn Hajar Al-`Asqalani’s words:

“The authentic hadiths are clear in that the rewards are recorded once affliction strikes a Muslim. As for patience and acceptance, they are virtues for which a person may get additional rewards over those for the affliction.”

15. `Abdullah ibn `Amr reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “If a Muslim is pricked by (as little as) a thorn in the worldly life, and he seeks its reward from Allah, some of his sins will be removed, because of it, on the Day of Judgment.” (Al-Bukhari)

Taken from ‘The Inevitable Journey: Sickness, Death, and the Grave’, Quran and Sunnah Society of North America.
Sheikh Salim Al-Hilali is a Scholar of Hadith. He studied under the prominent Hadith Scholar Al-Albani.

By Salim Al-Hilali
A Scholar of Hadith

A Virtue Called Patience

Will being impatient and fretting about things we cannot change, change anything?
To be patient and let things run their course as they should, is one of the secrets of happiness and contentment.

My father seemed to sense my impatience. “The big ones didn’t get that way by snapping the first thing to hit the water,” he said quietly. “You’ll soon find that anything big and worthwhile usually takes a lot of time.” Patience is one of the most important qualities demanded of those who claim to love Allah, as the degree of patience determines those who are sincere in their claim and those who are not. The degree of patience needed to endure hardship and difficulties in order to please the Beloved proves the sincerity of one’s love. Many claim to love Allah, but when Allah tests them with hardship, they forget the true essence of love. No one can adhere to the love of Allah except those who are patient and persevering (as-sabintri). If it were not for the test of hardship and sincerity, there would be no proof of the sincerity of a person’s love for Allah. The one whose love of Allah is greater has a greater degree of patience. Therefore, Allah has attributed the quality of patience to His close friends (awliya) and most beloved. He said about His beloved slave Ayyub (AS): “… Truly We found him full of patience and constancy. How excellent Our service is! Ever did he turn (to Us)!” (Sad 38: 44) Allah instructed the most beloved to Him of everything He created to have patience in accepting His decree and told him that patience comes only with the help of Allah. He praised those who have patience and promised them the best of rewards: the rewards of others are defined and limited, but the reward of as-sabirun is without measure. Patience is vital at all levels of Islam, Iman, and Ihsan, as well as being a major element in iman (faith) and tawakkul (putting one’s trust in Allah). Patience for the sake of Allah, by the help of Allah, and in accepting the decree of Allah.

1. Patience for the sake of Allah, hoping for His rewards and fearing His punishment.

2. Patience by the help of Allah, as man realizes that he has no patience himself, and has no power to acquire patience. Rather, he knows: “there is no power and no strength except by (the help of) Allah.”

3. Patience in accepting the decree of Allah, as man realizes that Allah is the only one Who is controlling the affairs of the universe, so he will patiently accept the ruling and decree of Allah, regardless of what it may mean for him in the way of ease or hardship.

Patience is half of Iman, Iman is in two halves: half is patience (sabr) and half is gratitude (shukr). Therefore Allah has mentioned patience and gratitude alongside one another: “… Verily in this are Signs for all who constantly persevere and give thanks” (Ibrahim 14: 5; Luqman 31:31; Saba 34: 19; ash-Shura 42: 33) The reasons why one half of iman is patience and the other half is gratitude are as follows: Iman is a term which covers words, deeds, and intentions, all of which are based on one of two things, action or abstinence. Action refers to performing a deed in accordance with the instructions of Allah, which is the reality of gratitude. Abstinence, as in refraining from the wrong action, requires patience. The whole of religion is embodied in these two things: carrying out that which Allah has commanded, and refraining from that which Allah has prohibited. Iman is based on two pillars, yaqin (conviction) and patience, which are referred to in the following ayah: “And We appointed, from among them, leaders, giving guidance under Our command, so long as they persevered with patience and continued to have faith in Our Signs” (As-Sajdah 32: 24) It is through faith that we know the reality of Allah’s commands and prohibitions, of reward and punishment, and it is through patience that we carry out His instructions and abstain from that which He has prohibited. Man is constantly being pulled in two opposing directions: should he respond to the lure of this world of desires and pleasures, or should he answer the call of Allah and the hereafter, with the eternal Paradise that Allah has prepared for His friend (Wali) Going against the call of whims and desires is patience, and responding to the call of Allah and the hereafter is gratitude.

Emulating the attributes of Allah
If a person loves an attribute of Allah, then this will help him to reach Him. Allah is as-Sabur, patient, and there is none that is more patient and forbearing than Him. It was reported that Allah revealed to Dawood (AS), “Have my attributes, as one of My attributes is that I am Sabur (patient).” Allah loves His attributes and characteristics, and He loves to see the effects of His attributes on His slaves. As He is beautiful, so He loves beauty; as He is all-forgiving, He loves forgiveness; as He is generous, He loves generosity; as He is all-knowing, he loves people of knowledge; as He is strong and powerful, so a strong believer is more beloved to Him than a weaker one; as He is Sabur (patient), so he loves those who have patience; as He is shakur (grateful), so He loves those who give thanks. As He loves those who have His characteristics, so He is with them, and this is a special and unique type of companionship.

Sickness is evil but if we remain patient it is something good because our sins are being wiped out. Abu Huraira related that the Prophet (PBUH) said, “for any trouble, illness, worry, grief hurt, or sorrow which afflicts a Muslim, even the prick of a thorn, Allah removes in its stead some of his (minor) sins”(Bukhari, Muslim) So if this person remains patient then its something good but if he is not patient then it becomes evil.