يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اسۡتَعِيۡنُوۡا بِالصَّبۡرِ وَالصَّلٰوةِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الصّٰبِرِيۡ
O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient.[2:153]
Every believer will be tested and go through trials, this was the case with Prophets as well. They all went through hardship and were tested. Adam a.s was cast out of Jannah to this world and he remained patient and devoted to Allah ﷻ. Rasulullah ﷺ was cast out of Makkah to Madinah and he remained patient and devoted to Allah ﷻ. It is stated in Surah Mulk1; “He (Allah) created death and life, so that He may test you as to which of you is better in deeds. And He is the All-Mighty, the Most-Forgiving.”
Whilst Allah sets the challenges but He, through His infinite grace, also gives solace and the solution for how to deal with these challenges. Allah ﷻ says: يٰٓاَيُّهَا الَّذِيۡنَ اٰمَنُوا اسۡتَعِيۡنُوۡا بِالصَّبۡرِ وَالصَّلٰوةِ ؕ اِنَّ اللّٰهَ مَعَ الصّٰبِرِيۡ O believers! Seek help through sabr and salah. Indeed, Allah is with the patient. [2:153]
The link between sabr (patience) and salah is shukr (to be thankful). Allah ﷻ in the ayah before said; “Remember me and I will remember you, thank me and do not be ungrateful.” In times of difficulty be positive. Focus on what you have left rather than what you have lost. Be thankful, for it could have been worse. Allah will grant patience and give more. Allah ﷻ says, “If you are thankful, I will give you more”. Being thankful makes patience easier. So, remain positive.
Rabia Basriyyah r.a saw a young man with a bandage on his head. He complained that his head hurts. She asked his age and he replied: 27. She then said: ‘When you enjoyed good health, did you go around telling people of the good Allah gave you?”.
Allah blessed Ayyub a.s with abundant children, wealth and health. He was very submissive to Allah. The wrong doers would criticise and say Ayyub a.s is obedient due to the favours Allah has granted him. Had that been taken away, then his attitude would not be the same. To show the people, Allah tested Ayyub a.s who fell ill and lost everything except for his wife who tended to him. He remained in that state for 18 years during which he did not complain. Thereafter, Allah returned all the bounties and honoured him by calling him His unique servant. He was the epitome of a person of patience.
Sabr has three elements;
- Patience to push the inner-self (nafs) and increase in good.
- Patience to restrain the inner-self and abstain from evil.
- Patience to calm the inner-self at the time of calamity and turn to Allah.
Khabbab r.a2 said; Once we complained to the Prophet ﷺ whilst he was sitting under the in the shade of the Kabah. We said, ‘Will you not seek help for us? Will you pray to Allah for us?’ The Prophet ﷺ said, ‘In the nations before you there were believers who were forced to dig ditches and they would be thrown in it. A saw used to be placed on their heads and they would be cut into two pieces. These (torture) could not compel them to abandon their religion. Their bodies would be combed with iron which would remove the flesh from the bones and nerves. This could not compel them to abandon the religion. By Allah, Islam will prevail such that a person will travel from San’a to Hadramawt and they will fear nothing but Allah or a wolf from taking his sheep. However, you are being hasty.’
Life in Makkah was difficult. The disbelievers would abuse the believers verbally and physically. The Prophet ﷺ asked that they have patience, and they did. In time, the promise came to pass.
فَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ ٱلْغُرُوبِ
Be patient over what they say, do tasbih and praise your Lord before sunrise and sunset. [50:39]
The sky is similar during Fajr and Asr except after Fajr there is light and after Asr there is darkness. Through the changes of the times, Allah ﷻ is alluding like He eases the darkness into light and vice versa, he can also ease your hardship. However, you have to seek Allah’s help by being patient and praying salah.
Salah is the best state to remember Allah and the Quran is the best words with which to remember Allah. In salah, we remember Allah. In recitation of the Quran, we remember Allah. In dhikr, we remember Allah.
Have patience and remember Allah for then He will be with us. Immediately upon being afflicted with hardship, say: ‘Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un‘ (We belong to Allah and to Him we shall return).3 This is called tarji’. If someone generously gives you £1000 every day and one day asks for a drink from your fridge, you will say take the entire fridge! You would think this person gave me so much, how could I complain. Similarly, Allah gave so much, so If He ﷻ afflicts you with a calamity within your family, health, or wealth, then be patient. Be content with the decree of Allah and this is called raḍa bil qaḍa.
Upon urging the believers to seek help through patience and salah, the next topic Allah ﷻ discusses is Safa, Marwa and Hajj. This alludes to the story of Hajar and the Prophets Ibrahim and Ismail (peace be upon them all). Their story is one of sacrifice, patience, and duty. In the desolate land of Makkah, they had nothing; no food, no water or people. They were patient and steadfast. In return, Allah made Makkah an oasis with the water of Zamzam. He made it into a safe sanctuary. He made it a centre of peace and prosperity in all of Arabia. Their progeny prospered and they are held in high esteem.
Be patient and pray salah, this is the way to seek Allah’s help. May Allah save us from calamities, help us and grant us steadfastness. Aameen.
Edited summary of Jumuah bayan delivered by Shaykh Muhammad Saleem Nawab on 15-10-21. Part 2 of ‘O Believers!’ series. For the full audio click here (audio no. 129)
