Uplift Yourself When Things Don’t Go Your Way

By Ustadh Asif Aziz-ud-Deen – Teacher of Tafseer and Seerah; lecturer for SABEEL (MRDF)

When I am going through problems, I look at the lessons from one particular Surah of the Quran – Surah Al-Kawthar. Allah (swt) revealed this Surah when Prophet Muhammad (sa) was going through many problems. He had lost his son Abdullah, and the Mushrikeen were really happy about it. They said that he is ‘Abtar’ or ‘cut off’, and that his legacy is going to die with him, because at that time the sons would carry on the name of the father. Prophet Muhammad (sa) became very upset that he had lost his son. Allah (swt) revealed to him Surah Al-Kawthar. We can learn four things from this Surah.

 إِنَّا أَعْطَيْنَاكَ الْكَوْثَرَ

“Verily, We have granted you (O Muhammad (sa)) Al-Kawthar (a river in Paradise).” (Al-Kawthar 108:1)

Al-Kawthar is a pond in Paradise. So whenever we are going through problems, we should always think of the Day of Judgement and the Akhirah. When we keep this in mind, we can think about the rewards Allah (swt) can give us.

 فَصَلِّ لِرَبِّكَ

“Therefore turn in prayer to your Lord…”

Go and speak to your Rabb – make Salah and pray to Allah (swt).

 وَانْحَرْ

“…and sacrifice (to Him only).”

Reduce your problems by giving charity. Allah (swt) says وَانْحَرْ which means ‘to slaughter a camel and give it to the poor people’. Many scholars, such as Ibn al-Qayyim, say that whenever you are going through problems, you should give charity. Allah (swt) then reduces your problems.

 الْأَبْتَرُهُوَشَانِئَكَإِنَّ

“For he who makes you angry (O Muhammad (sa)), he will be cut off (from every good thing in this world and in the Hereafter).”

So if someone is upsetting you and causing you problems, then leave this matter to Allah (swt) – He will deal with that person.