How Muslims should deal with loss

Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem

Today I post an article which I discovered online, and from which I drew some solace. I give full credit to its author, and its origin. The original article can be found on:
http://www.helium.com/items/1101081-dealing-with-grief-in-islam
I have made minor editting changes which adress only the font and colour of the text.

Here it is: Dealing with Grief

How Islam tells us to deal with grief and loss 
by Z. Farrukh
Created on: July 03, 2008 Last Updated: August 04, 2012

"In the name of Allah Most Merciful, the All Compasionate

Starting with the basic concept of Islam; Allah (Subhanahu Wata'ala) has created this universe, and each and everything within it. As Allah says in the Quran, " Allah, it is He, Who has made for you the earth as a dwelling place and the sky as a conopy and He has given you shape and made your shapes good (looking) and has provided you with the good things. That is Allah, your Lord : so Blesses be Allah, the Lord of the Alamin (mankind, jinn and all that exists). [Chapter 40, Verse 64]

 

And thus, each and every one of our possessions is the blessing of Allah. As He alone is the creator and owner of everything. Life in this world is temporary' and it is a test for the Human Beings; for which we will be awarded in the everlasting' Hereafter. Allah (Jallah Shaanuhu) has created us for His Ibaadah ( worship ). He has prescribed rules for those who Believe in Allah; and those who abide by them, will succeed and prosper in the Hereafter.

 

Allah says in the Quran, "(It is He) who created death and life to test which of you is best in conduct; and He is the Mighty, the Forgiving." [Chapter 67, Verse 2]

 

Loss and grief is part of the test. When a person encounters loss or grief, it actually a test, which Allah is putting us through. Allah says, " Be sure, We shall test you through fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but glad tidings to those who patiently persevere." [Surah Baqarah, Chapter 2, Verse 155]

It is natural to feel sorrow over a loss, whether it be concerning wealth and possesion or losing a loved one. But Islam teaches muslims to remain steadfast at all times. When a hard time befalls him, or a grief overwhelms him, a muslim should turn his attention to Allah Subhanahu Wata'ala, and should pray and supplicate. And Allah will give him the strength to endure the loss and pain.

Islam teaches us to remain patient in the greatest of losses and not to greive unnecessesarily over what has been lost; as life in this world is temporary. Eveything is bound to an end one day. Moreover, everything is predistined Allah Jallah Shanuhu has already written the "fate" of everyone, as Allah says in Surah Hadeed, " No calamity befalls on the earth or in yourselves but it is incribed in the Book of Decrees (Al Lauh ul Mahfooz) before We bring it into existance. Verily, that is easy for Allah. In order that you may not grieve at the things that you fail to get, nor rejoice over that which has been given to you. And Allah likes not prideful boasters. [Surah Al Hadeed, Verses 22-23]

 

A muslim should never complain about a loss he faces; as everything in this world belongs to Allah, and whatever happens is due to Allah's decision and whatever Allah has decided is, for the benefit of the muslim, whether the benefit is in this world or the hereafter, or both, this too is Allah's decision.

On the occasion of death, of Prophet Muhammad's (Sallallahu Alaihi Wassallam) son, Ibrahim, the Prophet said, "Our eyes our filled with tears, our hearts with grief but, we say nothing with our lips except that which pleases Allah Verily to Allah we belong and to Him we return."

This example from the life of the Holy Prophet(peace be upon him) as well as countless others from that of Sahabah (R.A), teach us to be patient and submit to the will of Allah, and accept His decision for us.

 

On dealing with sorrow, Shekih Al Sheraim said, a muslim must supplicate to Allah to ward off sorrow before it strikes him. But when it happens, a Muslim must be patient and Allah will reward him by forgiving his sins. He should also supplicate to Allah so that He removes the sadness from his heart and replaces it with happiness"

 

-end of article

 

So yeah, today's been a little hard and I've discovered a few "losses" I wasn't expecting. But indeed, Allah knows best..

 

My duah for today: Inna-lillahi wa'inna ilayhi raji'un. Allahumma-juri fi museebati wa akhlif li khairan minha To Allah we belong, and to Him is our Return. O Allah! Take me out of my plight and replace it with something which is better” [Muslim; 2:632]

 

"For indeed, with hardship, (comes) ease. Indeed, with hardship (will be) ease." (Surah ash-Sharh 94:5-6