When Our Worlds Are Shaken: Finding Strength in ‘Beautiful Patience’
Hardship is an inevitable experience in life. Each one of us will encounter pain, loss, fear, anxiety, sadness, and grief at some point in our journey to the Hereafter. Islam equips us with the spiritual resources, such as 'beautiful patience' to be able to overcome any trial in this world.
Anonymous Guest Author
Published: March 23, 2020 • Rajab 28, 1441
Updated: July 30, 2024 • Muharram 24, 1446
19 mins • General Psychology
Introduction
Wisdom of trials
It is He who created death and life to test which of you is best in deed.
We will surely test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives, and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient, those who, when afflicted by calamity, say, ‘Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we will return.’
Do people think they will be left alone to say, ‘We have faith,’ and they will not be put to trial? We have surely tested those before them. Allah will make evident those who are truthful and He will make evident those who are liars.
- Realizing the power of Allah over us.
- Realizing our complete servitude to Him.
- Being sincere to Him.
- Repenting to Him.
- Being humble before Him.
- Being forbearing.
- Being forgiving.
- Being patient.
- Being pleased with the decree of Allah.
- Being grateful to Allah.
- Being purified of sins.
- Being compassionate to those who suffer.
- Appreciating our blessings and well-being.
- Hoping in the reward of the Hereafter.
- Recognizing the hidden blessings in trials.
- Preventing us from arrogance, tyranny, and oppression.
- Being in a state of contentment.
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Everything is good for the believer
Wondrous is the affair of the believer, as there is good for him in every matter and this is not the case with anyone but the believer. If he is happy, he thanks Allah and thus there is good for him. If he is harmed, he shows patience and thus there is good for him.
Nothing afflicts a Muslim of hardship, nor illness, nor anxiety, nor sorrow, nor harm, nor distress, nor even the pricking of a thorn, but that Allah will expiate his sins by it.
If the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saw something he liked, he would say, ‘All praise is due to Allah, by whose favor good deeds are accomplished.’ If he saw something he disliked, he would say, ‘All praise is due to Allah in every circumstance.’
Indeed, if I am afflicted by a calamity, I praise Allah four times. I praise Him that it was not worse than it was. I praise Him as He provides me with patience to bear it. I praise Him as He guides me to recall my hope for reward, and I praise Him as He did not make it a calamity in my religion.
Beautiful patience with trials
Allah Almighty says: O son of Adam, if you are patient and restrained at the first moment of calamity, I would not be pleased with any reward for you less than Paradise.
Whoever is afflicted by a pressing need and complains to people, his need will never be satisfied. Whoever is afflicted by a pressing need and complains to Allah, eventually Allah will provide for him, sooner or later.
Verily, the eyes shed tears and the heart is grieved, but we will not say anything except what is pleasing to our Lord. We are saddened by your departure, O Ibrāhīm.
O you who have faith, seek help in patience and prayer. Verily, Allah is with the patient.
Know that there is much good in being patient with what you hate, victory will come with patience, affliction will come with relief, and hardship will come with ease.
Caution with trials
Verily, the blessed one is kept away from trials, the blessed one is kept away from trials, the blessed one is kept away from trials. How good is one who is afflicted but bears it patiently!
There will be trials during which one sitting will be better than the one standing, and one standing will be better than one walking, and one walking will be better than one running. Whoever exposes himself to these trials will be destroyed, so whoever finds a place of protection or refuge should take shelter in it.
Conclusion
Notes
Cite this paper
Author, A. G. (2020). When Our Worlds Are Shaken: Finding Strength in ‘Beautiful Patience’. Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research.
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