One of the central concepts in Islam is that this life is a test. This means that human beings should expect to face trials and tribulations and that they should endure them with patience and perseverance. This point is repeated throughout the Qur'an and Hadith. In fact, perseverance and patience in the face of difficulty are traits that believers should strive to embody.
For Muslims this world is not the ultimate goal, rather it is the afterlife that is the real goal. This doesn't mean that Muslims are discouraged from enjoying this world or from striving hard to achieve success, but that they should always keep in mind when faced with difficulty,challenge or obstacles; it is all part of the test. In other words, the Qur'an and the Hadith tell Muslims that Allah tests the believers and that difficulties are facts of this world. In order to deal with these difficulties, challenges or obstacles, one must possess the quality of Patience & Perseverance.
Allah mentions in the Qur'an about the importance and value of acquiring and practicing patience; He says:
Qur'an 2: 153-"O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer. verily, Allaah is with those who patiently persevere"
"And be steadfast in patience".
Q7 V128-"...pray for help from Allah (and wait) in patience and constancy"
The above verses of the Holy Qur'an are filled with hope and assurance from Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) in His infinite mercy and infinite kindness, gives us the assurance that HE is with those that patiently persevere. What more can we ask for??
Furthermore,Allah (SWT) encourages us to continue persevering. Persevering means to strive in the face of difficulty or an obstacle. It means that one should not give up. It means that failure should not be regarded as the end of the world, failure simply means a stepping stone to success. No matter how tough the obstacle is and no matter how huge the problem, one should never give up hope and trust in Allah (SWT). It is this hope combined with steadfastness and patience and perseverance that is the recipe for success and for dealing with lifes tests in form of problems.
When you are challenged and you respond with patience, your faith and character becomes stronger. Your faith becomes stronger because it will lead you to engage in more worship asking for Allah's assistance and relying on him.
This willingness to accept and endure does not mean that Muslims should not work towards alleviating problems. But they should accept the tests, call upon Allah for assistance in being patient and work towards moving forward. We should always respond with 'Alhamdulillah' when we are in difficult circumstances. This phrase embodies both the acceptance of the test but also the will to persevere through it, while thanking him for not making it worse and also His favors upon us.
Here are some DU'AS that will help us in attaining the tools of perseverance and patience:-
-HasbunAllahu wa ni'imal wakeel. (Suratul Al-Imran, verse 173).
-Rabbana afrigh alayna sabran wa tawaffana muslimeen (Suratul A'araf, verse 126). -
Rabbana afrigh alayna swabran wa thabbit aqdaamanaaa wansurnaa ma'al qaumil kaafireen" (Suratul Baqarah, verse 250).
We should always remember that whenever we patiently persevere in difficult circumstances, Allah (SWT) will reward with a beautiful reward and as He has said in the Qur'an, "Verily after hardship comes ease".
"And certainly we shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits but glad tidings to the patient"
Written by: Habiba Aliyu.