The above discussions will hopefully help one understand the Islamic philosophy behind trials and tribulations and prepare his or her heart for tests. Below, we describe some practical guidelines, drawn from the Qur'an and the Sunnah, about dealing with trials.
Seek Refuge From Trials: One should not solicit trials from Allaah. No matter how pious one might be, he or she should not be proud of having unshakable faith but always remain humble and ask Allaah to guide him and to keep him on the right path. Indeed, if it was not for the mercy and guidance of Allaah, he could not have remained a believer and a practicing Muslim. Therefore, he should often ask for forgiveness from Allaah for sins and mistakes committed so that He does not take him to task for those mistakes. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam), the most pious and faithful of all believers (and of all human beings) made the following supplication frequently:
"0 Allaah, seek refuge in You from the punishment of the grave; I seek refuge in You from the trial of Dajjaal (the Antichrist); I seek refuge in You from the trial of life and the trial of death; 0 Allaah, I seek refuge in You from sin and debt." (Muslim)
Charity: Giving sadaqah (charity) often can prevent calamity for a believer. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Give the sadaqa without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity." (Tirmidhi)
Be Ready For Trials: While a believer should seek refuge in Allaah from trials, he should, at the same time, be always ready for trials. His supplications for forgiveness might save him from some trials, but there will still be trials that he will face for sure. Therefore, a believer should always be mentally prepared for afflictions and calamities so that he can pass the tests with success with the aid of Allah.
Always Have Focus on the Hereafter: If one is afflicted with a calamity, he should remember that our life is short and our ultimate destination is the Hereafter. Therefore, he should remain patient, ask Allaah for help, and remember that he will be meeting Him soon. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"If any Muslim who suffers some calamity says that which Allaah has commanded him: " We belong to Allaah and to Him shall we return': 0Allaah, reward me for my affiliation and give me something better in exchange for it", Allaah will give him something better than it in exchange." (Muslim)
When a believer always keeps the Hereafter in focus, he remains calm and in control at whatever calamity he faces. For him, dunya (this world) is not the end of everything, and thus he does not breakdown but stays calm and deals with all crisis with faith and trust in Allaah.
Be Patient at the First Stroke: The mettle of a person is proven when he remains calm and in control even at a sudden and unforeseen calamity or difficulty. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"Patience is only at the first (stroke) of grief." (Bukhari and Muslim)
When Calamity Befalls, Remember That It Is a Test:
Any affliction that a believer suffers is a test from Allaah. If he does not recognize the test, then he may feel despair and thus fail the test.
Ask Allaah For Forgiveness:
When calamity strikes a believer, he should take all steps necessary to remedy the situation. Having faith and trust in Allaah never means inaction or complacency with difficulties. This has been made quite clear in both theQur'an and the examples of the Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sol/am).
From a spiritual perspective, the very first thing that the believer should do is turn to Allaah for "forgiveness. One of the most beautiful and effective supplications that he can make is the supplication made by Prophet Yunus (alayhi salaam):
"There is no deity worthy of worship but You! Glory be to You! I have done wrong." (Q21 [Anbiya1:87)
This short supplication has three important components. First, Yunus recognized that there is no other authority or power worthy of worship except Allaah. Besides Him, he can turn to no one for help - no king, no judge, and no personal attorney. If there is anyone who is capable of forgiveness and help, that is only Allaah, the Supreme Authority of the entire universe.
Second, he declared that Allaah is above all blames and shortcomings. Allaah is not to be blamed for his situations, for He never commits a wrong against anyone. He is above and beyond all faults and shortcomings. Lastly, he admitted that he has committed a mistake. This admittance and recognition of one's own fault is perhaps the most important element in seeking forgiveness.
For Yunus, this admission did not merely come out from his lips but also from the bottom of his heart. This short supplication was so heavy in weight that Allaah turned to him in forgiveness and delivered him. Sincere admittance of mistakes and repentance, thus, is a necessary condition for supplications to be heard. Allaah is indeed the Most Merciful and He is quick to forgive His slaves.
Ask for Help With Patience and Salat:
After faith and trust in Allaah, the most important quality that a believer needs during calamity and affliction is patience. Patience is such a virtue that it is frequently mentioned both in the Qur'an and the hadith. Indeed, the Prophet (sa/allahu alayhi wa sallam) said that it is the best gift that one can receive from Allaah:
"No one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive than patience."(Bukhari and Muslim)
In many places in the Qur'an, Allaah asks the believer to seek His help with patience and salat, such as:
"0 you who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer: for Allaah is with those who patiently persevere." (Q2[Baqarah]: 153)
One of the best times to offer salaat is late night before the time for fajr starts. Called the tahajjud prayer, there are many excellences for this prayer: The believer should try to make as much tahajjud prayer as possible and ask Allaah for help and forgiveness, as this is one of the best times to make prayers and supplications.
Avoid the Two Pitfalls:
"Verily, man (disbeliever) was created very impatient; irritable (discontented) when evil touches him; and niggardly when good" touches him." (Q70[Ma'arij]:19- 21)
There are two categories of people that a righteous believer should not slip into.
The first kinds are those who desperately seek Allaah's help and forgiveness when in calamity or peril. Then when Allaah delivers them from their calamity, they forget Allaah and go back to their usual life of indifference to Allaah and the Hereafter. About these people, Allaah says:
"And when harm touches man, he invokes Us, lying down on his side, or sitting or standing. But when We have removed his harm from him, he passes on his way as if he had never invoked Us for a harm that touched him!" (Q IO[Yunus]: 12)
The second kind are those who worship Allaah and follow his commandments so long as they enjoy a comfortable or trouble free life. Then when calamities strike them, they break down and become indifferent to Allaah and his commandments out of anger and frustration. It is, as if, they deserve a comfortable life in return for their worshipping of Allaah. About them, says Allaah:
“And among mankind is he who worships Allah as it were, upon the very edge (i.e. in doubt); if good befalls him, he is content therewith; but if a trial befalls him, he turns back on his face (i.e. reverts back to disbelief after embracing Islam). He loses both this world and the Hereafter. That is the evident loss." (Q22[Hajj]:I I)
Falling into one these two categories is an utter failure. A true believer is one who always worships Allaah - whether in calamity or in good fortune. When in calamity, he remains patient and pleased with Allaah, and when something good happens to him, he thanks Allaah, Thus he always earns rewards and Allaah's good pleasure while he lives in this world.
The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam) said:
"How wonderful is the case of a believer! There is good for him in everything, and this is not the case with anyone except a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allaah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him. he endures it patiently and that is better for him." (Muslim)
Keep in Mind the Eventual Success:
"Verily, with the hardship, there is relief (i.e. There is one hardship with two reliefs, so one hardship cannot overcome two reliefs)."
a source of great comfort for a believer to know that his or her afflictions will one day come to an end and there will be relief for him. Therefore, he should keep this eventuality in mind and go through his trial with patience, forbearance, and faith in Allaah. There will be a day - whether in this world or the Next - when he will come out victorious and successful for passing the test.
For a believer in affliction, that is the ultimate success that awaits him. Allaah says:
'And indeed the Hereafter is better for you than the present (life of this world)." (Q93[Duha]:4)
Show Kindness to Those Who are Afflicted:
If someone is afflicted with a calamity, other believers should often visit or call him or her and inquire about his (or her) welfare. One should never demoralize an afflicted believer by saying that Allaah is displeased with him or that he has committed some sin for which he is being punished. Instead, believers should tell him good words that will uplift his spirit. They should tell him about the fact that Allaah tests those whom He loves, and that it is the righteous believers who suffer the most in this life so that they can get Paradise in the Hereafter. The believers should sympathize with him and offer their help. The Prophet (salallahu alayhi wa sallam), out of his sympathy for the afflicted, said:
"If you were to sell fruits to your brother and these are stricken with calamity, it is not permissible for you to get anything from him." (Muslim)
Remember Past Trials and Benefit From Them:
A wise person always takes lessons from hardships and afflictions and tries to improve his or her situation. A believer who has come out of an affliction should be self-critical and objectively analyze the possible causes for his affliction, and make corrections accordingly. For example, if he has been involved in a serious road accident while driving and Allaah spared his life, then he should be more careful in driving, follow all traffic laws, and drive defensively. Or if he became seriously sick due to unhealthy eating habits and he recovered, then he should control his diet and do regulars exercise to stay fit and healthy. Most important improvements of all are amending one's character and conduct and turning to Allaah in obedience. There is also spiritual benefit in remembering the past trials as that will make the believer always remain conscious of the fact that life is short with all its vicissitudes and he will soon return to Allaah.
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited