Pause to reflect

When the believer is overcome by misfortune, only by repenting can he truly find a way out of his difficulties. Rather than looking outward, at extrinsic influences, the believer should search inward and see that he is blameworthy and deserves what has befallen him. Only when he reaches this level of consciousness can he begin the process of correcting, or in some cases redressing, his errors, and repenting to Allah for past mistakes. And when he takes care of these inner affairs of his, Allah will take care of his outer ones. These words might sound simple, but they are very few who apply them in practice.