THE ART OF HAPPINESS
Among the greatest of blessings is to have a calm, stable, and happy heart. For in happiness the mind is clear, enabling one to be a productive person. It has been said that happiness is an art that needs to be learned. And if you learn it, you will be blessed in this life. But how does one learn it? A basic principle of achieving happiness is having an ability to endure and to cope with any situation. Therefore you should neither be swayed nor governed by difficult circumstances, nor should you be annoyed by insignificant trifles. Based on the purity of the heart and its ability to endure, a person will shine. When you train yourself to be patient and forbearing, then hardship and calamity will be easy for you to bear.
The opposite of being content is being shortsighted, being concerned for no one but one’s own self and forgetting about the world and all that is in it. Allah described his enemies as follows:
(Thinking about themselves [as how to save their ownselves, ignoring the others and the Prophet)…)
(Qur’an 3: I54)
It is as if such people see themselves as being the whole universe, or at least at the center of it. They think not of others, nor do they live for anyone but themselves. It is incumbent upon you and I to take time out to be preoccupied with more than just us, and to sometimes distance ourselves from our own problems in order to forget our wounds and hurts. By doing this we gain two things: we make ourselves happy, and we bring joy to others.
Basic to the art of happiness is to bridle our thoughts and to restrain them, not allowing them to wander, stray, escape, or go wild. For if you were to leave your thoughts to wander as they wish, then they will run wild and control you. They will open the catalogue of your past woes. They will remind you of the history of your misfortunes, beginning from the day that your mother gave you birth.
lf your thoughts are left to roam, then they will bring to you images of past difficulties and images of a future that is frightening. These thoughts will shake your very being and will cause your feelings to flare. Therefore bridle them, and restrain them by directing them to the concentrated application of the kind of serious thought that begets fruitful and beneficial work.
(And put your trust in the Ever-Living One Who dies not.)
(Qur’an 25: 58)
Also among the principles of the art of happiness is to value life on this earth according to its true merit and worth. This life is frivolous and does not warrant anything from you except that you turn away from it. This life is filled with calamities, aches, and wounds. lf that is the description of this life, then how can one be unduly affected by its minor calamities, and how can one grieve over such material things as have passed him by? The best moments of life are tainted, its future promises are mere mirages, the successful ones in it are envied, the one who is blessed is constantly threatened, and lovers are struck down by some unexpected misfortune.
And in a hadith:
“Verily, knowledge is only acquired by the practice of learning, and tolerance is acquired by the practice of tolerating.”
lf one were to attempt to apply the meaning of this hadith to the topic under discussion, then he could go one step further and say that happiness is acquired by assuming it. It is acquired by constantly smiling, by hunting for the reasons that make one happy, and even by forcing it onto one’s own self however awkward that may seem. One does all of these things until happiness becomes second nature.
The truth of the matter is that you cannot remove from yourself all remnants of grief and the reason for this is that life was created as a test:
(Verily, we have created man in toil.) (Qur’an 90: 4)
(That He might try you, which of you is the best in deeds.) (Qur’an 11: 7)
But the message l wish to convey to you is that you should, as much as is possible, reduce the amount and intensity of your grief as for being completely free from grief, this is for the inhabitants of Paradise in the Hereafter. This is why the dwellers of Paradise will say:
(‘All the praises and thanks be to Allah, Who has removed from us (all) grief) (Qur’an 35: 34)
This is considered to be a proof that grief will not be removed from them except in Paradise. Likewise, grudges and bitterness will not be completely removed except in Paradise.
(And we shall remove from their breasts any sense of injury [that they may have]…) (Qur’an 15: 47)
So when a person knows the nature of this world and its qualities, he comes to realize that it is dry, deceitful, and unworthy; and he comes to fully understand that that is its nature and its description. An Arab poet said:
“You have taken an oath not to betray us in our pacts, And it is as if you have vowed that in the end, you shall deceive us.”
If the description of this world is as l have described it to be, then it is worthy of the intelligent person not to help it in its onslaught, nor to surrender to depression and anxiety. What we should do is defend ourselves from all feelings that may spoil our lives, in a war that we must wage with all the strength that we have been endowed with.
(And make ready against them all you can of power, including steeds of war to threaten the enemy of Allah and your enemy…) (Quran 8: 60)
(But they never lost heart for that which did befall them in Allah s Way, nor did they weaken nor degrade themselves. It (Qur’an 3: 146)
THE ART OF HAPPINESS —- PAUSE TO REFLECT
Do not be sad. If you are poor, then someone else is immersed in debt. If you do not own your own means of transportation, then someone else has been deprived of his legs. If you have reason to complain concerning the pains of sickness, then someone else has been bedridden for years. And if you have lost a child, then someone else has lost many children, for instance, in a single car accident.
Do not be sad. You are a Muslim who believes in Allah, His Messengers, His angels, the Hereafter, and Preordainment — both the good and the bad of it. While you are blessed with this faith, which is the greatest of blessings, others disbelieve in Allah, discredit the Messengers, differ among themselves concerning the Book, deny the Hereafter, and deviate in their understanding of Divine Preordainment.
Do not be sad, because if you are, you disturb your soul and heart, and you prevent yourself from sleeping. One of the Arab poets said:
“How often is the young man overcome with despair when afflicted, and with Allah is the way out, The situation becomes unbearable, and when its rope tightens, it snaps, and throughout, he never thought that he would be saved.”
CONTROLLING ONE’S EMOTIONS
Emotions flare up for two reasons: either for joy or for inner pain. In a hadith, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:
“Verily, I have been prohibited from emitting two foolish and wicked sounds, one that is emitted when something favorable happens, and the other that is expressed when calamity strikes.”
(ln order that you may not be sad aver matters that you fail to get, nor rejoice because of that which has been given to you.) (Qur’an 57: 23)
For this reason, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“Verily, true patience is that which is displayed during the initial shock.”
Therefore, when one contains his emotions upon both the joyful and the calamitous occasion, he is likely to achieve peace and tranquility, happiness and comfort, and the taste of triumph over his own self Allah described man as being exultant and boastful, irritable, discontented when evil touches him, and niggardly when good touches him. The exceptions, Allah informed us, are those who remain constant in prayer. For they are on a middle path in times of both joy and sorrow. They are thankful during times of ease and are patient during times of hardship.
Unbridled emotions can greatly wear a person out, causing pain and loss of sleep. When such a person becomes angry, he flares up, threatens others, loses all self-control, and surpasses the boundaries of justice and balance. Meanwhile, if he becomes happy, he is in a state of rapture and wildness. ln his intoxication of joy, he forgets himself and surpasses the bounds of modesty. When he renounces and relinquishes the company of others, he disparages them, forgetting their virtues while stamping out their good qualities. On the other hand, if he loves others, then he spares no pains in according them all forms of veneration and honor, portraying them as being the pinnacles of perfection.
The Prophet (bpuh) said:
“Love the one who is beloved to you in due moderation, for perhaps the day will come when you will abhor him. And hate the one whom you detest in due moderation, for perhaps the day will arrive when you will come to love him.”
And in another hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“And I ask you (O’ Allah) to make me just, both while being in a state of anger and while being in a state of joy.”
So when a person curbs his emotions, when he controls his mind, and when to each matter he gives according to the weight of its importance, he will have taken a step towards wisdom and true understanding.
Indeed we have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance [justice] that mankind may keep up justice.) (Qur’an 57: 25)
Indeed, Islam came as much with balance in morals, manners, and dealings as it did with its straightforward, holy, and truthful way of life.
(Thus we have made you a just (and the best) nation. It (Qur’an 2: I43)
Being just is an end that is called for in both our manners and in matters of jurisprudence. In fact, Islam is founded on truth and justice – truthfulness in all that we learn from revealed texts, and justice in rulings, sayings, actions, and manners.
(And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled in truth and in justice.) (Qur’an 6: 115)
THE BLISS OF THE PROPHETIC COMPANIONS
Our Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him) came to all people with a heavenly message. He was not driven by worldly ambition, he had no treasure from which to spend, no splendid gardens from which to eat, and no castle in which to live.
Despite all this, his loving followers pledged allegiance to him and remained steadfast, enduring a hard life full of difficulties. They were few and weak, always in fear of being uprooted by those surrounding them, and yet they loved the Prophet (bpuh) wholly and completely.
They were besieged in a mountain pass, and during that time, they had little or no food. Their reputations were attacked, their own relatives waged war against them, and yet their love for him was perfect.
Some of them were dragged over the hot sands of the desert, some were imprisoned, and others were subjected to inventive and innovative ways of punishment – all of which the disbelievers inflicted upon them. Having to endure all of that, they still loved him unreservedly with heart and soul.
They were deprived of home, country, family, and wealth. They were driven out from the playing fields of their childhood and from the homes in which they were raised. Despite all this suffering, they loved him unequivocally.
The believers faced trials because of his message. The very ground under them was shaken violently, and yet their love for him continued to grow.
The best among their youth constantly had swords hanging menacingly over their heads.
Their men moved forward lightly across the battlefield, advancing to death as if they were upon an excursion or a holiday, for the simple reason that they loved him unconditionally.
One of them was charged with the duty of carrying the Prophet’s message to a king in a foreign land, and that person knew that it was a mission from which he would not return. Yet he went and fulfilled his duty. One of them was sent on a mission, knowing that it would be the cause of his death, and he went happily, for he loved the Prophet (bpuh) with unmitigated love.
But why did they love him, and why were they so happy with his message and content with his example? Why did they forget the pain, the suffering, and the hardship that resulted from following him?
To put it simply- he epitomized benevolence and righteousness.
They perceived in him all the signs of truth and purity. He was a symbol for those who sought out higher things. With his tenderness he cooled the rancor from the hearts of people, with words of truth he soothed their chests and with his message he filled their souls with peace.
He poured happiness into their hearts, until the pain that they endured from being at his side was made to seem insignificant. And he instilled into their souls a belief that made them forget every injury and every adversity that they had to endure.
He polished their insides with his guidance and he illuminated their eyes with his brilliance. He removed from them the burdens of ignorance, the depravities of idolatry, and the evil consequences of polytheism. He extinguished the fires of malice and animosity from their souls and he poured the water of faith into their hearts. Thus, their minds and bodies became tranquil and their hearts found peace.
They tasted the beauty of life with him and they knew delight in his company. They found happiness at his side, safety and salvation in following him, and inner-richness in emulating him:
(And we have sent you [O’ Muhammad] not but as a mercy for all that exists) (Qur’an 21: 107)
(And verily, you [O’ Muhammad] are indeed guiding [mankind] to the straight path.) (Qur’an 42: 52)
(And He brings them out of darkness [by Allah’s will] unto light)
(Quran 5: 16)
(He it is Who sent among the unlettered ones a Messenger [Muhammad] from among themselves, reciting to them His Verses, purifying them [from the filth of disbelief and polytheism], and teaching them the Book and Al-Hikmah [As-Sunnah: legal ways, orders, acts of worship, etc. of Prophet Muhammad]. And verily, they had been before in manifest error
(Qur’an 62: 2)
(He releases them from their heavy burdens and from the fetters [bindings] that were upon them) (Qur’an 7: 157)
(Answer Allah [by obeying him] and [His] Messenger when he calls you to that which will give you life) (Qur’an 8: 24)
(And you were on the brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it)
(Qur’an 3: I03)
They were truly happy with their leader and so they rightly deserved to be.
O’ Allah, send prayers and peace upon Muhammad, the liberator of minds from the shackles of deviation and the rescuer of souls from the curses of falsehood, and be pleased with his noble Companions as a recompense for their striving and for their efforts.
REPEL BOREDOM FROM YOUR LIFE
One who lives a life of repetition and routine will almost inevitably become a victim of boredom, especially since man by his very nature tires from a lack of change. For this reason Allah, the Exalted, the Almighty, gave us variety in times and places, in food and drink – diversity in the many forms of creation: night and day, valley and mountain, white and black, hot and cold, shade and sun, sweet and sour.
Allah mentioned this diversity in His book:
(There comes forth from their bellies, a drink of varying color)
(Qur’an l6: 69)
(…and date-palms, growing out two or three from a single stem root, or otherwise [one stem root for every palm) (Qur’an I3:4)
(And crops of different shape and taste [its fruits and its seeds] and olives, and pomegranates, similar [in kind] and different [in taste].)
(Qur’an 6: 141)
(And among the mountains are streaks white and red, of varying colors)
(Qur’an 35: 27)
(And so are the days [good and not so good], We give to men by turns…) (Qur’an 3: 140)
The children of Israel tired of eating the one kind food they were given, even though it was the best of foods – simply because it was all that they ate.
(We cannot endure one kind of food) (Qur’an 2: 61)
Al-Ma’moon would alternate between reading, standing, sitting, or lying, and he said,
“The soul is ever so prone to boredom.”
(Those who remember Allah [always, and in prayers] standing, sitting and lying down on their sides) (Qur’an 3: 191)
You should contemplate the many forms of worship that are legislated in Islam. There are deeds of the heart, of the tongue, of the limbs, and of wealth- by spending it for a good cause. The prayer, alms giving, fasting, pilgrimages to Makkah, fighting in the way of Allah — these are only some examples of worship. The prayer involves standing, bowing, prostrating, and sitting. If you desire relaxation, vitality, and continued productivity, then bring diversity into your work, your reading, and your daily life. In terms of reading, for example, read a broad range of topics: the Qur’an, its explanation, the biography of the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) and his Companions, hadith, Islamic jurisprudence, history, literature, books of general knowledge, and so forth. Distribute your time between worship and enjoying what is lawful, from visiting friends, entertaining guests, playing sports, or going on excursions: you will find yourself to be a lively and bright person, because the soul delights in variety and things that are new.
CAST OF ANXIETY
Do not be sad, for your Lord says:
(Have we not opened your breast for you [O’ Muhammad])
(Quran 94: 1)
The message of this verse embraces all those who carry the truth, who see the light, and who tread the path of guidance.
(Is he whose breast Allah has opened to Islam, so that he is in light from His Lord [as he who is non-Muslim]? So, woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah!) (Qur’an 39: 22)
Therefore there is a truth that causes the heart to be opened and a falsehood that causes it to harden.
(And whosoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam) (Quran 6: 125)
So the acceptance of and adherence to this Religion is a goal that cannot be achieved except by the one who is blessed.
(Be not sad [or afraid], surely Allah is with us.) (Quran 9: 40)
All those that have faith in Allah’s care, guardianship, and mercy speak the words that are related in this verse.
(Those [i.e. believers] unto whom the people [hypocrites] said,
‘Verily the people [pagans] have gathered against you [a great army], therefore, fear them’. But it [only] increased them in Faith_, and they said: ‘Allah [Alone] is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs [for us]. (Quran 3: 173)
His being Sufficient for us frees us from dependence upon others, and His Guardianship protects us.
(O’ Prophet [Muhammad]! Allah is Sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you) (Quran 8: 64)
(And put your trust in the Ever-Living One Who dies not…) (Quran 25: 58)
(And endure you patiently [O ‘ Muhammad], your patience is not but from Allah. And grieve not over them [polytheists and pagans, etc.], and be not distressed because of what they plot. Truly, Allah is with those who fear Him [keep their duty unto Him] and those who are good-doers.}
(Qur’an 16: 127-128)
Allah being with them in this verse refers to a special blessing for his obedient worshippers, in terms of protection, care, support, and guardianship. This is in proportion to the level of their faith, actions, and efforts.
(So do not become weak [against your enemy], nor be sad, and you will be superior [in victory] if you are indeed [true] believers.) (Quran 3: 139)
They will do you no harm, barring a trifling annoyance; and they fight against you, they will show you their backs, and they will not be helped. (Quran 3: 111)
(Allah has decreed: Verily! it is I and My Messengers who shall be the victorious’. Verily Allah is All-Powerful, All-Mighty.) (Quran 58: 21)
(Verily We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe [in the Oneness of Allah – lslamic Monotheism] in this worlds [Je and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth [i.e. Day of Resurrection) (Quran 40: 51)
And my affair i leave it to Allah. Verily, Allah is the All-Seer of`[His] slaves. So Allah saved him from the evils that they plotted [against him]…) (Quran 40: 44, 45)
(And in Allah should the believers put their trust)? (Qur’an 3: 122)
Don’t be sad: live today as if it were the last day of your life.
With this frame of mind and outlook towards life, you have no reason to allow sadness or anger to steal the little time you have. In a hadith, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:
“When the morning comes upon you, then do not expect to see the evening, and when you see the night, do not expect to see the morning.”
In other words, live with heart, body, and soul for today only, without dwelling upon the past and without being anxious about the future.
An Arab poet said:
“The past is lost forever, and that which is hoped for is from the unseen, So all that you have is the present hour.”
Being preoccupied with the past and dragging past woes into the present – these are the signs of an unstable and unsound mind.
A Chinese proverb reads:
“Do not cross the bridge until you reach it.”
In other words, be anxious over events only when they come to pass. One of our pious predecessors said,
“O’ son of Adam, verily, you have only three days: Yesterday, and it has forsaken you; tomorrow, and it has yet to arrive; and today, so fear Allah and obey Him in it.”
How can he truly live who carries with him the concerns of the past, the present, and the future? How can one find peace, while constantly recollecting that which has already occurred? One plays a past event back in his mind, feels its pain, and yet benefits nothing from the process.
The meaning of; ‘when the morning comes, do not expect to see the evening, and when the evening comes, do not expect to see the morning,
is that we should not have lofty or long-term hopes for this world. Expect death and do your best in doing good deeds. Do not let your concerns and ambitions surpass the limit of that day in which you live, a code that will allow you to concentrate and spend all of your energies on being productive each day. Use time efficiently and concentrate all of your efforts on achieving something today, by improving your manners, taking care of your health, and improving your relations with others.
CAST OF ANXIETY – PAUSE TO REFLECT
Do not be sad, for that which has been preordained has already been decided upon and will take place though you may not like it.
The pens have dried, the scrolls have been rolled up, and every affair is firmly established. Therefore your sadness will not change your reality in the least.
Do not be sad, because, with your sadness, you desire for time’s suspension: for the sun to stop in its place, for the hands of the clock to stand still, for the steps of your feet to move backwards, and for the river to flow back to its source.
Do not be sad, because sadness is like a hurricane that violently tosses the waves, changing the atmosphere and destroying the blooming flowers of the luxuriant garden.
Do not be sad, because the one who is sad is like a person who pours water into a bucket that has a hole in it. He is like a writer who uses his finger to write on water.
Do not be sad, because the true span of life is measured by the number of days in which you are content. Do not then spend your days in grief, do not waste your nights in sorrow, and do not be extravagant in squandering your time; for truly, Allah loves not those who are extravagant and wasteful.
Do not be sad, for in truth, your Lord forgives sins and accepts repentance.
When you read the following verse, does not your heart feel peaceful, are not your worries driven away, and does not happiness permeate your whole being?
)Say: ‘O’ My slaves who have transgressed against themselves [by committing evil deeds and sins] Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.)
(Qur’an 39: 53)
He addressed them with, ‘O’ my slaves,’ to tame their hearts and souls. He specifically mentioned those who transgress, since they are more disposed than others to perpetrate evil deeds on a continual basis. How much greater then will be the Mercy of Allah for others!
Thus He forbade them from despairing and from losing hope of attaining forgiveness. And He informed them that He forgives all sins of the one who repents, whether they are big or small, important or unimportant.
Do you not then rejoice upon reading the following verses?
(And those who, when they have committed Fahishah [illegal sexual intercourse etc.] or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins – and none can forgive sins but Allah – And do not persist in what [wrong] they have done, while they know?
(Qur’an 3: 135)
(And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah Is Forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful) (Qur’an 4: 110)
(If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, we shall remit from you your [small] sins, and admit you to a Noble Entrance) [i.e. into Paradise].) (Qur’an 4: 31)
(If they [hypocrites], when they had been unjust to themselves, had come to you [Muhammad] and begged Allah s_ forgiveness, and the Messenger had begged forgiveness for them: indeed, they would have found Allah All-Forgiving [One Who accepts repentance], Most Merciful)
(Qur’an 4: 64)
(And verily; I am indeed Forgiving to him who repents, believes [in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with me] and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them, [till his death].)
(Qur’an 20: 82)
When Prophet Moosa (Moses) killed a man, he said:
‘O’ my Lord, forgive me,’ and He forgave him.
When Prophet Dawood (David) repented, Allah said:
(So We forgave him that, and verily for him is a near access to Us, and a good place of`[final] return [Paradise].) (Qur’an 38: 25)
How perfect, merciful, and generous is Allah! He even proffered His mercy and forgiveness for those who believe in the Trinity – that is, if they repent:
(Surely disbelievers are those who said: ‘Allah is the third of the three [in a limit;]’. But there is no Allah [god] [none who has the right to be worshipped] but One Allah [God – Allah]. And if they cease not from what they say, verily, a painful torment will befall the disbelievers among them.
Will they not repent to Allah and ask His Forgiveness? For Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.)
(Qur’an 5: 73-74)
In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“Allah, blessed is He and Most High, says: ‘O’ son of Adam, indeed, you will not supplicate to Me and hope from Me except that I will forgive you, in proportion to what came from you (i.e. your level of sincerity), and l won’t mind. O’ son of Adam, if your sins were to reach in magnitude the height of the heavens, and then you were to ask me for forgiveness, I would forgive you, and I won’t mind. O’ son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins that (in their size) almost fill the earth, and you met Me without ascribing to Me any partners, I would come to you with its size in forgiveness.”‘
Bukhari related that the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“lndeed, Allah extends His Hand in the night to forgive the one who sins in the day, and He extends His Hand in the day t0 forgive the one who sins at night, and this continues until the sun rises from the west.”
In another hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) relates that Allah said:
“O’ my slaves, verily you sin by day and night, and I forgive all sins; so seek forgiveness from me and I will forgive you.”
In another authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“By the One Who has my soul in His Hand, if you were not to sin, then Allah would remove you, and would bring another nation who sins, and who then seek forgiveness from Allah; and He would forgive them.”
And the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) also said:
“By the One, who has my soul in His Hand, if you were not to sin, then I would fear upon you that which is more severe than sin; and that is self-conceit.”
In another authentic narration, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“Every one of you is constantly doing wrong, and the best of those who constantly do wrong are the ones who are constantly making repentance.”
He (bpuh) also said in this authentic hadith:
“Truly, Allah is happier with the repentance of His slave than one of you who is on his mount, and upon his mount is his drink and food; then he loses his mount in the desert, and he searches for it until he loses hope; so he sleeps and then wakes up to find that his mount is beside him, and he says, “O’ Allah, you are my slave and I am your Lord. He pronounced this mistake as a result of his extreme happiness.”
He (bpuh) is also authentically reported to have said:
“Verily, a slave (of Allah) commits a sin and then he says, ‘O’ Allah, forgive me my sin, for indeed, none forgives sins except You’. Then he commits another sin, and he afterwards says, ‘O’ Allah, forgive me my sin, for indeed, none forgives sins except You’. Then he commits another sin, and he afterwards says, ‘O’ Allah, forgive me my sin, for indeed, none forgives sins except You’. Then Allah says, ‘My slave knows that he has a Lord, Who takes one to account for sins, and Who also forgives sins, so let my slave do as he wishes.”‘
The meaning of this is that as long as Allah’s slave is contrite and repentant, then Allah will forgive him.
DO NOT BE SAD —- EVERYTHING WILL OCCUR ACCORDING TO PRE-ORDAINMENT
Everything occurs according to preordainment and according to what has been decreed. Such is the belief of Muslims, the followers of Muhammad (Blessings and Peace be upon him). And nothing happens in the Universe except through Allah’s Knowledge, Permission, and Divine Plan.
(No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees —- (Al-Lauh al-Mahfuz), before We bring it into existence, Verily that is easy for Allah.) (Qur’an 57: 22)
(Verily, We have created all things with Qadar [Divine Preordainments of all things before their creation, as written in the Book of Decrees Al-Lauh al-Mahfuz.) (Quran 54: 49)
(And certainly, we shall test you with something of fear hunger loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient ones.)
(Quran 2: 155)
And in a hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“Wonderful is the affair of the believer! His affairs in their entirety are good for him: if good befalls him. he is thankful, and that is good for him. And if harm befalls him, he is patient, and that is good for him. And this (prosperous state of being) is only for the believer.”
In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“If you ask, then ask of Allah, and if you seek help, then seek it from Allah. And know that if the whole of the nation were to rally together in order to bring benefit to you in anything, they would not benefit you except with that which Allah has written for you. And if they were to gather together in order to inflict harm upon you with something, they would not harm you except with that which Allah has written upon you. The pens have been raised and the pages have dried.”
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) also said:
“And know that what has befallen you was not going to miss you, and that which missed you was not meant to befall you.”
In another authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“Strive for that which will benefit you, seek help from Allah, do not be weak, and do not say: If I had done such and such, the situation would be such and such. But say:
Allah has decreed and what He wishes, He does.”
And in another authentic hadith, the Prophet (bpuh) said:
“Eve1y matter that Allah decrees for His slave is better for him.”
Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah was asked about sin: Is it good for someone? He said:
“Yes, with the condition that it is followed by being remorseful and repentant, by seeking forgiveness, and by being sincerely moved (to submission) on the inside.”
Allah, the Exalted, says:
(And it may be that you dislike a thing, which is good for you and that you like a thing, which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know?
(Quran 2: 216)
DO NOT BE SAD —— WAIT PATIENTLY FOR A HAPPY OUTCOME
The following hadith is found in the book of At-Timiidhi:
“The best form of worship is to wait (patiently) for a happy outcome.”
(Is not the morning near?) (Quran 11: 81)
The morning of the afflicted is looming, so watch for it. An Arab proverb says, “If the rope becomes too tight, it will snap.”
In other words, if a situation reaches the level of crisis, then expect a light and an opening to appear. Allah says:
(And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will remit his sins from him, and will enlarge his reward.)? (Quran 65: 5)
(And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make his matter easy for him.) (Quran 65: 4)
In an authentic hadith, the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) relates this saying from Allah:
“I am with the thoughts of my slave towards me, so let him think of me as he pleases.”
Allah, the Almighty, says:
((They were reprieved) until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied [by their people], then came to them Our Help, and whosoever we willed were delivered.)
(Quran 12: 110)
Know that, truly, with hardship there is relief some commentators of the Qur’an said (considering it to be a hadith) that:
“One hardship cannot overcome two reliefs.”
The Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said in an authentic hadith:
“And know that victory comes with patience and that relief comes with hardship.”
An Arab poet said:
“Some eyes are restless while others are in sleep,
ln meditating that which may or may not occur,
So leave worrying as much as possible,
As carrying the burdens of anxiety is madness,
There is your Lord, who provided you with solutions to yesterday,
And He will similarly provide for what is to come tomorrow. “
Another said:
“Let events flow in their predestined path,
And do not sleep except with a clear mind,
Between the period of the blinking of the eye and its opening,
Allah changes things from one state to another.”
WAIT PATIENTLY FOR A HAPPY OUTCOME – PAUSE TO REFLECT
Do not worry about your wealth that is stored in vaults. Unless you have faith in Allah, your high castles and your green gardens will only bring you worry, grief, and hopelessness.
Do not be sad: even the diagnosis of the doctor and his medicine cannot make you happy if you have allowed sadness to dwell in your heart, letting it permeate your emotions and your existence.
Do not be sad: you have the ability to supplicate to Allah and thus excel at humbling yourself at the doorstep of the King of kings. You have the blessed last third of the night to invoke Allah and to rub your head upon the ground in prostration.
Do not be sad: Allah has created for you the earth and what is in it. He has caused gardens of beauty to grow, filling them with many kinds of plants and flowers in pairs, both male and female. And He has made tall palm trees, shining stars, forests, rivers and streams —- yet you are sad!
Do not be sad: you drink water that is pure, you breathe fresh air, you walk upon your two feet in health, and you sleep the evenings in peace.
DO NOT BE SAD: SEEK FORGIVENESS FROM ALLAH OFTEN, FOR YOUR LORD IS OFT-FORGIVING
(I [Noah] said [to them]: ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord; verily; He is Oft-Forgiving. He will send rain to you in abundance; and give you increase in wealth and children; and bestow on you gardens; and bestow on you rivers. (Qur’an 71: 10-12)
So seek forgiveness from Allah more often and you will reap the benefits of doing so: peace of mind, lawful provisions, righteous offspring, and plentiful rain.
(And [commanding you]: ‘Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed. And that He may bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace [i.e. the one who helps and serves the needy and deserving, physically and with his wealth, and even with good words].) (Qur’an 11: 3)
And the Prophet (Blessings and Peace be upon him) said:
“Whosoever seeks forgiveness (from Allah) often, then Allah makes for him a good ending for every matter of concern and provides for him a way out of every tight situation. “
Related in Bukhari is a hadith that is known as the chief of Al-lstighfaar (i.e., of supplications with which one asks Allah for forgiveness):
“O’ Allah, You are my Lord and none has the right to be worshipped except you. You have created me and I am your slave; and I am upon your covenant and promise as much as I am able to be. I seek refuge in you from the evil that I have perpetrated. I confess to you your favor upon me, and I confess to you my sin. So forgive me; for verily, none forgives sins except you.”
Source: Islam Basics By Aaidh ibn Abdullah Al-Qarnee
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