Assalaamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh

I pray that this message finds you all to be in the best of health and highest of spirits.

During times of trial, despair, and sadness, Muslims seek comfort and guidance in the words of Allah in the Qur’an. Allah reminds us that all people will be tried and tested in life, and calls upon Muslims to bear these trials with “patience, perseverance and prayer.” Indeed, Allah reminds us that many people before us have suffered and had their faith tested; so too will we be tried and tested in this life.

This email is a reminder to everyone to ensure that we revise our intentions and ensure that we feel like we are worshipping Allah Almighty with every task performed and completed. Failure to earn rewards and build our paradise doing this is a failure in both this world and the next. It is important to have patience whilst working on dawah projects, we will face trials and go through difficult times whilst completing projects, in our daily lives, however we must ensure we are patient throughout thus earn the pleasure of Allah.

There are many verses that remind us to be patient and have trust in Allah during these times of trial. Among them:

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

“O you who have believed, seek help through patience and prayer. Indeed, Allah is with the patient.” (2:153)

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the 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)

“O you who have believed, persevere and endure and remain stationed and fear Allah that you may be successful.” (3:200)

“And be patient, [O Muhammad], and your patience is not but through Allah.” (11:115)

“Be patient, for your patience is with the help of Allah.” (16:127)

“So be patient, [O Muhammad]. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth. And ask forgiveness for your sin and exalt [Allah] with praise of your Lord in the evening and the morning.” (40:55)

“But none is granted it except those who are patient, and none is granted it except one having a great portion [of good].” (41:35)

“Indeed, mankind is in loss. Except for those who have believed and done righteous deeds and advised each other to truth and advised each other to patience.” (103:2-3)

The sunnah as well is filled with pertinent advice about the topic to hand, and for purposes of this email, I would like to draw your attention to just one narration- as it not only teaches us the importance of patience, but also how a believer is always in a win-win situation!

Suhayb (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” [Muslim]

Laa ilaaha illallah! and Alhamdulillah for Islam…

Also, ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Allah has not bestowed any blessing upon His slaves then taken it away and replaced it with patience, but what He has compensated them with is better than what He has taken away.

And Sufyan Ath-Thawri (rahimahullah) said: “Be patient at all times and in all places, for patience leads to righteousness, and righteousness leads to Paradise. Do not become angry and furious, for those two emotions lead to wickedness, and wickedness leads to the Hellfire.”

As Muslims, we should not let our emotions get the better of us. It is certainly difficult for a person to look at the tragedies of the world today and not feel helpless and sad. But believers are called to put their trust in their Lord, and not to fall into despair or hopelessness. We must continue to do what Allah has called us to do: put our trust in Him, perform good deeds, be patient, and stand as witnesses for justice and truth.

May Allah Almighty make us among those who are patient and place our efforts on our scales of good deeds in the hereafter. Ameen.

I love you all for the sake of Allah.

And Allah knows best.

Wasalaamu’alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakaatuh
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Sajid Umar
Director of Islamic Development
Mercy Mission World
www.mercymissionworld.org
2011 – Let’s talk MERCY MISSION!