2. Know! Difficulties happen by the Will of Allah
It is very important to know and believe that nothing will happen to you except what Allah has decreed for you. The Prophet was asked to say, {Nothing will befall us except what Allah has decreed for us } (At-Tawbah 9:51)
He taught one of his young cousins, `Abdullah Ibn `Abbas, “Know that what hits you would not have missed you“
This belief gives you comfort and prevents fear from future difficulty, but more importantly, helps you overcome any difficulty you are already going through. Allah said,
{No misfortune ever befalls unless it be by Allah. And whosoever has faith in Allah, Allah guides his heart …} (At-Taghabun 64:11)
3. Flee to Allah
“O Allah I display before you my weakness …” This phrase was part of the prayer of the Prophet while coming back from his trip to Al Ta’if. Taking refuge in Allah and asking for His help and support is a very important action we should do during the time of difficulty. This is a trial by Allah, it happened with His permission, and it is only He who can alleviate it.
4. Examine your actions
“If you are not angry with me, I do not care …” was also part of the Prophet’s prayer returning from Al Ta’if. During times of difficulty, we should examine our actions. This difficulty may very well be a warning from Allah that we are doing something wrong. It may be because of our sins and mistakes:
{Whatever misfortune befalls you is a consequence of your own deeds …} (Ash-Shura 42:30).
It may be because we strayed and Allah sent this difficulty to us as a reminder to bring us back. Malek Ibn Deenar, one of the great scholars of Islam, transformed from being an alcoholic person to the great person we know as a result of the death of his own two-year old daughter.
5. Be optimistic
Having hope and being optimistic were two important attitudes the Prophet embraced when facing difficulty.
“By Allah, Allah will perfect this matter until the traveler can travel from Sana’a to Hadhramaut fearing no one but Allah and the wolf that may eat his sheep“, The Prophet told Khabbab when he complained to him about the severity of torture he and other Muslims in Makkah were going through. (Al-Bukhari)
It was this hope in Allah, and confidence that there will be ease after difficulty, that kept them going.
This hope was not only kept in the hearts but was also spread through words and attitude. The Prophet mastered optimism and looked for optimism: “Evil omen is false! And I likes Al-fa’l (good omen)” the prophet told his companions. They asked, “What is Al-Fa’l?” He responded, “A good word.” (Muslim)
6. Do not get distracted
One of the very bad consequences of going through difficult times is the amount of distraction the difficulty creates. Ibn Al-Qayim says,
“It is a complete fiasco to be distracted by the blessing away from the One who blesses, and by the trial away from the One who tries.”
Sometimes the difficulty itself scares us away from the good we are doing. Allah says,
{And let it never happen that they might turn you away from the revelations of Allah after they have been revealed to you…} (Al-Qasas 28-87)
The prophet never stopped delivering his message because of a personal difficulty he went through or because of a threat or torture he received from his enemies.
7. Expect reward
This was one of the teachings the Qur’an instilled in the hearts of Muslims. Whether the calamity happens naturally, or whether it is due to the harm of others, being patient and perseverant results in a lot of reward. The calamity will eventually be over,
{Indeed with the difficulty there is an ease. Indeed with the difficulty there is an ease.} (Ash-Sharh 94:5-6)
And when the ease comes, the pain will go away and will be forgotten. What remains and will never go away is the tremendous reward one would get,
{We shall certainly test you by afflicting you with fear, hunger, loss of properties and lives and fruits. Give glad tidings, then, to those who remain patient.
Those, who when any affliction smites them, they say: “Verily, we belong to Allah, and it is to Him we shall return.”
Upon them will be the blessings of their Lord, and it is they who are rightly guided.} (Al-Baqarah 2:155-157)
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