By Barrister Olori -Aje Adams
Today, let us take a moment to reflect on a powerful verse from the Qur’an that serves as a shield for our hearts during times of hardship: Allah says in
Suratul At-Taghabun 64:11 that nothing befalls a Man except with the permission of Allah. And whoever believes in Allah, He will guide his heart…
This verse is a divine reminder that every trial, every difficulty, every loss, and every pain that touches us, does so not by accident, but by the wise and perfect permission of Allah (SWT).
Accordingly, the believer’s heart should never be left to wander in confusion. When you trust in Allah despite your hardship, Allah promises something more valuable than the solution itself, He promises to guide your heart. That inner peace, that calm in the storm, that patience in pain, is a sign of His guidance.
At this juncture, I want to share the personal experience of a brother in Islam, as follows:
I did everything right — I prayed, I fasted, I repented, and I begged profusely. Despite all these, I got an email, the message of which was encapsulated in just a few words.
‘Your appointment is terminated.’
I stared at the screen of my phone as if it had betrayed me. I wanted to scream. I remember sitting on my bed, staring at the termination email, with my lips still wet from dhikr, thinking: What kind of test is this, Ya Allah?
I whispered to myself: I thought good deeds bring barakah. I thought Istighfar brings Rizq. I thought the doors of Rahmah get opened with prayers. So why is this door closed in my face?
Why did Allah respond to my prayers by stripping me of my job? I asked for Rizq, and I got fired. I begged for barakah, and I became broke.
It made no sense to me — I wasn’t sinning, I wasn’t heedless, and I was finally getting serious about my faith. And this is what I get?
However, I remembered a few things — and that stopped me from spiralling. I remembered that Nabiy Musa (AS) had an entire army behind him and a sea in front of him.
I remembered Nabiy Yunus (AS), trapped in the pitch-black belly of a whale.
I remembered Nabiy Ibrahim (AS), thrown into a raging fire.
I recalled that right before the miracles in the stories of these noble Prophets, it always looked like there was no way out. Total helplessness.
That’s the way of Allah (SWT) — He doesn’t always rescue you before the panic. He waits until you have surrendered completely, until your heart lets go of its own plans and clings only unto Him.
With these thoughts running through my mind, I got up and went back to sujood — but this time, not to complain, but to commit. I said:
Ya Allah, I don’t understand this, but I still trust You. I am still grateful. I am still here. And I know that You will open better, bigger doors for me.
And behold — two interview invitations came in within the same week, out of nowhere. And within two weeks of that shocking email… I got an offer for a job I had been dreaming of for years.
Yes, this is the path of divine grace: it breaks you before it builds you. It shatters your plan so He can give you His. But you will only see the miracle — if you do not walk away from the test.
Let it resonates in us at all times that, as Muslims:
Faith doesn’t always remove the storm, but it gives you the strength to stand within it;
Hardship does not mean Allah has abandoned you. Sometimes, it’s how He calls you closer to Him.
Pain is not punishment, but a path to purification and elevation of our souls.
Istighfar is not a vending machine but an act of surrendering to Allah.
Our obedience, faith and acts of Ibaadah or prayers is nothing like trade by batter whereby you claim instant reward for what you put down. You cannot repeat some Azkar and say; where is my reward?
With Allah, it is never a situation of give and take but of begging and receiving. And sometimes, before Allah gives what you asked for, He takes everything that wasn’t good enough for you, even if you loved it.
In every situation as Muslims, our faith in Allah (SWT) demands of us to:
Submit to His will. We should Know that He is in control;
Be patient and grateful because, trials are temporary, but the rewards of patience in the face of trials are eternal.
Renew our connection with Allah (SWT) by using pain as a bridge and not a barrier.
Therefore, I urge you in the following:
If you are hurting, hold tight to your faith.
If you are confused, turn to the Qur’an.
If you are tired, pour your heart out in Du’a
….Allah is Al-‘Aleem — the All-Knowing. He sees you, He hears you, and He will always guide your heart if you sincerely turn to Him.
May Allah grant us hearts that remain firm upon His path, even in the midst of trials.
Hold firmly on to Allāh (SWT)
True faith is often tested in times of adversity, and holding onto Allāh’s guidance and mercy can provide strength and solace. May we strive to cultivate unwavering faith and trust in Allāh’s plan, even in the face of challenges and uncertainty.
Ya Allāh, keep us firm on Your religion and support us with the strength of Your faith.
Before you ask why someone hates you
Ask yourself why do you even care to know in the first place
Understand that people don’t really hate you
They just project their inner traumas
They are suffering. Don’t hate them back
Give them healing
Ya Allāh, may we strive to be sources of healing, kindness, and compassion, spreading love and positivity wherever we go.
