Whenever a person faces hardship, it’s easy for him/her to give up and walk away from their challenges or complain and blame those around him/her. They fall into depression, feel sad about their situation and feel powerless. They don’t understand “why this is happening to them” or “what they did to deserve this”. But for a ProductiveMuslim, his/her way of thinking is completely different.
Whenever a ProductiveMuslim faces hardship, he/she takes a step back from their difficult situation and thinks about it from a higher level. They step back from their life with all its worries, anxieties, problems, and thinks about it from an Akhira perspective, then they ask themselves the question: what does this ALL mean when compared to the Hereafter? What does this ALL mean when compared to eternity in Jannah?
One of the main misunderstanding we all have in this life is that if we do good, we should get good in this life and hereafter. This is not entirely true.
This life is not the life we’ll get justice in. If this was the case, there would be no need for a Day of Judgement or Akhira.
This life is a life of duality; there’s good and bad, justice and injustice, mercy and oppression, love and hate, truth and falsehood..etc. Your role in this life is to live your life according to how Allah (Subhanahu Wa’Tala) asked you to do, seeking His pleasure, avoiding His anger. And Allah (Subhanahu Wa’Tala) promises you in many places in the Quran, that if you do just that, He’ll give you a ‘good’ life. Allah says in the Quran:
“Whoever works righteousness, man or woman, and has Faith, verily, to him will We give a new Life, a life that is good and pure and We will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions.” (Surat Al-Nahl, Verse 97)
“He that is righteous and patient,- never will Allah suffer the reward to be lost, of those who do right.” (Surat Yousef, Verse 90)
During times of hardship, it’s essential to remember there are effective ways to deal with any difficulty.
Here are 7 practical steps to help you face any difficult situation
- Salah. Make sure you stick to praying on time – 5 times a day. Never miss a salah and do your best to pray each Salah with sincerity as if it’s your last salah in this world.
- Read Quran. This Quran is so beautiful that no matter what difficulties you face you’ll find solace in it.
- Make Dua. Especially the dua for removing anxiety.
- Give Sadaqah. Give lots of charity, as much as you can, because it helps push away hardship. And if you can’t give money, even kind words or physical sadaqah can do (i.e. helping people physically or emotionally).
- Set Goals and Have Vision. Don’t let shaytaan play with you and keep replaying the video of your hardship in your mind over and over again, move on! Set new goals, new projects, and remember you’re with Allah, nothing should stop you!
- Wake up Early. Wake up before fajr and work on your ideas and projects, or simply read Qur’an. Getting busy before day break is a definite way to move away from your hardship and overcome challenges. Get most of your ideas/work done in these early hours, these are blessed hours.
- Hardship is Not Lost. Remember, Allah will never forget the injustice/hardship you faced, so don’t worry about seeking revenge or trying to get justice
In the end, I pray that Allah (Subhanahu Wa’Tala) removes all your ordeals and hardships, blesses you all with a good life and helps you remember Him day and night, for “Verily, with remembrance of Allah, do hearts find rest”. (Surah Ar-Ra’d , verse 28)
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Jazakallahukhayran! :)
JazakAllah khair for pointing out. It’s been fixed.
JazakAllah khair for pointing out. The link’s been fixed.
JazakAllahu Khair for a wonderful article. After sharing this post with family and friends, I got a query seeking specific reference for reciting Surah Yusuf during times of hardship. Barak Allahu Feek.
ProductiveMuslim has been a great source of motivation and inspiration for me. I have become Positively Stronger and more productive as a person. Barak Allahu Feek.
Your site has been inspirational
gzak allah khair
Im having a hard time, i im 25+ unmarried and have not complete my Uni studies. My family is upset with me. Cause untill now Ive been good but the last 3 years it is like Satan has taken over controll over my mind. Nothing seem to go as i plan. And yes i know it is my own fault, and the Satan makes me think “you will not manage that” . Im so depressed and cry for every little thing. And i cannot control my crying anymore. I pray that Allah will forgive me and that He will show me the right way. I sure want to finish what i have started and get married insha Allah.
I had to write my mind out.
Thanks for a great page.
First of all I would like to encourage you to not lose heart or faith in Allah’s mercy towards us. Being unmarried or not having a degree is no reason to be sad at all! The best of the woman whom Allah created, Maryam (may Allah be pleased with her) was unmarried! Ayesha (may Allah be pleased with her) never had children, Asiya (may Allah be pleased with her) was married to Pharaoh and many other examples! SubhanAllah, we don’t know what Allah is protecting us from. Sister, remember marriage is not everything and those who force you to think otherwise are not on the straight path. Remember what Allah (swt) said, “”Wealth and children are the adornment of the life of this world. But the good righteous deeds that last are better with your Lord for rewards and better in respect of hope.”
[Surah Al-Kahf: 46]”
Read lots of Quran, understand it and apply it then you’ll be so content you’ll forget all the worries in this world inshaAllah. You’ll come across several materialistic people in this dunya whose focus is only on these exterior requirements while completely rejecting what Allah (swt) has asked us to focus on. Ignore them and pray that Allah (swt) guides them. Remember that this dunya is only a test and our final result lies with Allah (swt). Remember: The Hereafter is far better for you than this first (life). [42:20]
Pleasing Him should be our priority over pleasing people or our own nafs. We won’t be asked about how many degrees we got, but we surely will be asked about how many salahs we prayed and how many salahs we missed and how was our relationship with Quran and how much was our commitment towards learning the deen of Allah and applying it in our life.
You’ll come across people who’ll do their best to bring you down, but your istikamah (steadfastness) towards Allah (swt) is exactly what’ll keep you up and above people like that inshaAllah. You have to be strong and keep relying on Allah (swt). For when Allah is your source of strength, people can not bring you harm as much of an atom’s weight: Or who is it that could be an army for you to aid you other than the Most Merciful? The disbelievers are not but in delusion. (67:20). So sister, what exactly do we have to be sad about :)
It’s ok to cry as long as it is to Allah (swt) alone, people can provide us nothing and they can take nothing from us – only Allah can. What matters is how much effort we are putting in making things alright in the sight of Allah and not people. People come and go in our life. They’ll keep us comparing with others forgetting their own faults and shortcomings. Let Allah (swt) deal with them. Pray for your family, love them and be by their side because at the end of the day, no matter how they are – they are the only real people who’ll be by your side. All others will desert you in time of need and it’s Allah’s guarantee that you’ll not be sad as long as your righteous: Verily, those who have attained to faith and do good works, and are constant in prayer, and dispense charity – they shall have their reward with their Sustainer, and no fear need they have, and neither shall they grieve. (2:227)
Hold on to patience, truly Allah is with the patient :) Sister, you’ll be in my duas.
W.salam dear brother/sister,
I underwent the same situation you go
through, and believe me, I will give you the knowledge Allah helped me
with.Let’s start with this:Allah has said in the Qur’an, S65: v2-3 (V2)
“…And Whoever fears Allah and keeps their duty to Him, He will make a
way for one to get out(of every difficulty)”(V3) “ And He will provide
one from where one could not imagine. And whoever puts one’s trust in
Allah, then He will suffice him/her. Verily Allah will accomplish one’s
purpose. Indeed Allah has a measure for all things.”
Why should one fear
Allah? It is because one fears Allah’s punishment. And why should one
fear Allah’s punishment, except it be for one’s sins. Is there a way out
of one’s sins?
Of course as, Our Prophet Muhammad(SAAS) said, “Whoever
constantly prays for forgiveness, Allah will relieve him/her from all
adversities, make a way out for him/her from all hardships and provide
for him/her from means which he/her could never have expected.” (An
Nasaai, classed as Sahih by Al-Albaani).
In the Stories of the Prophets by
Ibn Kathir, one of them was of Prophet Yunus(A.S.), where he was given
the responsibility of giving the message to his people. He was sent to
warn his people of Allah’s Punishment and Mercy, but he became really
frustrated with his people’s indifference by the end of it, and went
away angry from his people against Allah’s command.
While he was on the
sea with a ship’s crew, the seas become stormy and a big fish was
circling their slowly-drowning ship. They threw away all their luggage,
but still wasn’t enough to stop the ship from drowning. So then they
began drawing lots among themselves to be thrown overboard, to save
weight. To their surprise, Yunus(A.S.) was chosen three times, and so he
was thrown overboard, and immediately the fish carried out Allah’s
command and ate him, and the ship was saved.
While in the depths of the
fish’s stomach, surrounded by darkness upon darkness, he humbled himself
before Allah, knowing full well this was Allah’s punishment. And
immediately his tongue began moving with remembrance in humility and
regret, which is“Laa ilaaha illa anta, subhanaka inni kuntum minaz
zalimeen.” So Allah, the All-Hearer, the One who knows everything,
listened to his Dhzikr and saw that his heart was full of regret of what
he did, and commanded the fish to remove him from its stomach.
And
Allah saved him from his distress and he returned to his people.This
must be you First priority.
Turn to Allah and ask him forgiveness
regularly. Ask him as much as you possibly can. Say Laa ilaaha illa anta
subhanaka inni zalimeen.
If you live in a non-Islamic country, try to
find out an Islamic Society, or place, or any masjid near your place.
Get a contact number, and find out if there is a sisters’ group. Look on
facebook and join them.
You are in a university inshaAllah, so there
must be support groups. Put your trust solely on Allah and find a
Islamic social life.May Allah help and preserve you with your
ever-increasing Iman.
Only Allah kan help out of this, it might seem like it is the hardest Ive been through, but there could always have been worse…
amen.
i needed this article at this time it is like you have pored out here what is in my heart
‘
Im going through a hard time and have been for awhile now and allham’dul’ilah and reading this artical has helped my imaan even more.. May allah (swt) help us in these troubled times
ameen.
‘
He is the all knower and wise, ‘the best of planners.
[...]Sites of interest we have a link to[...]…
The reason I lost my job is that my boss told me to remove my beard or quit. And I finally after much deliberation quit because most people think that keeping a beard is sunnah but its not. Its wajib for all muslim men to keep a beard and I believe that the beard is like Hijab for men.
I’m 23 Years old male, I have been doing so much sin in my past as with drugs, clubbing, friends. i have moved away from it Ahumdulliah, Moved over sea to make a new life for my self since it been a year and a half and i’m still in the place where i don’t want to be, i have build my self a few account, had two great jobs and lost it. had Boss that had evil heart lost my Job two Time, Last one lost it a week before xmas and now still looking, I can’t do anything but to fly back home asking mum for help, it make me sick because i have so much Bills like Ya Allah take me home at least my life insurant will cover everything and my parent can get money. Why so much problem, Mum ask me what have i did with all my money in that year, it make me feel like i haven’t got anywhere in life just hate my self but i know inside i did many right choices and have followed the past of Allah but it just get too much to control. I hate Money in this world. I’m getting older and i’m already moving backward, Have a car that will still need to pay off at least 8Grand since i’m still giving it back as i can’t afford it. So much drama.
I am not a practesing muslim of which i am very ashamed about so i do not know how to go about this, i was robbed one day and i am very scared that they will get me again could someone please tell me what i should read to make this hardship go away inshallah i will start praying from today
Thank you
What I do in life is I study at University, I do not work at the moment, I mostly study at my free time and also pray but I also would like to balance things a bit more so I could work on my heart towards deen. I do not want lack or lose anything.
mera naam faeza he or me jise pasand karti hu uska naam ashish he..me jise pasand karti hu wo bhi muje pasand karta tha hum dono 2 saal tak sath rahe fir wo ladka mujse dur ho gaya ab wo mujse bat bhi nhi karta or me ph ya msg karti hu to bhi bat nahi karta me bahot dil se use pasand karti hu bas me itna chati hu k wo wapis mere paas aa jaye..plz dua karo mere liye..wo ladka ab muje ph bhi nahi karta he or agar me samne se ph karti hu to cut kar deta he me uske bina nahi ji sakti hu plz allah k liye mere liye aap dua kare…
Brother, I know where you are coming from and I am facing difficulty as well but these things do come in mind like temptations of doing wrong.
Throughout your day, you can possibly do more ibadah. I do not know if you have tried this but do Muraqabah. How to do Muraqabah? You don’t move your tongue, talk loud or whisper but in your mind say “Allah… Allah…” This could be done for 10-15 minutes or more if you wish. It is natural when you do Muraqabah things will come in mind or distract you. The purpose of Muraqabah is to empty your mind and say the words of Allah.
A FATHER WITH 9 KIDS AND THIER MOM, I HAVE A VERY DIFFICULT TIME NOW IN MY LIFE. NEVER I EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE. I FEEL SAD, WORRIED, POWERLESS AND ASHAMED.
I LOST MY JOB AND GOT TIRED OF FINDING ANOTHER, I TRIED VERY HARD MY SELF AND THROUGH OTHER INFLUENTIAL PERSONS BUT, NEVERTHELESS IT ALL FAILED. MY FRIENDS ARE NOT HELPING ME, BUT SOME OF THEM INFACT GOT EXCITED AND HAPPY, THEY SEE ME WITH WORRIES AND HELPLESS. EVEN I DONT RECIEVE THIER USUAL CALLS DURING MY GOOD TIMES. THEY IGNORE ME NOW AND THINK I AM USELESS. OTHERS ALSO TEASE ME AND SAY NEGATIVE THINGS ABOUT ME AFTER LOSING MY JOB. I ASK MY SELF WHAT I HAVE DONE IN GOING THROUGH ALL THIS DIFFICULTIES. I WAS GOOD TO EVERYONE,GENOROUS AND KIND IN GIVING THEM ALL I COULD. LET ALONE FINDING A JOB, I AM NOW SUFFERING TO BE ABLE TO PAY THE FAMILY’S USUAL EXPENSES. WHAT IS WRONG,,,,,,,,,,,, I SEEK YOUR ADVICE.
MUBKADAGS.
After reading many of the tests faced by muslims, I would like to advise all of you that FIRST LEAVE the path of sin and then pray to Allah for what you seek . Secondly, continue being OBEDIENT TO ALLAH even if you do not get what you are asking for as Allah knows that it is not good for you. Thirdly, whatever GOOD comes to you easily take it and BE SINCERELY THANKFUL to Allah for it as THIS IS WHAT YOU CAN HANDLE AND BEAR !
There are billions of people who did not get what you got, hence whatever good comes your way be it even simple things like a healthy wife and kids ( they may not be very handsome /beautiful, they may not be engineers or doctors , but they may on their two feet earning their own money etc;) etc;
””
By being sincerely obedient to Allah ( a must condition ) your “unanswered” dua is rewarded by the GOOD that you get as I mentioned above or will be given in future in nay GOOD form or will be rewarded for in the aakhirah.But just being obedient and being thankful to Allah conitnuously will make you the winner spiritually and mentally as money , fame and power even PHAROAH could not handle and had it taken by force with disgrace by Allah azzah wa jal.
And to continue to being obedient to Allah is to be around righteous people and seeking help from them after you first aks Allah to help you as these are external factors that bring you clsoe to Allah, even then Allah will test you to see if you would still be obedient to HIm but these tests would make you handle them differently once you are seeking knowledge of Islam and be always on your guard to be away from sins.
When ever you feel depressed PUSH yourself , get up pray two nafil with sincerity thnking Allah is watching you or you are watching Him and then go play a sport you like, plant a flower and share it with your wife or kids, read a joke form the internet ( a clean one lol) and share it with other, speak to your children and help someone out and BELIEVE IN GETITNG YOURSELF OUT IF IT RIGHT AWAY , do not wait or lie down to have tears of depression overtake you. LEAVE that place where you feel depressed and mentally engage urself with anything that is permissible.
Salamalaykum warahmatullah
i have a son and a daughter, my son is autistic. you can imagine the hard time i am facing as a mother. i love him so much, i try so much with him, just to make him speak, do something, my daughter and husband also get neglected. we dont have proper support system for this problem as i live in KSA. i try to focus on prayers but my mind distracts so much, i loose patience, then i cry and pray to Allah, emotionally im attached with him so much i always worry about his future what will he do without me. i know my whole life will be spent with this problem. i dont know what i did wrong to face such a huge problem. i was never a bad person atleast to my knowledge. other parents also have children with disabilities, but i dont know why im not strong enough. we are so blessed with other things in our life, but life has lost all charms for me. but i never loose hope with Allah, this article helped me calm down a lot. anyone reading this message please pray for our family and specially for improvement of my child, and for me that Allah gives me strength and my heart calms down. jazakallah