We usually think: with every hardship comes ease. But this is not very accurate.
Allah says: “Verily, along with (the) hardship is relief. Verily, along with (the) hardship is relief.” [Ash-Sharh 94 : 5-6]
Meaning, there is 1 hardship but with 2 reliefs. So the correct understanding is: With every hardship, we get double the ease.
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Look at the life of Prophet Ya’qoob when he lost his son, Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon them all). Years & years later, he still did not give up & continued to put his trust in Allah. Then after that, his other son, Binyamin was taken away from him. His eldest son too couldn’t return home. And on top of that, Prophet Ya’qoob lost his eyesight because of his tremendous grief.
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Yet what did he say? “I only complain of my grief & sorrow to Allah & I know from Allah that which you know not. O my sons! Go & enquire about Yusuf & his brother & never give up hope of Allah’s Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve.” [Yusuf 12:86-87]
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Look at his unshaken faith! Despite everything that happened, Prophet Ya’qoob knew from Allah that there was khayr in them & advised to never give up hope with regard to the Mercy of Allah.
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We know the ending of this story. Allah restored his eyesight & reunited him with all of his sons including Prophet Yusuf, who was now a leader of Egypt, who helped in saving the lives not just the people of Egypt, but the surrounding countries as well.
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And what did Prophet Ya’qoob say in the end? “Did I not say to you: I know from Allah that which you know not?” [Yusuf 12:96] Meaning, did I not tell you that there was khayr in it?
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So,
O you who studied so hard, who did everything possible, but still failed;
O you who are waiting for marriage to take place, taking all the necessary means & making plentiful supplications, but nothing falls into place;
O you who have children, raising them on the path of Allah, but they’ve gone astray;
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Yes, it’s painful. You will cry like how Prophet Ya’qoob cried. But by Allah, it is not bad for you. It is good for you. Have trust in Allah & be patient.
May Allah grant us strong iman & tawakkul, and replace our hardship with ease. Ameen.
