Challenges and Problems bring new Opportunities
Nov 2020, Friday Jumah, Dr. Emdad Khan
Day to day life Events and our Responses, makes us happy or sad
Failure is the pillar of success? Or Necessity is the mother of invention.
When a situation or an event happens and if it is beyond our control, we should think in the long term it will be good for us and Allah (SWT) will bring new opportunities. One door is closed but a new door will be opened.
An event is 10%, How we will response is 90% of the case. Our response as seen through our body language and verbal response?
When we see challenges as opportunities, we are optimists, have self-confidence and have courage. But if we say: “Why me? How many more of these we can face.” This shows we are pessimistic and fearful.
Let us see from the Quran:
Allah (SWT) declares: With hardship comes ease
فَإِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرًا (٥) إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرً۬ا (٦) سُوۡرَةُ الشَّرح
Verily, along with every hardship is relief, (5) Verily, along with hardship is relief (94:6) Ash-Sharh
Allah (SWT) encourages us to be patient with prayer
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ ٱسۡتَعِينُواْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ وَٱلصَّلَوٰةِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ (١٥٣2:)
Surah Al-Baqara
O you who believe! Seek help with patience and prayer. Indeed! Allah is with the steadfast (patient). (2: 153)
Allah (SWT) also test us with losses, fear, hunger
وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَىۡءٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَٲلِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَٲتِۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ :2:١٥٥)
Surah Al-Baqara
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)
Allah (SWT) declares life & death is to test who is doing good deeds & best in conduct
ٱلَّذِى خَلَقَ ٱلۡمَوۡتَ وَٱلۡحَيَوٰةَ لِيَبۡلُوَكُمۡ أَيُّكُمۡ أَحۡسَنُ عَمَلاً۬ۚ وَهُوَ ٱلۡعَزِيزُ ٱلۡغَفُورُ (٢) سُوۡرَةُ المُلک
Who hath created life and death that He may try you which of you is best in conduct (deed); and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving, (67:2) Surah Al-Mulk
Allah (SWT) is infinitely merciful to us: 99% for Him, 1% for all of us
۞ قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًاۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (٥٣)سُوۡرَةُ الزُّمَر
Say: “O ‘Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh, verily Allâh forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (39: 53) Surah Az-Zumar
Ownership and Responsibility: we are in control and responsible for our reaction
Exercise Wisdom, not Emotion: The time to do this is during the first few seconds when we are faced with a new challenge. Start down a positive path, it will be easy next course. If we control our first step, then we start out in the right direction.
Positive Reaction Role Model: If we take too seriously, we will overreact by negatively to events/issues, let us make a habit to play the new positive reaction
Examples from the Quran and Hadith: Problems Bring Opportunities
–Halima Sadia taking care of Nabi Karim (PBUH) as foster Parent
–Hudaibia Peace Pact: Looked Humiliation, but Allah (SWT) declared inna fatahna laka fatham mubinna. It paved the peaceful conquest of Makkah within 2 years
–Maryam (AHS) was perplexed what to say to the community with baby Abdullah, Isa (AHS), who spoke from Cradle to protect the honour of his mother
–Mother of Musa (AHS) was anxious about him when put into sea in a floating safe.
Allah (SWT) upbringing Musa (AHS) in the house of Firaun under the guidance of his own mother
When Bani Israil were worried, when fleeing with Musa (AHS) at night, in the front the sea and at the back army of firaun, Allah (SWT) drowned Firaun and opened 12 paths for 12 tribes within the sea
Nabi Ayub (AHS) was tested in an exceedingly challenging way, he passed and got back his wives, children and wealth
Nabi Younus also fled away from the potential wrath of Allah (SWT), he was put to test in the womb of a fish and Allah (SWT) protected him and rescued him
–Nabi Isa (AHS) was put into cross, Allah (SWT) raised him
–Nabi Ibrahim (AHS) was put into fire, it became a flower garden
–Allah (SWT) drowned the son of Nabi Nuh but protected an old lady
-Allah (SWT protected Ashhabe Kahaf ( 7 youths and their dog)
–Allah (SWT) protected the wealth of orphan of pious parents by two prophets, Musa (AHS) and Khidr (AHS)
–Allah (SWT) declares the innocence of Mother Aysha (R) after hardship
Allah (SWT) gave victory to Salahuddin Ayubi in Jerusalem
Allah (SWT) honoured a young lady to be the daughter in law of Khalif Omar ibn Khattab after arguing with mother to be honest
Muhammed Bin Qasem won Sind in Pakistan
The SNMC GEMS are happy to invite you to another exciting event “The Science of Snowflakes”. Let’s observe and learn about snowflakes and reflect on Allah’s (SWT) Majesty and Power. Plus enjoy creating a DIY snow globe with us! Please join us to learn new skills while having FUN!
