As salaamu ‘alaykum السلام عليكم ,
The challenges we face in life will be until the grave. It’s a fact of life that no one is able to escape hardships.
When we are faced with difficulty in life, it feels as if it’s never going to end! We want it to be over so bad and when it doesn’t end as quickly as we want, some may fall into despair.
We are a hasty creation who wants what we want , when we want it. We get frustrated easy and especially during times of hardship. The Muslim mentality is to be patient and it’s so much easier said than done. Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, passed by a woman who was weeping next to a grave. The Prophet said, “Be mindful of Allah and be patient.” She said, “Go away from me! You have not been afflicted by a calamity like mine,” and she did not recognize him. Then, she was told that it was the Prophet, so she went to the Prophet’s house and she did not find any guards there. She said to him, “I did not recognize you.” The Prophet said, “Verily, patience is at the first strike.” Source: Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī 1223, Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 926
The initial shock of the calamity is what we are tested on. How we react, what we say, how we believe in Allaah الله during that time etc. After the initial impact of the calamity, Allaah الله naturally allows the pain to subside. This is a mercy from Allaah الله because if we had to continue to deal with the intensity of the hardship surely we wouldn’t last.
So it is upon us to try our best seeking the help of Allaah الله when the height of the calamity is upon us. This is the eye of the storm. Thinking about how many trials the previous generations (like our prophets) and terminally ill people went through helps us to realize that there are always others who are suffering worse than we are.
This doesn’t mean that the difficulty facing you at that time is irrelevant, it just allows us to be grateful that it may not be as bad Alhamdulillaah الحمد لله . No one or anything will remove what we go through except Allaah الله . Knowing this with certainty really helps us to call upon Him alone.
Reciting the Du’a of Yunus during times of distress is one of the best things we could do as well:
لَّا إِلَهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ “None has the right to be worshipped exceptYou (O Allah)], Glorified (and Exalted) are You. Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.” Al-Qur’an, 021.087 (Al-Anbiya [The Prophets])
Don’t worry , whatever it is you’re going through, will eventually pass and the ease will come In shaa Allaah ان شاء الله . So verily with every difficulty there is relief. Verily with every difficulty there is relief.} (Al-Inshirah 94:5-6)
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