You
might be beset with times of weakness, and this might make you feel
that you are a weak person. You imagine that your strength and abilities
have left you for good. You don’t feel you have the strength to make
any worthwhile effort, so even patience and persistence seem to be
fruitless.
Do not give in to such feelings. We all go through
such times. Our abilities wax and wane. If we resist letting such
feelings defeat us, we will soon see our strength restored.
Disappointment
is another feeling we should remain vigilant against. If we are not
careful, it can shatter our self-confidence and make us feel that we are
hopeless. Do not give in to this. We need to know that failure is not
shameful as long as we gave it our utmost best and were sincere.
No
person can be counted a failure unless he accepts defeat and gives up
trying. Therefore, we must keep trying. With persistence, we can – with
Allah’s grace – reach our goals.
At other times, you
might be afflicted with feelings of pride. You might be very much
impressed with yourself or with your achievements. You get all puffed up
with yourself and begin to feel that you are uniquely gifted and
praiseworthy. You feel you don’t need anyone else’s advice or guidance.
If
you find yourself in this frame of mind, beware. Don’t give in to these
feelings. Don’t let yourself get enamored of your own cleverness. Don’t
become impressed with just how much you know.
The remedy here is to contemplate on your deficiencies. Think
about the areas where you are lacking. Think about where you are weak.
In this way, you can give a counterweight to your achievements and
restore yourself to a balanced frame of mind.
Then
there are times when you have so many worries that they weigh you down.
Problems just seem to come from all directions. You might begin to
imagine that this is what your life is about – one long list of
problems. Pessimism tales over and you see your future as dark indeed
with no light up ahead.
Do not give in to such pessimism. Never look at the bad without thinking about the good that lies ahead. Never mistake your present problems for being your lot in life.
Allah says: “So, verily, with every difficulty, there comes ease: Verily, with every difficulty there comes ease.” [Sûrah al-Inshirâh: 5-6]You
do your utmost to ascertain what is correct. You try so hard to always
do what is right. You do everything in your power to avoid making a
mistake towards another person. Nevertheless, you still slip and fall
into error – over and over again.
Don’t let this make you to think that you should give up aspiring to excellence. Who is it that never sins?
When
a person slips and slips again, Satan tries to put in that person’s
heart the idea that he is a bad person – that he is far away from all
that is good.
Satan wants to make you think that you are a
hopeless case – predestined for damnation. He wants you to give up
trying to be good.
Never
give in to such thought. Remember what the Prophet (peace be upon him)
told us: “Every one of Adam’s children is a sinner – and the best of
sinners are those who repent.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhî (2423) and Sunan Ibn
Mâjah (4241)]
Allah says: “Those who fear Allah, when a
thought of evil from Satan assaults them, bring Allah to remembrance,
when lo! they see aright!” [Sûrah al-A`râf: 201]
In this way, we will be able to ward off the gloom of hopelessness and despair.
Don’t give in.
Picture: Koski Pasha Mosque Bosnia
