A Personal Reflection: The Dua That Changed How I See Hardship

[abu-khalid]

As-salamu alaykum everyone,

I hope you are all in the best of health and Iman.
I was reflecting recently on the story of Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) and the powerful dua he made from the belly of the whale:
"La ilaha illa anta subhanaka inni kuntu minaz-zalimin."

(There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.)
For a long time, I saw this as a beautiful dua for forgiveness. But the more I think about it, the more I realize it's also a profound lesson in taking responsibility. In his darkest moment, Prophet Yunus (as) didn't blame the circumstances or the people; he turned to Allah and first acknowledged his own shortcomings.

This completely changed how I approach my own challenges. Instead of asking "Why is this happening to me?", this dua reminds me to first ask, "O Allah, what is the weakness in me that this trial is meant to purify?"
It's a subtle shift, but it has brought so much peace and clarity to my heart.
I wanted to share this reflection with you all and would love to hear your thoughts.

How do you personally connect with this powerful dua?
Has it ever helped you reframe a difficult situation in your life?

Jazakum Allahu Khayran.

 

[Eric H]

In his darkest moment, Prophet Yunus (as) didn't blame the circumstances or the people; he turned to Allah

Peace be with you, and welcome to the forum. Like you, I find peace in profound circumstances.

In 2011, I had tests done for cancer, about a month later the doctor phoned and said he urgently wanted to see me, it was non – Hodgkin Lymphoma. This was a name I recognised, our friend had this cancer, and died about a year later.

A few minutes after putting the phone down; I prayed for the wisdom, strength and peace to do God’s will, whether the cancer was a death sentence, or just an inconvenience. I can only say that from the moment of making this prayer, I experienced a profound sense of peace that is beyond my understanding, and the thought of cancer has never troubled me for a moment. I only made this prayer once, then my prayer changed to thanks for another day of peace.

Cancer might be a worrying process, you wait for appointments, you wait for the results, and you wait for more appointments. I have never once prayed for healing, at the age of 62, the prayer for healing seemed too complicated, it might or might not be my time to go. Recognising this profound sense of peace comes from God, gives me reason to be thankful.

On reflection, I sense that the peace I experienced possibly helped the cancer to heal. I have heard that worry and stress can exacerbate medical problems.

I could not imagine this sense of peace without a faith and trust in God. I can only say, I find talking about cancer less stressful, than going shopping with my wife! We have only been married forty years!!

 

[abu-khalid]

Peace be with you, and welcome to the forum. Like you, I find peace in profound circumstances.

In 2011, I had tests done for cancer, about a month later the doctor phoned and said he urgently wanted to see me, it was non – Hodgkin Lymphoma. This was a name I recognised, our friend had this cancer, and died about a year later.

A few minutes after putting the phone down; I prayed for the wisdom, strength and peace to do God’s will, whether the cancer was a death sentence, or just an inconvenience. I can only say that from the moment of making this prayer, I experienced a profound sense of peace that is beyond my understanding, and the thought of cancer has never troubled me for a moment. I only made this prayer once, then my prayer changed to thanks for another day of peace.

Cancer might be a worrying process, you wait for appointments, you wait for the results, and you wait for more appointments. I have never once prayed for healing, at the age of 62, the prayer for healing seemed too complicated, it might or might not be my time to go. Recognising this profound sense of peace comes from God, gives me reason to be thankful.

On reflection, I sense that the peace I experienced possibly helped the cancer to heal. I have heard that worry and stress can exacerbate medical problems.

I could not imagine this sense of peace without a faith and trust in God. I can only say, I find talking about cancer less stressful, than going shopping with my wife! We have only been married forty years!!

Wa alaykum as-salam Eric,

Thank you so much for your incredibly moving and powerful story. I am truly humbled that you chose to share something so personal in response to my reflection.

Your perspective on prayer is profound. To pray not for a specific outcome, but for the "wisdom, strength, and peace to do God’s will" is a level of faith and trust that is truly inspiring. The peace you described, a peace that transcends understanding, is the greatest testament to that faith.

Your final sentence made me smile! It’s a beautiful reminder that even in the most serious of life's trials, a little humor and perspective go a long way.

Thank you again for welcoming me and for adding such a beautiful dimension to this discussion. May God continue to grant you overwhelming peace and strength.