By Maryam Spahic
Sorrow. Anxiety. Anger. Melancholy. As much as we try to live a steady, happy life, discomfort of the soul is inevitable. Our peace of mind will one way or another be challenged at some point of our lives. Living with a troubled soul from time to time is far from pleasant, but along the way, we will come to realise that that is what makes us human.
This is perhaps rather cliché, and is probably the last thing we would want to hear at times of hardships, but believe it or not, life is really a test. It has so been mentioned multiple times in the Holy Quran. Like it or not, our Creator will test us in various ways. Mental and physical discomforts may be the obvious ones but dont think we have a beautiful so-called perfect life we have none of these to think about. Worldly pleasures and contentment are tests too.
We were not created for no reason. The heaven and hell were created to serve a purpose. The heavens above are divided into levels and this too has objectives. It has been stated in the Quran that œDo the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tested?(29:2) It can be understood that being Muslims does not exempt us from life tests. They are preordained and unavoidable but there are several lessons about the tests from God that I have personally picked up along the way.
The night prayer is probably one of the best anti-depressants available. There is no word to describe the beauty of the night prayers and you will only understand it once you wake up a while before dawn, get down on your knees and talk to the Lord that created you. Pour your heart out. Say what you want. Ask for what you desire. Cry if you must. He is listening; you are not alone. The peace that follows is impeccable.
When you are constantly praying and talking to God, your trust in Him distinctively increases. The closer you are to Him, the more you realise how dependant you are upon Him. Allah is the best of planners, He only wants what is best for His servants. Praying then leaving everything to Him plays a significant role in the easiness of our worries.
We must always remember that no matter what situation we are in, Allah has chosen it for us. He knows best and He will give us the best. Continue praying and believing, for once we have Allah on our side, we really have nothing to worry about.
Amidst all the tension, try to pause and take a look at the people around us. Everyone has his or her own concerns. Some may be experiencing issues unimaginably worse. Doing this gives you a slight comfort as you know that you are not alone; everyone has a battle they are enduring.
Acknowledging this makes us thankful and appreciative. It gives us the strength and patience to work our way through the tough times. Pause and say Alhamdulillah. Thank Him because you are still alive. Thank Him because you have supportive family and friends. Thank Him because He did not give you a greater test. Happiness will never come to those who fail to appreciate the blessings they already have.
Life is a roller coaster; it has its ups and downs. How we manage it is entirely up to us. The better we manage our life during times of hardship, the better believers we become. God tests those whom He loves to bring them closer to Him; to strengthen their faiths and expiate their sins.
Hence, despite the pain, we should take advantage of the situation by mending our relationship with Allah Almighty as nothing matters but Him. When He is on our side, we have absolutely nothing to worry about.***