contradict. Instead, he should abide by them so as to enjoy a good
life and eternal happiness in the Hereafter. One such norm is that if
one works hard, he will find results; if one exhausts oneself a little
bit, he can enjoy a long rest. Indeed reaping noble benefits depends
on experiencing difficulties. Pleasure and perfect qualities cannot be
gained except with some difficulty. If it were not for difficulties,
all people would be leaders.
A Person who Prefers Comfort has Scarce Potential for Success
Work in the worldly life relies upon diligence. Therefore, man is
required to work hard and actively, leaving behind laziness. The Quran
and Sunnah direct us towards this understanding. Allaah The Almighty
Says )what means(:
}And say, "Work, for Allaah will see your deeds, and ]so, will[ His
Messenger and the believers."{]Quran 9:105[
}It is He who made the earth tame for you - so walk among its slopes
and eat of His provision - and to Him is the resurrection.{]Quran
67:15[
The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, educated the Ummah )Muslim
Nation( in different ways on how to be diligent. For instance, he
urged Muslims to earn a living and provide from their own work,
saying:"Nobody has ever eaten a meal better than that which he has
earned from working with his own hands. The prophet of Allaah, Daawood
]David[, would eat from the work of his own hands."]Al-Bukhaari[
The Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also advised us to work
hard without giving in to feelings of frustration, saying:"Cherish
that which gives you benefit ]in the Hereafter[, seek help from Allaah
and do not lose heart."]Muslim[
He, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, also said:"If the Hour comes while
one of you has a shoot that he is able to plant, he should plant
it."]Ahmad, Al-Bukhaari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad[
Moreover, the Prophet, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, assured people
of the assistance of Allaah The Almighty, that He further increases
the high motivation and ambition of people according to the sublimity
of their ambition, saying:"Help from Allaah comes to the servant
according to his diligence."]Al-Bazzaar[
Of course hard work is exhausting, but it has great pleasure,
especially when the diligent person reaps the outcome of his work.
Ibn Ul-Qayyim, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said:
The sages of every nation agree that welfare cannot be obtained
through welfare, that anyone who prefers comfort will miss it, and
that joy and pleasure depend on the level of risks and difficulties
that are experienced when getting them. There is no joy for a person
who has no resolve; no pleasure for a person who lacks patience; no
bliss for a person who endures no hardships; and no comfort for a
person who has no hard work. If a person is exhausted for a short
time, he will relax for longer. If he endures difficulties for a short
while, this will lead him to eternal welfare. People who will receive
eternal delight ]the people of Paradise[ earned this status due to
their patience in this very short worldly life. Truly, Allaah alone
gives help, and there is no power except in Him.
The loftier one's self is and the higher his aspirations are, the more
a person's body is exhausted and the less his comfort is. Yahya ibn
Katheer, may Allaah have mercy upon him, said. "Knowledge cannot be
acquired when the body is in comfort." ]Muslim[
"All those who are sensible undoubtedly believe that perfect comfort
depends on the level of exhaustion, and perfect bliss relies on the
level of difficulties that are endured when achieving it. Comfort,
pleasure and bliss are free of exhaustion only in Paradise, not in
this worldly life. ]Quoted from 'Uluww Al-Himmah by Shaykh Muhammad
ibn Ismaa'eel[
A person who takes diligence to be a slogan in life does not depend on
his ancestors or family background, nor does he rely on boasting of
his fathers and forefathers. Instead he builds his own glory, adding
it to that of his forefathers'.
Quotations from Sages and Scholars
Some sages have said, "Utilize your diligence as long as you are in
good health, and take the opportunity to work while you are at
leisure, for time will not be always on your side, nor will you be
able to restore what you have lost."
A scholar once said, "Work is like an armor that protects a person
against afflictions, and diligence is like a sword that wards off
misfortune."
Another said, "Nothing is better than having a reason that is adorned
with forbearance, a deed that is adorned with knowledge, and
forbearance that is adorned with truthfulness!"
Some scholars have said, "Could it be true and logical that crops are
harvested without prior sowing of seeds, fruits are reaped without the
planting of trees, fire comes from two stones without striking them
together, or that money yields without effort?"
It was also said, "There is a cause for every provision and whoever
diligently seeks something, finds it."
Indeed, what a great saying was that of the Commander of Believers,
'Umar ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allaah be pleased with him, "Do not stop
pursuing livelihood and supplicating, 'O Allaah, provide for me!' You
know that the sky does not rain gold or silver. Allaah The Almighty
provides for people by virtue of their interaction."
Therefore, work hard and do not be indolent. Your Muslim nation is
waiting for a push from you like that of 'Umar, may Allaah be pleased
with him, a push that illuminates the torch of enthusiasm in its
heart, amidst the darkness of this gloomy state of obliviousness. It
is also waiting for a cry from you like that of Salaah Ad-Deen
Al-Ayyoobi )Saladin(, may Allaah have mercy upon him, a cry that
plants hope in the desert of despair. Help from Allaah comes in
accordance with diligence, therefore seek help from Allaah and do not
lose heart!
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