Yesterday on sultan.org the Arabic portion, I read a story of one Palestinian who went to picnic with his pregnant wife and three children, to make a long story short, the bus was raided, the driver killed immediately, his wife and son were shot and died, and his other son was shot in the back, had a cord injury and is now paralyzed.. he needs contant care, some family in spain sponsored treatment for the kid and the man with his injured son and his remining daughter are moving there shortly to spain.. he said he can't look back for he has to remain strong for his remaining children...

Why did I write this compendious piece when anyone can simply go read it?
Simple.. life is full of crap and strife..one can be fatally overwhelmed, or one can pick up the pieces and see how they can move on with their lives..

I am not making a case for God or Islam.. I don't think I or anyone else needs to. So for the original poster... I can appreciate your troubles, it would be condescending for me to write this and not have experienced loss or hardship myself.. it is simply the lot of wo/man as decreed for her/him on this earth (the human condition)...

will end on this note and hope you reflect a little on your state of affairs..



[Pickthal 2:155] And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the steadfast,

A couple of words from me too.

Everything that happens, happens by the will of Allah be this a misfortune or a happy event.

Misfortunes do happen and this is not the first time nor will it be the last and you are not the first nor will you be the last one to be in such position.

Remember that there are two types of misfortunes:

1) A misfortune that brings good

2) A misfortune that brings loos

Also the misfortunes that bring good to a person can be divided into two types

1) Misfortunes that come to alert you so that you can make tawbah and improve your condition

2) Misfortunes that cleanse your sins and are a means of reward for you.

as for the misfortunes that bring loss they too can be of two types:

1) Misfortunes that befall you as punishment

2) Misfortunes that befall you as a test that takes you away from the strait path

You must understand that the governance of Allah upon us is of two components:

1) Kada el kawni (the universal will)

2) Tashree (legislation of sheriah)

Therefore accordingly there are two components of the will of Allah too.

1)Iradah el-kawniyah (that which Allah wills to happen)

2)Iradah esh-sheriah (that with which Allah is pleased that we follow)

There is an important link between the two and if this link can be understood and the behavior follows in line with it everything becomes only of bennefit for the individual.

In regard the iradah el-kawniyah, this consists of everything that Allah wills to happen be this something that He is pleased with or no. So whatever Allah wills, will definitely happen as in His saying: "...He says be and it is" (36:82)

In regard of the iradah esh-sheriah then this is what Allah is pleased with and what He has ordered us to do. However this may happen and may not happen. As in His saying: "Allah wishes to accept your repentance" (4:27)
Yet this may happen but it may also not happen as apart from wishing it there are also other factors linked to it such as justice for example so if you were to choose to repent to Him then this may happen and if you do not choose to repent this will not happen and such is justice. Just like He says:

"Your Lord has chosen mercy (to be Most Gracious)..." (6:54) so here Allah says what He wants for Himself and He informs us of such yet He says to us also:

"My mercy encompasses everything. But I will write it only for those who fear Me, give charity and believe in our signs..." (7:156)

So this is encouraging us by telling us what He is pleased with and how to obtain this at the same time. His encouragement is great indeed just like He has said: "O my servants who have oppressed yourselves! Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. He forgives all sins. He is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful" (39:53)

Not only this but He also warns us by saying: "And who looses hope in Him except the doomed ones?" (15:56)

So taking all this into account I say to you:

Whatever has befallen you, be it small or large, you must evaluate according to the shariah of Allah and your response should be accordingly.

If you are tried by something and you sin, you look at it from the point of shariah and you hate it, you feel remorse, you ask for forgiveness from Allah by repenting sincerely to Him. You try to improve yourself and try not to repeat such. You learn an important lesson that if you are confronted with any situation you evaluate it beforehand according to the shariah and then you choose your response accordingly.

When you arrive at this, nothing happens to him/her but is in his favor. The losses are diminished and the pain becomes sweet. Sorrow turns into happiness. This because the believing slave of Allah knows that he will find Allah supporting him and rewarding him and as great as the trial it might be, the support and reward for it will overshadow the trials magnitude.

Sheikh ul-islam Ibn Taymiyah has written certain words worth to be written in gold in this matter. He says: "The misfortunes are beneficial as they bring rewards and demand patience. As a result the slave of Allah is rewarded for such. They ask forgiveness from Allah and bring themselves low in front of Him. They distract themselves from the creation of Allah and other things like these. So the misfortune is used by Allah to bring forgiveness for ones sins and this is from the greatest of benefits. This way, the misfortunes are beneficial for all creatures. However the one to whom the misfortune befalls upon and he indulges into more sins and greater than those that he was committing before the misfortune, this was bad for him regarding his religion as there are people that when they are tried by poverty, illness and pain, they suffer hipochrisy, fear, faint heart, return to disbelief, abandoning the obligations and committing the forbidden that bring loss to his religion...yet there are those who gain patience from this misfortune and become obedient. It is in fact a benefit for them and Allah must be thanked for it. Whoever is tried by a misfortune and patience is granted to him, this is beneficial to him and he has earned rewards from his Lord. Allah says: "...those are them on whom blessings and mercy from Allah descend" (2:156-157). At the same time his sin is forgiven and his grade is risen...".

You must not think that trials are only for the sinners as this notion is false. Indeed the best are tried harder than anyone else: Darimi, Ibn Majah and Tirmidhi narrate from S'ad that the Prophet was asked: "Who from people is tried most by the misfortunes?! He replied: The prophets, then the best, then the best. Man is tried according to his religion.....trials are attached to him until he walks on earth without any sin".

There is only one way of escape for you. Run from Allah to Allah. This is the secret of success, the perfection of tawhid by not directing your dua, fear, hope, repentance, worship, dependence, seeking help and refuge, asking for relief and a way out, seeking what brings benefits and repels harm only from Allah and nothing and no one but Him.

Sheikh ul-islam Ibn Kajjim says: "Verily the tawhid that is required from the servant of Allah is that he fervently runs from Allah to Allah. In this domain of "from" - "to", is the great reality of tawhid. Running to Allah includes turning for help only to Him, worship and all else that follows from them such as love, fear, surrender and dependence. This includes the tawhid of ilahiyah, that was the common message of all the prophets and messengers. On the other hand the running from Allah to Allah, includes the tawhid er-rububiyah and the affirmation of predestination. This shows that everything that you hate, fear or try to avoid in creation can happen only according to the will of Allah. Verily whatever Allah decrees, comes to pass and it's existence becomes obligatory through the decree of Allah. Whatever Allah does not decree, will never happen and is impossible to exist. Thus, when one runs to Allah, in fact he is running to Allah as a result of what was ordered and willed by Allah. In other words you are running from Allah to Allah. Whoever can understand these words right, can understand the supplication of the messenger: "...I seek refuge in You from You" also "there is no escape from You except to You".

So I advice you to look calmly into your affair and judge your decisions based upon the shariah of Allah in devotion. Verily this is the triumph assured. Just like Allah says:

"...and who fears Allah and is obedient to Him, Allah will make a way out for him" (65:2)

Lastly I pray to Allah to dispel from you all worries, stress and weakness. Verily there is no God but Allah and there is no success except as He wills it.

Then move somewhere where you have someone to turn to, someone to talk to. I know it's not an easy job, but then again, looking at where you live, it shouldn't be a problem meeting muslims. Unless, Birmingham is a town whose name appeals to you and so you decide to put it as your location.

Or, you could talk to sisters online. IM isn't always fitnah; it's help too. I would like to give you my email address; except, I don't do the whole MSN-thing-thing anymore. It bores me.

Have you spoken with a medical professional? Some people need medication, so that they ahve the energy and strength to keep fighting.

My depression often spirals downward. Something bad happens, even something small, and my mind just makes it worse and worse and worse, until I can't see any hope at all. But with the medicine I take, it helps me to think more clearly, and to counteract the downward spiral.

I say to myself - God doesn't give a soul more burden than (s)he can bear. God knows me better than I know myself. I trust God. Therefore, He knows I can handle this, no matter how bad it gets.

It's hard going, but you just have to fight that feeling inside of yourself. Shaytan wants you to fail. Allah (swt) wants you to suceed. Allah (swt) knows you can suceed, because He gave you the ability to suceed.


2:286 God does not burden any human being with more than he is well able to bear: in his favour shall be whatever good he does, and against him whatever evil he does. O our Sustainer! Take us not to task if we forget or unwittingly do wrong! "O our Sustainer! Lay not upon us a burden such as Thou didst lay upon those who lived before us! [278] O our Sustainer! Make us not bear burdens which we have no strength to bear! "And efface Thou our sins, and grant us forgiveness, and bestow Thy mercy upon us! Thou art our Lord Supreme: succour us, then, against people who deny the truth!"

La yukallifu Allahu nafsan illa wusAAaha laha ma kasabat waAAalayha ma iktasabat rabbana la tuakhithna in naseena aw akhtana rabbana wala tahmil AAalayna isran kama hamaltahu AAala allatheena min qablina rabbana wala tuhammilna ma la taqata lana bihi waoAAfu AAanna waighfir lana wairhamna anta mawlana faonsurna AAala alqawmi alkafireena

لاَ يُكَلِّفُ اللّهُ نَفْسًا إِلاَّ وُسْعَهَا لَهَا مَا كَسَبَتْ وَعَلَيْهَا مَا اكْتَسَبَتْ رَبَّنَا لاَ تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِن نَّسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تَحْمِلْ عَلَيْنَا إِصْرًا كَمَا حَمَلْتَهُ عَلَى الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِنَا رَبَّنَا وَلاَ تُحَمِّلْنَا مَا لاَ طَاقَةَ لَنَا بِهِ وَاعْفُ عَنَّا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَآ أَنتَ مَوْلاَنَا فَانصُرْنَا عَلَى الْقَوْمِ الْكَافِرِينَ (2:286)

whatever Allah wills to happen will happen, you can either be constructive and gain reward, or you can be destructive and gain sins...


lifes gonna pass by and soon we'll be in our graves....

dont you see this lifes not mean to be enjoyed? look at the life of the prophet and tell me if your life is 0.1% as hard?

dont take all your pain and anguish and try to blank out our prophets hardship because he attempted to sail through it with a smile, that was his god given strength....


when in distress look to those with more distress and thank Allah


CHANGE THINGS FOR YOURSELF!!!!!

You poor thing. I know it doesn't seem like it now but if I can tell you one thing that my lovely beautiful mum always told me, it's so true, even if it doesn't feel like it right now. Things seem bad now but there is a ray of light at the end of the tunnel even if you can't see it right now. There is always another option even if it seems like all roads are closed. There is always another choice which will make you feel better.

Have courage, have strength, have faith, make dua'ah, think about your daughter, and really, know that as well as G-d, you have everybody on this forum to look out for you and support you in your time of need.

peace be upon the seekers of truth.

a muslim should never dispair, dont give up the treasure that you have uncovered which is islam because remember that u r part of the biggest family that this world has ever seen and that is the ummah of Muhammad (saw) and as ur brother in islam it saddens me and to hear that u feel alone in ur sorrow, so perhaps this might be a good time to let u know that u r not alone because every muslim in the world is facing a struggling, whether its life threatning or mentally distressing and this struggling is to be closer to the highest companion and that is Allah. this world is no more then a pit stop, to a final destination which is either hell fire or paradise and the only thing that stands between u and it...is death.

would u settle for a bike when u can have a car? or would u settle for a penny when u be a millionaire? then would u settle for this world if u can have al jannah (paradise)? the prophet (s.a.w) says in a hadith that Allah will put his servent who suffered the most in this world in paradise for 1 moment and he will ask them "O my servent, have u ever felt any pain and suffering in ur life?" and this servent will reply "no, my Lord, I have never felt any pain and suffering"

nobody dispairs of the mercy of Allah except those who disbelieve, Allah is with those who are patient, holds high in rank and gives victory to those who are patient, and a muslim is given nothing better then patience.

Invoke Allah this specific dua for when you find something becoming difficult for you (Click this link)

Have trust in Allah, and in return He will u reward without account...

This world is the place of striving and the Hereafter is the place of reward or punishment, where the believers will be rewarded with Paradise.

Paradise is good and none but those who were good will enter it. Allaah is Good and accepts nothing but that which is good. So the way of Allaah with His slaves is to test them with calamities and tribulations, so that the believer may be known from the kaafir and so that the truthful may be distinguished from the liar, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘We believe,’ and will not be tested.

And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allaah knows all that before putting them to test)”

[al-‘Ankaboot 29:2-3]

Victory and success cannot be achieved except after tests which will bring the good forth from the evil and tell the believer apart from the kaafir, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Allaah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. Nor will Allaah disclose to you the secrets of the Ghayb (Unseen)”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:179]

Among the trials with which Allaah tests His slaves in order to distinguish the believers from the disbelievers is that which He mentions in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabiroon (the patient).

Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: ‘Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.’

They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones”

[al-Baqarah 2:155-157]

So Allaah tests His slaves, and He loves those who are patient, and gives them the glad tidings of Paradise.

Allaah tests His slaves with jihaad, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Do you think that you will enter Paradise before Allaah tests those of you who fought (in His Cause) and (also) tests those who are As-Saabiroon (the patient)?”

[Aal ‘Imraan 3:142]

Allaah is merciful to His slaves; He sends repeated tribulations upon the ummah so that they may return and repent to Him, and give up that which Allaah has forbidden, and so that Allaah might forgive them. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“See they not that they are put in trial once or twice every year (with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine)? Yet, they turn not in repentance, nor do they learn a lesson (from it)”

[al-Tawbah 9:126]

It is part of the mercy of Allaah that disasters befall sinners in this world, so that their souls might be purified and they might come back to Allaah before they die:

“And verily, We will make them taste of the near torment (i.e. the torment in the life of this world, i.e. disasters, calamities) prior to the supreme torment (in the Hereafter), in order that they may (repent and) return (i.e. accept Islam)”

[al-Sajdah 32:21 – interpretation of the meaning]

my dear sister in islam, u have the most powerful tool that can change ur misfortune into blessings by just raising ur hands and asking Allah to help u thru this distress and keep u firm and steadfast on islam and help u attain our final destination which is paradise...a muslim should never give up, so neither should u. and Allah is the most just to His servents.

Dude i was feeling the same like you at one point in my life. I felt like... whats the point in me being here? My life is being wasted away and im not contributing to this world, nothing is going right for me and everything is messing up... i should just end it now. There were so many reasons why i wanted to end it, i would write pages and pages of my problems nd thoughts.

BUT there was the thought in the back of my head - 'You are stronger than this, you are stronger than the rest, keep your self awake in this world, be courageous' and seriously it helped. I just took time off to put things back in order. I took each thing one step at a time, i did feel lonely sometimes but theres always things to make friends, go to the movies, to the gym, talk to some people man invite them out for lunch or something. Also, try do some things with your daughter like 'Quality Time' night where you and her watch a movie with snacks once a week.

Trust me, have the courage to do what you want to do, follow your dreams and you will be happy with yourself.

I hope you are in good health and Imaan insha'Allah,
I just wanted to say May Allah make everything easy for you and remember insha'Allah that Allah tests every believer, to see if we have patience and remember Allah in the hard times and not only in the good times.Subhana'Allah that makes a muslim different, because we believe that every situation is good for a believer, if something bad happens in your life ,then Allah is testing if you have patience and after that test insha'Allah Allah will reward you in this life and in the hereafter , and if something good happens in your life Allah is testing you if you are gratefull

Don't give up dear sister remember if you remember Allah swt and ask Him for help with sincerity Allah will help you insha'Allah.Because Allah is most forgiving the One who we rely upon. Dear sister just think of all the things The Most Merciful has given you how many good things, it's important that we look in the worldy things at the people who have less then us, and in the matters of deen and imaan at the people who are stronger then us, so that we will be gratefull in our worldy affairs, and that we strive to make our imaan stronger. And wallaahi dear sister your not alone, how often do we think that if something bad happens in our lives that we won't be able to handle it but then if you make sincere du'aa in your prayer in your sudjuud when your the closest to Allah swt,Allah shows you a way out subhana'Allah.

And dear sister I want u to remember a very important du'aa ,and it's a du'aa the the prophet peace be upon him used to say a lot.

Yaa muqalibul quluub tabat qalbiy 'ala dienik

wasalaam your sister in Islaam

Please, if you have feelings of suicide and/or other signs of depression, please please please, see your doctor or get professional help.

Depression is a tough thing to live with and so hard to get out of. I struggled with it for like 35 years, before I started to get help.

Hopelessness, feeling overwhelmed, lack of motivation, social anxiety (being anxious to the point it stops you from doing the right thing) are things I had learned to cope with for a long time. Its what people with depressive disorder do.

I finally got it together to see my doctor. I was afraid that he'd (and everyone else) just blow me off and say just suck it up and do this or that or try harder.

To my surprise he was totally supportive and said that it wasn't enough just to cope. He wanted the goal of therapy to be for me not just to cope but THRIVE. I was treated medically and depressive therapy.

All I can say its helped me tremendously. PLEASE, go see professional help.

If the first one doesn't help or you don't like where he's going see someone else.

You only get one life (in my opinion), so please reach out.

PM me if you need advice.

Sabr or Shukr - The Worry Stops Here!

Muhammad al-Shareef

Aasiyah, the wife of Fir’own (Pharoah). Her Eeman in Allah thrived under the shadow of someone that said, “I am your Lord, Most High!” When news reached Fir’own of his wife’s Eeman he beat her and commanded his guards to beat her. They took her out in the scalding noon heat, tied her hands and feet and beat her perpetually. Who did she turn to? She turned to Allah! She prayed, “My lord, build for me a home with you in Paradise and save me from Fir’own and his deeds and save me from the transgressing people.”

It was narrated that when she said this, the sky opened for her and she saw her home in Paradise. She smiled. The guards watched astonished, she’s being tortured and she smiles? Frustrated, Fir’own commanded a boulder to be brought and dropped on Aasiyah, to crush her to death. But Allah took her soul before the boulder was brought and she became an example for all the believing men and women till the end of time:

And Allah has set forth an example for those who believe: the wife of Fir’own – when she said, “My Lord, Build for me a home with You in Paradise, and save me from Fir’own and his deeds, and save me from the transgressing disbelieving people.” [Qur'an 66:11]

In the Hadeeth of Jibreel [the Angel Gabriel], when he came to the Prophet, sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam (May Allah's peace and blessing be upon him), and asked him about Islam, Eeman, and Ihsaan, the Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said about Eeman, “Eeman is to believe in Allah, His angels, His books, His Messengers, the Final Day, and the divine decree, the good and the bad thereof.” For the past few weeks we have been reflecting on this Hadeeth, only glimpses. Today we shall conclude with the last article of Eeman: to believe in the Divine decree, the good and the bad thereof.

As you and I travel though life we find ourselves in one of two situations. Either something good is happening in our lives and in which case – as Muslims - our role is have Shukr (to thank Allah for the blessing). Or something bad is happening to us, something we dislike and our role here is to have Sabr (patience). This is the formula for a happy life, a life cruising towards the pleasure of Allah. Sabr or Shukr, the worry stops here.

The Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, “Strange is the affair of the Mu’min (the believer), verily all his affairs are good for him. If something pleasing befalls him he thanks (Allah) and it becomes better for him. And if something harmful befalls him he is patient (Saabir) and it becomes better for him. And this is only for the Mu’mmin.”

Ibn Al-Jowzee said, “If this Dunya was not a station of tests it would not be filled with sicknesses and filth. If life was not about hardship, then the Prophets and the pious would have lived the most comfortable of lives. Nay, Aadam (Adam) suffered test after test until he left the Dunya. Nuh (Noah) cried for 300 years. Ibrahim (Abraham) was thrown into a pit of fire and later told to slaughter his son. Ya’qub (Jacob) cried until he became blind. Musa (Moses) challenged Fir’own and was tested by his people. Iesa (Jesus) had no provision except the morsels his disciples provided him with. And Muhammad sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam met poverty with patience, his uncle - one of the most beloved relatives to him - was slain and mutilated and his people disbelieved in him...And the list of Prophets and the pious goes on and on.”

What happens to us happens by the will of Allah. It is an article of our Eeman in Qada’ and Qadr that we are pleased with Allah’s choice, Good or seemingly bad it is all the test of this Dunya. How could we imagine that we shall not be tested when those who were better than us suffered what they suffered? They however came away with the pleasure of Allah, subhanahu wa ta'ala (How far from imperfection is He and He is the Most High).

Al Hasan ibn Arafah narrated, “I visited Imaam Ahmad ibn Hanbal after he was whipped and tortured. I said to him, “O Abu Abdillaah, you have reached the station of the Prophets!” He said, “Keep quiet. Verily, I saw nothing more than people selling their Deen. And I saw scholars that were with me sell their Faith. So I said to myself, ‘Who am I? What am I? What am I going to say to Allah tomorrow when I stand in front of Him and He asks me, “Did you sell your Deen like the others did?”? So I looked at the whip and the sword and chose them. And I said, “If I die I shall return to Allah and say: ‘I was told to say that one of Your Characteristics was something created but I did not.’ After that, it will be upto Him - either to punish me of be Merciful on me.”

Al-Hasan ibn Arafah then asked, “Did you feel pain when they whipped you?” He said “Yes, I felt the pain up to 20 lashes then I lost all feeling (They whipped him over eighty times). After it was over I felt no pain and that day I prayed Dhurhr standing.”

Al-Hasan ibn Arafah started weeping when he heard what had happened. Imaam Ahmad questioned him, “Why are you crying? I did not lose my Eeman. After that why should I care if I lose my life.”

They were better than us but this was how they were tested.

Let us discuss some facts about these tests of life, the good and the bad that befalls us:

* Much of what befalls us – the hard times – is the direct result of our own sins.

Allah, ta’ala (The Most High), says:

And whatever misfortune befalls you it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much. [Qur'an 42:30]

Muhammad ibn Seereen used to say when his debts piled up and he felt sad, “I know that the cause of this sadness is a sin I committed over 40 years ago.”

* People understand that when something bad happens it is a test from Allah. But dear Brothers and Sisters, the good things that happen to us are also a test.

Allah, ta’ala, says:

And we tested them with good (blessings) and evil (calamities) in order that they might turn back [Qur'an 7:168]

Abd al-Malik ibn Ishaq said, “There is no one that is not tested with health and prosperity to measure how thankful he is (Shukr).”

And the Companion – Abdur Rahman ibn ‘Awf, radhiAllaahu 'anhu (May Allah be pleased with him), said, “We were tested with hardship and were patient. And then we were tested with prosperity and we were not patient. Because of this Allah states:

O ye who believe! Let not your wealth or your children divert you from the remembrance of Allah. And whosoever does that, then they are the losers. [Qur'an 63:9]

* Patience must happen from the beginning, not three days later or one day later, at the first news of the calamity, when it first happens. The Prophet sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam said, “Verily patience (is only Sabr when practiced) at the first hit (of news).”

* There are things that contradict Sabr. Tearing ones shirt, for example, slapping ones face, slapping hands, shaving ones head, and cursing and wailing. Umm Salamah narrates: I heard the Messenger of Allah sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam say, “Any Muslim that says when a calamity befalls him that which Allah commanded him: To Allah we belong and to him we return. O Allah reward me in this calamity and give me better then it – (any Muslim that says this) Allah will grant him better than (that which he lost).” [Muslim]

* These tests and hardships wash our sins. 'Aaisha radhiAllaahu 'anha said, “Verily fever sheds sins like a tree sheds leaves.”

* The hardships that befall us distinguish the believers from the insincere. Shumayt ibn Ajlaan said, “The pious and the ungrateful are hidden by health. Yet when calamities befall the two men are separated (by how they react).”

Allah says in the Qur'an:

Alif/Laam/Meem. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, “We believe,” and will not be tested? Indeed We tested those who (lived) before them [Qur'an 29:1-3]

Part II: Towards Sabr

Ali radhiAllaahu 'anhu said, “Verily Sabr is to Eeman what the head is to the body. When the head is cut off, the body falls. (He then raised his voice) Verily there is no Eeman for he who has no Sabr (patience).”

There are three types of Sabr that the Muslim must have:

a. Sabr in the obedience of Allah. For example, One must be patient and perform their Fajr at it’s time.

b. Sabr in not disobeying Allah. Like someone might say, “I have to listen to music in the car.” No you are command by He who gave you those ears to not listen to those lullabies of the Devil. And you must have Sabr in not disobeying Allah.

c. Sabr in what Allah Decrees on us. For example, if our child was to pass away we should be patient and seek the reward of Allah in our patience and say only that which is pleasing to Allah.

There are two keys. If we understand them we shall open the door to Sabr in our lives:

The First Key: Know that our souls, families and wealth do not belong to us, they belong to Allah. He gave it to us as a loan to see what we would do with it. And when he takes it back He is taking back what belongs to Him. We had nothing before the blessing and we’ll have nothing after it. We did not create the blessing from nothing, so how can we claim that it belongs to us.

The Second Key: We are on a journey and the destination is the hereafter – Paradise or Hell. We’ll be leaving the Dunya behind us and we’ll come back to Allah by ourselves. This is what needs our focus. And if Allah is pleased with us then no worry. If He is not pleased with us then all worry.

Let me draw your attention to a verse. Listen carefully. Allah revealed:

Guard strictly the (five obligatory) prayers, especially the middle Salaah (prayer) and stand before Allah in obedience. [Qur'an 2:238]

The verses before this deal with divorce. The verses after it deal with divorce. Why was this verse placed in the middle? The Ulama’ (Islamic scholars) have suggested, Wa Allaahu a’lam (and Allah knows best), that in the hard times that a person goes through they should not forget the remembrance of Allah, the Salaah. And it is that Salaah coupled with Sabr that will pull them through.

O you who believe! Seek Help in Patience and Salaah. Truly, Allah is with those that are patient. [Qur'an 2:153]

There is good news for those who intend to act on their Sabr. Allah promised them three things: His prayer for them, His Mercy, and their guidance.

Who, when afflicted with calamity say, “Truly, to Allah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return.” They are those on whom the Salawat (the blessing and forgiveness) of their Lord is upon them, and who shall receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones [Qur'an 2:157]

Allah says:

And We made from among them leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient. [Qur'an 32:24]

Sufyan ibn Uyaynah commented, “i.e. When they took hold of the leading issue, we made them leaders!”

God's love toward humans is infinite and unchanging, cuz God knows everything regardless of time and place.