Enough for you is your Home

The words ‘Isolation’ and ‘Seclusion’ have a special meaning in our religion: to stay away from evil and its perpetrators, and to keep those who are foolish at a distance. When you seclude yourself from evil in this manner, you will have a opportunity to reflect, to think, to graze in the meadows of enlightment.

When you isolate yourself from things that divert you from Allah’s obedience, you are giving yourself a dose of medicine, one that doctors of the heart have found to be a most potent cure. When you seclude yourself from evil and idleness, your brain is stimulated into action. The results are increases in faith, repentance, and remembrance of Allah, the Most Merciful.

However, some gatherings are not only recommended, but necessary: the congregational prayer, circles of learning, and all gatherings of righteousness. As for gatherings wherein frivolity and shallowness prevail, be wary of them. Take flight from such gatherings, weep over your wrong doing, hold your tongue, and be content within the boundaries of your home. My mixing with others based on foolish motives, you endanger the stability and soundness of your mind, for the people you indiscriminately mix with are likely to be experts at wasting time, masters at spreading lies, and skilled in spreading both trouble and mischief.

Allah says:

“Had they marched out with you, they would have added to you nothing except disorder, and they would have hurried about in your midst (spreading corruption) and sowing sedition among you.” (Quran 9:47)

I advice you to fortify yourself to you purpose and isolate yourself in a room, except when you leave it to speak well or to do well. When you apply this advice, you will find that your heart has returned to you. So use your time well and save your life from being wasted. Hold your tongue from backbiting, free your heart from anxiety, and preserve your ears from profanity.

Is not He (Better than your gods), who responds to the distressed

Allah says:

“Is not He (better than your gods) who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him.” (Quran 27:62)

From Whom do the weak and the oppressed seek victory? Who does everyone beseech? He is Allah. None had the right to be worshipped except Him.

Therefore it is most advisable for you and I to invoke Him during difficult times during times of both hardship and ease, to seek shelter with Him in difficult times, and to plead at His doorstep with tears of repentance; then will His help and relief quickly arrive.

Allah says:

“Is not He (Better than you gods) who responds to the distressed one, when he calls Him...” (Quran 27:62)

He saves the one who is drowning, gives victory to the oppressed, guides the misguided, cures the sick, and provides relief to the afflicted.

Allah says:

“And when they embark on a ship, they invoke Allah, making their Faith pure for Him only” (Quran 29:65)

As for the various supplications one makes to remove hardship, I refer you to the books of Sunnah, in them, you will learn prophetic supplications with which you can call to Allah, supplicate to Him, and seek His Aid. If you have found Him, then you have found everything. And If you lose your faith in Him, then you have lost everything. By supplicating to Him you are performing one of the highest forms of worship. If you are persistent and sincere in you supplication, you willl achieve freedom from worry and anxiety. All ropes are cut lose save His, and all doors are shut save His. His is near; He hears all and answer those who supplicate to Him.

Allah says:

“Invoke Me (and ask Me for anything), I will respond to your (Invocation).”
(Quran 40:60)

If you are living through affliction and pain, remember Allah, call out His name, and as Him, for help. Place your forehead on the ground an mention His Praises, so that you can obtain true freedom. Raise your hands in supplication, and ask of Him Constantly. Cling to His door, have good thoughts about Him, and wait for His help- you will then find true Happiness and success.

Verily, with hardship, there is relief

“Verily, with hardship, there is relief” (Quran 94:6)

Eating follows hunger, drinking follows thirst, sleep comes after restlessness, and health takes the place of sickness. The lost will find their way, the one in difficulty will find relief, and the day will follow the night.

Allah says:

“Perhaps Allah may bring a victory or a decision according to His Will” (Quran 5:52)

Inform the night of coming morning, the light of which will permeate the mountains and valleys. Give to the afflicted tidings of a sudden relief that will reach them with the speed of light or with the blinking of an eye.

If you see that the desert extends for miles and miles, then know that beyond that distance are green meadows with plentiful shade. If you see the rope tighten and tighten, know that it will snap.

Tears are followed by a smile, fear is replaced by comfort, and anxiety is over thrown by serenity. When the fire was set for him, Prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) (pbuh) did not feel its heat because of the help he received from his Lord.

Allah says:

“We (Allah) said: ‘O’ fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibrahim” (Quran 21:69)

The sea would not drown Prophet Moses (pbuh), because he uttered in confident, strong, and truthful manner:

“Nay, verily! With me is my Lord, He will guide me” (Quran 26:62)

The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) told Abu Baker (ra) in the cave that Allah was with them – then peace and tranquility descended upon them.

Those that are slaves of the moment see only misery and wretchedness. This is because they look only ar the wall and door of the room, whereas they should look beyond such barriers as are set before them.

Therefore do not despair: it is impossible for things to remain the same. The days and years rotate, the future is unseen, and everyday Allah has matters to bring forth. You know it not, but it may be that Allah will afterwards bring some new thing to pass. And verily, with Hardship there is a Relief.

So don’t be sad :)

Pre-ordainment

Allah says:

“No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but is inscribed in the Book of Decrees – before We bring it into existence” (Quran 57:22)

The pen has dried, the pages have been lifted: all events that shall come to pass have already been written.

Allah says:

“Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allah has ordained for us” (Quran 9:51)

Whatever has befallen you was not meant to escape you, and whatever has escaped you was not meant to befall you: if this belief were to be firmly ingrained in you heart then all hardship and difficulty would become ease and comfort.

The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“Whoever Allah wishes good for, He inflicts him (with hardship)”.

For this reason, do not feel overly troubled if you are afflicted with sickness, the death of a son or a loss in wealth. Allah has decreed these matters to occur and the decisions are His, and His alone. When we truly have faith, we shall be rewarded well and our sins shall be atoned for.

For those that are afflicted with disasters, glad tidings await them: so remain patient and happy with you Lord.

Allah says:

“He cannot be questioned as to what He does, while they will be questioned” (Quran 21:23)

You will never completely feel at ease until you firmly believe that Allah has already pre-ordained all matters. The pen has dried and with it has been written everything that will happen to you. Therefore do not feel remorse over that which is not in your hands. Do not think that you could have prevented these things, whether you wanted to or not.

All that has been pre-ordained shall come to pass.

Allah says:

“Then whosoever wills let him believe, and whosoever wills, let him disbelieve.” (Quran 18:29)

Surrender yourself: believe in preordainment, before pangs of anger and regret overwhelm you. If you have done all that was in your power, and afterwards what you had been striving against still takes place, have firm faith that it was meant to be. Do not say,’ had I done such and such, such and such would have happened,’ rather say “This is a decree of Allah, and what He wishes, He does,”

Don’t Be Sad :)