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Stricken by Calamities

Asif Uddin

category: Coping with Adversity

source: islam21c.com

reads: 11500

... continued from Page 1

If we find that Allah has not answered our supplications then perhaps the one who is supplicating is weak and full of sin. In fact, it could be that it is the sin itself that he committed that caused the calamity to befall him.

And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. [9]

So we should meticulously scrutinize all the sins that we have committed and seek Allah's forgiveness for it. For some this is something difficult to do; this is why we are encouraged to repent once we have sinned. 'The (angel) on the left hand raises his pen (i.e., delays writing) for six hours before he records the sinful deed of a Muslim. If he regrets it and seeks Allah's forgiveness, the deed is not recorded; otherwise it is recorded as one deed.' [10] And 'Ali, the fourth righteous caliph of Islam (radiallahu anhu) said, 'No calamity befalls except due to a sin, which is not alleviated except with repentance' [11] How sad it is that the tears roll off the cheeks so easily when we are in a state of grief and anxiety and yet so difficult when seeking the forgiveness from Allah. We should be cautious of abstaining from that sin and we should fear returning to it more than fearing the calamity itself. This great companion of our Prophet also said, 'Let a man not have hope in anyone except his Lord. Let a man not fear anyone except his sin'. [12]

Remember the benefits of calamities

A Muslim should remember how short this life is and reflect upon how eternal nature of the hereafter. We should live our lives as though we are in a constant period of calamity – this does not mean that we should not feel happiness, because it is through the worship of Allah that true happiness is attained. We should reflect upon the worship we perform whilst we are in a state of hardship and increase more in our worship in times of ease, as our beloved Prophet said, 'Recognise and Acknowledge Allah in times of ease and prosperity, and He will remember you in times of adversity.' [13] It is ironic that we remember Allah and beseech Him with all sincerity when we are in the midst of a calamity, like being imprisoned or tortured. We then recite and memorise much Qur'an and perform many supplications and voluntary prayer, but when we are free and removed from calamity we seemingly forget Allah; failing to recognise the blessings that He continuously showers upon us, praying only a little and neglecting supplications. It is incumbent upon us turn away from such heedlessness and live our lives as if we are imprisoned, for al-Mustafa said, 'Indeed this world is a prison for the believer and a paradise for the disbeliever.' [14] "A common problem facing the Muslims is that we have an imbalance of fear and hope of Allah; it is almost as though we hope too much and fear too little."

It is as though we have been guaranteed swift admission into Paradise as soon as we die. Instead, we should fear Allah more when we are healthy, and hope more when we are sick. This way our complacency will decrease. As the great Imam of Makkah, Fudayl Ibn 'Iyad said: 'Fear is better than hope when a person is healthy. But when death comes to him, hope is better than fear'.

After hardship comes ease

How many calamities have we faced in our lives and have found comfort after it? It is human nature to feel as though the pain will never go away and that our life has ended once calamity strikes. However, the believer is one who analyses things in the long term and is not overwhelmed by short-term problems. Allah, the Exalted, says,

So verily after الْعُسْر(hardship) comes يُسْرًا(ease), verily after الْعُسْر(hardship) comes يُسْرًا(ease). [15]

How many times have we heard and read this ayah, but have we pondered over it deeply? This is something we can take comfort in, that after this difficult period, we will find some rest and ease. The fact that Allah said this twice indicates the notion of emphasis. The word الْعُسْرِ (hardship) is in its definite form (it has 'al' in front of the word) which means that a person may have one problem, but the word يُسْرًا is in the indefinite form which means that after a problem, Allah will give you many eases (possibly of different types). And that the hardship mentioned in the first verse is the same as the hardship in the second, but the ease stated in the first verse is different to the second. So Allah has closed one door for us, but He will open many other doors. This ease will only come about after experiencing hardship. And we know the value of something after encountering its opposite. The Prophet said, 'Know that victory (or achievement) comes through patience, relief with affliction, and hardship with ease.' [16]

This life is full of joys and calamities, most understand the blessings of its joy but few comprehend the blessings in its calamities. Allah has blessed us with this understanding, strengthening our souls and mind. A great imam of Islam, Al-Hasan al-Basri, said, 'Do not resent the calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom.' May Allah enable us with patience and piety.

1. Sunan al-Tirmidhi.
2. Sahih al-Bukhari and Sahih Muslim.
3. 'Uddah as-Sabirin wa Dhakhirah al-Shakirin, Ibn al-Qayyim quotes from a 'wise man'.
4. Sahih Muslim.
5. Sunan al-Tirmidhi
6. Ibn Taymiyyah, taken from, The Sunnah way of the Sufis by Harith al-Muhasibi.
7. Al-Musnad of Imam Ahmad.
8. Sahih Muslim.
9. Al-Qur'an: [al-Shura 42:30]
10. al-Tabarani.
11. Qa'idah fi al-Sabr, Ibn Taymiyyah, which is found in Jami' al-Masa'il, edited by Muhammad 'Uzayr Shams.
12. Ibid.
13. At-Tirmidhi.
14. Sahih Muslim.
15. Al-Qur'an, [al-Sharh 94:5-6]
16. Sunan al-Tirmidhi.