Whenever we face a difficulty, our tradition points us towards patience.
However, Ibn Qudaamah (ra) mentions how in certain cases, we can even show gratitude during trials.
Yes, this is a higher level of Imaan and it’s not easy. However, it can help some people be optimistic in the face of tests. Below are five elements to consider for gratitude during trials:
1) You could be afflicted with something much worse.
For example, you may have broken your arm. It’s painful and you’re out for six weeks. However, it could have been much, much worse.
There could have been complications, you could feel more pain, you could have a more severe illness such as cancer etc.
2) If your religiosity is still sound, then be grateful.
Someone said to Sahl ibn Abdullah ‘A thief has entered my house and stole my possessions’. Sahl told him to be grateful to Allah saying ‘What would you do if the Shaytan infiltrated your heart, affecting your faith!’.
The point here being that if your faith is still relatively sound, then the test isn’t as serious in the grand scheme of things.
3) Tests in the dunya absolve you in the hereafter.
The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “No fatigue, nor disease, nor sorrow, nor sadness, nor hurt, nor distress befalls a Muslim, even if it were the prick he receives from a thorn, but that Allah expiates some of his sins for that” (Al-Bukhari).
Being tested in this world temporarily, whilst not being accountable in the hereafter (for eternity) is something to be grateful for.
4) Everything is written.
Everything that happens in one’s life is inevitable. The Prophet (Saws) said: “Know that what hits you was never going to miss you and whatever missed you was never going to hit you (Abu Dawud).
Yes, you should strive to take the means in alleviating any trials, but once that’s done, conceding to one’s fate is part of Imaan. It’s also a form of beautiful grace from Allah.
5) With greater tests, comes greater rewards
Allah tests people according to their rank. The Prophets were tested the most and then the pious.
The more one is tested and maintains faith, the greater the reward. A famous fiqh principle mentions ‘The reward is in proportion to the difficulty faced’.
In fact, tests can make one closer to Allah. If you ask the last time you beseeched Allah with sincerity, in many cases it would have been at a time of difficulty. This is because we recognise the true and only salvation will come through Allah’s help.