Cast Off Anxiety
Do not be sad, for your Lord says:
“Have We not opened your breast for you [O Muhammad]?” Surah Ash-Sharh – Ayah 1.
The message of this verse embraces all those who carry with them the truth, who see the light, and who tread the path of guidance.
“Is he whose breast Allah has opened to Islam, so that he is in light from His Lord [as he who is non-Muslim]? So, woe to those whose hearts are hardened against remembrance of Allah.” Surah Az-Zumar - Ayah 22.
Therefore there is a truth that causes the heart to he opened and a falsehood that causes it to harden.
“And whosoever Allah wills to guide, He opens his breast to Islam.” Surah An’am – Ayah 125.
So the acceptance of and adherence to this religion is a goal that cannot be achieved except by the one who is blessed.
“Be not sad [or afraid], surely Allah is with us.” Surah At-Taubah – Ayah 40.
This is spoken by all those that have faith in Allah’s Care, Guardianship, and Mercy.
“Those [i.e. believers] unto whom the people [hypocrites] said, ‘Verily, the people [pagans] have gathered against you [a great army], therefore, fear them.’ But it [only] increased them in Faith, and they said: ‘Allah [is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs [for us].” Surah Ali-Imran – Ayah 173.
His being Sufficient for us rids us of dependence upon others and His Guardianship protects us.
“O’ Prophet [Muhammad] Allah is Sufficient for you and for the believers who follow you.” Surah Al-Anfal – Ayah 64.
And everyone who follows this path will achieve this great blessing.
“And put your trust in the Ever-Living One Who dies not…” Surah Al-Furqan – Ayah 58.
All beside Him are dead and not alive, fleeting and not permanent, weak and not mighty.
“And endure you patiently [O’ Muhammad], your patience is not but from Allah. And grieve not over them [polytheists and pagans, etc.], and be not distressed because of what they plot. Truly, Allah is with those who fear Him [keep their duty unto Him] and those who are good doers.” Surah An-Nahl – Ayah 127-128.”
Allah being with them in this verse means a special blessing for his obedient worshippers, in terms of protection, care, support, and guardianship. This is in proportion to the level of their faith, actions, and efforts.
“So do not become weak [against your enemy], nor be sad, and you will be superior [in victory] if you are indeed [true] believers.” Surah Al-Imran – Ayah 139.
You will superior in the worship of Allah and in your ranking with Him.
“They will do you no harm, barring a trifling annoyance and if they fight against you, they will show you their backs, and they will not be helped.” Surah Al-Imran – Ayah 111.
Don’t be sad: live today as if it were the last day of your life. With this frame of mind and outlook towards life, there is no reason to allow for sadness or anger to steal the little time you have. The Prophet Sallalahu Alayhi Wasalam said:
“When the morning comes upon you, then do not expect to see the evening, and when you see the night, then do not expect to see the morning.”
In other words, live with heart, body, and soul for today only, without dwelling upon the past and without being anxious about the future.
An Arab poet said:
“The past is lost forever and that which is hoped for is from the unseen. So, all that you have is the present hour.”
Being preoccupied with the past and dragging past woes into the present - these are the signs of an unstable and unsound mind.
A Chinese proverb says:
“Do not cross the bridge until you reach it.”
In other words, be anxious over events only when they arrive. One of the pious predecessors said:
“O’ the son of Adam, verily, you have only three days: Yesterday and it has forsaken you; tomorrow and it has yet to arrive; and today, so fear Allah and obey Him in it.”
How can one truly live who carries with him the concerns of the past, the present, and the future? How can one find peace, while constantly recollecting that which has already occurred? One plays it back in his mind, feels its pain, yet benefits nothing from the process.
The meaning of, ‘when the morning comes, do not expect to see the evening, and when the evening comes, do not expect to see the morning,’ is that we should not have lofty or long-term hopes for this world. Expect death and do your best in doing good deeds. Do not let your concerns and ambitions surpass the limit of that day in which you live, a code that will allow you to concentrate and spend all of your energies on being productive each day. Use time efficiently and concentrate all of your efforts on achieving something today, by improving your manners, taking care of your health, and improving your relations with others.
Cast off anxiety – A pause to reflect:
Do not be sad, because that which has been preordained has already been decided upon and will take place though you may not like it. The pens are dried, the scrolls have been rolled up, and every affair is firmly established. Therefore your sadness will not change your reality in the least.
Do not be sad, because, with your sadness, you desire for time’s suspension: for the sun to stop in its place, for the hands of the clock to stand still, for the steps of your feet to move backwards, and for the river to flow back to its source.
Do not be sad, because sadness is like a hurricane that violently tosses the waves, changing the atmosphere and destroying the blooming flowers of the luxuriant garden.
Do not be sad, because the one who is sad is like a person who pours water into a bucket that has a hole in it. He is like a writer who uses his finger to write on water.
Do not be sad, because the true span of life is measured by the number of days that you are content in. Do not then spend your days in grief, do not waste your nights in sorrow, and do not be extravagant in squandering your time; for truly, Allah loves not those who are extravagant and wasteful.