It's true. Allah does not need to test us except for our own benefit. When we do well by being patient, asking Allah for help through our hardships and putting our trust in Him, He increases His blessings upon us.
I want to give my own example... This is very personal and I probably wouldn't have shared if it wasn't in the hope that it will help others have more sabr and trust in Allah SWT.
Tests come in different forms for all of us. Mine came in the form of financial harship. Some months ago my benefits was greatly reduced due to change in circumstances. I was just about able to afford basic foods and some days even that was a struggle. I needed shoes and a coat but couldn't even think about getting them. All my income went out on covering bills and paying back money I'd borrowed. Sometimes I'd only cook for my son and just have a cup of tea myself. I reminded myself of the hardships the Prophet (saw) suffered and it made me stronger. I'd also started a private course before I knew my benefit money was going to be reduced and was behind with the installments. I knew this phase was probably going to continue until I was able to start working. There was nothing I could do - except be patient and put my trust in Allah. I prepared myself mentally for tough times ahead and Alhumdulillah, did not panic. Instead after praying salah, I asked Allah to increase my provisions and help me as He saw best.
Then an amazing chain of events began to unfold. A few days before eid-ul-fitr (when I was penniless), I heard something drop through my letter box. It contained £100 from my brother to get myself something for eid - something he had never done before. No doubt Allah had chosen this way to reward me for my sabr and trust in Him.
Then around the same period, my uncle came to visit. My eyes nearly popped out of my head. He had bought a huge sack of rice, so much meat and the biggest package of toilet paper I'd ever seen. Then, another relative, went shopping, saw reduced rice and got me one too. As we all share the cooking on eid, the next thing I knew my brother had come and bought yet more rice and other groceries. I told him to take the rice as I had enough. But he said to keep it as they had enough at home too. So I ended up with enough rice to last months.
Then, my other brother returned a food container from when I'd given him some food to take home. After he left I went to put the container away and found he'd left me £20 in it. SubhanAllah. Last eid my older brother came to give me £100 again. I took £20 and told him it was enough and to please keep the rest. He was like :raging: lol. So I ended up with that too. On top of that my mom gave me £50. I did need the money but I knew she needed things as she was going away and I wanted to show Allah my gratefulness and earn His pleasure my spending on my mother. So when my benefits came, I spent as much money on buying her things for her trip. I knew she had enough of her own. But this would make her happy and I had faith that Allah would provide for me like He has so far.
SubhanAllah!!
This week alone my bro came twice to cook and my uncle whose kids I was baby-sitting, bought me two bags of meat, 2 trays of eggs, a big tub of margerine, a sack of rice (again) and my other bro a box of drinks. I never asked any of these people to bring anything. But it was Allah's mercy that He put it in their hearts to do all this.
When we put our trust in Allah with the
sincerest of hearts, He always answers in ways we can't imagine. I couldn't have imagined that I'd end up with so much food or money to help me ride over the tough times. It's been totally amazing. Help came when I could not foresee it happening and still is. My younger bro often comes to my place to cook (something we enjoy doing together) and bring the food his going to make. So, despite being penniless some days, I don't feel I'm lacking anything. Food is the most important thing we need and Allah provided it in abundance. Alhumdulillah! He rewarded me like I could never have imagined. And my sabr and trust stays strong in believing that soon He will make things easier for me as time goes on - as long as I continue to depend on Him ask of Him sincerely. Other than filling our fardhs, that's what we need to do.
Thank you so much O Allah
:statisfie
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