In our individual and collective, domestic and social life we face difficulties and troubles, have calamities and misfortunes, endure miseries and tortures, suffer from illnesses, etc. They all are from Allah Almighty as a test. Those who remain patient and steadfast in them are blessed with the good news from Allah Almighty, closeness to Allah Almighty, huge reward and peace and safety in the Hereafter.
Remember! Difficulties and troubles come to elevate the ranks of a Muslim or for the expiation of sins. We have also been taught in the Holy Quran and Hadees to observe patience. It can easily be judged by the fact that patience has been mentioned at more than 90 places in the Holy Quran.
Our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also experienced many trials in his blessed life, but history is the witness which testifies that he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم always remained patient and courageous.
Trials in childhood
The blessed father of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم had passed away even before he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was born. When he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was almost five years old, his blessed mother رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا also passed away. When he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was only eight years old, his grandfather ‘Abdul Muttalib رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ who was bringing him up also passed away, but notice the display of matchless patience by the Beloved Mustafa صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم that he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never made a complaint of it as to why he was deprived of his parents.
Troubles faced after declaring Prophethood
In the fourth year after declaring Prophethood, the blessed Ayah of Surah Al-Hijr ‘فَاصْدَعْ بِمَا تُؤْمَرُ’[1] (translation from Kanz-ul-Iman: Therefore publicly announce what you are commanded) was revealed. He صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم then started preaching Islam publically, due to which the inhabitants of Makkah started opposing him. A strong propaganda, that he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was a magician, soothsayer and mad, was spread everywhere against him. Sometimes the disbelievers of Makkah would spread thorns in the ways, so sometimes they would put impurity on his blessed body, and sometimes they would try to strangle his blessed throat by putting a noose of a chador around his blessed neck. Once, in the blessed Haram while offering Salah, a disbeliever named ‘Uqbah Bin Abi Mu’eet brought the womb of a female camel and placed it on his blessed shoulders. Despite all these things he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم never became impatient or there was no decrease in his steadfastness, but rather he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم always blessed his nation with the Du’as for guidance.
Remained besieged with his family for three years
In the seventh year after the declaration of Prophethood, all the tribes of Quraysh declared a social boycott against the family of Bani Haashim. He صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم remained besieged in the Valley of Abi Taalib with Banu Haashim for three years. This period of three years was so tough that Banu Haashim had to eat the leaves of trees and dry skins after cooking, but what a great patience and courage! Not once has it been proved that he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would have said, ‘O Allah Almighty! I am Your beloved; why am I being made to experience so many difficulties?’
The year of sorrow
Another perfect display of patience by the Beloved Mustafa صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was that: He صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم remained patient when his uncle Abu Taalib passed away after eight months of getting out of the Valley of Abi Taalib and then after three or five days [on the 10th Nabawi in the blessed month of Ramadan] his blessed wife and the companion of every difficult time, Sayyidatuna Khadija-tul-Kubra رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا, passed away. He صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was so much grieved out of these sorrows that this year was named ‘عَامُ الْحُزْن’ (i.e. the year of sorrow), but he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم remained patient.
He ﷺ was covered with blood in Taif
The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم also showed his great patience when he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم travelled to Taif for preaching Islam. Instead of attaining Paradise these unfortunate people of Taif made naughty boys chase after the Owner of Paradise [the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم]. These boys stoned him to such an extent that he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was covered with blood. Even then instead of cursing them, he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم remained patient and only stated, ‘I hope that Allah Almighty will create such bondmen in their generations who will only worship Allah Almighty and will not practice Shirk i.e. associate any partner to Allah Almighty.’
When invited them to Islam he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was harassed
On the occasion of Hajj, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would visit all the tribes and invite them to Islam. In the same way, he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would also go to different fairs held in Arab for preaching Islam. Abu Lahab would also go after him. When he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم would preach a tribe, Abu Lahab would say by shouting, ‘He has gone astray [out of the correct path]; he tells lies.’
Just ponder, if you are talking to someone else and a person standing near you shouting and saying, ‘Do not listen to him; he is a liar’, so how will you feel then? No one’s patience can be compared with the blessed and matchless patience of our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. He صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم continued to preach Islam.
Left native city
In the 13th year after the declaration of Nubuwwah, he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was compelled to leave his beloved homeland Makkah Mukarramah for sacred Madinah. When leaving he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم very wistfully looked at Ka’bah and said, ‘O the city of Makkah! You are dearer to me than the entire world. If my nation had not compelled me, I would not live at any other place except you’ and then being patient he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم moved towards Madinah Munawwarah.
Wounded in battle
In the battle of Uhud, his two links of the chain of his own iron helmet [which was worn in battle] pierced his blessed cheeks, causing the corners of two blessed teeth to fall. He صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم fell into a pit dug by the disbelievers. The lower lip was also wounded. The cruel disbelievers fired a hail of arrows heartlessly at him. His beloved uncle Sayyiduna Ameer Hamzah رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ was martyred and his [Sayyiduna Ameer Hamzah رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ] belly was torn violently, organs were cut, liver was taken out, but notice the display of the utmost incomparable blessed patience by the Beloved Mustafa صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم that he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was still making this Du’a: ‘رَبِّ اغْفِرْ قَوْمِیْ فَاِنَّھُمْ لَا یَعْلَمُوْن’ i.e. O Allah Almighty! Forgive my nation; they do not know me.
False allegation was levelled against his blessed wife
When returning to homeland from the battle of Muraysee’, due to an incident, the hypocrites made a false allegation against the most beloved wife of our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا that caused him immense distress. But may we be sacrificed upon the blessed matchless patience of our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم that he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not speak any unsuitable word. Finally, Allah Almighty sent 18 Ayahs proving the purity and chastity of Umm-ul-Mu`mineen رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا.
Poison was given in food
In the seventh year of the migration after the Conquest of Khyber, Zaynab, the wife of Salam Bin Mishkam, a Jewish, served meat after mixing poison to it that caused pain in the blessed palate throughout his life. But notice the extreme patience and forgiveness that he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not take personal revenge on Zaynab. A Jew named Labeed Bin A’sam cast a spell on him, and despite knowing it, he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم remained patient, tolerant and did not ask him anything about it.
Death of children
Except Sayyidatuna Fatimah رَضِىَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهَا all the sacred children of our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم (three sons and three daughters) passed away in front of him, but the exemplary patience of the Beloved Mustafa صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم was seen that he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم did not make any complaint to Allah Almighty about the death of any of his blessed son or daughter, but rather he صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم endured these griefs with great and unequalled patience.
(Summarised from: Seerat-e-Mustafa)
These few parables have been stated briefly so that we can develop the sense that the Beloved Nabi صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم [whose Ummah we are] was the embodiment of great patience and courage. These parables contain many Madani pearls of advice for the Islamic brothers and Islamic sisters who stop giving Dars due to a little trouble; who give up Madani visits when someone scolds them and who lack courage when their children experience any trial. May Allah Almighty also bless us with patience for the sake of our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللہُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم!
اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
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