Those Who Have Patience in the Face of Trials

Along with ‘luxuries and comforts’, the ‘trials and troubles’ are also the part of life. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ sometimes tests His bondmen by disease, sometimes by poverty, sometimes by relative’s death, sometimes by the fear of enemy, sometimes by any loss, sometimes by calamities, sometimes by modern-day evils etc. Path of Deen [Islam] and preaching of it is especially the way which may bring us trials and troubles at every step. These trials and troubles distinguish between the obedient and disobedient people as well as between the true lovers and the false claimers.

The pious bondmen and the blessed saints of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ faced great hardships and ordeals. Following are some examples:

٭ Despite the preaching of 950 years, majority of the people from the Ummah of Sayyiduna Nuh عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام did not have faith in him.

٭ Sayyiduna Ibraheem عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was put into fire due to rejecting the false deities and calling people towards the worshipping of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, the only worthy of worship.

٭ Sayyiduna Ayyub عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام was afflicted by the disease.

٭ Children and wealth of Sayyiduna Ayyub عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام were taken back.

٭ Migration of Sayyiduna Musa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام from Egypt.

٭ People’s act of causing trouble to Sayyiduna ‘Isa عَلَيْهِ السَّلَام.

٭ Many blessed Ambiya عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام were martyred.

٭ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم bled profusely in Taif.

٭ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم spent 3 consecutive years of boycott facing immense hardship in [the valley of] Shi’b Abi Talib [شِعْب اَبِی طَالِب].

٭ Migration from Makkah to Madinah.

٭ The large number of the trials and tribulations faced by the blessed companions and Ahl-e-Bayt Athaar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُم especially ‘the martyrs and the blessed captives of Karbala’ are the stories of the hardships experienced in the path of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ but despite all these trials and tribulations, their firm determination and perseverance did not waver in the least. These blessed personalities kept the truth exalted and showed great patience in the face of troubles. On blessed Friday, 10^th Muharram-ul-Haraam 61 AH, on the plains of Karbala, Sayyiduna Imam Husain رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ, the blessed grandson of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, and his noble companions were attacked from all sides with ‘swords, spears and arrows’; the blessed bodies of blessed young people and children were lying scattered on the plains of Karbala and the blessed heads of martyrs were placed on spears. When the sky witnessed the great patience of these blessed personalities in the face of the horrific brutality and violence, it rained blood which continued till seven days. Beneath every stone which was lifted from the soil in Bayt-ul-Muqaddas, there appeared fresh blood. (Dalaail-un-Nubuwwah, vol. 6, pp. 471; As-Sawa’iq-ul-Muharriqah, pp. 194)

Remember! Trials and troubles hit the people according to their piety level. The more adherences to Islam one has, the bigger the troubles he faces. Someone humbly said in the court of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم, ‘O Beloved Rasool (صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم)! Who have faced more troubles?’ The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said, ‘The blessed Prophets (عَلَيْهِمُ السَّلَام), thereafter, those who are better after them, thereafter, those who are better after them. A person is caused to trouble according to his piety level. If he is stricter upon his Deen [Islam], the severer is trial for him and if he is weaker upon his Deen [Islam], Allah Almighty tests him according to his piety level.’ (Ibn Majah, vol. 4, pp. 369, Raqm 4023)

Generally many people become impatient on the occasion of trials and tribulations. Even though having troubles refers to the sign of the ‘Divine blessings to us’ and the ‘Divine Will of doing goodness to us’. Moreover, if we show patience for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ, that trial will light up our faces on the Day of Judgement. Following are the three blessed sayings of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم:

1     Whoever Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ intends good for him, He puts him to test. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 4, Hadees 5645)

2     When Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ loves any of His servant or intends to make him His friend, He عَزَّوَجَلَّ puts him to numerous tests. (Attargheeb Wattarheeb, vol. 4, pp. 142, Hadees 5645)

2     Trouble will brighten the face of its bearer on the day when the faces will be dark. (Al-Mu’jam-ul-Awsat, vol. 3, pp. 290, Raqm 4622)

In the Glorious Quran, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has mentioned patience at more than 70 places and attributed most of the goodness and ranks to it and declared them to be the outcome of it. Following are 10 more narrations about the excellence of patience:

3     Patience is half of Iman [faith]. (Hilya-tul-Awliya, vol. 5, pp. 38, Hadees 6235)

4     Patience is a treasure from the treasures of Jannah. (Mawsu’ah Ibn Abid Dunya, vol. 4, pp. 24, Hadees 16)

5     Patience is the pillar of Iman. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 1, pp. 70, Hadees 39)

6     No one has been given anything better and more extensive than patience. (Al-Mustadrak, vol. 3, pp. 187, Hadees 3605)

7     Patience is the most superior act. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 7, pp. 122, Hadees 9710)

8     Patience is a treasure from the treasures of goodness. (Mawsu’ah Ibn Abid Dunya, vol. 4, pp. 24, Hadees 17)

9     Upon losing eyesight, the reward of having patience is Jannah. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 6, Hadees 5653)

10   Waiting for ease with patience is [an act of] worship. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 7, pp. 204, Hadees 10003)

11  One who has patience upon the intensity of Fitnah [turmoil] will attain the intercession of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم on the Day of Judgement. (Shu’ab-ul-Iman, vol. 7, pp. 124, Hadees 9721)

12   The most thankful person on the earth will be brought on the Day of Judgement. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will grant him the reward of thankfulness. Thereafter the most patient person on the earth will be brought, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will say, ‘Do you agree to this thing that you also get the reward given to the thankful person?’ He will humbly say, ‘Yes, my Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ!’ Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will say, ‘Not at all! You have showed thankfulness when I blessed you with blessing and you showed patience when you were put into trouble. I will bestow upon you twofold reward today.’ So, he will be blessed with twofold reward than the thankful people. (Tafseer Nayshapuri, part 1, Al-Baqarah, Taht-al-Ayah: 155, vol. 1, pp. 442)

It is my request to all the devotees of Rasool to have patience in the face of trials and troubles for the pleasure of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ. Expedite your efforts for keeping the status and standard of Islam high and elevated. We hope from the Mercy of the Merciful Rab عَزَّوَجَلَّ that He عَزَّوَجَلَّ will indeed illuminate our grave and Hereafter for the sake of the martyrs of Karbala.

اٰمِيۡن   بِجَاهِ   النَّبِيِّ  الۡاَمِيۡن   صَلَّى  اللّٰهُ  عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم