اِحسن الظن بِالله

Think well of Allah.

‘He does not understand what I’m going through!’

‘He doesn’t know…’

‘Why is He testing me through this?’

Have you ever seen how parents protect their children from harmful things? Have you ever seen a mother warning her child not to play with the scissors? The child’s vision and comprehension are limited but the mother can see way beyond the child’s vision. So the moment she sees the child and the scissors together, she runs to her child and snatches the scissors instantly even though it may result in the child crying. It’s the same with us and Allah. We are in this strange world. We do not understand this world except only a little. But He, Allah, the one who has not only created us but this entire universe, undoubtedly perceives it way better than us.

وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تَكۡرَهُواْ شَيۡـٔٗا وَهُوَ خَيۡرٞ لَّكُمۡۖ وَعَسَىٰٓ أَن تُحِبُّواْ شَيۡـٔٗا وَهُوَ شَرّٞ لَّكُمۡۚ وَٱللَّهُ يَعۡلَمُ وَأَنتُمۡ لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ

"… but perhaps you hate a thing and it is good for you, and perhaps you love a thing and it is bad for you. And Allah Knows, while you know not."

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I often get asked by my fellows and friends who are going through tough times in their lives,

‘But why this?’

‘Why can’t life be smooth?’

‘Why these ups and downs, one after the other?’

And most of the time, if not always, I tell them that the ant doesn’t understand what these weird ups and downs and colors are on the carpet. It must often think, Why couldn’t it be just straight, flat? I have to exert myself so much just to get across. But the ant cannot see the exquisite masterpiece that those weaved highs and lows make. Its vision is limited. It’s tiny and can only see that which is within its range. However, we, much bigger than this little creature, can see why those different colors and ups and downs are needed for making a beautiful carpet.

Replace the ant in this situation with yourself, the carpet with your life, and the humans who can see more than the ant with Allah. Does it make sense? Let’s read that again.

The human doesn’t understand what these weird ups and downs are in his life. He often thinks why couldn’t life be linear? But the human does not possess the ability to see the exquisite masterpiece that those carefully placed highs and lows of life make. His vision is limited. He’s small and can only see that which is within his range and can only make very little sense of things with his little mind. However, Allah Subhanawata’ala, the Magnificent, Al-Aleem (the All-Knowing), Al-Hakeem (the All-Wise) can see why exactly those different ups and downs are essential for making his life here and hereafter beautiful.

So the next time you’re in a difficult situation, remind yourself that Allah has His wisdom and humble yourself before His decree. And remember, Allah offers you two eases for one hardship,

فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا

“So, surely with hardship comes ease.”

إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا

“Surely with ˹that˺ hardship comes ˹more˺ ease.”

Therefore, do not weaken or give in. If you could not handle it, Allah would not have tested you with it. That’s His word. And He never fails to keep His word.

That is it for this newsletter. I hope you found it beneficial and will share it with others so they can benefit as well, insha’Allah.

بَارَكَ الله لِيْ وَلَكُمْ فِي الْقُرْآنِ الْكَرِيْمِ، وَنَفَعَنِيْ وَإِيَّاكُمْ بِمَا فِيْهِ مِنَ الْآيَاتِ وَالذِّكْرِ الْحَكِيْمِ

Wassalamu‘alaykum.