A PRAYER

This world is one of constant change. It is not possible for conditions to remain the same. According to the laws of nature and the system of creation, circumstances frequently change. One often faces loss. This loss may come in the form of fear, hunger, or a decrease in wealth, life, or well-being, as mentioned in the Quran (2:155).

In such situations, some people begin to wail and lament. They fall into a mindset of complaint and protest, eventually becoming overwhelmed by despair. But this is not the way of true human beings. This is the path of those who have strayed from the right course. At such moments, there is only one right and truthful approach for a person—to entrust the entire matter to the Lord of the universe. They should treat the hardship as a test of patience, not of impatience, as a temporary phase, not a permanent condition.

Those who possess a godly character and have found the path of truth, when faced with a calamity, naturally say: “We belong to God, and to Him we shall return.” They pray, “O God, reward us in our hardship, and bring forth what is best for us after it.” (Sahih Muslim, Hadith No. 918)

Anyone who says these words in the face of personal or communal hardship will quickly find renewed strength. After the shock, they will rise again. After experiencing despair, they will soon find hope again.

Such individuals, by letting go of the past, are able to move forward and find new opportunities. Even in times of deprivation, they discover new sources of strength and success. Where it may seem like the story ends, they find a new chapter through which they can begin again.