Performing Servitude in Unpleasant Circumstances—A Great Station of Faith
✍🏻 Abu Khalid Qasmi
Human life is entirely a test, and the most subtle secret of this test is that the servant, by becoming a slave of Allah, turns to Him in every situation—whether the situation is pleasant or unpleasant, favorable or unfavorable. This is the point on which Imam Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy on him) shed light with great insight in "Sahih Wabil al-Sayyib," and clarified that the real value and worth of servitude appears in hardship, not in comfort.
He says that Allah does not test the servant to destroy him, but to
test his patience, his steadfastness, his servitude, and his truthfulness.
If a person becomes a servant of Allah only in ease, and his participation decreases as soon as hardship comes, then this is not servitude but convenience. True servitude is that which remains constant in every season.
Allah Almighty says: وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ And We will surely test you.
This door of testing reveals the status and rank of the servant.
Sarrah and Dharra: Allah has a right in both
Allah has a right on the servant in prosperity as well as in hardship and difficulty.
There is servitude in things that are loved, and also in things that are disliked.
What a great principle this is!
Most people only perform those acts of worship that give them pleasure:
Prayer with ease,
Easy fasting,
Goodness with comfort,
And those deeds in which there is no fatigue or discomfort.
But the real test begins where the nature is disturbed, the soul does not go there, the desire wants something else, and the environment does not support it.
A few examples
1. Servitude in beloved things
Performing ablution with cold water in hot weather—this is also worship.
Having intercourse with one's beloved wife—this is also worship; the Prophet ﷺ said: "In the sexual act of each of you there is a charity."
Spending on one's family—this is also worship, and its reward is certain.
All these are actions that a person does with pleasure, and he also feels inclined towards them.
2. Servitude in disliked things
But on the other hand:
Performing ablution with cold water in severe cold—this is a very high level of worship, because the soul runs away from it.
Giving up sin while the heart has a strong desire for it, and there is no one to see—this is pure loyalty to Allah.
Spending in times of hardship—this is a sign of strong faith and certainty.
Here it becomes clear that there is a difference between the reality of worship with love and worship with hardship like the difference between heaven and earth.
True Servitude: Steadfastness in both situations
The highest is the servant who:
Is a servant of Allah in happiness,
Is His servant in hardship as well,
Is grateful in blessings,
Is patient in calamity,
Prefers Allah in the attraction of desire,
And remains steadfast on faith in difficult circumstances.
It is about such a servant that Allah Almighty said:
"أَلَيْسَ اللَّهُ بِكَافٍ عَبْدَهُ" — Is Allah not sufficient for His servant?
And in another recitation it is:
"عِبَادَهُ" — Is He not sufficient for His servants?
That is, Allah takes care of those who remain His servants in every situation with His complete sufficiency, protection, and assistance.
Blessings of Servitude in Unpleasant Circumstances
The servant who becomes a servant of Allah even in hardship has several great results:
1. High ranks
Because the distribution of positions with Allah is according to patience and steadfastness.
2. Training of the soul
Hardships make a person strong, conscious, and pure from within.
3. Maturity in faith
The certainty that arises after trials can never be achieved before.
4. A special place of nearness to Allah
Loyalty in difficulties is the real ladder to closeness to Allah.
5. Spiritual peace
The taste of worship within trials is not available in normal circumstances.
In short, worship in blessings is easy, but worship in times of hardship is the real servitude. This is the place where Allah chooses His special servants. Blessed is the one whose heart remains connected with Allah in every situation, and who considers both Sarrah and Dharra as the same door to the path of servitude.
May Allah Almighty include us among those truthful servants who are servants in ease and servants in hardship as well.