What Subdues Trials and Tribulations?

A Muslim may be challenged with tribulations with regards to the self, family or wealth. The stronger a Muslim’s faith in Allah is, the more one will control the self, be patient and await rewards from Allah from that hardship. A Muslim’s reward from Allah will be to the extent of one's patience and one's actions in hope for reward. The following addresses some of the aspects that may soften or lessen the pain of hardship or difficulty. 

The foundation of triumph over hardship is patience. Allah has said in the Qur’an: “Give glad tidings to those who are 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.” [2:155-157] 

Rasulullah (saws) also said with regards to patience: “Some people from the Ansar asked Allah's Apostle (to give them something) and he gave to everyone of them, who asked him, until all that he had was finished. When everything was finished and he had spent all that was in his hand, he said to them, '"(Know) that if I have any wealth, I will not withhold it from you (to keep for somebody else); And (know) that he who refrains from begging others (or doing prohibited deeds), Allah will make him contented and not in need of others; and he who remains patient, Allah will bestow patience upon him, and he who is satisfied with what he has, Allah will make him self-sufficient. And there is no gift better and vast (you may be given) than patience.” [Sahih Bukhari: Volume 8, Book 76, Number 477/ Narrated Abu Said] 

In times of difficulties the Muslim must remind the self that in reality he/she, one's family and one's wealth belong ONLY to Allah. The slave is merely borrowing these from Allah. When Allah takes it back, the situation is comparable to the owner taking back one's property from the one who borrowed it from him. The Muslim must also recall that our journey as servants of Allah is to depart from this world, and to remember that we are simply returning to Allah, our Lord and guardian in truth.

The Muslim must likewise accept and sincerely hold in certainty that what afflicted him was not going to miss him and what misses him was not going to afflict him. In that process, the Muslim should consider the tribulation one is suffering, and realize that his Lord has left him something similar to what one has lost in store for him. And, if one is patient and pleased with Allah’s decree, something that is far greater and superior to anything that one has lost awaits him. One should also realize that If Allah had willed to make the trial much worse, He could have effortlessly done so. 

Bliss in this world is really only an oasis. If one laughs a little,one will cry plenty. If one is delighted for a day, one will be sorrowful for a long period of time. If a Muslim enjoys himself a little, he will find an unending period when he is prevented from such relation. No place is filled with excellence except that it is also filled with lessons that one must digest and learn from. A day of blissfulness comes to a Muslim and hidden with it is a day of harm. 

The reward for patience, submission and recognizing that we all belong to Allah and are returning to him is greater than the affliction itself. 

The Muslim can dampen the fire of affliction by looking to the example of the people that surround him who suffer afflictions. One will then realize that everyone faces some kind of adversity. If one examined the entire world, one will find that everyone is facing a trial. Either someone has lost a loved one or is facing something resented by him. If one looks to the right, one will see that people are facing trials. If one peeks to the left, one will find people in tragedy and loss. 

Being impatient and distressed does not deflect the tribulation. It makes it worse. In reality, it is a type of increase in the disease. It only displeases Allah, makes one's enemy rejoice, harms one's friend, pleases the shaytan, erases one's reward and weakens one's soul. If the Muslim is patient and awaits one's reward from Allah, the shaytan will be defeated and censured in despair. Allah will be pleased with him. He will relieve others of their worry and burden. Offering others condolences before others offer him condolences is one way to remain patient and consistent in the worship of Allah in times of difficulties. That is what should be done and not striking of the cheek, tearing of the clothes, screams of pain and anguish and anger with what has been decreed. 

The bitterness of this world is in fact the sweetness of the Hereafter. Similarly, the sweetness of this world is in fact the bitterness of the next world. The Muslim is really only moving from the temporary bitterness of this life to the eternal sweetness of the life after death that is much better for him. Rasulullah (saws) has said “Paradise has been surrounded by hardship while the Fire has been surrounded by desires.” [Sahih Muslim]