Beyond Despair: Finding Hope In Islam.
The love of Allah is a light, that, if you are without it, you remain in an ocean of darkness.
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In this fleeting world, there are times where we often find ourselves feeling our lowest as if nothing that we're doing is worth it. Our existence circling around a never ending loop of hopelessness. Our Khushoo (attentive humility) in Salah starts to waver down. We keep making Duaa only to feel as though they aren't being answered. And what's more saddening is the fact that we start to feel as if we're unworthy of Allah's love and that Allah doesn't love us or listen to our distress.
Allah says in the Qur'an:
Whenever you feel that your Duaas aren't being answered, ask yourself this question : 'Why do the Duaas I make come out from my mouth? Is it merely my own desire or is it Allah that loves to hear me call upon Him? In the process you'll find the answer, because the truth is no human being is ever capable of even doing any good except by the guidance of Allah (SWT).
When Allah inspires your tongue to ask, know that He wants to give. It is Allah who inspired you to ask from Him in the first place, He gave you that ability for your tongue to word out the prayer. If He didn't want to accept your Duaa, He wouldn't have guided you to make one! Look around yourself, there was a time when you were begging Allah for the things you have today.
Have you ever smiled at a person walking by the street alongside you or at a supermarket? Perhaps you saw something harmful in the way like a banana peel , picked it up and threw it in the trash bin lest someone could get hurt? All these things are seemingly insignificant in our eyes but they are more than just an ordinary action in the eyes of Allah. You are rewarded for each of the smallest good action that you do. The people in this world may forget, you yourself might forget at times but your Rabb never forgets. What's more inspiring is that not only are you rewarded for your good deeds but as soon as you make an intention to implement them, a good deed is already recorded for you as if you've done it.
On the Day of Judgement, Allah will order those who have had the faith equal to the weight of grain of mustard seed in their heart to be pulled out from the Hell-fire. How then can you say earning the pleasure of Allah is difficult when having Paradise has been made easy for you by your Lord Himself?
A single leaf does not fall without His permission and knowledge. Do you really think He is unaware of the pain you bury inside the depths of your heart? If He controls every cell in your body , then how can He not know what is bothering you? Or do you think amongst the billions of voices on earth that He doesn't hear yours clearly, unmuffled by others ?All it takes is one prostration in front of Allah and let all your worries and stress pour out from your soul within and you will find relief.
This is the beauty of Sujood. You whisper on the ground and you are heard up in the highest level of the heavens. What's more is the fact is that Allah knows what you're about to say, He knows what you desire, He knows what's in your aching heart yet He still listens. He listens like you are the centre of the universe.❤
Allah always has an 'after you' for you.
- After the layoff , you'll get a better job.
- After the loss, you'll meet the right person.
- After the sickness, you'll come out stronger than before.
- After the hardship, you'll find ease and relief.
فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا ٥
So, surely with hardship comes ease. (94:5)
5. After the tears, you'll find joy and peace.
6. After the waiting , you'll have what is meant for you.
7. After the struggles, you'll achieve success.
8. After the despair, you'll gain hope and faith.
In spite of the pain, the adversity, Allah is never leaving your side. He is going to always be there and make the rest of your life the best of your life In Sha Allah.
In times of despair and hopelessness prevailing I often ponder upon the Surah, it is the 93rd Surah of the Holy Qur'an, Surah Ad- Duha , revealed to our beloved messenger (SAWS) when he himself was disturbed, feeling depressed; believing that Allah is displeased with him, or had forgotten him. Because he (SAWS) had not received a revelation for 6 consecutive months.
Then Allah revealed this Surah to relieve him of his sadness and feeling of hopelessness. Reassuring him that Allah is with him no matter what. And from it we too can extract valuable lessons and recite this surah more often when our hearts feel heavy with feelings of despair.
وَٱلضُّحَىٰ ١
By the morning sunlight,
In times of hopelessness , light is what our hearts seek for. And this is exactly what we need in depression, sunlight. Allah begins by mentioning the sunshine to remind us that not everything is dark and gloomy in life we just need to look up to seek the light.
وَٱلَّيْلِ إِذَا سَجَىٰ ٢
and the night when it falls still!
This ayah serves as a reminder to us that Allah made the night for our comfort and to rest. When a person suffers from depression , they often indulge into unhealthy sleep patterns thereby staying awake all night and worsening their condition. Allah is reminding us that the night was made for us to ease our distress.
مَا وَدَّعَكَ رَبُّكَ وَمَا قَلَىٰ
Your Lord ˹O Prophet˺ has not abandoned you, nor has He become hateful ˹of you˺.
This is something Allah is not only telling His Prophet and Messenger (SAWS) but to us too that He hasn't forgotten or forsaken anyone of us, reminding a person in distress that Allah is always by his or her side.
وَلَلْـَٔاخِرَةُ خَيْرٌۭ لَّكَ مِنَ ٱلْأُولَىٰ ٤
And the next life is certainly far better for you than this one.
Many times when we're in despair we often start questioning ourselves; 'Is this all my life is going to be like' ? Is it ever going to get any better? This ayah gives away the perfect answer reminding us that the nature of this Dunya is that it is temporary and that the Hereafter is certainly far better and ever-lasting, a place that would be free from all kinds of negative emotions that we experience here.
وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰٓ ٥
And ˹surely˺ your Lord will give so much to you that you will be pleased.
Allah is promising us here that He will surely give us a huge reward in Jannah far beyond our comprehension leaving us with utmost happiness and ever-lasting peace and joy! SubhanAllah ❤ Isn't this the most comforting thing to hear at a time when you're down and fed up with this dunya and the problems within it? Giving you a sense of hope that an eternal happiness awaits you in the next life.
أَلَمْ يَجِدْكَ يَتِيمًۭا فَـَٔاوَىٰ ٦
Did He not find you as an orphan then sheltered you?
From this Ayah Allah wants us to believe His declarations and promises that He made in the beginning of the surah . Thus, this verse reminds us that when we find ourselves in distress or falling into despair we must recall how Allah has poured His favour upon us, and all the times He has saved us in the past.
وَوَجَدَكَ ضَآلًّۭا فَهَدَىٰ ٧
Did He not find you unguided then guided you?
How many of us , despite being born as muslims found ourselves misguided and away from Islam in the past? Allah (SWT) is reminding us the fact that He has favoured us above everyone else and guided us where if He willed we would have been misled. Allah is reassuring us that He has never left us alone and asks us to think and ponder upon on all the times He has blessed us in the past.
وَوَجَدَكَ عَآئِلًۭا فَأَغْنَىٰ ٨
And did He not find you needy then satisfied your needs?
Allah remind us that during our times of desperation desperation such as facing a financial crisis, Allah (SWT) was the One who pulled us through these difficult situations and gave us rizq to overcome our difficulties. This ayah allows are hearts to renews our hope and faith that just as Allah(SWT) took care of our past, He will also take care of our future.
فَأَمَّا ٱلْيَتِيمَ فَلَا تَقْهَرْ ٩
So do not oppress the orphan,
Depressed people are likely to consume the fact that no one could ever be in a position as worse as theirs and so Allah (SWT) mentioned orphans, the ones who have no guardians to protect them, care for them and provide them reminding us how we should look at people in far worse situations ourselves when we're feeling hopeless and depressed. As a result, our degree of sadness would be reduced as we feel grateful of how Allah has given us the blessings that others have lost.
وَأَمَّا ٱلسَّآئِلَ فَلَا تَنْهَرْ ١٠
nor repulse the beggar.
How any of us have gone to bed hungry at night or didn't have anything to eat in the morning? Don't we have a home to go to? Or clothes to wear and protect ourselves? This example of a beggar is used to remind us that many of the material blessings that Allah has bestowed upon us are ones that we take for granted. When we the less privileged we should thank Allah for all that he has given us and never drive away those who come to us in need.
وَأَمَّا بِنِعْمَةِ رَبِّكَ فَحَدِّثْ ١١
And proclaim the blessings of your Lord.
In this final ayah , Allah asks us to maintain the renewed faith and bond with Him by pondering and glorifying Allah for the blessings He has bestowed upon us through the constant remembrance Dhikr and through His Book, The Qur'an. Reflect on the Qur'an as it serves as a guide and comfort for our hearts , especially during times of despair.
Note that there will be days where you'll feel as if all the energy and motivation to move forward has been sapped out of you. But hopelessness has never been an option for a true believer. This doesn't mean that you're not allowed to feel sad but this does mean that you should look deep inside your heart and remove that whatever is causing you distress.
Know that Allah loves you, He loves to forgive you, He listens and responds to your Duaas. Have the best image of Allah in your mind and never lose hope in His ability to transform your life within seconds.
Keep a look out as we explore how to tackle more negative emotions in the light of Islam. And do share it with family and friends that you know may need these words right now❤
