In one of his articles, Dr. Bilal Philips (a famous Islamic scholar) narrates a story that involves tragedy, drama, and joy. The story is about an Egyptian teacher whose photograph appeared in a local newspaper. The picture showed his smiling and happy face with his hands stretched out and both thumbs sticking up; his father was kissing him on one cheek and his sister on the other cheek.
The newspaper narrated his story about working as a teacher in Bahrain. After a brief visit back home in Egypt, he was returning to join work and thus taking a flight from Cairo to Bahrain. However, at the airport he wasn’t allowed to get on the flight because he had one “stamp” missing on his Passport. This made the teacher distraught, thinking that his career was over because this flight was the last one back to Bahrain which would have enabled him to report back on time, missing which also meant that he would lose his job. He thus became quite frantic, but his endless crying, screaming, and explanations to the airport staff could not get him on the plane. His family comforted him to accept Allahs decree.
Disappointed, he returned home only to learn a few hours later that the flight he was meant to take (Gulf Air flight GF072) crashed killing everyone on board.
I’tikaf in the Mosque – Rules for Itikaf
While feeling sad for the passengers on board, he along with his family thanked Allah for His decree. The day he thought was the most tragic day of his career and life, ended up to be the happiest one averting a tragedy for him and his family.
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We are reminded of such signs in Surah al-Kahf, a surah that Muslims are instructed by the prophet to read every Friday. In it is the story of Prophet Musa (Moses) and Khidr. Khidr bore a hole in the boat of the people who took him and Musa across the river. This made Musa question (and object) to such an action as the owners of the boat were quiet poor and obviously weren’t happy to what was done to their boat. However, as it became apparent later, an oppressor King came down to the river and forcefully took away all the boats except the one with a hole in it. So the owners of the boat praised Allah due to the fact that there was a hole in their boat.
We learn from this story that in times of distress or when we desire something badly, we shouldn’t always assume what’s good for us and what’s not because Allah may have decreed a different outcome. As Allah says in the Quran (part of the verse):
“….and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you and that you like a thing which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know.” (Quran Al-Baqarah:216)
Human beings face a lot of problems and troubles nowadays. A human being is battling daily with sadness and worries which can lead to sadness and depression. Most of the time they are in the condition of stress, depression, and anxiety. Sometimes they experienced sadness, and do not know how to overcome it. They feel sadness and anxiety that they have no idea what it stems from. Islam guides Muslims or all human beings on how to overcome sadness and be thankful to Almighty Allah in every circumstance of life. We have the solution to this problem in the light of Quran and hadith, our religion has given every Muslim the easiest ways to overcome sadness.
Ways to Overcome Sadness
Below mentioned are some ways to overcome sadness in Islam:
One Should Understand Difficulty is a Test
Allah Almighty says in the Quran that He will surely test us, Whether through poverty, fear, and hunger. But Islam teaches us that remain thankful to Allah (SWT) in every matter to get His blessings and mercy. Allah (SWT) says in the Holy Quran: “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, who, when disaster strikes them, say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him, we will return.” Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.” (Quran 2:155-157)
One Should Be Positive in Every Situation
Whatever the situation is Muslims need to be positive and be thankful to Allah Almighty. Narrated by Ibn Jaz (RA): “I have not seen anyone who smiled more than the Messenger of Allah (SAW)” (Tirmidhi). We can say that we have to focus on the solution and not on the problems. You can find the number of solutions for a problem by using your Brain which is a super gift by Allah Almighty.
One Should Be Grateful for What They Have
If someone is facing problems and sad, he/she should believe in Allah Almighty and thanks to Him for the blessings that He (SWT) has given us. Allah (SWT) gives you more if you will be thankful to Him. As Allah Almighty stated in the Holy Quran: “So remember Me; I will remember you. And be grateful to Me and do not deny Me” (Quran 2:152). In another verse of the Holy Quran, our Lord proclaimed, “If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, my punishment is severe.’” (Quran 14:7)
One Should Find Consolation in the Quran and Salah (Prayer)
Almighty Allah describes that the Holy Quran has a healing effect on our heart and a mercy for the believers. The Prophet (SAW) would also refer to his prayer as a source of “comfort”. In the Holy Quran Almighty Allah stated that: “O mankind, there has to come to your instruction from your Lord and healing for what is in the breast[s] and guidance and mercy for the believers. Say, “In the bounty of Allah and in His mercy – in that let them rejoice; it is better than what they accumulate” (Quran 10:57-58). The Prophet (SAW) says: “O Bilal, make the call for prayer: give us comfort by it.” (Abu Dawood)
One Should See Goodness in Everything
“Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delighted, he thanks (Allah), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.”(Sahih Muslim)
So, by following the golden principles and teachings of Islam, we can overcome sadness. Make a habit to offer regular prayers and recite the Holy Quran daily to get the comfort and blessings of Allah Almighty.
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