There was a time in my life when nothing could disconnect me from my grief but listening to the Qur’an.
It wasn’t the first time I had played this recitation of Surah Yunus, but at that point, it just felt out of the world. It provided me with a renewed greater sense of purpose for living. It gave me reason to endure the pain and suffering.
Due to such experiences, I feel genuinely sorry for anyone who traverses through life without the Qur’an as their companion. There’s a great need for us to continuously highlight the innumerable virtues of this miraculous book as the miraculous revelation of Allah, providing us with both physical and spiritual healing.
Through this article, I hope to share what I believe to be an extremely effective escape from depression and anxiety—a method that I would personally resort to every time I found myself ensnared by hopelessness.
In brief, you’ll need to spend at least an hour every day with the Qur’an. Start by listening to it, then move on to reciting it yourself, reading and studying its Tafsir and memorizing it.
I also hope to provide some more practical tips in a subsequent article, but here I’ll focusing on Qur’an-based “talk therapy,” which is accessible to everyone. These steps aren’t an immediate cure-all for everything, rather they’re the beginning of your very own journey towards a life-long relationship with the Qur’an.
Depression is more accurately associated with hopelessness. The truth is, grief isn’t a huge deal as long as we can bounce back from it quickly.
The Qur’an has a three-part approach to addressing hopelessness:
Redefining pain
Easing pain through patience
Rebounding using active solutions
Sometimes, all it takes in order to solve a problem is for it to be redefined as a blessing. Talk therapy takes a similar approach, but its effectiveness depends largely on the therapist’s piety and their philosophy regarding life.
The downside of talking to people, in general, is that they expect the resilience of others to manifest itself based on their own experiences, which is usually sooner than needed.
We, as “patients,” have no control over what hurts us, when it hurts us, how deep the wound is or the time it takes us to heal. There will always be layers to experiences that only Allah knows of, possibly relating back to our childhood or events that we feel ashamed to share and speak about.
On the other hand, the Qur’an guarantees us a timeless treatment by giving people access to Allah’s healing speech. To adjust and ground the mindset of the reader, it clarifies the wisdoms behind trials and hardships, and it advocates for patience and perseverance.
Islam also has an amazing take on hopelessness. In several instances, Allah highlights how things can change for the better, like finding Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him), when his siblings took the final leap upon their father’s request.
Similarly, the death of Abu Salamah (may Allah be pleased with him) teaches us an important lesson—that remarrying after the death of a spouse is a possible remedy for our sorrow. His widow, Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her), couldn’t imagine ever finding a better husban, but then, she ended up marrying the best of creation, the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace).
Umm Salamah (may Allah be pleased with her) narrates that she heard the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) say:
No Muslim is afflicted with a calamity except that they should say what Allah has commanded: “Indeed, to Allah do we belong, and, indeed, to Him are we returning. Oh Allah! Reward me on account of my misfortune and compensate me with something better.”
She (Umm Salamah) said: When Abu Salamah passed away, I said, “Which of the Muslims is better than Abu Salamah, whose household was the first to emigrate to the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace)?” Then I uttered them (the words of the supplication), and Allah compensated me with the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). […] (Sahih Muslim)
Overall, the underlying message throughout the Islamic texts is to endure and embrace hardships and then move on, if not grow and prosper in light of them.
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This is like asking if Muslims are immune to cancer. The problem is, some Muslims can’t accept that they’re just as equally prone to depression, poverty, illnesses and defeat if they follow the paths that lead them in that direction.
Eating Halal and fasting may very well reduce our chances of developing tumors. However, if we unknowingly accumulate carcinogens, we may end up getting cancer, whether we’re Muslim or not.
Indeed, Allah, Himself, defends those who believe [against evil]. And, most surely, Allah does not love anyone who betrays his trust [of faith] and who is ever an [unbelieving] ingrate. (Qur’an, 22:38)
According to this Qur’anic verse, Allah has promised to protect the believers. Yet, as scholars such as Ibn al-Qayyim have inferred, the degree of this protection is dependent on the strength of a person’s faith.
Ultimately, the goal isn’t to do our best avoid pain but rather for us to manage it correctly.
Depression, like cancer, is a growing trend due to a modern system that we take for granted. We’ve become used to isolation and less physical and emotional interaction, which traps us, alone, with our own thoughts. Within our own heads, we’re silently prone to doubts, hopelessness and self-criticism. It’s an individual battle, and few people are willing to reach out to the correct people for the right help.
Most importantly, we’re unknowingly accumulating sins that gradually become a greater burden the heart. Take, for instance, the spread of music and Western banking systems becoming widespread even in the Muslim community.
The best way to avoid falling into depression is to understand that this life is not meant to be easy. It’s a test, and we are going to be tested. We must constantly ask Allah to guide us, keep us firm in our faith, grant us steadfastness and protect us from the evil whispers of Shaytan.
Do people think that they will be left [simply] to say: We believe! and they will not be put to the test? (Qur’an, 29:2)
As Muslims, our understanding of the heart is perhaps where things clash the most with the secular understanding of a human being. For some reason, mainstream philosophy deliberately dismisses the role of the heart in the human intellect as well as “mental” well-being.
What I find quite amazing is that this Du’a’ for anxiety and sorrow in Hisn al-Muslim clearly emphasizes the relationship between the heart and the Qur’an:
“…I ask You by every Name that You have named Yourself with, revealed in Your Book, taught any one of Your creation, or kept unto Yourself in the knowledge of the unseen that is with You, to make the Qur’an the spring of my heart, and the light of my chest, the banisher of my sadness, and the reliever of my distress.”
There you have it. The Du’a’ clearly states that the Qur’an is the solution, because grief affects the heart. So, before considering a therapy session, invest some time in listening to, reciting and learning the Qur’an.
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As mentioned earlier, you can’t evade whatever pain Allah has destined for you. One thing you can do, however, is to change your perspective on what you’re going through.
In this section, I’ll mention some Qur’anic facts about hardship which helped me embrace and appreciate the struggles that I’ve gone through.
Pain Is a Universal Law
Yet do not become disheartened in pursuing the people [who have assailed you]. If you suffer pain, they too suffer pain as you suffer pain. But you have hope [to receive] from Allah what they can never hope for. And ever is Allah all-knowing, all-wise. (Qur’an, 4:104)
Everybody receives their share of pain in this world. Allah wisely wills pain for the believers through different worldly trials. However, compared to the disbelievers, Muslims have a list of privileges. Here are a few of them:
Allah rewards them for enduring their pain and persevering
Allah eases their pain with sakinah (tranquility)
Allah has sent them guidance on the solutions
Allah guides other Muslims to support them and stand by their side
You can’t avoid pain. Aim to strive in worshipping Allah because, then, you’ll receive Allah’s aid along your tough journey in this life.
Being Capable of Inflicting Pain Doesn’t Mean It’s Justified
[…] Yet they could not harm anyone with it, except by Allah’s permission. Thus they learned what would harm their own souls, rather than benefit their own souls. […] (Qur’an, 2:102)
This Qur’anic verse is talking about sorcery, but it clarifies Allah’s general rule for harm caused by evil. Just because Allah allows injustice to afflict Muslims, this doesn’t mean that He is pleased with those inflicting the pain.
One thing we need to understand about destiny and free will is that Allah allows people to do acts of evil onto others.
This does not mean that Allah accepts sins or evil. This worldly life was always meant to be a trial for us, and we’ll be tested by our enemies and our desires. Those who perpetrate injustice and evil will be punished either in this life or the hereafter.
It has been narrated from Suhayb ibn Sinan (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
Wondrous is the affair of the believer. His affair, in its entirety, is good for him, and this applies to none but the believer. If he experiences prosperity, he is grateful, and that is good for him. If he is afflicted with adversity, he endures it patiently, and that is good for him. (Sahih Muslim)
Furthermore, contemplating upon the Qur’an and the teachings of the Prophet (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) can help us increase our trust and faith in Allah. It also helps us to make sense of everything in life.
Pain as Guidance and Relief
Behold! You were scrambling up [the hillsides, fleeing] — and not looking back for anyone [else]! — while the Messenger was calling [out to] you, from behind you, [to stand firm. And Allah sees all things]. Thus He requited you, with anguish upon anguish, so that you might [learn] not [to] grieve for whatever [gain] has escaped you, nor [for] whatever [loss] has stricken you. And Allah is all-aware of all that you do. (Qur’an, 3:153)
The above verse is referring to what happened during the battle of Uhud.
Sometimes, the only way to forget about a hardship that we face right now is to view it in light of a potentially more severe situation. What we have lost or not attained could be much worse than it is. We should be grateful to Allah for everything we have and understand that everything that is destined for us shall be.
Ultimately, hardships remind us of Allah and make us turn to Him for help and guidance.
Not a single affliction strikes [one] but that it is by the permission of Allah. Yet whoever believes in Allah, He shall guide his heart [to steadfast faithfulness]. And Allah is all-knowing of all things. (Qur’an, 64:11)
Pain Being Earned
[O believers!] Is it that when an affliction strikes you — while you have already afflicted [your opponents] with one twice as great! — that you say: How could this be? [Rather,] say [to them, O Prophet]: It is from [the doings of] your own souls. Indeed, Allah is powerful over all things. (Qur’an, 3:165)
Whatever good has come to [any one of] you, it is from Allah. And whatever harm has stricken you, it is from your [own] self. Thus have We sent you, [O Muhammad,] as a Messenger to all people [to convey this message]. And sufficient is Allah as a witness [to this]. (Qur’an, 4:79)
We must acknowledge that the afflictions we face may be due to our own shortcomings and sins. We may have earned hardship, difficulty and loss through our own actions.
We should never think we’re too good or pious to deserve what we’re going through. None of us is perfect or free from error and sin. We are not Prophets. We slip up, and if we don’t repent sincerely to Allah and abandon our sins, we will face the consequences, either in this world or in the hereafter.
As much as this reality might be hard to accept for some people, it’s actually very liberating. One of the things that exacerbates depression is thinking you’re entitled to a life free from repercussions and difficulty. We often hear people, usually non-Muslims, ask:
“Why me?!”
But when we understand that we’re potentially the cause of our own pain, we’re more likely to focus on bettering ourselves and doing what we’re capable of, rather than blaming the circumstances we find ourselves in.
Constant repentance (tawbah), seeking forgiveness from Allah (istighfar) and making Du’a’ to Allah to keep us safe from difficulties are all crucial. They are essentially preventative measures. Only Allah can protect us from being afflicted by possible future hardships.
There’s Wisdom Behind Your Pain
But, most surely, We shall test you, so that We might make known those who strive among you [for the sake of Allah] and those who are [truly] patient. We shall, moreover, test [the merit] of all that you say and do. (Qur’an, 47:31)
Ultimately, there is much wisdom behind suffering. It helps us grow and become more resilient. It makes us grateful for what we the things we have. We learn from our mistakes. However, the most important thing is that it strengthens our faith.
You can emerge a much stronger Muslim after persevering through suffering and hardships.
Pain Exposes Hidden Realities
Never will Allah leave [you] believers in the state [of vulnerability] you are in, [with hypocrites in your midst, but only] until He sets apart [through trial] those who are corrupt [in faith] from those who are good. Nor will Allah let you [believers] look into the [realms of the] unseen [to know who is faithful and who is not]. But rather, Allah chooses from His messengers whomever He so wills [for this end]. So believe in Allah and His messengers, [unfailingly]. And if you so believe and are God-fearing, then for you there is a magnificent reward [awaiting]. (Qur’an, 3:179)
We have no access to the unseen (ghayb). Allah mentions that the hypocrites, who pretend to be Muslims, are exposed through trials. Similarly, we can know, from our own personal experiences, how some people’s true natures are exposed during difficult times. People who we may have considered to be friends could abandon us in our time of need or even end up turning against us. May Allah protect us. Amin.
No Pain, No Gain
So do you [believers] think that you will ever enter the Garden [of Paradise] without there coming to you the like [of the trials that befell] those who have passed [over the path of belief] before you? Affliction and harm struck them, and they were [severely] shaken, until [each] messenger, and whoever believed with him, would say: When comes the help of Allah? [Yet] most surely, the help of Allah is ever near! (Qur’an, 2:214)
Jannah (paradise/heaven) is a reward so immense that nothing else comes even remotely close. We can’t expect a journey to such a great reward to be an easy one. It will be filled with trials and difficulties. But the reward is unimaginable. The hardships we endure pail in comparison to the rewards that await us if we do.
Let’s also remember that the beloved Prophets of Allah (peace be upon them) endured the greatest and most significant hardships.
You Are Capable of Enduring Your Pain
Allah does not task a soul beyond its capacity. For it [in the Hereafter] is all [the good] that it has earned. And against it is [the evil] it has reaped. [Thus pray, O you who believe:] Our Lord! Hold us not accountable if ever we forget or we have erred. Our Lord! Neither lay upon us a burden like that which You have laid upon those before us. Our Lord! Nor lay upon us that which we do not have the strength to bear. Rather, pardon us. And forgive us. And have mercy upon us. You [alone] are our Patron. So give us victory over the disbelieving people. (Qur’an, 2:286)
Allah has not made us responsible for for doing more than we can possibly bear. Likewise, Allah will not burden us with any hardship or suffering that we cannot endure and persevere through.
If Allah has chosen a certain test for you, then it means you’re fully able to get through it with your faith in tact. So, just remember to remain steadfast and keep turning to Allah for help.
Additionally, don’t go around wishing you had someone else’s life. Ultimately, you aren’t aware of all the trials they currently face and will face in the future. It is likely that it is not within your personal capacity to be able to endure their trials.
Pain Builds Character
Behold! Your sister walked [trailing you alongside the river]. She then said [to Fir’awn’s household]: Shall I direct you to someone who will foster him? So We returned you to your mother, that her eyes might be comforted [and find joy in you], and that she might not grieve. Moreover, you [then] killed a person. Yet, still, We delivered you from [fear and] anguish. Thus have We tried you with great trials. Moreover, you have stayed for years among the people of Midian. Then you came [here], as [I have] decreed, O Musa. (Qur’an, 20:40-41)
Struggling is part of life. It helps us grow and develop as individuals.
I’ve reached a point in life where I tend to hold a positive first impression of a person if I know of their struggles. This is because I now understand that noble character isn’t something that is cultivated within a lab. We are molded by Allah through our faith and our experiences in life.
In other words, you should try and be thankful for adversities. They help us be better people and, more importantly, better Muslims. People could be paying life coaches to strive towards goals that you’ve achieved naturally by simply being a Muslim.
Shaytan Influences the Pain Inflicted on You by Others
O you who believe! Do not follow the footsteps of Shaytan. For whoever follows the footsteps of Shaytan merely enjoins obscenity and [ungodly] wrongdoing [upon people]. Thus were it not for the grace of Allah upon you, and His mercy, not a single one of you would have ever been purified; but Allah purifies whomever He so wills. And Allah is all-hearing, all-knowing. (Qur’an, 24:21)
The accursed Shaytan is our manifest enemy. His goal is to drag us all into the fire of Jahannam (hell) along with him. He influences people towards the disobedience of Allah. This, of course, includes perpetrating injustices against others.
This obviously does not absolve the perpetrator of the culpability for their crime. They are responsible for doing the action. Shaytan only induces the thoughts within them. They ultimately have to choose to act upon them. That being said, however, when someone genuinely asks us to forgive them for something they’ve done to us, we should try and be forgiving, especially when it’s a family member.
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According to the Noble Qur’an, Sabr (patience and perseverance) plus Taqwa (being conscious of Allah while fearing and revering Him) is key to succeeding in the tests of this worldly life. Sabr has been mentioned over 100 times in the Noble Qur’an, making it an indispensable character trait for every Muslim.
The Best Way to Achieve Patience
Yet the heart of Musa’s mother became devoid [of feeling for all but Musa, to the point] that she very nearly disclosed [his identity], had We not secured her heart to be of the believers [of unfailing faith]. (Qur’an, 28:10)
As in the case with the mother of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him), patience isn’t a skill that can simply be learned. It is a blessing from Allah. This is why the best way to attain the virtuous characteristic of patience is for us to constantly ask Allah to grant us patience and increase us therein. Allah mentions numerous examples of faithful believers beseeching Him for patience and forbearance, including the following verses:
So when they came forth to [engage] Goliath and his hosts, they said: Our Lord! Pour forth upon us patience. And set firm our feet. And grant us victory over the disbelieving people. (Qur’an, 2:250)
Rather, their only utterance [then] was to say: Our Lord! Forgive us our sins, and our excesses in our affairs. And set firm our feet. And grant us victory over the disbelieving people. (Qur’an, 3:147)
Moreover, you are only taking revenge on us because we have believed in the [sure] signs of our Lord when they came to us. [Thus they prayed:] Our Lord! Pour forth upon us patience, and take our souls as Muslims, in willing submission to You [alone]. (Qur’an, 7:126)
Patience Is a Prerequisite for Impactful Roles
And thereby We made from them exemplary leaders, guiding [their people] by Our command — when they had endured patiently, and [when] they had certainty [in the truth] of Our [revealed] verses. (Qur’an, 32:24)
Impact theory, etc., use generic causes, such as climate change, to justify the existence of their followers. But, how much of an impact have Nobel prize winners really had on the world? True impact pertains to the revival of souls, which is a role that Allah grants only to a chosen few.
But, why are chosen people chosen to begin with? Of course, only Allah knows exactly the reasons, but He has revealed some of the reasons to us.
As the above Qur’anic verse mentions, these leaders in particular were chosen for having embodied patience and certainty in faith. And how do test someone’s faith and patience? Simple, you put them through a series of trials.
Allah mentions how Prophet Ibrahim (peace be upon him) was tested before Allah made an Imam for the people:
Now, behold! Ibrahim’s Lord tested him with [arduous] commandments, and he fulfilled [all of] them. So [Allah] said [to him]: Indeed, I shall make you an exemplar for all people. [Ibrahim] implored [the favor of his Lord]: And also my descendants. [Allah] said: [The promise of] My covenant shall not extend to the wrongdoers [among them who are godless in heart]. (Qur’an, 2:124)
And, as we know, our beloved Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) was tested constantly, throughout his life, right from childhood.
Similarly, if you study the biographies of the four great Imams of Fiqh, you’ll quickly notice how they endured considerable hardships. And that’s just what we know due to having been documented. You could think of the general rule as follows: Allah distributes trials to his slaves based on each individual’s personal ability and capacity. Those who succeed are increase in their rank and then tested with trials that are more difficult. They’re often also given greater roles to play in this life, provided they’re sincere. And this too is a trial.
It has been narrated from Anas bin Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) said:
The greatest of rewards comes with the greatest of trials. Verily, when Allah loves a people, He afflicts them [with trials]. Then, whoever is content shall have [Allah’s] pleasure [and contentment in the hereafter], and whoever is discontent shall have [Allah’s] displeasure [and anguish in the hereafter]. (Sunan ibn Majah)
Persevering: Hardships Are Temporary
Allah has already granted repentance to the Prophet — as well as to the Emigres, and the Helpers, those who followed him in the hour of hardship, after the hearts of a party [of the believers] among them had nearly swerved [from the path of the righteous. It was] then He granted them repentance. Indeed, He was all-kind, mercy-giving toward them — and so too upon the three [believers] who were left behind, [who are herewith granted repentance]. When, behold, the earth, for all its breadth, [seemed to] close in about them, and [the very reaches of] their souls closed in about them, as well, and they realized that there is no refuge from Allah except in Him — then He relented toward them, so that they may repent. Indeed, it is Allah who is the All-Relenting, the Mercy-Giving (Qur’an, 9:117-8)
Notice how Allah denotes their time of difficulty using the word “hour.” This is in reference to the battle of Mu’tah, and it certainly didn’t only last an hour.
It is important for us to know that no matter how painful things get during a certain time in our lives, they’ll eventually become mere distant memories.
As the scholars have mentioned, pain is toughest during the moment when it impacts us. For those who are blessed with patience, Allah will support them and increase them in patience so they can successfully endure trial. Therefore, we must always keep in mind that you only need to be patient for a while and that Allah will ease things soon afterward.
Moreover, obey Allah and His Messenger, and do not quarrel [among yourselves], or else you will become fainthearted and your strength depart. Furthermore, be patient! Indeed, Allah is with those who are patient. (Qur’an, 8:46)
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Be Patient and Avoid Complaining
And they brought forth his shirt with false blood on it. He said: No! But it is your own souls that have tempted you to something. Yet [nothing is left to me but] beautiful patience! And Allah alone is besought for help against all that you claim. (Qur’an, 12:18)
Numerous scholars have stated that beautiful patience, Sabr Jamil, is patience that does not include complaining to people. We also learn from Prophet Ya’qub (peace be upon him) that we can “complain” to Allah.
He said: I complain of my anguish and my grief only to God. For I know from God what you do not know. (Qur’an, 12:86)
Of course, this “complaining” to Allah refers to asking Allah for relief and not literally complaining about His decree, which would mean being discontent with Allah’s will.
Allah understands our pain and suffering better than any of the creation ever could, and He is the source of our relief. We can always turn to Allah and let loose our tears, asking him for help, guidance and relief.
It’s human nature to confide in others, and we should ask others, especially those who are our seniors in age and wisdom, for advice regarding how best to navigate our troubles. However, we need to ensure that we don’t end up ranting and complaining to people about what Allah has decreed for us.
More critically, it’s prohibited for us to express our grief and anguish in extreme ways, such as wailing or tearing our clothes. No matter how much sadness is visible upon our faces, we need to make sure we always accept Allah’s decree within our hearts.
Patience Includes Vigilance and Fighting Back
O you who believe! Be patient. And have outlasting patience. And be ever at the ready. And be ever God-fearing, so that you may be successful. (Qur’an, 3:200)
This verse teaches us that being patient doesn’t mean being passive. In fact, the toughest undertakings, such as warfare and physically defending the ones we love, require a lot of patience. Surah Al Imran repeatedly discusses the importance of perseverance on the battlefield.
Even the simpler everyday duties, like prayer, require us to be patient to remain committed. Patience is also needed to refrain from engaging in what is prohibited for the sake of Allah. More often than not, you’ll have to combat your own base desires and the whispers of Shaytan in order to remain firm and steadfast. We can increase ourselves in self-control through supplication and various disciplining practices such as fasting.
We also learn from the fact that Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) did Da’wah even in jail, that we should strive for the sake of Allah even if we’re hindered by difficulties and impediments. When Shaytan blocks a certain pathway, such as our freedom, we should fight back by doing everything he dislikes, such as giving Sadaqah, reciting Qur’an, offering Salah, engaging in supplication and doing Da’wah.
Ever since I learned about post-traumatic growth, I was able to view my life as a series of blessings which followed tough times. While some may argue it’s something that is inherited, I believe that it’s a choice and an acquired skill which develops with time. Though the English term was originally coined within a secular context, the Qur’an’s outlook is far more realistic in terms of attaining results.
Milestones to Blessings
Thus before [returning him to his mother], We caused him to abstain from [all] wet-nurses. Then [his sister came forth, and] she said [to them]: Shall I direct you to the people of a household who will foster him for you and who will treat him well? Thus did We restore him to his mother, so that her eyes might be comforted [and find joy in him], and that she might not grieve, and that she might know that the promise of Allah is ever true. Yet most of them [who disbelieve] do not know [that Allah’s will is ever done]. (Qur’an, 28:12-13)
Take a moment to ponder upon the pain that Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) had to endure as a newborn, while waiting to be nursed. This pain was necessary for convincing the family of Fir’awn to hire the mother of Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) as his wet nurse. Imagine too the pain his mother must have felt in being apart from her beloved child.
This teaches us a very important lesson. Oftentimes, we are made to endure pain and hardships as part of a process which ends in us receiving a significant blessing.
This is an amazing outlook to have in life towards the delays in success and the struggles we persevere through until we eventually reach our goals. Whether it’s our job, marriage, having food on the table, etc., these things had already been destined for us to occur at a certain point in life. Until that specific time arrived, our every struggle along the way opened up a door that brought us closer to it.
We wouldn’t know the value of dealing with failure and, despite not succeeding at first, struggling and persevering until we finally got there. So, every time you fall on your journey, think about the lessons you learned along the way and how they made you stronger, not just in your faith but also mentally and physically.
It’s natural to make mistakes and fail. The important thing is that we don’t give up and become despondent. Instead, we must make sure that we turn to Allah in prayer and make sincere and earnest efforts to fix the situation.
Say, [O Prophet: Allah declares to humanity]: O My servants! Those [of you] who have committed [sins in great] excess against their own souls, never despond of the mercy of Allah! For, indeed, Allah forgives sins, one and all. Indeed, it is He [alone] who is the All-Forgiving, the Mercy-Giving. (Qur’an, 39:53)
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Do Not Lose Hope
And thus did We establish Yusuf in the land, to settle in it wherever he so willed. We bestow Our mercy upon whomever We so will — and never do We waste the reward of those who excel in [doing] good. Yet, most surely,
the reward of the Hereafter is [far] better for those who believe and are God-fearing. (Qur’an, 12:56-7)
If Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) had remained in his homeland, he wouldn’t have been able to achieve authority within the kingdom. Who, at that time, could’ve imagined that Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him) would end up assuming such a magnificent position after enduring years of imprisonment?
Maintaining hope during hardships is not as easy as it sounds. For many of us, the best we could do is endure the pain in silence, which is essentially a passive stance.
Not losing hope means remaining active, even at the peak of our grief. We know, with absolute certainty, that Allah is capable of changing our situation. As such, we should take practical step towards change. We need to be able to move on, whether that means physically seeking out a new job after being made redundant or beginning the search for a new spouse after a failed marriage.
Increase in Worship and Good Deeds
These verses also teach us that we should always continue to good and strive for excellence in this regard, regardless of the circumstances we find ourselves in. We shouldn’t become too comfortable or complacent, doing only the bare minimum. Ultimately, this is a mere delusion inspired by Shaytan, who does wish for us to excel in doing good and reap the maximum rewards possible.
If we maintain our acts of worship during hardships and, in fact, excel therein, then we’re sure to end up in a better position than where we were before things got tough—if not in this life, then in Jannah in sha Allah, where there will be no hardship or suffering.
Hardship Comes With Ease and New Opportunities
So, indeed, with hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship, comes ease. (Qur’an, 94:5-6)
With every door that closes before us, Allah reveals another. The problem is, we’re often too overwhelmed by what we’ve lost that we lose sight of the potential opportunities that stand before us.
As I’ve already mentioned, post-traumatic growth is an acquired skill. When hardships strike us, it’s up to us to identify the new opportunities that weren’t previously available to us. Based on repeated personal experiences, I can attest to how sincere efforts during times of distress are truly blessed. Allah has ensured us that hardship comes with ease. We just have to endure it and persevere, while always turning to Allah in worship and supplication. Moments of hardship are also the ideal opportunity to start or resume an important task that you’ve always wanted to get done, like memorizing the Qur’an, studying Islam, etc.
Respond to Hardships by Seeking Allah’s Pleasure and Reward
The ones who have answered [the summons of] Allah and the Messenger [to press on in pursuit of the aggressors — even] after they [themselves] had been stricken with wounds. For such of them as have excelled in [doing] good and have been God-fearing, there is a magnificent reward [awaiting]; the ones to whom the [faithless] people said: Indeed, the people have amassed against you. So be fearful of them! This, then, [only] increased them in faith. Thus they said [to them]: Allah is sufficient for us. And He is the most excellent Guardian! So they returned [from pursuing the aggressors] with the grace of Allah and His great favor, untouched by any evil. For they had followed the good pleasure of Allah. And Allah [alone] is the Possessor of Magnificent Bounty. Indeed, that [voice of despair] is only [from] Shaytan, prompting [your hearts with] fear of his patrons. So do not fear them. But fear Me, if, indeed, you are believers! (Qur’an, 3:172-5)
These Qur’anic verses are some of the dearest to my heart. They contain so much wisdom and guidance. They are consoling and give us hope. They teach us how we should aspire to be, as Muslims—unyielding in faith before pressure and hardships. They explain how Shaytan tries to demotivate us and lead us into despair. They highlight the importance of simultaneously having both hope in Allah and fearing Him. They bring our attention to what is truly important—striving for Allah’s pleasure and eternal bliss in the hereafter.
It’s at the moment when our pain is most excruciating that we must react in the best way possible. As soon as we are afflicted by calamity, we must make sure that we respond with a wholesome and religious reaction. We must abandon our sins and repent to Allah. We must increase in supplication, good deeds and acts of worship.
There are multiple benefits to this approach:
You fend off the advances of Shaytan, who may otherwise take advantage of your pain to try and make your situation worse.
You are likely to receive support from Allah in your time of need, which you may not handle well otherwise.
Allah will ease your hardships and reward you for having responded well to your situation.
And say [in prayer, O Prophet]: My Lord! Lead me into [all good] with a most perfect entry. And lead me out [of all harm] with a most perfect exit. And grant me, from Your own [grace], an ever-prevailing authority. Then say [to the unbelievers]: The truth has come. Thus falsehood has vanished. Indeed, falsehood is ever vanishing. Thus do We send down [in the verses] of the Qur’an that which is a healing [for body and soul], and a mercy to the believers. But it does not increase the [godless] wrongdoers, except in [utter] loss. Yet when We bestow grace on man, he turns away [from Allah] and draws himself aside [from His worship]. But when evil touches him, he is ever-so despairing. (Qur’an, 17:80-3)
Ultimately, the Qur’an is a source of blessings, guidance and healing. We are truly fortunate to have been created and given life. We are truly fortunate to have been gifted the blessing of Iman (faith). We are truly fortunate to be from the Ummah (believing community) of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (may Allah bless him and grant him peace). We are truly fortunate to have been endowed with the greatest miracle of all, the Noble Qur’an.
These are the greatest blessings of all. Our hardships and difficulties are but a drop in the ocean compared to the countless immense blessings we have been granted by Allah. Be grateful to Allah for all that you have, and put your hardships into perspective with your blessings. Remember, this life is but a mere fleeting moment.
[Allah] shall say [to the doomed on judgment Day]: How long did you remain [alive] on the earth in [terms of the] number of years? They shall say: [It seems that] we remained [there only] a day — or [even] part of a day. Yet ask those who kept count [for us]. He shall say: You have, indeed, remained [there] but a little while — if only you had known [how fleeting it would all be]! (Qur’an, 23:112-4)
All we need to do is make it to the finish line with our faith in tact, having fulfilled our obligations in this life, having expended ourselves in worship and servitude to Allah, having repented for all of our sins and shortcomings, and what awaits us in the hereafter is eternal bliss and happiness. No more sadness. No more pain. No more depression. No more anxiety. No more hardship. No more suffering. No more anguish. No more grief. Just comfort and delight. Make that your goal.
And [know that] I have not created [either] jinn or human beings [for any other end] but to [know and] worship Me [alone]. (Qur’an, 51:56)
This is our purpose in life. This is what we were created for. To know and worship Allah. Always keep that are the fore, and it’ll ground you. We know this life is a test. We know it’s not going to be easy. But we also know that this test will eventually come to an end.
Endure the struggles of this life, persevere, and strive for the hereafter.
Yet the Garden [of Paradise] shall have been drawn near for the God-fearing — not far-off [from their sight. It shall be said:] This is [the fulfillment of] all that you [believers] have been promised — for every one [who was] penitent, every keeper [of His covenant] — whoever has feared the All-Merciful, [while] in the [domain] unseen, and who comes [to his Lord] with a penitent heart [longing to be redeemed. It shall be said to them:] Enter it, in peace! This is the Day of Eternity. For them, therein, shall be all that they could ever wish. Yet with Us is even more! (Qur’an, 50:31-5)
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