The believer is not one who performs the ordained religious duties superficially and avoids what is forbidden only, but he is one whose faith is absolute, with no objection whatsoever arising in his heart and no obsession dwelling in his soul. The more hardships he faces, the more his faith grows and the more his submission strengthens.
He could pray and not see a trace of an answer to his prayers, yet he does not change because he knows that he is owned by One who deals with him in whatever way He chooses. For if an objection was to arise in his heart, he then forsakes the role of the slave and takes on the role of a protester such as that of Iblees (the Devil).
A strong faith unveils itself in strong hardships.
A believer sees in Yahyaa, son of Zakariyyaa, a fine example. He was killed by a tyrant who confronted him, yet He (Glorified and Exalted), who made him a prophet, did not intervene nor defend him.
Similarly all the tyranny that befell the prophets and the believers was not held back from them. If one goes to think that Divinity cannot answer for them then one is an disbeliever. However if one believes that Divinity can answer for them but chooses not to, and that Allaah (Glorified and Exalted) can make the believers go hungry while disbelievers are full and inflict the believers with sickness and grant the disbelievers health, then one is only left with submission to the Owner even when tormented or scorched.
Ya'qoob cried for eighty years when Yoosuf, the son of Ya'qoob (peace be upon him) was gone, he never gave up; all he said when his other son was gone too is “May Allaah bring all of them back to me”.
Moosaa (peace be upon him) prayed against Fir'awn, who killed children and crucified magicians and cut their hands, for 40 years before he was answered.
In such submission the intensity of one’s strong faith is manifested not in mere bowings in prayer.
So many of those who glorify Allaah's Will were afflicted with tribulations and this did not increase them except in submission and pleasure with their Lord, and therein lies an explanation of the meaning of His words: "Allaah is pleased with them." (5:119 and elsewhere)
Al-Hasan al-Basri said: people are all the same in health and ease, but when hardship befalls them, true distinction is shown.
"Allaah has forgiven the Prophet, the Muhaajireen and the Ansaar who followed him in the time of hardship, after the hearts of a group of them had nearly deviated, but He accepted their repentance. Certainly, He is unto them full of kindness, Most Merciful." (9:117)
Mujaahid said: "This verse was revealed concerning the battle of Taabook. They left for that battle during a period of hardship. It was a year with little rain, intense heat and scarcity of supplies and water.''
Qataadah said: "They went to ash-Shaam during the year of the battle of Taabook at a time when the heat was intense. Allaah knew how hard things were, and they suffered great hardship. We were told that two men used to divide a date between themselves. Some of them would take turns in sucking on a date and drinking water, then give it to another man to suck on. Allaah forgave them and allowed them to come back from that battle.''
Ibn Jareer reported that 'Abdullaah bin 'Abbaas said that 'Umar bin al-Khattaab was reminded of the battle of hardship (Taabook) and 'Umar said: "We went with the Messenger of Allaah in the intense heat for Taabook. We camped at a place in which we were stricken so hard by thirst that we thought that our necks would be severed. One of us used to go out in search of water and did not return until he feared that his neck would be severed. One would slaughter his camel, squeeze its intestines and drink its content, placing whatever was left on his kidney."
(Tafseer Ibn Katheer; 2/378)
“Do not argue with your Lord on behalf of your soul, rather argue with your soul on behalf of your Lord.” - Dhul-Nun
"It is the very pursuit of happiness that thwarts happiness." - Victor Frankl
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