The Demand of Love
Muhyus Sunnah Hazrat Moulana Abraarul Haq Sahib رحمه الله has said that just as parents, due to their intense love and affection for a child, will at times resort to scolding or even hitting the child if the need arises. Worthy children as well as all intelligent people will attribute such correctional methods to the demand of love and affection within the parents, the demand that does not allow them to ignore the bad behaviour of the child.
Similarly, if Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله, Who, day and night endows us with every imaginable bounty, Who is our Creator and Master, our Nourisher and Sustainer Who sees to our every need, deems it fit for conditions to be contrary to our liking, to our desires; if some difficulty, some hardship visits us, we should nonetheless remain happy while engaging in the continued obedience of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله – for this is what constitutes Abdiyyah (servitude). It should not be that as long as we enjoy the blessings and bounties of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله, we are happy but no sooner do difficulties or problems occur, we endlessly lament and complain. The test of love does not take place while we are enjoying the favours of Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله , the test of love is taken through difficulties.
(SOURCE: MAJAALIS-E-ABRAAR by Moulana Shah Abraarul Haq Sahib رحمه الله )
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Patience on Sorrow Combined with Pleasure
Muhyus Sunnah Hazrat Moulana Abraarul Haq Sahib رحمه الله has said; “At the time of some misfortune or some calamity, one experiences anguish and sorrow. If at that time, one displays patience on such occasions, it is an achievement. Under circumstances wherein there is no cause for anguish or sorrow, what patience can there be? This is why it will be noted with reference to the Kaamileen, the perfected souls at the time of sorrow, that they, with tears flowing down their cheeks experience sorrow but within the confines of their hearts, they are totally pleased with Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله.”
In a couplet Hazrat رحمه الله explains;
“MY EYES ARE SHEDDING TEARS OF GRIEF, BUT MY HEART FOR HIS SAKE HAS BOWED IN SUBMISSION TO HIM.”
Thus, perfection lies in adhering to the Sunnah. Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیه وسلم on the occasion of the death of his son Hazrat Ibrahim shed tears and in his grief said; “Verily, in the separation of Ibrahim am I saddened.”
Hazrat Moulana Hakeem Muhammad Akhtar Sahib رحمه الله has said that there are great rewards to be attained by remaining pleased with Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله while experiencing difficulties.
(SOURCE: MAJAALIS-E-ABRAAR by Hazrat Moulana Abraarul Haq Sahib رحمه الله )
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An Event Full of Morals
Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi Sahib رحمه الله has related the account of a pious man from whose mouth the following sentence escaped, while addressing Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله ;
ليس لى سواك حظ فكيف ما شئت فاختبرنى
‘(O Allah): I am not interested in anyone other than You. You may test this claim in any manner You like.’
This is, as if this man is throwing a challenge to Allah Ta‘ala جل جلاله to test him as He pleases. As a result, the passage of his urine was blocked and his bladder was puffed up with urine. He remained in this painful condition for many days. At last he perceived the foolishness of his claim. The pious man was a teacher by profession. In this condition, he asked his pupils to utter these words;
أدعوا لعمك الكذاب
‘Pray for your lying uncle that Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله may relieve him of this disease, because he had made a false claim.’
Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله showed the pious servant that his claim that he had no interest in anything except Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله was false as his interest lay in his urine and not Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله. We should all therefore realise that expressions
of boldness and bravery are insignificant before Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله Who is All Powerful and All Knowing.
The yardstick is in this principle that when anyone experiences hardships and worries, he should not complain about them nor should he make a show of boldness and defiance. This is the principle of the Sunnah.
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The Conduct of Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیه وسلم
Hazrat A’ishah رضي الله عنها has narrated that when Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیه وسلم was on his deathbed, he frequently put his sacred hand into water and rubbed the wet hand on his blessed face; and at the same time expressed the intense difficulty he was going through. Seeing her father صلی اللہ علیه وسلم in this condition, Hazrat Fāthima رضي الله عنها uttered these words;
واكرب اباه
‘O, how distressed is my father!’
Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیه وسلم reacted to this saying;
لاكرب ابيك بعد اليوم
‘Your father will face no distress after this day.’
We observe that Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیه وسلم gave vent to his distress, yet he did not make any complaint against it. Instead, Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیه وسلم indicated towards the everlasting peace and comfort of the Aakhirah.
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It is Normal to Express Grief
When the son of Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیه وسلم passed away, he صلی اللہ علیه وسلم expressed his grief saying;
انا بفراقك ياابراهيم لمحزونون
‘O Ibrāhīm, we are very much grieved on account of your separation.’
It has been narrated that the child of Hazrat Zainab رضي الله عنها was in the lap of Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیه وسلم and was about to die; drops of tears rolled down his cheeks. This conduct of Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیه وسلم reflects an expression of servitude and total surrender to Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله , and unqualified faith in the truth and inevitability of the Divine Decree. Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیه وسلم did realise that Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله subjects His servants to trials, tribulations, troubles and worries so that they may express their humbleness and helplessness before Him by weeping and shedding tears.
The Sunnah of Sayyiduna Rasulullah صلی اللہ علیه وسلم is that when a believer is inflicted with hardships, difficulties and worries; he (the afflicted one) should not complain or be bold. He should instead address Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله in the following words;
“O Allah, relieve me of this trouble and misfortune, by Your grace.”
May Allah Ta’ala جل جلاله grant us the capability of implementing the temperament of the Sunnah in our lives and bless us with the true understanding of Deen.
واخر دعوانا ان الحمدلله رب العالمين
(SOURCE: SELF MANAGEMENT – SUFFERING, A BLESSING IN DISGUISE by Hazrat Mufti Muhammad Taqi Uthmāni Sahib حفظه الله )