to Him. I was completely awed by witnessing His Powers. Allahu Akbar! (Allah is the Greatest).
Allah the All-Knowing tests all His believers to see how true they are in their obedience to Him. We get tested only to the extent that we are able to bear, which is according to the level of our Iman (faith):
Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope… (Quran, 2:286).
Now the question arises: How should one really submit him/herself to Allah the Most Kind during any difficulty?
And seek help in patience and As-Salat (the prayer) and truly it is extremely heavy and hard except for Al-Khashi’un [i.e. the true believers in Allah – those who obey Allah with full submission, fear much from His Punishment, and believe in His Promise (Paradise, etc.) and in His Warnings (Hell, etc.)] (Quran, 2:45). In the course of any hardship, it is of utmost importance that one must seek help from Allah the Wise Alone and only look toward His Promise. One should sincerely submit him/ herself to Allah, Glory be to Him, by guarding his/her prayers, continuously asking for His forgiveness, being thankful for what one has, as well as remembering not to complain about why he/she is undergoing such an affliction. In one’s sincere submission to Him the heart then continuously cleanses and thus Iman increases. Hence, it becomes easier for one to develop and practice patience in any difficulty. Therefore, one continues to gain nearness to Allah the Majestic by sincerely obeying Him and remaining
patient throughout a hardship. Closeness to Allah the Protector helps one to become aware at all times that His best Promise in return of a hardship is nothing but Jannah (Paradise). So, His true believers then experience enjoyment in any difficulty since they are always able to crave Jannah with His closeness. Allah, the Most High, wants the best for us:
Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you (Quran, 2:185).
Even when things might seem difficult at first we will find that all along they were for the best. Such incidences, like the one that happened to me, help to increase our Iman as we witness His Powers. Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Messenger of Allah (pbuh) said, “A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak one, and both are good. Adhere to that which is beneficial for you. Keep asking Allah for help and do not refrain from it. (If you are afflicted in any way), do not say: ‘If I had taken this or that step, it would have resulted into such and such,’ but say only: ‘Allah so determined and did as He willed.’ The word ‘if’ opens the gates of satanic (thoughts).” (Muslim) Whatever happens, happens for the best. May Almighty Allah help us to remember Him in both easy and difficult times. Ameen.
Asna Khadija Ahmad is a third year undergraduate student at the University of Toronto (St. George campus) specializing in Life Sciences (Health and Disease).
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