. I I J/ ·ੇ/ / I/ 0 / J I/ J I\ (cont.)

2 lbn Katheer states that the latter portion ordering patience is directly related to what preceded it. In other words, when ordering good and eradicating evil, one will face trials and difficulties from the people, so one must have patience. Al-Qurtubi also mentions this meaning but states that the phrase could be more general, meaning that one must be patient in the face of trials and tribulations in this world. See ibn Katheer, Tafseer (Jarniyyah), vol. 3, p. 491 ; al-Qurtubi, al­ Jaami, vol. 14, p. 68. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi If a person possesses all of these types of patience, then success will surely come to him, as the Prophet (peace be upon him) mentioned in this hadith. Those who are patient are promised a great reward and success in the Hereafter. Allah says, 0Js-w1 n кr t;޺ ª r_µ1 ;, VW Pl;.- л; "Verily, I have rewarded them this day for their patience. They are indeed the ones that are successful" ( al-Muminoon 1 1 1).1 "Relief accompanies difficulties" It is the way of Allah-- based on His infinite wisdom-- to have mankind pass through stages in their lives. In general, people go through good times and they go through hard times. Naturally, it is when they go through hard times that they face the most psychological stress. Those who do not realize that everything occurs according to Allah's Will and Plan become the most lost under such circumstances. They search for an escape or a solution to their problems. If there seems to be no clear end or hope in sight, they can enter into a state of despair and depression. This may even lead them to suicide. On the other hand, the true believer realizes that everything happens according to Allah's will. The true believer should also understand that whatever hardship or difficulties he faces will come to an end soon, as is implied by the word ma' ("with") in this sentence. It, therefore, behooves him to be patient and to have good expectations concerning Allah. Allah is the Most Merciful of those who are merciful, even more merciful than a mother towards her small infant. The individual should realize that the Merciful will not leave him in that situation for long if he is patient for the sake of Allah. 2 The believer realizes that there is wisdom behind these events. More importantly, he realizes where his solution lies. It lies with Allah. Hence, he turns to Allah and beseeches Him to help him through his difficulties. This is one of the major benefits from trials and hardships. If a person lives a life of ease only, it becomes simple for him to forget about Allah and that he must rely upon Allah and tum to Him. Allah tries the believers and this trial is actually a blessing for them. It brings them even closer to Allah. If a person is rescued by Allah in his darkest hour3, that person should never afterwards forget Allah and 1 For more about the important concept of patience, see Muhammad ibn al-Qayyim, Iddat al­ Saabireen wa Dhakheerah al-Shaakireen (Beirut: Daar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyah, 1983), passim; Asmaa Fadaq, al-Sabr ft Dhau al-Kitaab wa al-Sunnah (Makkah: Raabitah al-Aalam al-Islaami, n.d.), passim. 2 Cf., al-Haitami, Fath, p. 1 77. 3 This obviously requires that the person realizes that it was truly Allah that rescued him. Many times people are saved by firemen, policemen or others and they become grateful to those people for the rest of their lives. Yes, they should be grateful to those people for their help. However, they must also realize that those people did not in and of themselves save them. Allah used them Hadith #19: "Young man, I shall teach you some words ... " what Allah has done for him. Indeed, there should be a close bond forged that may not have existed had Allah not tried His servant. In fact, the extremity of the trial is directly related to how close and beloved the person is to Allah. Note the following hadith from Sunan al­ Tirmidhi, "Musab ibn Saad narrated from his father who said: I said, 'O Messenger of Allah, what people face the harshest trials?' He answered, 'The prophets, then the people most like them [in piety], then the people next most like them. A person is tried according to his religiousness. If his religion is firm, his trial makes him stronger. If his religion has some weakness, then he is tried according to his religiousness. A person is continually tried until he walks on the earth and he has no sin [left, as they have all been wiped away due to the trials]."' 1 The possible extent of the hardship of trials, that are soon followed by relief, can be seen in the following verse of the Quran, J / ५,., J ., ,,,. ., ,., ,.,. ....