Today, there’s no place where Charles Darwin’s social theory of evolution has played out like Nigeria in which life is now about “survival of the fittest.” Even the blind that does not see, the deaf that does not hear, the child that is yet feeble, and the very elderly that is too old to know what is happening around him knows that there’s hardship in the country; all because of the incredible inflation in the prices of goods and services. It’s real that times are biting Nigerians hard.
Every day, more and more Nigerians get impoverished and hopeless about the next moment in their life. With the naira perpetually losing its strength, food is becoming unaffordable to many households. This is in spite of all the human and material resources that Allah has endowed the country with. Unlike China and India both of which collectively own half of the world’s population, Nigeria is the only part of the world where population has been turned into a curse rather than a blessing; with stark poverty ‘flashing’ gloomily on the face of citizens.
Truly, life is naturally a course of varying degrees of trials which Allah deploys to measure and examine the quality of sincerity in a person’s faith. While it is natural that everyone likes to have all the good things that would make living on earth delightful, destiny sometimes works against this desire by subjecting an individual to unpleasant experiences he would wish he never encountered. Adversity could be suffered in different ways including flood disaster, low farm yield, domestic or road accident, crack or total collapse of a marriage, bankruptcy, illness, or demise of a dear one, joblessness (or loss of an existing job), failure in exam, or crash in a business venture.
Life, they say, is never one sweet song. It is, therefore, characteristic for individuals to experience failures or suffer adversities just as nations could also be made to endure hardships on the way to prosperity. It would really appear extraordinary if a person gets everything he wanted in life. Even if one was lucky to have everything, not everything would have come at the time he wanted them. Allah reminds us in Qur’an 2:155-156 “But we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently preserve; who say when afflicted with calamity: To Allah we belong and to him is our return”.
Allah mentions in the Qur’an 2:214 “Or do ye think that ye shall enter the Garden (of Bliss) without such (trials) as came to those who passed away before you? They encountered suffering and adversity, and were so shaken in spirit that even the messenger and those of faith whom were with him cried…” A man is tested or tried according to his level of faith. The more righteous a person is, the more likely that he suffers a more critical trial. This explains why prophets and messengers of Allah were the most severely tested.
Islam teaches that we link everything that comes our way in life, whether good or bad, to Allah (SWT). Indeed, this is the sixth article of faith in Islam. Whenever a believer does experience any misfortune or distress, it is required of him to reaffirm his basic conviction that to Allah belong all things and to Him is the return of all. It is not righteous for a believer to ascribe any catastrophe, disaster or mischance to someone or something immediate or remote.
Sometimes, those in whom you hitherto confided in and considered reliable could give you the greatest surprise in your life. They could desert you when you needed them most especially in trying moments of your life. Nonetheless, such human attitude should not be a source of worry or disappointment. Even when your assumptions are justified that everyone has abandoned you, Allah is by your side. Turn to Him (SWT) in patience and prayers. Surely, He will lead you out of your predicaments. Allah is always there to lift you up when you are down. Hence, let us believe as Nigerians with faith in the omniscience and omnipotence of our creator that Allah who “neither sleeps nor slumbers” is there to rescue us from our current misadventure of difficult times.
The ups and downs of life are generally a part of the exigencies of the life on this planet. No calamity befalls a person or a nation of people without the knowledge of Allah (SWT), the Omniscient. Even a leaf, fresh or dry, does not fall from a tree except by Allah’s leave. Allah states in Qur’an 57:22-23 “No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before we bring it in to existence: That is only easy for Allah; in order that ye may not despair over matters that pass you by, nor exult over favours bestowed upon you. For Allah loves not vainglorious boaster.”
When some things or everything appear difficult, turn to Allah, the Provider (Ar-Razzaq) and the Receptive (Al-Mujib). He is always there to give you ease from every hardship. When things are in turmoil or seem to be working against your individual and collective wish, put your hope in Allah (SWT). Rely absolutely upon Him and in total submission to His will. Lamentations and blame games are not likely to give us the succour we desire at the time we need it. The best intervention is that which we ask and receive from Allah who uses others among us to deploy the expected relief form our predicaments. All we need, therefore, to survive the current spate of the socio-economic crisis bedevilling us in Nigeria is persevering patience that is bonded with prayer. Allah affirms in Qur’an 2:45 “Seek (Allah’s) help with (persevering) patience and prayer even though that is difficult except for God-fearing.”
With prayers supported with genuine patience, we shall “squeeze water out of stone with our fingers”, or as the Hausa would say, “da hakuri a ke dafa ruwan sanyi” roughly meaning “patience could cook cold water (to a boiling degree).” Allah does not close one door but readily opens another. Qur’an 65:2 says, “…And for those who fear Allah, He (ever) prepares a way out.” Allah (SWT) provides solution to some of our problems, most often, from the most unexpected direction and in the most unanticipated way; sometimes at the most unpredictable time. The discernible message from the verse quoted above is that attaining Allah’s intervention in all matters that give us concern requires a deep sense of piety.
We must never give ourselves to depression, no matter how bad we imagine our situation to be. Hardship should rather strengthen us in courage, determination and faith. Allah, the Watchful (Ar-Raqib), verily hears, cares and cures. Call Him by any of His beautiful names and He will surely and positively answer you. He (SWT) responds to our prayers in different ways. He may decide to instantly give you that which you asked for; or withhold it and give it to you something better. Allah states in Qur’an 7:180 “The most beautiful names belong to Allah, so call on Him by them; But shun such men as use profanity in His names: for what they do, they will soon be requited.” Allah (SWT) is always where you think there’s no one else to come to your aid. When you are sick and no one seemingly remembers or cares for you, be rest assured that Allah is aware and is by your side. Allah says in Qur’an 94:6 “Verily, with every (experience of) hardship, there’s relief.”
When the peace of your life comes under threat, lodge your complaints with Allah who is the Source of peace and source of goodness. With constant prayers, patience and sincere belief in Allah’s Omnipotence, one would be able to overcome all obstacles. No matter the complexities of a problem, let us not ever imagine that they are beyond Allah’s might who subdues everything to His will and plan. When nothing makes sense to us because we are confused or perplexed, Allah (SWT) remains our guide. When your friends and relations are too busy to find out how you are getting on, turn to Allah (SWT) for guidance on all issues. May Allah grant us wives, children, jobs, and all that would be the comfort of our eyes and heart, amin.
