Waiting for relief from Allah

 

Thaabit ibn Qays (may Allah be pleased with him) was an eloquent orator who spoke on behalf of the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) and Islam. However, he would often raise his voice while giving a sermon, and sometimes this occurred in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (bpuh).

 

(O’ you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak to one another: lest your deeds may be rendered fruitless while you perceive not.)

(Quran 49: 2)

 

When this verse was revealed, Thaabit (may Allah be pleased with him) thought that he was being referred to, and so he isolated himself in his home and wept continuously. In a gathering, the Messenger of Allah (Blessings and Peace be upon him) noticed the absence of Thaabit and inquired about him. The Companions informed him of what occurred, and the Messenger of Allah (bpuh) replied:

"Never! But he is from the inhabitants of Paradise."

 

ln this way, the warning --- in Thaabit’s case it was merely a perceived warning --- became transformed into a glad tiding.

 

‘Aa’ishah (may Allah be pleased with her) cried continuously for one month, day and night, because she was falsely accused of wrongdoing. She became wan and pale because of the serious nature of the accusations. Then, suddenly, relief came from Allah, and the Qur’an established her innocence:

 

(Verily, those who accuse chaste women, who never even think of anything touching their chastity and are good believers, are cursed in this life and in the Hereafter)                                     (Qur’an 24: 23)

 

She praised Allah, her ranking was restored, and the believers rejoiced with her.

 

When the call was made for the battle of Tabuk, three of the believers lagged behind. Allah, the Almighty, revealed verses in which those who remained behind were warned about an impending punishment. The three believers referred to above became miserable for what they did and they made a sincere repentance. They believed that there was no sanctuary from Allah except with Him, and after a short period that seemed interminable to them, the verses of forgiveness were revealed.

 

Pursue work that you enjoy

 

Ibn Taymiyah said:

“l once became ill and the physician told me that reading and giving talks on knowledge would only exacerbate my condition. I told him that I couldn’t abandon these pursuits, and that I would, if possible, like to make his own knowledge a judge between us. Isn’t it the case, I asked him, that if the soul feels happy and joyful, the body becomes stronger and sickness is repelled? The doctor replied in the affirmative. ‘Therefore,’ I said to him, ‘my soul finds joy, comfort, and strength in knowledge.’ The doctor yielded and admitted that my situation was outside the pale of his science of medicine."

 

(Consider it not a bad thing for you. Nay, it is good for you.)             (Quran 24: 11)