In the name of Allah, the Most-Merciful, the All-Compassionate

 

"May the Peace and Blessings of Allah be Upon You"

 

Bismillah Walhamdulillah Was Salaatu Was Salaam 'ala Rasulillah

                       As-Salaam Alaykum Wa-Rahmatullahi Wa-Barakaatuh

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1) Life changes, but the purpose shall remain the same!

In this life, we face many changes. These changes normally affect our routine daily activities. It might also happen that certain changes are quite huge that they impose more radical changes in our lives. This is normal in life, as this life consists of different periods and in each period, you would do certain things quite differently. To life your life in one way only, this is impossible. But instead, you need to be prepared physically and mentally to always accept changes.
But this is not everything, as all what was said above is just a normal introduction. What comes next is the key for everyone. It is true that life brings changes and many changes, but we should have our priorities! Our priorities should be already set! And of course the highest priority is to worship the Almighty Allah. We have to live our life for Allah and only for Him. No matter what changes we face, we shall keep this target as our main target. If we go through certain changes, we should not make these things as excuses to do less for Allah Almighty! Instead, we have to analyze the situation that we are in and we should make out most of it! Yes, instead of letting depression or laziness get into our minds, we should instead turn the things into our favour!
So, basically, with every new change in your life, you will find new doors for good deeds and you have to use them. Also, you may be able to keep the old doors open, and you can now add new more doors. In this way, you make most of the opportunities that you get!! And this is the reason for living, to worship the Almighty Allah and we can do it by adding more and more to our basket of good deeds!

On the other hand, there are also certain good deed doors which you should never compromise! The main ones are the prayers and the Noble Quran. No matter what happens, never pray less and never keep the Noble Quran away! These should never be compromised! Also, try to keep certain doors for Dawah open as the rewards could be higher than what we think of!

This small piece of writing is mainly intended for those who go through changes in life. For example, a person is leaving school and going to the college, a person starting to work, a person getting married, a person losing someone from his family, a person who got seriously sick, etc!

I knew Dr. Bilal Philips and the way this person turned everything to his favour was simply amazing. He lived in Saudi and he made such huge efforts that are till today affecting many people! He had to go through a change, so he had to leave Saudi and his destiny was UAE. He made again many great efforts, he established the first ever Islamic Studies Major in English in Preston University in Ajman. He also started the Islamic Information Centre in Dubai and many other activities. He was again forced to leave and this time he had to go to Qatar. I remember very well that we were disappointed for him leaving, but he told us that this is a test from God and he was as strong as ever. Anyway, in Qatar, he also started so many Dawah activities from the first day he set his feet in Qatar.

This is how a true Muslim be! He should continue doing the best despite the changes because for him, his purpose in this life is not this life, but the Hereafter! This life is nothing but a ticket for the Hereafter!

Do men imagine that they will be left (at ease) because they say, We believe, and will not be tested with affliction?
Lo! We tested those who were before you. Thus Allah knoweth those who are sincere, and knoweth those who feign.
(The Noble Quran 29:2-3)

2) How Do You Face Good and Bad Times?

 

The more one ponders over the apparent and hidden favours from Allaah The Almighty upon him, the more he will realise that his Lord has granted him abundant blessings and protected him from a number of evils; this will certainly remove grief and anxiety and bring happiness and contentment. Thus, take heed of the advice of the Prophet when he said: “Look to those who are lower than you (i.e., those who possess less than you) and do not look to those higher than you; this will make you appreciate the bounties of Allaah upon you.” [Al-Bukhaari and Muslim]

Such people get the support and assistance of Allaah The Almighty which makes fear vanish, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {“Be patient. Surely, Allaah is with those who are the patient.”} [Quran, 8: 46]

The virtuous and the sinful, and the believer and the disbeliever are the same when it comes to conditioning oneself to becoming brave, which is the natural ability to calm oneself during moments of terror. Due to the believer's strong faith, perseverance and reliance on Allaah The Almighty, he emerges stronger than others in difficult situations and this reduces his fear and anxiety and ultimately makes matters easy for him. As Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {“And don't be weak in the pursuit of the enemy; if you are suffering (hardships) then surely, they (too) are suffering (hardships) as you are suffering, but you have a hope from Allaah (for the reward, i.e. Paradise) that for which they hope not}.” [Quran, 4: 104]

However, the one who is devoid of strong faith will be the opposite; he becomes anxious, nervous, confused and full of fear; indeed his anxiety and paranoia team up against him. If this type of person does not possess the worldly means to tackle his fear and affliction, then he will collapse because he does not possess the faith which would enable him to persevere during tough times.

Another example of this is when certain frightening or disturbing events occur, such as emergencies or accidents. One finds that a person with sound faith is calm, steadfast, and able to cope with the situation and handle the hardship he is going through; such a person has conditioned himself to receiving such afflictions and this makes his heart stronger and more steadfast, which gives him tranquillity.

These examples show the great difference between a person who has strong belief and acts accordingly, and another who is not at this level of faith. Due to the strong belief of the true believer and his contentment with whatever Allaah The Almighty has decreed, if he is afflicted with sickness, poverty or any other affliction, he is tranquil and content and has no desire for anything which has not been decreed for him. Instead, he looks at those less fortunate than him rather than those who are more fortunate and by doing so he becomes happier, even more than one who is discontent despite possessing all the riches of this world.

Many people receive affliction with fear, discontent, sorrow and despair; their life becomes miserable, they panic and become short tempered. Such a person fails to think about the reward that he should be hoping for, nor does he exercise patience that would bring about contentment and thus make life easier for him.

There can be several reasons for this state of mind: the fear of losing the things one desires and cherishes or the greed to acquire more of the same, because man will never reach a point where he is fully satisfied in life.

Different people can have completely different reactions when something good or bad befalls them, and their reactions depend on the strength of their belief and the extent of their righteous actions. One person may receive goodness with gratitude and evil with perseverance, which brings him peace of mind and happiness, causing his grief, anxiety and misery to disappear. Thus, this becomes a cause of positivity in his life. The second person receives goodness with arrogance and transgression; his manners degenerate and become evil; he receives this goodness and utilises it in an unthinking manner; it does not give him any peace of mind and his mind is always restless and agitated.

The Prophet (Saws)said: “How wonderful is the affair of the believer! All of his affairs are good and this is the case for nobody except a believer. If he is blessed with prosperity he thanks (Allaah) and that is good for him; and if he is afflicted with adversity he perseveres and that is also good for him.” [Muslim]

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Compiled, edited and adapted by Khalid Latif

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