Putting Things in Perspective

Reason for Our Existence

“Blessed is He in Whose Hand is the dominion, and He is Able to do all things. Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving.” [Al-Quran 67:1-2]

“And I (Allah) created not the jinns and humans except they should worship Me (Alone).” [Al-Quran 51:56]

“We have not sent down the Quran unto you (O Muhammad SAW) to cause you distress, But only as a Reminder to those who fear (Allah).” [Al-Quran 20:2-3]

“Verily! We have made that which is on earth as an adornment for it, in order that We may test them (mankind) as to which of them are best in deeds. (i.e.those who do good deeds in the most perfect manner, that means to do them (deeds) totally for Allahs sake and in accordance to the legal ways of the Prophet SAW ). And verily! We shall make all that is on it (the earth) a bare dry soil (without any vegetation or trees, etc.).” [Al-Quran 18:7-8]

“And if your Lord had so willed, He could surely have made mankind one Ummah (nation or community (following one religion only i.e. Islam)), but they will not cease to disagree,- Except him on whom your Lord has bestowed His Mercy (the follower of truth – Islamic Monotheism) and for that did He create them. And the Word of your Lord has been fulfilled (i.e. His Saying): “Surely, I shall fill Hell with jinns and men all together.” [Al-Quran 11:118-119]

“Everyone is going to taste death, and We shall make a trial of you with evil and with good, and to Us you will be returned.” [Al-Quran 21:35]

“And Allah has created the heavens and the earth with truth, in order that each person may be recompensed what he has earned, and they will not be wronged. [Al-Quran 45:22]

Hardships Are a Trial

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Sabirin (the patient ones, etc.)” [Al-Quran 2:155]

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” (See the Qur’ân Verse 35:45). [Al-Quran 42:30]

Narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas: Once I was riding (on an animal) behind the Prophet (peace be upon him) when he said: Boy, I would like to teach you something. Be careful and follow Allah’s commands perseveringly. Allah will protect you. You should safeguard His rights, and you will always find Him with you; if you need something, ask Allah, and when you need help, solicit Allah alone for the same. Bear it in mind that if all the people combined together to grant you some benefit, they would not be able to do so except that which Allah has determined for you and that if all of them were combined together to do you harm, they would not be able to do so except that which Allah has determined for you. The pens have been set aside and the writings of the book of fate have become dry. (Tirmidhi #62)

Monetary Dealings

“Allah will destroy Riba (usury) and will give increase for Sadaqat (deeds of charity, alms, etc.) And Allah likes not the disbelievers, sinners.” [Al-Quran 2:276]
“Those who spend their wealth (in Allah’s Cause) by night and day, in secret and in public, they shall have their reward with their Lord. On them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve.” [Al-Quran 2:274]

“The likeness of those who spend their wealth in the Way of Allah, is as the likeness of a grain (of corn); it grows seven ears, and each ear has a hundred grains. Allah gives manifold increase to whom He pleases. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His creatures’ needs, All-Knower.” [Al-Quran 2:261]
Abu Bakr ibn Abi Maryam reported that he heard the Messenger of Allah (pbuh) say: “A time is certainly coming over mankind in which there will be nothing (left) which will be of use (or benefit) save a Dinar and a Dirham.” (Musnad, Ahmad)

Charitable Actions

The Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said “Give the Sadaqah without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity.” (Tirmidhi #1887)

Supplication in Times of Trial

Allah’s Apostle used to say at the time of difficulty, “None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Majestic, the Most Forbearing. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Lord of the Tremendous Throne. None has the right to be worshipped but Allah, the Lord of the Heavens and the Lord of the Honourable Throne (Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 93, Number 526)

Imam Ahmed, Musnad (1/391), and others reported upon the authority of Ibn Mas’ood that the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu ‘alahi wa sallam) said:
“No slave is afflicted with anxiety and grief, and then says: ‘O Allaah, I am Your slave, son of Your male slave, son of Your female slave. My forehead is in Your hand. Your judgment upon me is assured and whatever you have decreed for me is just. I ask You by every name belonging to You which You have named Yourself with, revealed in Your Book, taught one of Your creation or which You have preserved in the knowledge of the Unseen with You that You make the Qur’aan the spring of my heart and the light of my chest, a banisher for my grief and a reliever for my anxiety.’ Except that Allaah will replace his distress and grief with joy.”
He was asked, ‘O Messenger of Allaah, should we not learn it?’ He said, “Of course, whoever hears it should learn it.”

Our Moral Responsibilities

“Verily! Man is in loss, Except those who believe and do righteous good deeds, and recommend one another to the truth, and recommend one another to patience .” [Al-Quran 103:1-3]