Dealing With Trials

By: Beenish Khurshid, Montreal Quebec

There are times in our life that we are put in a position where our basic needs are not being met, where we are suffering, and in physical pain. There are times when we don't see any hope for those needs being met, and we don't see a way out of the pain and suffering.

Maybe you have had experience with this, having lost a job and finding no means to make ends meet. Maybe you are seriously ill and are finding no clear path to treatment. Or maybe you find yourself longing for a life partner, with no means of finding one. These are some very trying challenges.

These times remind me of this verse:

"There the believers were tested and shaken with a severe shaking." (33:11)

The context of this verse is the Battle of the Trench - a battle in which the Muslims dug a trench around Madinah as a defense, and were laid siege upon. Facing hunger as well as treachery and armed conflict, with no clear path to ease.

"O you who have believed, remember the favor of Allah upon you when armies came to [attack] you and We sent upon them a wind and armies [of angels] you did not see. And ever is Allah, of what you do, Seeing. [Remember] when they came at you from above you and from below you, and when eyes shifted [in fear], and hearts reached the throats and you assumed about Allah [various] assumptions." (33:9-10)

The Muslims were put in a position of extreme fear and uncertainty, so much so that their hearts felt like they were reaching their throats. Have you ever felt this kind of fear in a situation? We often start having doubts about Allah (SWT) in situations like these. Is He here? Why is He putting me through this? Is He listening to my duas? Does this mean God doesn't love me? Is this a punishment for something I did? And so on. The voices become so pervasive in our heads that we don't even hear the many more and the questions become statements.So how does one cope with such trying times?

There is no easy way. But there are a few tips we can take from the Qur'an and Sunnah to help us approach these trials with the right mindset, and to put our hearts at ease.

BELIEF IN DESTINY:

(Good and Bad both Come from Allah)

"No disaster strikes upon the earth or among yourselves except that it is in a register before We bring it into being -indeed that, for Allah, is easy - In order that you not despair over what has eluded you and not exult [in pride] over what He has given you. And Allah does not like everyone self-deluded and boastful - " (57:22-23)

GOD IS ALL-POWERFUL

"If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely." (3:160)

GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS

"And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided." (2:186)

LIFE IS A TEST:

"Do the people think that they will be left to say, "We believe" and they will not be tried?" (29:2)

ISLAM IS AN UMMAH:

"The believing men and believing women are allies of one another. They enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong and establish prayer and give Zakah and obey Allah and His Messenger. Those - Allah will have mercy upon them. Indeed, Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise." (9:71)

PATIENCE & PRAYER:

"And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]" (2:45)

HOPE & TRUST:

"And rely upon Allah; and sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs." (33:3)

BELIEF IN THE HEREAFTER:

"Say, "O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth of Allah is spacious. Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account."(39:10)

In short, the whole Qur'an is a manual, a guide on how to face and overcome trials in this dunya. When trials come, recognize it is inevitable, and it is the nature of life. Reach out for help from your brothers and sisters in Islam - it is their responsibility to help you. But also know that Allah is the best of helpers at the end of the day. Recognize that no matter what, God is with you, right here, right now. It might get harder from here, but if there is anyone who can help you get through it, it is God. Just put your trust in Him.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash