Grief · Article

A Gift to the Distressed

وَلَسَوْفَ يُعْطِيكَ رَبُّكَ فَتَرْضَىٰٓ

And of course, your Lord will give you so much that you will be pleased.

Mawlāna Ashraf ‘Alī Thānwī writes under the tafsir of this verse:

“انقباض” کی مذکورہ کیفیت کے سیاق وسباق میں اب اللہ تعالیٰ حضور ﷺ پر اپنے احسانات جتا رہا ہے۔ یہ بھی دراصل حضور ﷺ کے لیے تسلی ہی کا ایک انداز ہے۔ جبکہ اس میں ہمارے لیے بھی راہنمائی ہے کہ جب کسی وقت آدمی پر ڈپریشن اور افسردگی کی کیفیت طاری ہو تو اسے چاہیے کہ اس کیفیت میں وہ خصوصی طور پر اللہ تعالیٰ کے احسانات کو گن گن کر یاد کرے کہ اللہ تعالیٰ کس کس انداز میں اس کی مدد کرتا رہا ہے اور کیسی کیسی مشکلات سے اسے نجات دلاتا رہا ہے۔ ظاہر ہے ماضی کے حوالے سے اللہ تعالیٰ کے احسانات یاد کرنے سے ایک پریشان حال آدمی کا حوصلہ بڑھتا ہے اور اس کی مثبت سوچ کو تحریک ملتی ہے۔

In the context of the state of emotional constriction and heaviness that the Rasūlullah ﷺ had experienced, Allah now reminds him of His countless favours. This itself is a profound means of consolation.

Within this is also guidance for us. Whenever a person is overcome by depression, sadness, or emotional distress, they should consciously recall Allah’s many blessings upon them, remembering the countless ways in which Allah has supported them and delivered them from hardship. Reflecting upon Allah’s past favours strengthens a distressed person’s resolve and revives positive hope in the heart.[1]

What lies ahead is better than what has passed. Your Lord has not forsaken you, no matter how long the intervals of gasping for air may seem.

The beauty of a believer’s life is that no matter how long the darkest night endures, the dawn of relief is always near. It may come as the sunrise after years of hardship, or as the gentle breeze of the angels of mercy welcoming the believer into the everlasting bliss of the Hereafter.

Never surrender to despair. Hold firmly to the promise of your Lord:

“And of course, your Lord will give you so much that you will be pleased”

Footnotes

  1. [1] Bayān al-Qurʾān.
GriefAnxietyEmotional WellbeingIslamic Psychology

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