Calamity…What to do???

Calamity…What to do???

At the moment when a calamity befalls us, how do we react?  Do we exclaim ..oh Allah, why me?  Do we blame the calamity on others and look for causes outside of ourselves?

"Say: 'Nothing will happen to us except what Allah has decreed for us: He is our protector': and on Allah let the Believers put their trust.  (The Noble Quran, 9:51)"

As believers we must recognize that "No slave of Allah will truly believe until he believes in al-Qadr its good and evil, and until he realizes that what has befallen him was not going to miss him and that which missed him was not going to befall him." [Sahih at-Tirmidhi ].

When the calamity strikes us, it's CRITICAL how we behave in the first moments of the test!  Did we accept Allah's Decree or have we questioned His Decision? Remind ourselves of His Great Power and Might! Allah's Will is greater than any will of our own, and its this acceptance and complete submission to His Will above our own, that is part of the first Pillar in Islam, La illaha il Allah, No god but Allah.  The believer then, will be at ease when the calamity befalls him, taking care to reflect, thanking Allah for whatever befalls us, as we may plan, but He is the Master of planners.

A believer who is tested should be content in the knowledge that Allah tests those whom He loves so they increase in their Iman and neglects those whom have angered Him.  A believer endures patiently. The Prophet (peace be upon him) also said "Wonderful are the affairs of a believer; for there is good in every affair of his; this is not the case with anyone else except a believer. If he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (Allah), thus there is good for him in it. If he suffers affliction, he endures patiently, which is good for him". [Reported by Imam Muslim in his Sahih Book of Hadith].

Allah (may He be Praised) says in His Noble Quran, Surat Al Baqarah verse 255:" And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sâbirûn (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly! To Allâh we belong and truly, to Him we shall return."They are those on whom are the Salawât (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones…"

Muslims must always deal with life's issues and problems with patience and perseverance, and must always put their trust in Allah Almighty.   The real rewards are not in this life, but in the life after.  Those who are facing extremely difficult situations in life should remember the story of Prophet Ayub (Allah be pleases with him) and how Allah Almighty was pleased with him after patience in extreme affliction.  We should also know that Allah Almighty has placed us in such situation for a purpose.  We should face the challenge with wisdom, faith and determination.  It is quite possible that Allah Almighty will ultimately reward us in this very life for all of the patience, perseverance and good deeds, but the real rewards are the "multiplied rewards" in the life after.

….and Only in Allah should a believer Trust!

If Allah has taken you to it…Most certainly Allah will take you through it!