A Lecture by Dr.Luqman Idris Sekoni (Hafidhahu Llāhu wa ra’aah). Transcribed by; Hikmah Waliyullah (Umm Ammām). Enjoy!
As mentioned earlier, trial can come from any angle. Loss of one’s child, parents, spouse, close associate, debt, sickness, infertility, being unable to achieve one’s goal etc are among the forms of trials an individual can be afflicted with. All Prophets of Allaah were afflicted with majority of these trials, yet they persevered, kept their hopes in Allaah and were in return, greatly compensated by Allaah. We can learn the coping mechanisms trials from the histories of His Prophets.
Prophet Ayyūb (‘alayhis-salaam) was tested with a terminal illness for a very long period of time yet he was patient with the trial and sought good health from Allaah alone. “And (remember) Ayyub, when he called upon his Lord, “Indeed, adversity has touched me, and you are the Most Merciful of the merciful.”[Sūratul- Anbiyaa verse 83]. Also when Prophet Zakariyyah (‘alayhis salaatu was-salaam) was tested with infertility, he was patient and Almighty Allaah miraculously bestow a child upon him. He also invoked his Lord saying; “My Lord, indeed my bones have weakened, and my head has filled with grey, and never have I been miserable in my supplication to You, my Lord”. [Sūratul Maryam verse 4] It is therefore not for a true believer in Allaah to lose hope in the mercy of Allaah or have a bad thought about Allaah because of an affliction.
Being impatient when afflicted with trials will definitely cause things more painful than the trial itself. A companion of the Prophet once cut off his hand with a knife because of the discomfort he was experiencing which later led to his death and another companion dreamt about him and saw that he appeared good except for the hand which remained wrapped up. When asked about his condition with Allaah, he said that Allaah has granted him forgiveness because of his other good deeds. This is an affirmation of Allāh’s encompassing mercy upon us as He forgives every sins aside (Shirk) associating partners with him in worship. He decides who He would punish and who he would have mercy upon. Also, we should be much in performing good deeds as we wouldn’t know the one He would choose to show us mercy. Likewise we should desist from committing sins as He might decide to hold us accountable for the ones we trivialize.
It is pertinent for us to know the actuality of trial as far as Islaam is concerned for this will enable us to know how to react to it. Most people due to their ignorance of the Deen get extorted by the greedy ones in disguise of clerics. It should be known by every Muslims that, the entirety of this worldly life is trial and obeying the Shari’ah the injunctions of Allaah are to try us. Almighty Allaah ascertains this when He said; “It is He Who created death and life from nothingness in order to try you and to determine which of you performs the better deed, and whether his deeds correlate with his words and whether his works are imprinted with wisdom and piety; He is the Almighty and Forgiving. [Sūratul- Mulk verse 2].
The human soul is created to desire pleasure and amusements. Every soul has the tendency of disobeying Allaah but it is then left to us to decide who to obey, our Lord or self-desires? Verily, it is a great trial to not give in to the demands of one’s soul which are most of the time the whisperings of Shaytaan. You can’t claim righteousness or to possess Eemān until you are faced with temptations and you remain steadfast because of your fear in Allaah.
Especially in this present world where it is relatively difficult to remain steadfast because of the many alluring temptations that abound. Women are tested with their beauties and it takes the fear of Allaah for a woman to cover herself as directed by Allaah. It is undoubtedly normal for females to adorn themselves as this is their nature and this is among the reasons they were commanded by Almighty Allaah to cover their adornments so as not to be sources of fitnah for the male folks.
Unfortunately, some Muslimah are seen truly using the legislated Hijaab but will still be causing fitnah by adorning their outer garment (Jilbaab) which is meant to cover their adornments. Our women are thereby urged to fear Allaah and desist from being slaves of their desires or seeking the validation of people. Also, another great trial for the women folk is jealousy which might degenerate to envy if care is not taken and will ultimately attract the wrath of Allaah. It is normal to feel jealous but one must be careful because there is only a thin line between jealousy and envy. And while the former is harmless (if expressed rightly), the latter is dreadful and attracts Allāh’s punishment. Females are naturally disposed to express jealousy and it was even displayed by the most righteous of women who are the wives of the Noble Prophet (Salla Llaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).
‘Urwah narrated from ‘Āisha (Radiya Llāhu ‘anhaa): “The wives of Allāh’s Messenger (Salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) were in two groups. One group consisted of ‘Āisha, Hafsah, Safiyyah and Saudaa; and the other group consisted of Umm Salama and the other wives of Allāh’s Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). The Muslims knew that Allāh’s Messenger loved ‘Āisha, so if any of them had a gift and wished to give him, he would delay it, till Allāh’s Messenger had come to ‘Āisha’s home and then he would send his gift to Allāh’s Messenger in her home. The group of Umm Salama discussed the matter together and decided that Umm Salama should request Allāh’s Messenger (Peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) to tell the people to send their gifts to him in whatever wife’s house he was. Umm Salama told Allāh’s Messenger of what they had said, but he did not reply. Then they (those wives) asked Umm Salama about it. She said, “He did not say anything to me.” They asked her to talk to him again. She talked to him again when she met him on her day, but he gave no reply. When they asked her, she replied that he had given no reply. They said to her, “Talk to him till he gives you a reply.” When it was her turn, she talked to him again. He then said to her, “Do not hurt me regarding ‘Āisha, as the Divine Inspirations do not come to me on any of the beds except that of A’isha.” On that, Umm Salama said, “I repent to Allaah for hurting you.” Then the group of Umm Salama called Faatima, the daughter of Allāh’s Messenger and sent her to say to him, “Your wives request to treat them and the daughter of Abū Bakr on equal terms.” Then Faatima conveyed the message to him. The Prophet said, “O my daughter! Don’t you love whom I love?” She replied in the affirmative and returned and told them of the situation. They requested her to go to him again but she refused. They then sent Zainab bint Jahsh who went to him and used harsh words saying, “Your wives request you to treat them and the daughter of Ibn Abu Quhafa on equal terms!” On that she raised her voice and abused `Aisha to her face so much so that Allāh’s Messenger looked at `Aisha to see whether she would retort. `Aisha started replying to Zainab till she silenced her. The Prophet then looked at `Aisha and said, “She is really the daughter of Abu Bakr.” [Sahih al-Bukhari 2581]
This among many others are the instances of the exhibition of jealousy by the wives of the Prophet and this affirms that it is in the nature of females to do that. But it would become blameworthy when it is getting to the extreme. Similarly, among the trials of the males is dealing patiently with the women in their custody. This definitely is a great trial as the frustration of women at times are exhausting and this indicates that everyone has a fair share of trials. Allaah says; “And we have tested the people (by exposing opposites -contrary in nature, character, tendency, status, wealth) to each other and those with thoughts of sedition in one toward another. Therefore, will you people (who have conformed to Islam- be persistent, constant and unwearied in the face of difficulties and hindrances) exercise patience! Your Creator is Omnipresent (Whose constant vigilance has always been extended to all His creatures)”. [Sūratul- Furqaan verse 20]
Also, a form of trial is the display of ingratitude to one’s efforts by people. It takes the fear of Allaah and discipline to reciprocate evil with good as commanded by our Lord. Allaah says; “The good deed and the evil deed cannot be equal. Repel (the evil) with one which is better (i.e. Allaah commanded the faithful believers to be patient at the time of anger, and to excuse those who treat them badly), then verily! He, between whom and you there was enmity, (will become) as though he was a close friend.”[Sūratul- Fussilaat verse 34]. “But none is granted it (the above quality) except those who are patient, and none is granted It except the owner of the great portion (of the happiness in the Hereafter i.e. Paradise and in this world of a high moral character). [Verse 35]
Almighty Allaah affirms that only patience can be used to conquer any form of challenges or trials. And for anyone who desires to attain Jannah, he must be ready to exercise patience because we are not promised of trial-free life by Allaah. In an hadith reported by Anas bn Maalik (Radiya Llāhu ‘anh), the Prophet (Salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said; “The Paradise is surrounded by hardships/adversities and the Hell-Fire is surrounded by temptations. [Saheeh Muslim 2823]. This connotes that the path to Paradise is surrounded by things disliked by human because the human soul is naturally inclined towards comfort and ease. Likewise is Hellfire; no one will enter it except those who tear the screen between them and the Fire; by committing sins and distancing themselves from the obedience to Alsavior
Whoever tears the screen reaches what is behind it. The screen of Paradise is torn by venturing into difficulties; while the screen of the Hellfire is torn by satisfying lusts and desires. These difficulties are of different forms which include; striving to perform acts of worship regularly and patiently bearing any hardship that they involve. Suppressing anger, pardoning and forgiving others, forbearance, giving charity, doing good to those who do bad to you, restraining the self from following lusts, and so on. If the person controlled his lusts and went against what his soul desires; by obeying Allaah and avoiding what He prohibited, this would draw him closer to Paradise and farther away from the Hellfire.
Therefore, everyone of us should have it in mind that anything that occurs and is displeasing to our hearts is definitely a trial from our Lord. And as asserted earlier, every living being has a challenge or the other he will face at certain points in time which might or might not be known by others. Not admitting this fact will make you unnecessarily disturbed and vulnerable to the evils of the exploiters in guise of saviors.
Abū Hurayrah (May Allāh be pleased with him) reported that; The Messenger of Allaah (Salla Llāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “He whom Allah intends good, He makes him to suffer from some affliction”. [Saheeh Al- Bukhari 5645]. Islaam is a balanced religion and not a religion of deceit. We have been told by Allaah in His Glorious Book and the sayings of His Prophet that we will definitely be continuously tested until we return to Him. And His trials are not meant to punish us but to make our faith firm on the religion of Islaam. So, instead of the vain wishing for trial not to happen, the ideal is to know how to navigate those trials when these occur.
So, what should be our reactions to trials as believers in Allaah?
(To Be Continued, In Shaa Allaah).
