When Distress Becomes Intense

When distress becomes intense and the hardship grows severe, relief is, in most cases, very near.

Allāh تعالى says:

{حَتَّى إِذَا اسْتَيْأَسَ الرُّسُلُ وَظَنُّوا أَنَّهُمْ قَدْ كُذِبُوا جَاءَهُمْ نَصْرُنَا}

'(They were reprieved) until, when the Messengers gave up hope and thought that they were denied (by their people), then came to them Our Help.' [Yūsuf: 110]

And He said:

{أَمْ حَسِبْتُمْ أَنْ تَدْخُلُوا الْجَنَّةَ وَلَمَّا يَأْتِكُمْ مَثَلُ الَّذِينَ خَلَوْا مِنْ قَبْلِكُمْ مَسَّتْهُمُ الْبَأْسَاءُ وَالضَّرَّاءُ وَزُلْزِلُوا حَتَّى يَقُولَ الرَّسُولُ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ مَتَى نَصْرُ اللَّهِ أَلَا إِنَّ نَصْرَ اللَّهِ قَرِيبٌ}

'Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, When (will come) the Help of Allāh? Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allāh is near!' [al-Baqarah: 214]

He also informed (us) about Yaʿqūb عليه السلام, that he never despaired of being reunited with Yūsuf, he said to his (Yūsufs) brothers: 

{اذْهَبُوا فَتَحَسَّسُوا مِنْ يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلَا تَيْأَسُوا مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ}

'Go you and enquire about Yūsuf and his brother, and never give up hope of Allāh’s Mercy.' [Yūsuf: 87]

And he said:

{عَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعًا}

'Maybe Allāh will bring them (back) all to me.' [Yūsuf: 83]

Among the subtle wisdoms behind relief being paired with the height of hardship is that when distress reaches its utmost limit, a person loses hope in the creation's ability to remove it and turns with complete dependence to the Creator alone. When one's heart becomes detached from the creation and fully attached to Allāh, Allāh answers him and removes his hardship.

Indeed, tawakkul means cutting off all hopeful expectation from the creation. This was stated by Imām Aḥmad, who cited as evidence the statement of Ibrāhīm when Jibrīl approached him while he was in the air and asked, "Do you need anything?" 

He replied:

"As from you, no."

Tawakkul is among the greatest means by which needs are fulfilled, for Allāh suffices whoever relies upon Him. As He says:

{وَمَنْ يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى اللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُ}

'And whosoever puts his trust in Allāh, then He will suffice him.' [aṭ-Ṭalāq: 3]

al-Fuḍayl said: "By Allāh, if you were to despair of the creation to the point that you wanted nothing from them, your Master would give you everything you desire."

Another wisdom is that when a slave is overcome by severe hardship, he must then struggle against Shayṭān, for Shayṭān comes to make him despair and become discontent. The slave must strive against him and repel (his whispers). Thus, the reward for striving against this enemy and overcoming him is that the affliction itself is removed and lifted.

— Nūr al-Iqtibās fī Mishkāt Waṣiyyat an-Nabī ﷺ li-Ibn ʿAbbās, by Ibn Rajab al-Ḥanbalī, p. 173.

Translated by: Umm ʿAbdirraḥmān as-Sūdāniyyah

https://t.me/uponthepathofsalaf/284