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How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

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    Exclamation How To Get Through Hardships & Trials! (OP)


    Asalaamu Alaikum,

    Bismillahirahmaaniraheem

    In the name of Allah most compassionate most merciful

    The way we can get through hardships and difficult tests that we may be going through in life is to firstly internalise in our minds that this life is a test ground and we are in an examination but we do not know when this examination will end but whilst the examination is taking place we are being rigorously tested and at times we are tested until breaking piont just to see whether or not we will turn towards Allah or go away from him.

    We must also internalise that Allah ONLY tests those who he wants close to him. Therefore the tests that we go through in our lives clearly show Allah is wanting us to turn towards him and be closer to him. This is in fact a great privelage. The greater the tests we go through the more Allah is wanting to raise our ranks in the hereafter.

    Therefore if we really want to know the best way to approach huge trials and tests then we should simply realise that the bigger the tests we are going through then the higher Allah is wanting to raise our ranks in the hererafter. Trials are a truly blessing in disguise. All Allah wants from us is for us to turn towards him in meekness and humbleness and for us to be patient and to turn to him in prayer and dua. Picture that fact that Allah loves it when his servant is in desperate need, crying to him for help for Allah tends to those who cry and sob to him immediatley just as a mother tends to its baby promptly when it is crying.

    We should also internalise the fact that tests actually differentiate us believers from one another in terms of ranking in the eyes of Allah and therefore we should know that those who are tested and are patient are forgiven of their sins as sins falls off a person who is patient through trials just. Therefore we should realise that us being tested with trials and tests will NEVER go unrewarded for Allah rewards how much he wants to those who are patient through trials and those who turn towards him in humility and meekness.

    It may be that a person who has experienced great trials in the world faces Allah on the day of judgement with little or no sins. So tests are a way of Allah forgiving a person of their sins so that on the day of judgement they have a much lighter load. Rasulallah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) has called the day of judgement a "terrible" day and surely on this terrible day we would want as less sins as possible in our accounts if we are to be successful. Therefore these trials and tests are very important for us because they enable us to be forgiven for countless sins that would be a huge burden on us if it were in our accounts but due to the huge tests we faced with patience turning to Allah then it may be that we have very little or no sins at all on that day. The greater the trial the more sins fall off us. So know that even a prick of a thorn expiates ones sins.

    We should also approach hardships and tests as in that it is the decree of Allah so we should NEVER ask Allah "Why" has he given us such trials? For questioning Allah why he has decreed something will mean that not only have we gone through so much grief and torment from these trials but that we have actually added to our sins by questioning Allah and we will be accountable for that.

    Patience is one of the greatest attributes a person can acquire and Allah is with those who are patient and the reward for Patience is Paradise!

    If one is patient, and is among the ones described in the following manner in the Qur’an (Baqarah, 2: 256)

    Who say, when afflicted with calamity: “To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return”:-

    Then here are the rewards Allah will give that person (2:157):

    The Rewards of Patience are the folowing:

    1. Blessings from Allah: The patient person is blessed by Allah.

    2. Mercy of Allah: When Allah gives someone His Mercy, He will let him enter paradise with His Mercy.

    3. Guidance of Allah: A patient person will be guided by Allah in this world until he meets Him on the Day of Judgment.

    Referring to those who are tested and endure with Sabr or patience all of the above three rewards are mentioned by Allah Himself in the Qur’an in Surah Baqarah (2: 157):

    “They are those on whom (Descend) blessings from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.”

    In Surah Hud (11:11), Allah (S.W.T.) again promises to reward those who are patient in adversity.

    Therefore let us realise that patience is the main thing Allah is looking for in us when we are going through trials and tests.

    Here are two wonderful examples of patience through trials in the life of the Prophet (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) :

    ‘Ata ibn Rabah related that he heard Ibn ‘Abbas say: “Shall I show you a woman of Paradise?”I said: “Yes, indeed.” He said: “A black woman came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and said: ‘I suffer from epileptic fits, and because of these, (at times) my body becomes uncovered. Would you invoke Allah, the Exalted One, to cure me of this disease? ‘ The Prophet, peace be upon him, said: ‘If you wish, you can be patient and you will attain Paradise (for this suffering). But if you prefer, I will pray to Allah, the Exalted, to cure you of it?’ The woman said: ‘I will be patient,’ then added: ‘I become uncovered (when I have fits), so invoke Allah for me that I do not become uncovered. ‘ So the Prophet, peace be upon him, prayed for her.” [Source: Fiqh-us-Sunnah, volume 4, #1a]

    Story of ‘Urwah Ibn Al Zubair

    ‘Urwah Ibn Al Zubair had an operation, and the doctor amputated his leg. One friend came to visit him. ‘Urwah thought that the fried came to pacify him for the loss of his leg. So ‘Urwah told the visitor: If you came to give me condolence for the loss of my leg, I already submitted to Allah with patience to reward me for its loss. The guest told him, I came to inform you that your son fell down in a stable, and the animals stepped over him, and he died one hour ago. ‘Urwah said: O Allah! You took one child, and left me many…You took one organ from my body, and left me many organs…O Allah! You tested me with my body, and you were kind to leave me with good health. You tested me with the loss of my son, but you were kind in leaving me the rest of my children.


    We should also approach tests as in we should look at those who have less than us. We have clean tap water and food on our plates everyday. We have clean clothes washed regularly and shelter from the harsh weather. Whereas there are those who walk miles just for a sip of water and even then it is dirty. There are those who have the same clothes for years and cannot even wash them. There are those who go days without proper food and even then they have scraps and end up being malnourished. There are those like in the flood disaster recently who have no shelter and are exposed to terrible diseases. Those who have little or no money to buy even basic things aswell as medication for their sick family members. Rasulallah (Sallallahu Alaihi wasallam) always told us to look at those who have less than us.

    Sometims when we go through great trials we get decieved into thinking that other people that we see around us must be living a life happy and content. We are wrong to think in this way for we do not know what goes on in peoples lives. There are many examples of those who seemed as though they have SO much and seemed so happy but when certain things were revealed then it was clear that those people were living miserable lives full of torment! We may look at a person with a smile on his face but he may be going through trials we can never imagine.

    Therefore when we are going through difficult times and trials then we should not look at others and think they are happy and living fulfilled lives for we do not know what any person on the street is going through on a day to day basis.

    Therefore whenever we are going through difficult times and trials then we should put our full trust, hopes, faith and reliance in Allah for he will NEVER let us down but is only testing us because he wants us to turn towards him in humility, humbleness and meekness and he wants us to get much closer to him. He tests a person because he wants good for them and wants to forgive them and raise their ranks in the hereafter.

    In reality how lucky is a person who is being tested greatly and is still patient and turning towards Allah night and day. How hig must Allah be raising his ranks and forgiving his sins on a daily basis until he is like a new born baby who has little or no sins on him at all. So the way to approach this is to realise that a person who is being tested greatly is in fact lucky but shaythan is wanting one to think opposite.

    Shaythan is our eternal sworn enemy and ONLY wants us to lose hope and faith and to go away from Allah. He wants us tobecome disillusioned and lose all hope so that we go away from Alah and our deen. But we should reject our enemy who only wants our destruction. We should disregard his evil whispers and know that they are only lies and deciet.

    Shaythan will try to make us think that there is no way out of this and this is because he wants us to give in and lose hope. But we must realise that if we continuously strive and keep turning towards Allah and be patient then the final victory WILL be ours! We will taste the sweetness of victory but in order to taste this victory we need to fight and strive through the tests and trials that life throws at us!

    If one who is going through great trials continues to turn towards Allah in humility, meekness and in humblenes then know that the reward one will gain will be unimaginable. On the day of judgement once we see the reward of being patient through great trials turning towards Allah in humility then we would want Allah to have tested us even more so that we could have wreaped the rewards of being patient and turning towards Allah through trials and hardships. It is only on the day of judgement will we truly realise how much we have missed out on and how much more we wished we were tested by Allah so that our ranks were even higher.

    So the Reward of going through terrible trials and hardships immense!

    Narrated Jabir ibn Abdullah Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) said, "On the Day of Resurrection, when people who have suffered affliction are given their reward, those who are healthy will wish their skins had been cut to pieces with scissors when they were in the world." (Al-Tirmidhi #1570)

    So remember: Victory, relief and ease comes with patience through distress and hardship

    Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Know that victory comes with patience, relief with distress and ease with hardship.” (Reported by Ahmad)


    Never question Allah "Why"?

    We must also realise that whatever Allah has decreed for us is the best for us. Therefore we must put our Full trust in Allah and never question Allah as to why he has given us such trials and hardships. So if we are not patient through tests, hardships and trials - many of which may be due to our own actions - like if we complain to Allah why he tested us, then these tests and hardships will be of detriment to us as the condition for gaining such immense reward is through patience and we risk getting major sins instead of major rewards, as well as rsking going further away from Allah instead of closer to him.

    We must also remember that Allah will never burden us with that which is not in our capabilities:

    “Allah does not burden a soul with more than it can bear.” (Qur’an 2: 286)

    Therefore let us realise that the bigger trials and hardships we go through in this life then the more rewards we will gain in the hereafter as long as we are patient and are constantly turning towards Allah.

    In the hereafter when we see the rewards of going through trials and hardships then we will all wish that we wen through the WORST trials possible for the longest amount of time!

    No amount of guilt can change the past and no amount of worrying can change the future. Go easy on yourself, for the outcome of all affairs is determined by Allah's decree. If something is meant to go elsewhere it will never come your way but if it is yours by destiny from you it cannot flee. (Umar Ibn al-Khattab Radiyallahu Anhu)

    May Allah make us patient through adversity, trials and hardships. Ameen

    Finally: " Do not detest the misfortunes that befall you, for what you detest may be the cause of your salvation and what you like may be the cause of your ruin." Al-Hasan Al-Basree
    Last edited by Hamza Asadullah; 03-22-2022 at 09:31 PM.
    How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

    How to get through Hardships & trials in life:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/advice-...mp-trials.html

    How to overcome Waswas (insinuating whispers of shaythan) in Worship:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/advice-...d-worship.html

    10 Steps to Increasing Imaan & getting closer to Allah:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/manners...d-version.html

    https://www.islamicboard.com/manners...ser-allah.html

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    Re: The Solutions Of How To Get Through Hardships, Stresses and Problems in life!

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    Never lose hope in Allah


    by Abu Muhammad Yusuf




    The journey of life can be like a roller coaster. We often experience extreme conditions which create despondency and hopelessness. The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) is reported to have said: “Verily, if Allah loves a people, He makes them go through trials. Whoever is satisfied, for him is contentment, and whoever is angry upon him is wrath.” (Hadith-Tirmidhi)

    We have to try hard to embrace the struggles of life and Trust in Allah. There’s no development without pain. Life’s difficulties are necessary for our own development, so when they come along, accept them, embrace them and never ever lose hope and always place complete Reliance and Trust in Allah. Problems are to the mind what exercise is to the muscles; they toughen and make you strong.

    The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for Allah to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. He nevertheless remained hopeful of Allah’s help and continued his praying every day.

    Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky.

    The “worst” had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief. “Allah, how could this happen to me!” he cried. Early the next day, just before Fajr Salaah (early morning prayer) he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. “How did you know I was here?” the man asked the sailors on the ship. “We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.

    Allah says “…Bear with patience whatever befalls you….” (Qur’an 31:17) and “Be not sad, surely Allah is with us.” (Qur’an 9:40)

    It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But we shouldn’t lose heart, because Allah is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Allah Ta’ala says “Verily, with hardship there is relief” (Qur’an 94:6) and “And whosoever puts his trust in Allah, then He will suffice him”. ( Qur’an 65:3)

    Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground–it just may be a smoke signal that summons The Grace and help of Allah!


    Source: http://muslimvillage.com/2012/10/25/...ign=newsletter 25th Oct 2012
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    How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

    How to get through Hardships & trials in life:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/advice-...mp-trials.html

    How to overcome Waswas (insinuating whispers of shaythan) in Worship:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/advice-...d-worship.html

    10 Steps to Increasing Imaan & getting closer to Allah:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/manners...d-version.html

    https://www.islamicboard.com/manners...ser-allah.html
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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    Assalamu-alaikum,

    A beautiful lecture by Mufti Ismail Menk on this topic.

    Are we passing or failing or tests in life?......


    Examinations of Sabr...Pass or Fail 1of2


    Examinations of Sabr...Pass or Fail 2of2


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    How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!




    يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِى عَلَى دِينِكَ

    Ya Muqallib al-Quloob, Thabbit Qalbi Ala Deenik
    "Oh Turner of Hearts, keep my heart firm on Your Deen."



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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    Why Me? The Quran answers!


    by Abu Mohammed


    WE ALWAYS ASK : WHY WAS I TESTED ?

    AL-QURAN ANSWERS:

    “Do men think that they will be left alone on saying, “We believe”, and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them, and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false.”Surah Al-Ankabut (29:2-3)

    WE ALWAYS ASK : WHY I NEVER GET WHAT I WANT ?

    AL-QURAN ANSWERS:

    “It is possible that ye dislike a thing which is good for you, and that ye love a thing which is bad for you. But Allah knoweth, and ye know not.”
    Surah Al-Baqarah (2:216)

    WE ALWAYS ASK : WHY WAS I BURDENED THIS WAY ?

    AL-QURAN ANSWERS:

    On no soul doth Allah Place a burden greater than it can bear. It gets every good that it earns, and it suffers every ill that it earns.”

    Surah Al-Baqarah (2:286)

    “So, verily, with every difficulty, there is relief: (repeated) Verily, with every difficulty there is relief.”

    Surah Al-Insyirah (94:5-6)

    WE ASK : WHY AM I LOSING HOPE ?

    AL-QURAN ANSWERS:

    “So lose not heart, nor fall into despair: For ye must gain mastery if ye are true in Faith.”
    Surah Al-Imran (3:139)

    WE ALWAYS ASK : HOW CAN I FACE IT ?

    AL-QURAN ANSWERS:

    “O ye who believe! Persevere in patience and constancy; vie in such perseverance; strengthen each other; and fear Allah. that ye may prosper.”
    Surah Al-Imraan (3:200)

    “Nay, seek (Allah’s) help with patient perseverance and prayer: It is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit.” Surah Al-Baqarah ayat (2:45)

    WE ALWAYS ASK : WHAT DO I GET FROM ALL THESE ?

    AL-QURAN ANSWERS:

    “Allah hath purchased of the believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the garden (of Paradise)…” Surah At-Taubah (9:111)

    WE ALWAYS ASK : TO WHOM COULD I DEPEND ?

    AL-QURAN ANSWERS:

    “(Allah) sufficeth me: there is no god but He: On Him is my trust,- He the Lord of the Throne (of Glory) Supreme.” Surah At-Taubah (9:129

    WE ALWAYS ASK : I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE !

    AL-QURAN ANSWERS :

    “…and never give up hope of Allah’s Soothing Mercy; truly No one despairs of Allah’s Soothing Mercy, except Those who have no faith.” Surah Yusuf (9:87)

    “Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives All sins for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”Surah A-Zumar (39:53)


    Source: muftisays.com
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    How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

    How to get through Hardships & trials in life:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/advice-...mp-trials.html

    How to overcome Waswas (insinuating whispers of shaythan) in Worship:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/advice-...d-worship.html

    10 Steps to Increasing Imaan & getting closer to Allah:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/manners...d-version.html

    https://www.islamicboard.com/manners...ser-allah.html
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    Re: The Solutions Of How To Get Through Hardships, Stresses and Problems in life!

    Why does God allow bad things to happen?


    Importance of the Question

    Since you live in the 21st century, it is very probable that you have at least come across, if not been influenced by, what is known as “the problem of evil”. You might have heard it at school or work after someone was murdered: “How could God allow this to happen?!” You see it in articles and blog posts after the bombardment of an entire village: “What kind of God would allow these things to happen?!”

    You will even find it in intellectual circles and philosophy books: “If there really were a perfectly good, all-knowing, all-powerful God, then there would be no evil and suffering in the world.”

    This so-called problem is one of the most common arguments that skeptics use to deny the existence of God. They assume that they have found an Achilles heel in the religions that believe in God. The common picture we have in our minds is of the skeptic atheist calmly presenting a logical, intellectual, and scientific argument while the religiously-inclined defendant becomes emotionally charged and tries to beat around the bush. However, the strength of this argument does not, in any way, have to do with logic or rationale but rather is emotionally charged to the core and attempts to hijack any sensitive event it can find. Nor is it a new question. In fact, we find the angels asking something similar even before man was created: “When your Lord told the angels, ‘I am putting a deputy on earth,’ they said, ‘How can you put someone there who will cause damage and bloodshed, when we celebrate Your praise and proclaim Your holiness?’ but he said, ‘I know what you know not.’” Qur’an 2:30 In other words, God was asked, “Why would you allow this human, who will do bad things, to exist? Why not create someone who won’t do anything bad, like us?” The answer was, “I understand the wisdom in what I am doing, and you don’t.”

    Exploding the Myth

    That, in a nutshell, is the answer to the so-called problem. There is no logical contradiction between God being Infinitely Good, Infinitely Powerful, and allowing bad things to happen. The idea that the evil and suffering in the world present an unanswerable challenge to believers is finally being admitted by more open-minded researchers. Stump and Murray make the following confession in their book, Philosophy of Religion: The Big Questions: “The logical problem of evil has been severely criticized in recent years and is regarded in the contemporary literature on the subject as largely discredited. In brief, the problem with this argument is that it assumes something false. Specifically, it assumes that a good being would prevent every evil it can under any circumstances…Thus, at best, the logical problem of evil shows us that if God exists, the only evil that exists is evil for which there is some good reason.”

    The rhetorical questions now change to inquisitive questions. Rather than blurting out, “How could God do that?! What kind of God does these things?!” the question now is “Why is the world this way and what wisdom lies in that?”

    Life is a Test

    The secret to understanding the issue is so simple that it often eludes us. Life is a test. Man has been given a limited free will to do good or bad. Look at the following statement of the Prophet: “The life of a believer is truly amazing. Everything that happens to him is good. This is only true for a believer and none else. If something pleasant happens to him, he is thankful and that is good for him. If something bad afflicts him, he is patient and that is also good for him.” (Muslim) Affliction is part of the test of life. If God were to interfere and prevent every bad thing from happening to each individual, it would be like taking the test away from a student. Saying that the bad that exists in the world is necessary does not mean that it is justified or praiseworthy. Believers are always commanded to enjoin the good and forbid the evil, which is another test in itself.

    Wisdom is behind the scenes

    Skeptics tend to focus on the negative aspects of things and claim that evil and suffering are ugly facts of life while believers try to see the bigger picture and find an explanation for the existence of such things. It is like someone who observes two people fighting and judges that both of them are in the wrong without thinking that one of them may be defending himself or standing up for justice. Evil is, to an extent, relative. A juicy hamburger may be a good thing for someone who’s hungry, but it’s definitely a bad thing for the cow that was slaughtered.

    God said: “Fighting is ordained for you, though you dislike it. You may dislike something although it is good for you, or like something although it is bad for you: God knows and you do not.” Qur’an 2:216

    Being able to see the big picture often affects how we perceive what is good and bad. Someone with little foresight may claim that the injection of a vaccine into a patient, which contains traces of disease, is a bad thing while the injection of heroin, which leads to euphoria, is a good thing. Not being able to understand that the vaccine will help develop immunity to that disease or that taking heroin will develop into a drug addiction is due to a lack of medical knowledge and experience. The following principle is demonstrated in the Qur’an with the meeting between Moses and a man who was given direct knowledge from God about the unseen. Moses wanted to follow him and learn from him, but the man warned him, “You will not be able to bear with me patiently. How could you be patient in matters beyond your knowledge?” But Moses convinced him to let him tag along. Here is the rest of

    The story:

    “They travelled on. Later, when they got into a boat, and the man made a hole in it, Moses said, ‘How could you make a hole in it? Do you want to drown its passengers? What a strange thing to do!’…Then, when they met a young boy and the man killed him, Moses said, ‘How could you kill an innocent person? He has not killed anyone! What a terrible thing to do!’…Then, when they came to a town and asked the inhabitants for food but were refused hospitality, they saw a wall there that was on the point of falling down and the man repaired it. Moses said, ‘But if you wished you could have taken payment for doing that.’ He said, ‘This is where you and I part company. I will tell you the meaning of the things you could not bear with patiently: the boat belonged to some needy people who made their living from the sea and I damaged it because I knew that coming after them was a king who was seizing every [serviceable] boat by force. The young boy had parents who were people of faith, and so, fearing he would trouble them through wickedness and disbelief, we wished that their Lord should give them another child-purer and more compassionate-in his place. The wall belonged to two young orphans in the town and there was buried treasure beneath it belonging to them. Their father had been a righteous man, so your Lord intended them to reach maturity and then dig up their treasure as a mercy from your Lord. I did not do [these things] of my own accord: these are the explanations for those things you could not bear with patience.’” (Qur’an, 18:71-82). It was the lack of knowledge and foresight that led Moses to object to what the man did. Likewise, we find ourselves, as limited humans, in similar situations. However, we do have enough insight to see some of the wisdoms behind the general occurrences of bad things.

    What good reasons could there be for evil?

    1. Suffering and affliction often help return us to the obedience of God. God said: “We sent messengers before you [Prophet] to many communities and afflicted their people with suffering and hardships, so that they might learn humility. If only they had learned humility when suffering came from Us! But no, their hearts became hard…” (Qur’an 6:42-43) There is a lesson in the conversion of the famous rock star, Cat Stevens, now known as Yusuf Islam. He related the story himself: “After a year of financial success and high living, I became very ill. I contracted T.B. (tuberculosis) and had to be hospitalized. It was then that I started to think; what is going to happen to me? Am I just a body? Is my goal in life merely to satisfy this body? I realized this calamity was a blessing given to me by God and a chance to open my eyes, to learn ‘Why I am here, why I am in bed.’ I started looking for some of the answers.”

    2. It differentiates between the good and bad people.

    God said:
    “Do people think they will be left alone after saying, ‘We believe’ without being put to the test? We tested those who went before them: God will certainly mark out which ones are truthful and which are lying.” (Qur’an 29:2-3) Upon analysis, we realize that the Prophets, who are the highest in rank in the sight of God, faced the most difficult tests of all people. Clearly, merit must be earned.
    3. Affliction is necessary to experience its opposite feelings of joy and achievement.

    God said: “With hardship comes ease. Indeed, with hardship comes ease.” (Qur’an, 94:5-6)

    The appreciation of ease and comfort could only exist and be appreciated if the feelings of hardship also existed and were known or experienced. In Chinese Philosophy, the concept of yin and yang is employed to explain this phenomenon. Each part is necessary to understand the unity of the whole. They are in equilibrium: if one disappears, the other must disappear as well, leaving emptiness.

    Conclusion

    It should be patently clear that the inability to see the wisdom behind something should not be a cause of criticizing that thing. Of course, the final word on all of this is that God knows best.

    Source: http://www.suhaibwebb.com/islam-stud...-mustafa-umar/
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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    The believer’s attitude towards calamities:

    Calamities and disasters are a test, and they are a sign of Allaah’s love for a person, because they are like medicine: even though it is bitter, despite its bitterness you give it to the one whom you love – and for Allaah is the highest description. In the saheeh hadeeth it says: “The greatest reward comes with the greatest trial. When Allaah loves a person He tests them. Whoever accepts that wins His pleasure but whoever is discontent with that earns His wrath.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396) and Ibn Maajah (4031); classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

    Calamities are good for the believer in the sense that reward is stored up for him the Hereafter thereby; how can it be otherwise when he is raised in status thereby and his bad deeds are expiated? The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When Allaah wills good for His slave, He hastens the punishment for him in this world, and when Allaah wills ill for His slave, he withholds the punishment for his sins from him until he comes with all his sins on the Day of Resurrection.” Narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2396); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Tirmidhi.

    Al-Hasan al-Basri (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Do not resent the calamities that come and the disasters that occur, for perhaps in something that you dislike will be your salvation, and perhaps in something that you prefer will be your doom.”

    Al-Fadl ibn Sahl said: “There is a blessing in calamity that the wise man should not ignore, for it erases sins, gives one the opportunity to attain the reward for patience, dispels negligence, reminds one of blessings at the time of health, calls one to repent and encourages one to give charity.

    Through calamity the believer seeks reward, and there is no way to attain it but patience, and there is no way to be patient except with resolute faith and strong will.
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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    10 TIPS ON HOW TO FIGHT DEPRESSION & SADNESS


    Feeling down in the dumps, depressed, having the blues? These are just some of the terms used to describe a feeling of hopelessness and despair that can hit even the most optimistic of us at some point in our lives. While clinical depression requires proper professional treatment, the occasional feeling of sadness due to factors ranging from marital issues, economic difficulty to harassment and discrimination can be helped through some simple spiritual practices. Here is a couple that can help:

    1. Look at those below you


    Abu Huraira (Radhi Allah ‘Anhu) reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said:
    “When one of you looks at one who stands at a higher level than you in regard to wealth and physical structure (face or figure) he should also see one who stands at a lower level than you in regard to these things (in which he stands) at a higher level (as compared to him).” [Sahih Muslim: Book 42 "Kitab Al-Zuhd wa Al-Raqa'iq", Number 7068]

    If you are reading this article online, consider this: you are one of the lucky set of human beings on the planet who can afford a computer and internet connection or at least have access to one. The United Nations Development Program’s Human Development Report notes that there are still around 1 billion people living worldwide at the margins of survival on less than $1 a day, with 2.6 billion living on less than $2 a day. Also consider that in the Qur’ān (14:7), Allāh says that if you are thankful to Him for what you have, He blesses you with more.

    2. Serve your fellow human beings

    One of the best ways by which to thank Allāh is to serve humanity, especially those who have less than you. Serving others is uplifting and rewarding. It helps us gain a better perspective on life’s challenges, making us realize how very often, our problems seem so small compared to the awesome difficulties others face. That’s why when the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, and the Muslims were a small, poor and persecuted community, they used to give to the poor even more. They understood that when you are generous when you have less, you achieve the perspective of a winner. You focus on the bigger picture.

    3. Read Surāh Adh-Dhuhaa


    According to one report, after the Prophet had begun receiving revelation from God, at one point a long period of time passed with no such communication from Allāh. As a result, the Makkans ridiculed the Prophet. That’s when this chapter was revealed (Qur’ān 93: 1-11). The chapter is a beautiful reminder to us to see life in the greater scheme of things, to be grateful for what we have and to never give up striving for what is right. This chapter of the Quran can be considered a direct recipe from God for depression.

    4. Turn to Allāh in all situations


    Remember that nothing can harm you without the consent of Allāh, the Most High. While you must take care of yourself, rely on Allāh and know that He is always with you and only He can give you strength in this difficult time. Dear believer, remember that He will help you and that you can come out of this trying situation as a better person if you deal with it positively.

    5. Remember Allāh’s Names

    Allāh has many beautiful Names which describe His Attributes and Powers. These are reminders of His Love, Mercy, Forgiveness, Justice, Strength and much, much more. Supplicating to Allāh using these Names reminds us that Allāh has these attributes more than any other being and that we can and must rely on Him during good and bad times.

    6. Say ‘Hasbun Allāhu wa Ni’mal Wakeel’

    This has been translated as “God suffices me and He is the best Guardian.” It is an excellent way of reminding us that whatever worries we have or problems we face, Allāh has the answer and cure to all of them and is the only One who can really do what is best for us.

    7. Make sure that when you leave home…


    …you read the following Duā (supplication),"Bismillāhi tawakkaltu ‘alaAllāhi wa lā hawlā wa lā quwwatā illā billāh!”

    (In the name of Allāh, I place my trust in Allāh, and there is neither might nor power except with Allāh.)

    8. Take your spiritual break from the world

    Offer your Salāh five times a day. Take a break away from your busy schedule and endless life activities by spending a few minutes to remember Allāh, the Almighty. This will help you reconnect with the Creator of the Universe, fortify your soul and strengthen your resolve to live a better life that is in tune with your faith and principles.

    9. End your day on a good note

    Shakespeare once wrote a play entitled “All’s well that ends well.” That’s good advice for dealing with depression too. End a day that may have been riddled with challenges and frustrations by making Wudhoo (ablution) before going to bed, thinking of Allāh and the Prophet (peace be upon him) and by counting and consciously realizing the many countless blessings you have.

    10. Stop Shaytān in his tracks

    Shaytān is the source of many of our negative emotions. It’s his job to make us feel pessimistic and to despair of any good in our lives. When you feel these feelings coming on, stop him dead in his tracks. Recite the following Du’ā before reciting the Qur’ān Kareem:

    “A’udhu billāhi minash-Shaitānir-Rajīm.” (I seek refuge in Allāh from the accursed Shaytān).

    Also recite the last two Surāhs of the Qur’ān called Al Mu’awwazatain (Surāh Al-Falaq and Surāh An-Nās).

    In this way, Allāh willing, you shall begin to see a significant change in your life.

    Compiled, edited and adapted by Khalid Latif. www.thekhalids.org.

    And Allāh Ta’ala Knows Best.
    How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    7 Things to do in times of Hardships:

    http://productivemuslim.com/7-things...s-of-hardship/
    How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    Du’a: Trials Bring Us Closer to Allah


    The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said:

    “The greatness of reward is based on the severity of the trial. And if Allah loves a person, He tests him, so whoever is pleased (with Allah), then he will have the pleasure (of Allah), but whoever is angry, then he will receive the Anger (of Allah).” (Recorded in al-Tirmidhi)

    So the fact that our Du’a is not responded to is a trial from Allah, and this should make us optimistic that they we from amongst those that Allah loves. Such a test should therefore make us increase in patience and draw closer to Allah.
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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    The Love of Allah - Reflect it will make you weep:

    Ibn Qayyum (Ra) said:

    "Had Allah lifted the veil for his slave and shown him how he handles his affairs for him and how Allah is more keen for the benefit of his slave than his own self his heart would have melted out of the love for Allah and would have been torn to pieces out of thankfulness to Allah.

    Therefore if the pains of this world tire you do not grieve, for it maybe that Allah wishes to hear your voice by way of Dua.

    So pour our your desires in prostration and forget about it (Your problems, trials) and know that verily Allah does not forget."
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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    Al-Hasan Al-Basree said:

    “To endure short-lived difficulties that are followed by long lasting ease, is better than hurrying for a short-lived ease that is followed by ever-lasting hardship.”
    [Al-Hilyah, 2/134]
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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    Trials and Tribulations - A Blessing In Disguise

    How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    Facing Hardships & Trials - Powerful True Story

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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    In Times Of Hardships

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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials in life!

    Do tests in life get easier? No and yes. Let me explain.

    Why no (tests don’t get easier). Tests don’t get easier, otherwise they would not be considered a test. Tests need to challenge us so that we can grow from them. The school system which is full of tests is a powerful analogy in this area. For a year 1 student, a year 1 test is difficult. For a year 10 student, a year 1 test is like a game. Similarly as we grow and develop, the tests get more difficult, otherwise they will stop feeling like tests.

    On this point, our Prophet was asked “who gets tested the most severely?” He responded by saying “They are the prophets, then the next best, then the next best.” (Tirmidhi) Depending on your spiritual level, the tests will get harder and harder, or they will become more nuanced, just like a year 10 test is much more nuanced, complex and requires higher skills than a year 1 test.

    Why yes. Tests get easier if we develop the correct mindset through our faith and if we develop the correct skills set through our life experiences.

    Mindset is critical. Know that you will be tested. Allah says in the Qur’an “And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient.” (Qur’an, 2:155) When you accept that your life will be filled with tests, it already gives you an upper hand. Imagine a student who walks into a classroom knowing they will have a quiz that day, compared to a student who had no idea. The mindset will be very different. Imagine if the latter student was expecting to walk into a class party but instead is faced with a quiz. They would be utterly shocked. Similarly, if we think this life is going to be just about pleasing our ego, we will be utterly shocked when the party ends and a test arises.

    Skills set is the other critical point. While a year 10 test is much more difficult than a year 1 test, it would be hoped that schooling would have developed the knowledge and skills needed for a year 10 student to do a year 10 test. Isn’t life a school where we learn so much and develop so many skills? By the time we are faced with the more difficult tests, we will be better prepared for them. We should also keeping mind that “Allah does not burden a soul (with a test) greater than it can bear.” (Qur’an, 2:286). Therefore, he will not test us with a year 10 test when we are in year 1.

    The take home message is:
    1. Remember that we will be tested in this life and we will grow from them. Our faith reminds us of this important detail about life.
    2. The past tests help us to grow so that when we face new challenges, we have developed the skills and mechanisms needed to deal with them.
    3. BUT, a test is a test. That is, in any case, it will challenge us in some way otherwise it will not be a test. It needs to challenge us to ensure we grow from it.

    May Allah enable us all to past the tests we are faced with. Ameen.

    (The above does not explain all aspects of life events, but one that many of us could apply in our personal lives)
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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

    Tired of Life Difficulties? Read This Hadith


    Abu Sa`id and Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with them) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “No fatigue, nor disease, nor anxiety, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim).

    This world is no more than a test in which all humans are bound to face some hardships and challenges that reveal their patience and steadfastness.

    Different Tests

    The forms of this test are numerous and diverse: Some people suffer poverty, some suffer physical illnesses, some live in a state of insecurity, some are deprived of their cherished and beloved ones, and still others suffer psychiatric disorders. Referring to this fact, Allah says: {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 patient, Who says, when afflicted with calamity: “To Allah We belong, and to Him is our return”: They are those on whom (descend) Blessings from Allah, and Mercy, and they are the ones that receive guidance.} (Al-Baqarah 2:155-157)

    In another verse, He Almighty says: {He Who created Death and Life, that He may try which of you is best in deed: and He is the Exalted in Might, Oft-Forgiving.} (Al-Mulk 67:2)

    Since hardships are inevitable, Islam does not let them pass by without proper guidance about the safest and most appropriate attitude. The above Hadith reveals one dimension of Islam’s recipe for successfully dealing with life’s challenges.

    The Positive Side of Problems

    In order to balance the negative effects posed by afflictions, Islam draws our attention to their expected fruit. Problems and troubles serve as means to expiate sins and elevate the believer’s rank in the Hereafter.

    This optimistic and positive approach safeguards one from falling prey to despair and grief. Here, it is fitting to cite some Prophetic hadiths that emphasize this concept:

    Abu Yahya Suhaib bin Sinan (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “How wonderful is the case of a believer; there is good for him in everything and this applies only to a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is good for him” (Muslim).

    Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “He whom Allah intends good, He makes him to suffer from some affliction” (Al-Bukhari).

    Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A Muslim, male or female, continues to remain under trial in respect of his life, property, and offspring until he faces Allah, the Exalted, with no sin record” (At-Tirmidhi).
    A Call to Defeatism?


    The above hadiths should not be mistaken for a call to fatalism and defeatism. The message the hadiths convey is that every Muslim should expect hardships and prepare to weather them. Therefore, believers face difficulties with brave hearts; they trust Allah’s wisdom and believe in His mercy; and they know that these tests are rewarding. Compare that attitude to the feeling that one is alone in this world, facing its formidable challenges isolated from any source of support or assistance.


    So, these hadiths are meant to infuse the Muslim with hope and vigour and drive away the destructive thoughts of failure and hopelessness. To get a better understanding of them, we should consider them in light of the following hadiths:

    Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak one, and both are good.

    Adhere to that which is beneficial for you. Keep asking Allah for help and do not refrain from it.

    (If you are afflicted in any way), do not say: ‘If I had taken this or that step, it would have resulted into such and such,’ but say only: ‘Allah so determined and did as He willed.’ The word ‘if’ opens the gates of satanic (thoughts)” (Muslim).

    This hadith goes in line with the Prophet’s reminder to his cousin Ibn `Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that with patience comes victory, with distress comes relief, and with hardship comes ease.

    What if It’s a Punishment?


    In this respect, one idea may be a source of worry and disturbance. How can we approach afflictions with such optimism when they are clear signs of Allah’s wrath and manifestations of His punishment? Has not Allah said, {Whatever misfortune happens to you, is because of the things your hands have wrought, and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness} (Ash-Shura 42:30)

    These questions haunt many people, especially the practicing ones, when they are afflicted with a calamity, deprived of a cherished person, or plagued with an illness. The problem is that in many cases this thought becomes a source of frustration and depression.

    Instead of being an incentive to repentance and drawing closer to him, the idea serves sometimes as a dispiriting factor. So, let’s see how the Companions viewed the above verse and how they took it positively and optimistically.

    In his comment on the above verse, Imam Al-Qurtubi reports that `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said, "This verse is the most hope-inspiring one in the Quran; if my sins are to be expiated through afflictions and calamities, and above that, Allah will forgive many other sins, then what will remain after such expiation and forgiveness?”

    True, life’s disasters leave hearts broken and loved ones deprived, but the bright believer knows how turn them into a source of determination and a fountain of strength.

    I conclude with the beautiful authentic hadith in which the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) tells us that the people who face the harshest trial (bla’) are the prophets, then those next to them (in faith and devotion), and then the next. Everyone will be tried according to his level of faith; one who has strong faith will undergo a harsh trial and one who is of weak faith will receive a weak trial. And the affliction will encompass one until he becomes free of sins altogether.

    Source: Tired of Life Difficulties? Read This Hadith | About Islam
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  22. #37
    Hamza Asadullah's Avatar Moderator
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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

    5 Reasons Why We Are Tested

    Life is filled with ups and downs, and there are times where our trials seem unending.

    In the Qur’an, there are several verses in which Allah talks about the varying ways we will be tested, but He also provides a care package to help us navigate those trying moments.

    Why are we tested?

    This is a very common question from Muslims, people of other faiths, or no faith—so it’s important to reflect on it. Lack of answers can sometimes distance people from their faith—if a person doesn’t understand why trials happen they can start to feel life is unfair or even that God is being unfair. But Allah is Al-Adl, The Just, and He is Ar-Rahman, The Most Merciful; He never wants ill for His servants, He only wants the best for us.

    There is a lot of evidence in the Qur’an and hadith that helps us answer this question of why we are tested.

    1) We were created to worship Allah

    We were created to worship Allah, and we all made a promise to do so before we were sent to earth. Tests are a means for us to fulfil this promise. In fact, they are a “sunnah” of Allah – i.e. tests are the means by which Allah distinguishes between us, because they help to expose faith and lack of faith. Allah states in the Qur'an: 'Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident those who are false.’ [Qur’an 29: 2-3]

    2) Allah tests us to purify us and wash away our sins.

    The Prophet said :“No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even if it were the prick of a thorn.” [Bukhari, Muslim].So instead of seeing tests as a punishment from Allah, this shows that in fact, Allah wants to save us from punishment – i.e. the punishment of the Hereafter which is much worse than any test faced in this Dunya.

    3) A test can sometimes replace a worse misfortune

    A test can be a form of protection from something that might have befallen us. Or being deprived of something might, in fact, be saving us from something that is not good for us, even though we don’t have the knowledge to realise it at the time. Allah tells us: “Perhaps you dislike a thing and Allah makes therein much good.” [Qur’an 4: 19]. Therefore the test which might seem so awful to you at the time is, in fact, a blessing.

    4) Tests are given to us to strengthen our iman (faith)

    The Prophet said: "The people who face the most difficult tests are the prophets, then the righteous, then those following them in degree. A person is tried according to his religion. So if there is firmness in his religion, then the trial is increased, and if there is a weakness, then it is lightened. Verily a trial remains with a servant until he walks the earth having no sin left upon him.” [Bukhari].Allah wants to refine us, out of His love and mercy, so that we can attain not just Paradise but the highest rank of the Prophets and the righteous. Tests expose our faults and weaknesses to ourselves—and that awareness enables us to be more focused and proactive in rectifying those aspects of our character.

    5) Allah tests a person He loves.

    The Prophet said: “Whenever Allah wills good for a person, He subjects them to adversity.” [Bukhari]. Why? Because if the servant reacts with Sabr and contentment with Allah’s decree, it brings them closer to Allah. And “Allah loves the Patient.” [Qur’an 3: 146]

    10 ways to deal with tests:

    Ibn Al-Qayyim (rahimahullah) stated that when we are tested, we are faced with 2 options:


    • to be patient
    • to not be patient!


    So when we lack patience and get frustrated / bitter/ panicky, or lose hope/ blame Allah, this is actually a choice we make, and not a very good one. But those who choose option (1), as difficult as it is, benefit from their tests in this life and also gain in the next life, i.e. Jannah.So how can we choose to have more patience and contentment when tested? Thanks to the sisters who gave the following suggestions:


    1. Read or listen to the Qur’an (because dhikr gives contentment – see Qur’an 13: 28).
    2. Make du’a for Allah’s help, strength, and relief from the test – just as Ya’qub (AS), Maryam (AS) and the Prophet all did.
    3. Gratitude puts our tests in perspective and stops us from complaining; it is the greatest route towards Sabr.
    4. Remember what others are going through – remember the Ummah, and people around you in your own communities; remind yourselves of the tests the Prophets went through – they provide us with good examples of perseverance. Bear in mind every single person is being tested in different ways.
    5. Remember nothing in this life lasts forever, so the test will have an end inshaAllah: “verily with every hardship comes ease” [Qur’an 94:5-6].
    6. Allah does not burden any soul beyond what it can bear [Qur’an 2:286]; Allah has confidence in us, so we too need to have confidence in our ability to get through the test.
    7. Muhaasabah – use tests as an opportunity for self-assessment; are there things you can do better next time? Are there habits or characteristics you need to change?
    8. Deal with your test one step at a time – i.e. if you have a task to complete, give yourself small goals. Or if you are facing a long-term test, try to have patience for that day, and start afresh with your goal of sabr the next day etc.
    9. Have trust in Allah (tawakkul), whatever the test is – because Allah is the best of Planners and teaches us the best lessons.
    10. Strengthen your salah: “Seek help in patience and prayer” [Qur’an 2: 153]


    Finally, What if you are not being tested?

    The following question was asked, and it comes up quite a lot: “What if someone doesn’t seem to be going through any major trials, and in fact, they are being blessed with abundance. Does Allah love such a person less than someone He subjects to obvious harsh trials?” Tests can take many forms, they can be great or small, a one-off trial or something we face consistently. They can come in the form of hardships… or, they can come in the form of blessings.

    In fact, these can be a greater pitfall than hardships because they are harder to identify as tests. Why is this the case? Because when we feel less needy of Allah’s help we turn to Him less. We tend to remember Allah less in times of ease. So “ease” is no less of a test of our faith, especially when we remember that Iblis vowed to use ingratitude as a means to lead us astray (see Qur’an 7: 16-17).The way to show patience with such a test is to always be grateful, to know Allah is the source of our blessings, to fight pride and ego, and to fight the temptation to show off. And if someone succeeds in that trial, they would be rewarded by Allah and be drawn closer to Allah, no differently from someone who faced their hardships with sabr.

    Having sabr with blessings is also shown by utilising the good things Allah gave us – if it is money, do we spend it freely in the way of Allah, or do we hold back? If it is knowledge, or free time, or good health, or youthfulness, how do we use these blessings? It is not always easy to be generous with those blessings, and to use them for Allah rather than the ego—that is a great test too.

    Finally, it’s worth remembering there are examples of companions who were blessed with abundance—Khadijah, Abu Bakr, Uthman bin Affan, Abdur Rahman bin Awf, may Allah be pleased with them all! They were blessed with wealth and status too, but they used that to serve Allah and the Ummah. In fact, they were among those promised paradise. So being tested with abundance does not necessarily mean that person is less beloved to Allah, they are just being tested differently. And Allah knows best.

    Source: 5 Reasons Why We Are Tested | Amaliah
    How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

    How to get through Hardships & trials in life:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/advice-...mp-trials.html

    How to overcome Waswas (insinuating whispers of shaythan) in Worship:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/advice-...d-worship.html

    10 Steps to Increasing Imaan & getting closer to Allah:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/manners...d-version.html

    https://www.islamicboard.com/manners...ser-allah.html
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  23. #38
    Hamza Asadullah's Avatar Moderator
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    Re: How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

    How To Get Through Hardships & Trials!

    How to get through Hardships & trials in life:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/advice-...mp-trials.html

    How to overcome Waswas (insinuating whispers of shaythan) in Worship:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/advice-...d-worship.html

    10 Steps to Increasing Imaan & getting closer to Allah:

    https://www.islamicboard.com/manners...d-version.html

    https://www.islamicboard.com/manners...ser-allah.html
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