"Allah guideth him who seeketh His good pleasure unto paths of peace. He bringeth them out of darkness unto light by His decree, and guideth them unto a straight path." — Holy Qur'an 5:16
Qur'anic Treasures Hidden in 'Innaa Lillaahi wa- 'Innaaa 'Ilayhi Raaji-'uunn'
(Holy Qur'an 2:156)
Difficulties are of two kinds: (1) those which are created due to our own negligence; and (2) those which are sent to us as tests to improve our material, spiritual and intellectual condition. Difficulties and relief from difficulties form a cycle just like day and night. When a believer encounters difficulties which are not due to his/her negligence, then he/she should understand that these tests have been sent to improve his/her inner being. If one accepts this view point, then every difficulty is a blessing because it has knowledge and mercy of God in it.
The following three ayat of the Holy Qur'an (2:155-157)1 describe the cyclic nature of difficulty and relief from difficulty through the use of the formula "Lo! we are Allah's and lo! unto Him we are returning":
Recited by Shiekh Abdul Bassit Abdul Sumed
Transliteration | English Translation |
Wa lanablu-wannakum bishay-'im-minal-khawfi waljuu-'i wa- naqsim-minal 'amwaali wal-'anfusi was-samaraat: wa- bashshiris-Saabiriin (2:155) | And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the steadfast, (2:155) |
'Al-laziina 'izaaa 'asaabat-hum-musiibatun qaaluuu 'innaa lillaahi wa- 'innaaa 'ilayhi raaji-'uunn (2:156) | Who say, when a misfortune striketh them: Lo! we are Allah's and lo! unto Him we are returning. (2:156) |
Ulaa'ika 'alayhim salawaatum-mir Rabbihim wa- rahmah: wa-ulaaa-'ika humul-Muhtaduun (2.157) | Such are they on whom are blessings from their Lord, and mercy. Such are the rightly guided. (2:157) |
The above ayat of the Holy Qur'an are explicit because they describe various kinds of difficulties and exhort the believers to be firm in their belief because these activities will lead to one's material, spiritual and intellectual upliftment.
The ayat 2:156 also affirms that we are Allah's creations and to Him is our return as described by Hazrat Ali2:
Hazrat heard somebody repeating the passage of the Holy Quran "We belong to God and our return is towards Him", Hazrat said, "How true it is. Our saying that we belong to God indicates we accept Him as our Master, Owner and Lord. And when we say our return is towards God indicates that we accept our mortality."
The recitations of selected aya(t) of Holy Qur'an in Tarteel tune are by Shiekh Abdul Bassit Abdul Sumed and have been reproduced on this site with permission from MECAH Enterprises.
End Notes
References
Quranic Treasures