All this makes sense and I believe in it as well. But my question is when you are thru all the depress time and down and jst lost - the time when you can hardly think straight then how can you really see what is mentioned in the thread. I mean how would you make your heart believe all that at THAT time?
Though I might be wrong, I would like to share what I sincerely feel about it.
We are only able to deal with a situation in a better way when we have done some homework for it. In other words when we mentally prepare ourselves (before time) through consistant reminders of hadiths and quotes of pious people of the past.
I remember that whenever our teacher would announce a surprise quiz test in the class, everyone would get shocked / tense, but only the top students used to remain calm, because they were already expecting something like that so they use to regularly (and consistantly) prepare themselves for such tests.
A pious muslim king was put to jail at an elder age. When he was asked about his situation, he replied, " All my life Allah prepared me for this great TEST of life" When test is great, the "reward of success" is also GREAT. This was the motivation for the Suhabas whenever they were tested through the toughest tests (ours are not even 1% as tough as were those tests)
Another way can be learning from the advice of the Prophet (saw). The Prophet (saw) advised us (muslim ummah) in one of the hadiths that whenever you are going through the toughest times of life, recall my sufferings and you would feel consoled by the fact that your sufferings are very less (compared to that of the Prophet).
^ Having said that, even if we do all the things mentioned above, we should still keep praying to Allah (s.w.t) for strength and wisdom to be able to deal in the best manner, whenever we come across a TEST in life.
^ Your detailed answer makes sense now especially about remembering the suffering or looking at somone who has suffered more than you. It can help you think straight but it can also make you think otherwise. Very challenging to keep the mindset positive and learn from the mistakes.
Oh.. I always thought you are a brother, anyways thanks for sharing your views, sister.
I would like to add here the fact that the "Perspective" and "Belief" regarding the problem (one is facing) also matters a lot. The kind of situaton you mentioned
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when you are thru all the depress time and down and jst lost - the time when you can hardly think straight
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usually arises when someone loses his mother, spouse or child in life, or faces any other serious loss.
At that time what matters the most is how the person **looks **at the tough phase he is going through. Just to clear this point, I would like to share a story. (Sorry for a long reply)
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Muhammad bin Ka‘b relates that there was a great ‘alim (learned person) and ‘abid (worshipper) in the Banu Israil (Children of Israil). He loved his wife very much. Co-incidentally, she passed away. This person was so grieved by this that he locked his door and abstained from meeting and conversing with people. A woman from the Banu Israil heard about this so she went to him. She informed those who were guarding the entrance to his house that she wants to ask him a mas'ala (question) and that it can only be asked directly to him. Saying this, she sat down stubbornly by the door. The person was informed of this and eventually permitted her to enter.
She said: "I want to ask you a mas'ala."
He replied: "Go ahead."
She said: "I have a neighbor from whom I borrowed some jewellery. I am wearing it for quite some time now. Thereafter she sent a person asking for her jewellery. The question I want to ask you is that do I have to give it back to her?"
The ‘âlim replied: "Yes, you have to give it back to her." The woman replied: "That jewellery was with me for a very long time. How can I give it?"
The ‘âlim replied: "In such a case, you should give it even more happily because it was out of her kindness that she allowed you to use it for such a long time." When he said this, the woman replied: "May Allah have mercy on you? Why, then, are you so sad? Allah had loaned you something and when He wished, He took it back. (Because) it belongs to Him."
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