Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The Way to Secure the Mercy and Divine Assistance of Allah Ta‘ala
Allah Ta‘ala has created Jannah as a place of happiness and comfort, and Jahannum as a place of misery and difficulty. As for this world then Allah Ta‘ala has created it as a combination of both happiness and sadness, and comfort and difficulty. There are occasions where a person is happy and enjoys comfort, while there are other occasions where a person is overcome by grief and undergoes difficulty.
In essence, Allah Ta‘ala has created this world as a ‘testing ground’ for man, to determine how man will fare in both situations – the situation of prosperity and happiness, and the situation of adversity and grief.
Many a time, a person is healthy and wealthy and leads a comfortable life. He places his reliance on his health and wealth and feels that no matter what problem he faces in life, he will always be able to solve it. However, he is then afflicted by a severe and acute sickness that causes him to lose his health. In the pursuit of restoring his health, he spends all his wealth taking admission in the best hospitals, employing the best doctors and seeking the best treatments. However, since Allah Ta‘ala does not decree shifaa for him, even the best of hospitals, doctors and treatments do not avail him in any way nor bring him any relief from the ailment and difficulty he suffers. Hence, he ultimately loses both his health and his wealth.
It is only at this point, when a person’s wealth and health fail him and desert him, that his eyes open to reality and he begins to realize that the only thing that can truly help him is the mercy of Allah Ta‘ala.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had taught the ummah that we should be obedient and loyal to Allah Ta‘ala at all times. The one who is obedient and loyal to Allah Ta‘ala, Allah Ta‘ala is there for him and grants him His special grace. Similarly, Allah Ta‘ala makes a way out for him from all difficulties and problems. Even if death is decreed for him, Allah Ta‘ala showers His special mercy upon him and grants him a good death.
It is reported that on one occasion, a Sahaabi by the name of Hazrat Awf bin Maalik (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and said, “O Rasul of Allah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam)! So-and-so clan have attacked us and looted our wealth. They also kidnapped my son and stole all my camels!”
The Sahaabi came to Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) to seek assistance in his predicament. However, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), at that time, did not possess any wealth to assist this Sahaabi, and therefore gave him the following reply: “Indeed the household of Muhammad (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), and many other households in Madinah Munawwarah, are undergoing such poverty that we do not even have one saa of food or even one mudd (i.e. quarter saa) of food to eat. Hence, turn to Allah Ta‘ala in dua and beg Him for your needs.”
On returning home, the wife of Hazrat Awf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked him what response Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had given him when he sought assistance. When Hazrat Awf (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) informed her that Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) had advised him to turn to Allah Ta‘ala in dua, she remarked, “Certainly, the advice he gave you is the best advice. Hence, we should turn to Allah Ta‘ala.”
They then continued to engage in dua, and not long thereafter, Allah Ta‘ala returned their son to them, together with their camels which were now even fatter than before. Hazrat Awf bin Maalik (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was so overjoyed that he immediately came to inform Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) of what had transpired.
On receiving the glad tidings, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) ascended the mimbar and addressed the people. Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) commenced his address by praising Allah Ta‘ala. He then advised the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and showed them the method to secure the mercy and divine assistance of Allah Ta‘ala when they are faced with any problem or difficulty. He told the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) that they should hold onto two things:
- The first thing is that they should ensure that they lead a life of taqwa (piety and righteousness) and not disobey Allah Ta‘ala at any time.
- The second thing is that they should turn to Allah Ta‘ala in dua and beg of His grace, as it is only Allah Ta‘ala that can remove the difficulty of a servant and bless him with ease.
Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) recited the following verse in his address:
وَ مَنۡ یَّتَّقِ اللّٰہَ یَجۡعَلۡ لَّہٗ مَخۡرَجًا ۙ﴿۲﴾ وَّ یَرۡزُقۡہُ مِنۡ حَیۡثُ لَا یَحۡتَسِبُ
The one who adopts taqwa (in his life), Allah makes a way out for him (from all difficulties), and provides for him sustenance from avenues which he least expects. (Surah Talaaq v. 2-3)
(Mujaab-ud-Da’wah #10 and Mustadrak Haakim #1993)
