Shaykh Hamza's greatest lesson on Hardships

 

To sisters who have recently been divorced..........

 

To sisters who have recently been divorced/gotten a khula just wanted to share a reminder that the majority of the wives of the Prophet صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ save Aisha رضي الله عنه were PREVIOUSLY DIVORCED/WIDOWED.

Zaynab bint Khuzayma
Safiyya bint Huyayy
Zaynab bint Jahsh
Umm Habiba
Juwayriya bint al-Harith
(May Allah have mercy on them all)

Our society solely focuses on the act of marriage. Yes, Marriage is ibadah but DIVORCE WITH IHSAAN IS ALSO IBADAH.
If you got married but later found out that your marriage or your spouse produced fitnah, produced abuse and produced sins, then you are better off without each other.
You did what was right for you, for your children and for your eeman all within shariah and obedience to Allah.
Please don't expect the society or community or even loved ones to understand the decision you made through pain, through struggle, through sleepless nights and tears of blood. Please don't let others, their opinions and assumptions rob you of your peace of mind and healing.
My dear sister please don't be naive, people are going to talk about you and conclude their own stories about your divorce and why your marriage failed. People talk. Your job is NOT to correct their gossip or offer explanations.
RISE ABOVE.

You will lose friends.
You will lose family.
But Allah will replace with better people and better opportunities always.
❝And surely what comes after is better for you than that which has gone before.❞
{Surah Ad Duha 93: Verse 4}
Your focus should be on co-parenting in healthy way.
Your focus should be helping your children unlearn the unhealthy example of marriage they saw.
Your focus should be on building the new.
This is your new life. Accept it and move forward in faith and tawakkul. Divorce is not the end of the world, it's just a page in your book on your journey of life.
🤲 May Allah make things easy for you all, grant you healing and bless you with the best always - Allahumma ameen. 

Make divorce an option after exploring other alternatives fully:
1. Counselling/Therapy
2. Temporary Separation
3.  Prayers and learning what marriage is Islamically.
4. If possible a second chance and time frame to change behaviours, addictions and harmful patterns.
5. Counsel with wise people without any bias towards either of you.

From Ideal Muslimah

With Hardship There is Ease

GOD HAS NOT ABANDONED YOU NOR DOES THE CREATOR DESPISE YOU

A dear friend told me recently, “I mean no offense, but your life is so fraught with trials and tribulations that when things are bad I just think of how things are for you. And it makes me grateful that things in my life aren’t as bad.” I took no offense at all. Because, yes, I have suffered and suffer more pain, loss and hardship than you could possibly imagine. But my life is also filled with miraculous stories of God saving me even from the grip of death when I was certain I would die. That is because God says in His majestic book, the Qur’an:

‎(فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا)

“So for every hardship, there is relief. For every hardship, there is relief.”

[The Holy Qur’an, Surah al-Inshirah, 94:5]

It is one of the only sentences in the entire Qur’an repeated twice in a row. Because God wants that point to really hit home for you. When this verse was revealed, the Prophet Muhammad ‎ﷺ came out literally laughing out loud in glee proclaiming glad tidings to his Companions saying:

‎(لَنْ يَغْلِبَ عُسْرٌ يُسْرَيْنَ، لَنْ يَغْلِبَ عُسْرٌ يُسْرَيْنِ)

“A hardship can never overshadow its relief which is twice as great! A hardship can never overshadow its relief which is twice as great.”

The great 17th Century Hanafi jurist and theologian of Herat, Mulla Ali Qari, said about this:

‎(يكون العسر واحدا واليسر اثنين ، فالعسر ما كانوا عليه من متاعب الدنيا ومشاقها ، واليسر في الدنيا الفتح والنصرة على الأعداء ، وفي العقبى الفوز بالحسنى ولقاء الأحباء)

“Hardship here is solitary but the relief is double. Hardship is what one experiences in the troubles of this world and its tribulations. But relief, when it comes to the world, is victory and prevailing against adversaries, whereas, in the Hereafter it is a most beautiful success and reunion with loved ones.”

The Prophet’s ﷺ Companion, `Abdullah ibn Mas`ud, said about this verse of the Qur’an:

‎(لو دخل العسر في جُحْر، لجاء اليسر حتى يدخل عليه)

“If hardship were to enter a hole, its relief would go after it until it vanquished it.”

This is critical and hearkens back to an important grammatical nuance in the first verse from Surah al-Duha which I mentioned. People often understand it to mean “after difficulty comes relief”, but that’s actually an incomplete understanding of the verse. It says “WITH (مع) hardship is relief”.  It does not say “after hardship..” That is because it is God’s rule of the universe that every hardship’s relief is intrinsic and essential to the hardship itself.

Why is there this bond between such opposites? God has answered that in the Qur’an as well:

‎(يُرِيدُ اللَّهُ بِكُمُ الْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ الْعُسْرَ )

“God wants ease for you, He doesn’t want difficulty for you.”

[The Holy Qur’an, Surah al-Baqara, 2:185]

God will always save you and the relief will be double the intensity that the hardship was. And the hardships He puts you through aren’t always punishment. They are the fires with which your metal will be shaped to a strong form. It is what shapes you into a powerful believer with an unbreakable faith (“imān”).

God says:

‎(أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ * وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ الْكَاذِبِينَ)

“Do people really think that they’ll say ‘We have believed’ and they won’t be tested? Those before them were tested so that God can identify those who are true and those who are false.”

[The Holy Qur’an, Surah al-`Ankabut, 29:2-3]

Because in times of hardship is when you see people’s reality. Their true character will always surface in times of tribulation and efface any semblance of piety they had. But if they are true, they will hold strong. If they are false, they will give up and say “God hates me” or “God has abandoned me”. Neither should you feel that God has abandoned you or hates you. As He says in the Qur’an, in Surah al-Inshirah, which is actually the Chapter right before the one I started this commentary on:

‎(مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَ)

“Your Lord has not abandoned you, nor does He despise you.”

[The Holy Qur’an, Surah al-Duha, 94:5-6]

So, I took absolutely no offense to my friends comment. I was truly happy that my pain and hardship could inspire someone to be grateful for what they have. My pain, my trials, my hardships, and even my failures, they all are a part of me. They made me who I am today, and continue to make me who I will be. And in a small way they make me, and all of us in the hardships we face in life, among those whose greatness seldom do any reach:

‎(أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَن تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُم مَّثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِن قَبْلِكُم ۖ مَّسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّىٰ يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَىٰ نَصْرُ اللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ )

“Or do you really think that you will enter Paradise without such trials that afflicted those before you? They faced suffering and adversity and were shaken to the core until the Messenger and those who believed with him cried out: ‘Where is the help of God?’ Ah! But the help of God is ever near.”

[The Holy Qur’an, Surah al-Baqarah, 2:214]

God may let you fall off the cliff to where you’re hanging by your fingers. But when you think all is lost, He will be there to catch you. Even if He wills a time of peril and doom for you, as we all will face in our lives, even if it is time for your death, you have to understand that He is still saving you, and in that difficulty is some form of relief that is twice as great. And it is often in ways that you may not necessarily perceive or understand. Will you have enough faith to bear it with patience believing that God has a plan for ease in your life in both this world and the next? Whether you do or not is how your hardships define you and determine whether you are true or false.

Be strong. Have faith. Be true.

Ramadan Kareem

Source

'...you will see wonders, vast tribulations, and difficult times'

"O community of Muslims, roll up your sleeves, for the matter is momentous. Prepare for an imminent journey. Garner provision now as the journey is long. Lighten your loads, for before you is an ascent most steep! Only those traveling lightly shall bear its climb.

O humanity, before the Hour comes, you will see wonders, vast tribulations, and difficult times. Darkness will prevail, and foulness will take the forefront. Those who enjoin right will be oppressed, and those who condemn vice will be suppressed.

Hence, strengthen your faith for that time, and cling to faith as you would clench on for dear life.

Flee to righteous deeds, and force yourselves to perform them. Be patient during the difficult times, and you will eventually arrive to eternal bliss."

- A sermon from the mercy to all the worlds, the Prophet Muhammad

In Times Of Difficulty : Touching Story

"Verily, After Hardship Comes Ease"

Life gets so tough sometimes but this hadith and ayat makes you feel so much better- Hadith: “Remember that there is much good in bearing with patience that which you dislike, and that victory comes with patience, and that with hardship comes a way out and with difficulty comes ease.”(Narrated by Ahmad)

Allah (swt) says: For truly with hardship comes ease; truly with hardship comes ease. (Surat al-Inshirah: 5-6)

"...Bear with patience whatever befalls you...." (Qur'an 31:17) and "Be not sad, surely Allah is with us." (Qur'an 9:40)

Our Prophet (pbuh) said: "Verily, if Allah loves a people, He makes them go through trials. Whoever is satisfied, for him is contentment, and whoever is angry upon him is wrath." [Tirmidhi]

Being sad is not encouraged in Islam

"So do not become weak, nor be sad..." (Qur'an 3:139)
"And grieve not over them, and be not distressed because of what they plot." (Qur'an 16:127)



Sadness prevents one from action instead of compelling one towards it. The heart does not benefit through grief. The most beloved thing to the devil is to hinder the worshipper in the path of Allah. The Muslim must repel sadness and fight in any way that is permissible in Islam.

Allah is sufficient for us

"Allah is sufficient for us, and He is the best Disposer of affairs. So they returned with Grace and Bounty from Allah. No harm touched them; and they followed the good Pleasure of Allah. And Allah is the owner of Great Bounty." (Qur'an 3:173-174)

"And put your trust in Allah if you are believers indeed..." (Qur'an 5:23)
"O you who believe! Seek help in patience and the prayer..." (Qur'an 2:153)



By leaving your affairs to Allah by depending on Him, by trusting in His promise, by being pleased with His decree, by thinking favourably of Him, and by waiting patiently for His help, you reap some of the greater fruits of faith. When you incorporate these qualities, you will be at peace concerning the future, because you will depend on your Lord for everything. As a result, you will find care, help, protection and victory.

Pre-ordainment

"No calamity befalls on earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees – before We bring it into existence." (Qur'an 57:22)

The pen has dried, and the pages have been lifted: all events shall come to pass have already been written. Whatever has befallen you was not meant to escape you, and whatever has escaped you was not meant to befall you: if this belief were to be firmly ingrained in your heart, then all hardships and difficulty would become ease and comfort.

The Prophet (pbuh) said, "Whoever Allah wishes good for, He inflicts him (with hardship)." [Bukhari]

For those who are afflicted with disaster, glad tidings await them: so remain patient and happy with your Lord. "He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned." (Qur'an 21:23)

Verily, with hardship, there is relief

"Verily, with hardship there is relief" (Qur'an 94:6)
"Perhaps Allah may bring victory or a decision according to His Will." (Qur'an 5:52)

Prophet Ibrahim ('alayhissalam) did not feel its heat because of the help he received from Allah. "We (Allah) said : O' fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibrahim." (Qur'an 21:69)

The sea would not drown Prophet Moses ('alayhissalaam) because he uttered in confident, strong and truthful manner: "Nay verily! With me is my Lord, He will guide me." (Qur'an 26:62)

And the Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said to 'Abdullah bin 'Abbas (radiyallahu 'anhu): "..Be mindful of Allah, you will find Him before you. Get to know Allah in prosperity and He will know you in adversity... And know that victory comes with patience, relief with affliction, and ease with hardship." [Tirmidhi]

Accept life as it is

If you read the Qur'an you will see that all the Prophets went through trials and tribulations. Life is a test so let us learn from the best examples of our Prophets. "Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty, ailments and were shaken." (Qur'an 2:214)



We should know that if we are pleased with our Lord, He will be pleased with us. And if you are pleased with your Lord no matter what the situation is, then you will find that you have earned your Lord's pleasure. On the other hand, there are hypocrites whom Allah rejects their deeds. They are displeased with what Allah sends down and they hate seeking His pleasure; thus their deeds are performed in vain.


Your recompense is with Allah

When Allah, the Exalted takes something away from you, He compensates it with something better, but only if you are patient and seek His reward.

Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "Whoever loses a loved one from the people of this world and then seeks recompense with his Lord, will be compensated with Paradise."

Those who are in this world and are close to Allah will be raised in the highest of heaven: "Peace be upon you, because you peresevered in patience! Excellent indeed is the final home!" (Qur'an 13:24)

Truly, the life of this world is short and its treasures are few. O' afflicted ones, if you are patient you lose nothing; and though you may not perceive it, you are profiting.
Extract honey but do not break the hive

"Repel (the evil) with one which is better, then verily! He, between whom and you there was enmity (will become) as though he was a close friend." (Qur'an 41:34)

"….and harm them not. And put your trust in Allah." (Qur'an 33:48)

Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alayhi wa sallam) said, "Verily, Allah ordered me to keep relations with those that cut off, forgive the ones who does an injustice with me, and to give to those who withhold from me."

"Those who repress anger, and who pardon men; verily, Allah loves the good-doers." (Qur'an 3-134)



Remembrance of Allah

"Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." (Qur'an 13:28)
"Therefore remember Me and I will remember you…" (Qur'an 2:152)

We should not be surprised when we hear that people who remember Allah are at peace. What is truly surprising is how the negligent and unmindful survive without remembering Him. Allah says in the Qur'an, "They are dead, lifeless and they know not when they will be raised up." (Qur'an 16: 21)

Truly, He is near when supplicated: He hears when he is called and He answers when He is invoked, so humble yourself before Him and ask of Him sincerely. Repeat His beautiful names, and mention Him alone as worthy of worship. Mention His praises, supplicate to Him: you will find then – by the will of Allah – happiness, peace and illumination. “So Allah gave them the reward of this world and the excellent reward of the Hereafter.” (Qur’an 3:148)



Loving Allah, knowing Him, remembering Him, seeking peace in Him, singling Him out for complete love, fear, hope and dependence – these qualities when combined in a person, constitute a sort of heaven on earth.

These are qualities that bring peace to those who love Allah, a sort of peace that has no comparison in this world.It is important that a special relationship exists in the heart between the slave and his Lord, a relationship that allows the slave to feel so close to his Lord that he requires no other.

Thus, he finds company when he is alone, and he tastes the sweetness of remembering Him and supplicating to Him. Allah's slave will continually face hardship and difficulty until he dies, but if he has a special relationship with his Lord, all of the hardships of life will become easy for him.

The prayer….the prayer – we must return to our mosques

"O' you who believe! Seek help in patience and the Prayer." (Qur'an 2:153)

By earnestly performing the five daily prayers, we achieve the greatest of blessings: cleared off our sins and increase in rank with our Lord. Prayer is a potent remedy for our sickness, for it instills our faith in our souls.

As for those that keep away from the mosque and away from prayer, for them is unhappiness, wretchedness and an embittered life.

"For them is destruction and Allah will make their deeds vain." (Qur'an 47:8)

Take a moment to reflect

O whose mind has wandered in grief, O' you whose eyes are loaded with tears; relax and know that your Creator aids, and that His mercy will bring you peace. And know that your reward is secure with He Who doesn’t disappoint the one who seeks to please Him. Be at peace, for after poverty comes joyous meeting, and after sleeplessness comes sound rest. O you who are oppressed in the lands, who suffer from hunger, pain, sickness and poverty, rejoice in the knowledge that you will soon be satisfied with food and that you will be happy and in good health.

Let us make these supplications, their purpose being to eliminate hardship, anxiety and grief:

"There is no worthy of worship except Allah, the Ever Forbearing, the Most Great. There is none worthy of worship except Allah, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne. There is none worthy of worship One Who sustains and protects all that exists, there is none worthy of worship except You, and by Your Mercy do we seek Your aid."

"So be patient, with a good patience..." (Qur'an 70:5)

Source

Hadith of the Day: Teach and Make Things Easy

 

 

The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: "God did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy." Sahih Muslim