understand-quran-sharpening-sword-of-imaan

Nazira Usmani

Glad Tidings for the Patient One

And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits . . . [from Quran, 2:155]

Have you ever been tested with sickness, loss of loved ones, unemployment, job loss, or a financial crisis? Does your life seem to have collapsed under hardships and trials? Do you think your life is meaningless? Are you in despair because you can’t get a suitable spouse or you’re in difficult relationship with your spouse or you don’t have children? Do you sometimes ask for death so you won’t have to bear anymore?

. . . but give good tidings to the patient, who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah , and indeed to Him we will return.” Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided. [Quran, 2:155-157]

Imploring Allah in Both Ease and Hardship

The sunnah of the Prophet (saws) teaches us that we should pray to Allah more in times of good fortune than in times of hardship. This is the greatest sign indicating that we are grateful to Allah, and Allah hates when His slaves do not show gratitude. Unfortunately, the state of our ummah is the opposite; we don’t show our gratitude or thanks by weeping to Allah for all His blessings. Instead, we increase our prayers only when we feel hopeless.

It was reported that the Prophet (saws) stayed up all night in prayer, standing until his feet became swollen and his beard was soaked with tears. When he was asked, “Why are you doing this when Allah has forgiven all your past and future sins?” The Prophet (saws) replied, “Shall I not be a grateful slave?”

Whenever we fall into difficulties we have to seek help from Allah (swt) the One and Only. But why? Because He is your Guardian and Protector. He is the most loving, He gives you provision continuously, and He grants you more blessings than you can count.

And He gave you from all you asked of Him. And if you should count the favor of Allah, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, mankind is [generally] most unjust and ungrateful. [Quran, 14:34]

Don’t Worry! The Al-Wakeel (The Best Disposer Of Affairs) Is With You

Whether your whole world betrays you or they gathers in one place to help you, not one of them has the power to remove you from danger and calamity.

On the authority of Abdullah bin Abbas: One day I was behind the prophet and he said to me: “Young man, I shall teach you some words [of advice: Be mindful of Allah, and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, ask of Allah; if you seek help, seek help of Allah. Know that if the Nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, it would benefit you only with something that Allah had already prescribed for you, and that if they gather together to harm you with anything, they would harm you only with something Allah had already prescribed for you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried. [Tirmidhi]

Gifts and Blessings from Allah With the Label “Trials”

Just imagine— Al-Wadud (The most loving One) loves you more than your mother, father, children, or anyone in the world loves you. If your mother writes your decree is it possible that she may write something that will be harmful to you? No. Then why do you think that Allah (swt) would test you in order to harm you?

Calamities and disasters are a test, and they’re also signs of Allah’s love; they’re like medicine—despite its bitterness you give it to the one you love – and for Allah is the highest description.

The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allaah loves a people He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath. [Tirmidhi (2396) and Ibn Maajah (4031)]

Al-Fadl ibn Sahl said: There is a blessing in calamity that the wise man should not ignore, for it erases sins, gives one the opportunity to attain the reward for patience, dispels negligence, reminds one of blessings at the time of health, calls one to repent and encourages one to give charity. 

I will discuss how to gain the love of Allah in my next writings in shaa Allah.

Final Words

Patience (or sabr) in face of calamity is like the fire of the goldsmith— it makes the gold pure by purging out impurities. Trials and calamities are the litmus test Allah (swt) uses to expose the ikhlas and level of yakin of His servants before the whole world and through it the muhsinun used to sharpen their sword of imaan. Allah (swt) wants this sword of His dearest servants to be always dazzling and shiny so that Shaitan is always on his toes whenever the glitter of that glorious sword blinds his eye. That is why Allah (SWT) says in reply to Iblis’s open challenge:

Indeed, My servants – no authority will you have over them, except those who follow you of the deviators. [Quran, 15: 42).

For the case of Auliya of Allah (SWT), trials and calamities are the rare chance they always seek to boost their Hubb-Allah (The love for Allah) over the Hubb-ud –Dunya (The love for the dunya).

By Sister Nazira Usmani, B.Sc Engr., MBA, studying for a Bachelor of Islamic Studies, working as a full time slave of Allah (swt), Alhamdulillah.

 

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