Enduring hardships and grief: How Nabi ﷺ coped and how we can too

The most beloved to Allah was Nabi ﷺ. Despite this, his life was far from the ease many of us enjoy. Before he ﷺ was born his father passed away. At the age of 6, his mother passed away too and soon after, his grandad passed away. In his childhood and adolescent years, he ﷺ grew up in an environment alien to his temperament. He ﷺ was perfectly mannered in every way but his society was the opposite. At the age of 25, he ﷺ married a mature lady who had wealth, whilst he ﷺ did not. Nowadays, young people aspire to become financially stable before committing to a wife. In stark contrast, he ﷺ had no wealth when he ﷺ made Nikaah.

Most of us experience ups and downs throughout our early years but by the age of 40, life is somewhat calmer and stable. By then most people are married with children, a stable income and a roof over their heads. We are more settled in life and life is, for most, an easier, smoother ride.

However, for Nabi ﷺ the situation was once again quite the opposite. He received Prophethood at the age of 40 and with that, came a special mission to spread the light of faith across the earth. At this precise moment, Waraqah bin Nawfil said to him, “If only I was young, I could have lent you my support when people would throw you out.” Astonished at the mere idea of being thrown out of his homeland, Nabi ﷺ replied, “Will people really throw me out?” Waraqah replied in the affirmative. His life then proved this prediction to be true.

In Makkah Mukarramah, he ﷺ experienced one hardship after another. Life was far from easy. The taunts, persecution, verbal and physical abuse became so unbearable, that at the age of 53 he ﷺ left his homeland. When our parents age and we ask them to move cities, more often than usual they refuse. They would respond that I have lived here all my life, how can I leave? My friends are here, I know the area and this is the place I call home.

Nabi ﷺ was at this age, settled in Makkah Mukarramah when he ﷺ had to bid it farewell. As he ﷺ set off for Madinah Munawarrah, he ﷺ stood on a little hillock and turned around. Looking at Makkah Mukarramah, he ﷺ expressed his love for it and said, “Had your people not turned me away, I would never have left you.” Such was his love for his homeland. Like this, his life continued in hardship until he ﷺ breathed his last. May His blessed soul rest in everlasting peace, Aameen.

So from this very brief timeline of his blessed life, 1400 years later what can we Muslims learn? We learn that life is not easy. This world is not a place of justice or fairness. If a person is pious, it does not mean that he will lead a life of ease. Sometimes a good, pious young lady ends up marrying the worst of men. Or a criminal is sustained in prison via the taxes of the one he wronged, or he gets away with a short sentence whilst the victim is scarred for life. Some women who crave children are decreed to be childless, whilst others who do not want children are blessed with them.

Is that fair? No. But it is the decree of Allah which governs our path. Thus from the Seerah we learn that this rocky road we call life is rocky for a reason. It is a test, the examiner is Allah. He is watching us constantly and marking our performance. He is seeking from us a beautiful patience and those who display this will get their justice in full in the hereafter. Once we get there and take our first steps into Jannah, it is only then that we will realise that our short-lived, worldly trials were all worth it.

For they lead to a reward so perfect our minds cannot possibly comprehend it. And that reward is worth acquiring, even if it means that our worldly life will be a little difficult in the process. Besides, everyone struggles. Turning to Allah and getting Jannah at the end of it, is quite a bargain for those who believe. Fortunate is the one who realises that and secures his home in the gardens of bliss.

May Allah make us from amongst them, Aameen.

— Hazrat Ml. Dawood Seedat حفظه الله

Above is an article taken from www.islaahiadvices.com. It is an extract from Hazrat’s talk on 24/07/17 in Masjid-ut-Taqwa, Pietermaritzburg. To listen to the full talk, please click here.