There are times in life when we feel confused – when our mind seems to be an endless cycle of thoughts and emotions, which just seem to be driving us crazy. There are times when we feel sad about how people treat us; when we feel hopeless about how things are; when we feel that the world is just not on our side, and when we feel completely alone.
At times like these, we often forget that there is one Being, Who is always with us and never leaves us – Allah (swt)! Allah (swt) says in the Quran:
“And when My slaves ask you (O Muhammad) concerning Me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by My Knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on Me (without any mediator or intercessor).” (Al-Baqarah 2:186)
There is a beautiful Hadeeth-e-Qudsi narrated by Abu Hurairah (rta): “The Prophet (sa) said: Allah (swt) says: ‘I am in accordance with the thoughts of My slave about Me; and I am with him when he remembers Me. If he remembers Me in himself, I also remember him in Myself. If he remembers Me in a group, I remember him in a better group (i.e., angels); if he draws near Me by the span of a palm, I draw near him by a cubit. If he draws near Me by a cubit, I draw near him by the space covered by two hands. If he walks towards Me, I go to him running.’” (Bukhari and Muslim)
This is the love Allah (swt) has for us!
Psychologists have found that talking about one’s problems is one of the most effective coping strategies. People who have strong socially supportive relations (either friends, family or others) to listen to them when they talk about their problems, frustrations and pains are higher on the psychological and subjective well-being scale. Studies have found that the most effective method for releasing feelings of grief or frustration is to talk to someone you trust and someone who listens to you.
Talking to friends and family members may help release pent-up feelings, but sometimes friends and family are just not there – they may be busy or may not understand. Or there can be any of the thousands of obstacles in our way to contact them, like a technical problem in the phone line.
However, no such problem exists if we talk to Allah (swt). We can make a direct call to Allah (swt) anytime, anywhere. You don’t have to wait for the right time to call or spend thousands on the phone bill. All you need to do is to call on Allah (swt) with sincerity. You can whisper to Him (swt) or talk out loud; you can cry before Him (swt) or even laugh; you can remember Him (swt) standing, sitting or lying on your side, in solitude or in a crowd. And He (swt) will most definitely be there for you – guaranteed!
Allah (swt) states in the Quran: “Therefore, remember Me (by praying, and glorifying, etc.). I will remember you…” (Al-Baqarah 2:152)
We have a beautiful example of this in Surah Yusuf, when Prophet Yaqub (as), after being repeatedly betrayed by his sons concerning Yusuf (as) and his brother Binyamin, says: “I only complain of my grief and sorrow to Allah…” (Yusuf 12:86)
Talking and complaining to friends, family or any other human being about the injustices done to us or about the difficulties we face carries the risk that we may backbite, slander or mock. But we can most definitely complain to Allah (swt) without any fear of this. And when we talk to Allah (swt) and supplicate to Him (swt), He (swt) is the only One, Who can provide a solution and give us what we want.
We can talk to Allah (swt) in many ways by telling Him (swt) our problems: by sharing our grief, pain and joy with Him (swt); by supplicating to Him; by remembering Him (swt) and doing Dhikr; by performing Salah. There is a beautiful narration, which tells us, of how Allah (swt) communicates with us in Salah:
The Messenger of Allah (sa) said: “Allah, the Exalted, said: ‘I have divided the prayer (Al-Fatihah) into two halves, between Myself and My servant, and My servant shall have what he asks for.’ If he says: ‘All praise and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the Aalamin.’
Allah says: ‘My servant has praised Me.’ When the servant says: ‘The Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.’ Allah says: ‘My servant has glorified Me.’ When he says: ‘The Owner of the Day of Recompense.’ Allah says: ‘My servant has glorified Me,’ or ‘My servant has related all matters to Me.’ When he says: ‘Guide us to the straight path. The way of those on whom you have granted Your grace, not (the way) of those who earned Your anger, nor of those who went astray.’ Allah says: ‘This is for My servant, and My servant shall acquire what he asked for.’” (An-Nasai and Tafsir Ibn Kathir)
We must remember, however, that Allah (swt) already knows our deepest thoughts, for He (swt) states in the Quran: “And indeed We have created man, and We know what his own self whispers to him. And We are nearer to him than his jugular vein (by Our Knowledge).” (Qaf 50:16)
Our talking to Him (swt) strengthens our bond with Him (swt), benefits us by making us feel lighter and by turning in prayer to the only One Who can answer our prayers.
So, the next time you feel sad and glum (or even happy) and you want to share your feelings, just make a direct call to Allah (swt)!
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