- 70 -
Some of them said:
عادني الهم واعتلج كل هم إلى فرج
"
Anxiety and worries visited me, but each worry turned into a relief (from Allaah Ta`aalaa)."
- 71 -
Ibn an-Najjaar narrates in Taareekh Baghdaad from the chain of Ahmad ibn al-Qaasim ar-Rayyaan al-Misri, who said: Ahmad ibn Is-haaq ibn Ibraaheem ibn Nubayt al-Ashja`e narrated to us in Egypt, saying: My father narrated to me from his father, from his grandfather who said: `Ali ibn Abi Taalib
رضي الله عنه said (in poetry):
إذا اشتملت على اليأس القلوب وضاق لما به الصدر الرحيب
وأوطنت المكاره واطمأنت وأرست في أماكنها الخطوب
ولم تر لإنكشاف الضر وجهاً ولا أغني بحيلته الأريب
أتاك على قنوط منك غوث يجيء به القريب المستجيب
وكل الحادثات إذا تناهت فموصول بها الفرج القريب
"
When the hearts fill with despair, and become constricted after their spaciousness;
And when the disliked matters take root and become firm and contented, and the troubles and misfortunes become anchored and take their place;
And you do not see any way for the removal of these harms, nor any cunning scheme to suffice you from them;
There comes to you, in your state of despondency, a help brought by the One Who is Most Near and Who answers the calls (of those who ask from Him).
All difficulties, upon reaching their conclusion, are followed up by a relief near at hand."
These verses of poetry have been narrated by Imaam ibn Abi-d Dunyaa without any chain of narrators leading up to Hadhrat `Ali
رضي الله عنه.
- 72 -
Abu-l `Abbaas Ahmad ibn Abi-l Qaasim ibn `Iyaal recited this poem to me, saying: the Faqeeh, Abu-l Qaasim `Abdur Rahmaan ibn Salaamah al-Qadhaa`ee recited this poem to me in a gathering in which he taught, saying: Imaam Maalik used to recite these two verses of poetry:
درّج الأيام تندرج وبيوت الهم لا تلج
رُبّ شيء عز مطلبه قرّبته ساعة الفرج
"
Let the days pass on their course, and do not enter into the houses of grief.
Many a sought-after thing is brought nigh by the hour of relief."
- 73 -
Hadhrat `Abdullaah ibn az-Zubayr al-Asadi recited the following poem:
لا أحسب الشر جاراً لا يفارقني ولا أحزّ على ما فاتني الودجا
وما نزلتُ من المكروه منزلة إلا وثقت بأن ألقى لها فرجا
"
I do not regard evil and misfortune as a neighbour that shall not depart from me, nor do I cut the jugular vein on account of what has passed me by.
Never have I descended into any difficulty except that I had firm conviction that I would meet up with a relief from it."
- 74 -
Muntajab ad-Deen Abu-l Futooh al-`Ajali recited this poem:
إذا ما رأيتَ فنون البلاء وعزّ المحيص لفرط الحرج
فلا تحظ إلا بصبر جميل فعند اصطبارك يأتي الفرج
"
When you witness a plethora of difficulties headed your way, and any way of escaping from harm becomes rare;
Do not react except with beautiful patience, for at the time of you patiently persevering shall come the relief."
- 75 -
Muhammad ibn `Abdillaah ibn `Abdil Hakam recited this poem:
إذا ضقتَ فاصبر يفرج الله ما ترى ألا رُبَّ ضيق في عواقبه سعه
"
When you are put into difficulty, have patience; Allaah will grant you relief from all that you see of hardships.
Take note! Many a difficulty has ease following closely in its wake."
- 76 -
Jahzhah recited this poem:
فلا تيأس وإن صحت عزيتهم على الدلج
فإن إلى غداة غد سيأتي الله بالفرج
"
So do not ever despair, even if the (difficulties) resolve to reach the darkest hour of the night, for indeed, by tomorrow morning Allaah will bring the relief."
- 77 -
Another poet recited this poem:
ويومٍ كأن المصطلين بحرّه وإن لم تكن نار وقوف على الجمر
صبرنا له حتى تجلّى وإنما تفرّج أيام الكريهة بالصبر
"
By a day which, it is as though those who warm themselves draw from its heat, though there may be no fire standing upon the coals.
We will have patience until it appears; indeed, the unpleasant days are only passed through with patience."
- 78 -
Another poet said:
إسترزق الله واطلب من خزائنه ولا تكونن مما ضقت في حرج
فأبعد الأمر يامولاي أقربه وأضيق الحال أدناه من الفرج
"
Seek sustenance from Allaah, and seek from His treasure troves, and do not be from those who become constricted due to difficulty;
For indeed, the furthest part of a difficulty is its closest part, O my master, and the most constrained of circumstances are the closest to relief."
- 79 -
As-Sam`aani narrates from his father, who said: I heard Sa`dullaah ibn Nasr al-Waa`izh saying: I was running from the Khaleefah due to something which had happened, and their pursuit of me became very intense, so one night, I saw in a dream that I was in a room and that I was writing something. A man came and stood in front of me, and he said: "Write down what I am about to dictate to you." And he then recited this poem:
إدفع بصبرك حادث الأيام وترجّ لطف الواحد العلّام
لا تيأسن وإن تضيق كربها ورماك ريب صروفها بسهام
فله تعالى بين ذلك فرجة تخفى على الأبصار والأوهام
كم من نجيّ بين أطراف القنا وفريسة سلمت من الضرغام
"
Through your patience, repel the difficulties of the days ahead, and place your hope in the Kindness of the One Who is Unique, All-Knowing.
Do not ever despair no matter how difficult things may become, and the doubts of the hardships of the times shoot you with their arrows; Allaah Ta`aalaa has prepared for you, out of all of that, a relief; one that is hidden to the eyes and the imaginations.
How many a person is saved despite being between the ends of the spears, and how many a prey escapes from the lion."
- 80 -
Ja`far ibn Shams al-Khaleefah recited this poem:
هي شدة يأتي الرخاء عقيبها وأسى يبشر بالسرور العاجل
وإذا نظرت فإن بؤساً زائلاً للمرء خير من نعيم زائل
"
It is a hardship that will be followed up by ease, and a sadness that gives the glad-tidings of a joy swiftly approaching.
When you look, (you will understand) that a hardship that will leave a person is better than a transient blessing."
