Your destruction

[Alpha Dude]

There's an anecdote from the time of the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) time which I think is related to this issue of reliance:

One day Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it and he asked the Bedouin, "Why don't you tie down your camel?" The Bedouin answered, "I put my trust in Allah." The Prophet then said, "Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah" (At-Tirmidhi).
​

It makes clear that we have to use the means provided while at the same time having trust. We can't neglect either. They both have their place.

On this issue of reliance, to link it back to the original topic of the thread, sometimes a person has no other option but to rely on Allah completely (submit to the wisdom of Allah) or face complete and utter hopelessness, perhaps slipping into long term 'untreatable' depression and even suiciding. Like in the hypothetical case I described in the OP, such an extreme test which can only be handled by having utmost reliance that whatever has happened is indeed for the best. In such cases, there are no wordly means that can be utilised to solve the 'problem'. There simply has to be an element of total sumission.

 

[PouringRain]

Alpha Dude, thanks for your thorough reply.

I'm going on a bit of a tangent, but Islamically, every single little moment and every single situation we find ourselves in during our lives is to be seen a trial. Not just the major hardships one would go through. One of the most fundamental concepts in Islam is that this life is a test. Every single waking moment is part of this test.

I agree with this also. I call them learning experiences. Everything is life is a learning experience-- positive and negative-- and it is up to us to be open to what we can learn from it. I tell my kids that education does not stop when the school bell rings. It stops when you die.

It's not just hardships that trial us. We also have to watch what we do with the blessings we have been given. For example, we are gifted with time - how do we spend it? If we waste it doing something futile, we're failing the test. Likewise if we think of water. It's a great blessing Allah has given us. How do we use it? Do we conserve and use only as much as is necessary or do we take it for granted and abuse? Same can be said for wealth, health and countless other stuff. These are all 'trials' of some sort or another.

I agree. We call this being good stewards of your time, talent, and money, but it applies to more than just those three categories. Your example of water is one that would not fit within those categories, but to waste it would not be being a good steward over that which God has given.

Just so there's no ambiguity, I meant to say medicine in and of itself cannot cure a person. If Allah has destined for a person to be faced with a particular type of illness for however many years, no amount of medicine would be effective. However, this does not mean we neglect and 'resign' to fate/become fatalistic. We have been told to look for means to cure ourselves and medicine is just that, a permissible means.

I would agree. I believe that God gave us things for medicinal purposes, including our brains to be able to use them.

There's an anecdote from the time of the Prophet Muhammad's (peace be upon him) time which I think is related to this issue of reliance:

One day Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it and he asked the Bedouin, "Why don't you tie down your camel?" The Bedouin answered, "I put my trust in Allah." The Prophet then said, "Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah" (At-Tirmidhi).
​

It makes clear that we have to use the means provided while at the same time having trust. We can't neglect either. They both have their place.

I hope I have explained myself clear enough. Feel free to ask if anything doesn't make sense.

I like the camel anecdote. :thumbs_up I think things like that also go along with being a good steward over that which God has given us.

On this issue of reliance, to link it back to the original topic of the thread, sometimes a person has no other option but to rely on Allah completely (submit to the wisdom of Allah) or face complete and utter hopelessness, perhaps slipping into long term 'untreatable' depression and even suiciding. Like in the hypothetical case I described in the OP, such an extreme test which can only be handled by having utmost reliance that whatever has happened is indeed for the best. In such cases, there are no wordly means that can be utilised to solve the 'problem'. There simply has to be an element of total sumission.

I agree... and I will say from personal experience that it is not easy and can be quite scary. When God asks you to place your child in a den of wolves (figuratively) and walk away trusting God then it can be one of the most terrifying experiences in the world.

 

[Getoffmyback]

My friend is muslim and since alcohol is forbidden in islam So he will relate the accident with the punishment of god because he is breaking the rules? . Lets say if he was christian then his mentality will be different he is not sinning here So he wont say that god punished me it was only the alcohol . ?!

 

[aadil77]

My friend is muslim and since alcohol is forbidden in islam So he will relate the accident with the punishment of god because he is breaking the rules? . Lets say if he was christian then his mentality will be different he is not sinning here So he wont say that god punished me it was only the alcohol . ?!

If I was him I would relate it to anything wrong I may be doing, not just alcohol

 

[PouringRain]

My friend is muslim and since alcohol is forbidden in islam So he will relate the accident with the punishment of god because he is breaking the rules? . Lets say if he was christian then his mentality will be different he is not sinning here So he wont say that god punished me it was only the alcohol . ?!

I don't know that you can simply separate Muslims and Christians in that manner. Not all Christians drink, and even of those who do drink, you will hear is said that drunkenness is a sin. Christians are difficult to lump in one category... I suppose that is the biggest problem I am having with your logic. You will find Christians who also would say God caused it; and you will find Christians such as myself who would say that God did not directly cause it, but he allowed it as a natural consequence; and there will be some Christians who will say God had nothing to do with any of it.