Dealing With Calamities

Calamities in life are inevitable and we will all face them. It is important we deal with calamities in a way which pleases Allah so that despite our loss, we would have gained Allah’s pleasure which is priceless.

Patience: Calamities often hit us when we least expect it so it is easy to break down and give in to our emotions, in fact it is absolutely human to do so. However, the Prophet (ﷺ; peace be upon him) said “The real patience is at the first stroke of a calamity.” [Bukhari]. It is difficult to remain patient at that point, and easy to behave erratically which will only lead to regret.

Seek Forgiveness: At times, we often look for people or external factors to blame so that we can relieve the stress from ourselves. A strong believer should hold themselves accountable first and ask whether this calamity is a direct result of their own sins? Has this calamity occurred because Allah wishes well for them? Or is Allah directing them to something better through this calamity? Seeking sincere forgiveness from Allah is important at all times, but during difficult times it can be even more impactful as it can become a means towards much needed positive change that our soul is in desperate need for.

Make du’ah: Turning back to Allah by making sincere du’ah during difficult times is crucial. We often only go to Allah after we exhaust all the options, however the first thing to do is to turn back to Allah and ask for his help sincerely. Allah is the Creator of all creation, just ask Him and then continue exploring the various options out there – at the very least we will have reassurance that we have requested the Creator for help before we seek help from his creation.

Reflect: Difficult times can also be a strong test of faith because it is often easy to say you believe but to truly believe you must have faith at all times, which includes both the good and bad. The Prophet (ﷺ; peace be upon him) said “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” [Muslim].

It is enough for us that we have Allah and we do not need anything else. Whatever it is at stake to lose in this Dunya would not compare to the reward gained in the Akhira. One dip in Jannah will make us forget about all hardship and distress. May Allah give ease to all those who are suffering calamities around the world. Ameen.