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

; 0\ ,t1\ .2\,.,\ J ৖ '\..:.: ৔৕ *\ ৓ l :ii ࢄ J࡟ \..:> "Or do you think that you will enter Paradise without such [trials] as came to those before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him said, 'When will the Help of Allah (come)?' Yes! Certainly, the help of Allah is near" (al-Baqara 214). as means to save them. Hence, the real thanks and gratitude should be directed towards Allah. It is Allah that should be remembered and thanked for the rest of the person's life. 1 Recorded by al-Tirmidhi, ibn Maajah, Ahmad and al-Daarimi. According to al-Albaani, it is hasan sahih. See al-Albaani, Sahih Sunan al-Tirmidhi, vol. 2, p. 286. Commentary on the Forty Hadith of al-Nawawi Examples of Relief Accompanying Difficulty The Quran and hadith have provided numerous examples of how Allah has tried different peoples and persons and how, if they were patient, Allah provided them with great relief and joy afterwards. 1 One example is the case of Jacob and his son Joseph (peace be upon them). A reading of Surah Yusuf demonstrates the trials and tribulations that they faced. For example, Jacob had his beloved son taken away from him by his other sons. He had no knowledge of what had happened to his son. Joseph also faced his own trials, such as being put in prison based on a false accusation. In the end, however, Joseph became a powerful man in the land and he was reunited with his father. The envy and hatred among the brethren toward him also came to an end. The example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and the trials that he faced is another sterling example that should bring hope and confidence to all who follow in his path. He faced great resistance and assaults from some of his closest relatives. Allah brought him relief from such situations. One surah beautifully sums up the result of the plight of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him): ִ տf e>vI O g)Jж ޴ G .jj Qi g)з dJ t:r޶ ;; .:Jf 1е" .. '1 Ә".:i1 2 0 o 1o ;.. :j1 2 0p o gий d] GJ)j ޵ju д1 J;-' (Qi ޷Li .:ੳ 1;p o "Have We not opened your breast for you [O Muhammad] and removed from you your burden which weighed down your back? And have We not raised high your fame? Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with hardship is [yet another] relief. So when you have finished [your affairs] devote yourself to Allah's worship. And to your Lord [alone] turn [all your] attentions and hope" (al-Sharh 1-8). Another moving example that should give hope to all who face trials in their lives is the example of Kaab ibn Maalik and the other two who failed to 1 There have been a number of books that record incidents of that nature. They include incidents concerning the earlier prophets and people who have come after the time of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The problem with such books is that the narratives they present are not always authentic. One of the better known of such works is the five-volume work Ali al­ Tanookhi, Kitaab al-Faraj bad al-Shiddah (Beirut: Daar Saadr, 1978). A more recent work is Ibraaheem al-Haazimi, Al-Faraj bad al-Shiddah wa al-Dhaaiqah (n.c., n.p., 1412 A.H.). Strangely enough, the introduction by al-Haazimi is in the first person yet much of it was taken from al-Tanookhi's introduction (also in the first person) without referencing al-Tanookhi. Hadith #1 9: "Young man, I shall teach you some words ... " march forth for the Battle of Tabook. 1 Allah described their situation with the following words, ,: ;) ৏ &j'; I r s:I¥ Ü ;; 1޲1 ,T,;_ i_;ill.-  -!.:JI -a8'\ l৒j .... ,,.. 3 \..:> ,... -..__,; .. ,,, ... ࢊ· ,,.. J. ,,.. ""- / ,J ""' " IZ "' o ... ,,.. "" yLl ৑ 41 VI .&I : ࢋ ৐ ':1 ui l·.l;j i ৎ Û ;ij ,,. 3 ... u,... ,,.. ޳,1 (1\ è ;1\ 01 tޱ_t.;J ੉+:I¥ ... ; ,,.. ,,. "And [Allah did forgive also] the three [who did not join the expedition] till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their own selves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah and no refuge but with Him. Then He forgave them, that they might beg for His mercy. Verily, Allah is the one who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful" (al-Tauba 1 18).2 The end result of their trials was forgiveness and mercy from their Lord. The Causes a Believer Should Follow to Bring About a Prompt Relief for His Hardships In this hadith and elsewhere, it is made clear that relief follows hardships. Indeed, such has been promised by Allah.