I was ironing my work clothes, and I got frustrated. Ironing isn’t exactly on my ‘favourite things to do’ list, so ironing a cotton abaya brought the worst of me. I was complaining, non-stop.

But, then I paused for a moment, pondered for a while, and made istighfar. Ironing is nothing but a simple task.

We have always complained about small tests and trials, exaggerating it, as if the world is over. If something as small as ironing clothes frustrated me, imagine if I were tested with something bigger. Sometimes when people have extended their hands to help – physically and mentally, egoistically, I would say “You don’t know what I just went through!” Yes, that is so true. Except Allah, no one knows what we go through. That doesn’t mean that we are the only ones being tested, everyone is being tested differently, according to their capabilities.

“Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity” (2:286)

Yet, I keep on forgetting one thing. Yes, we are tested differently, but for every test and trial, there is only one solution. It doesn’t matter if none of our problems are relatable, we still have that one solution. To come back to Allah. To look at every test and trial as a means of bringing us closer to Allah. After all, everything in this dunya is a test.

“And know that your properties and your children are but a trial and that Allah has with Him a great reward.” (8:28)

Looking back, whatever test and trial that got under my skin, is nothing really. Nothing compared to what the sahabah (RA) had faced when they were tortured by the mushrikeen. It was nothing compared to the struggles our brothers and sisters face in Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Myanmar and everywhere else muslims are being oppressed. No one is bombing my home. No one is stopping me from praying to Allah. No one is forcing me to break my fast.

Sometimes, what one needs, is to reflect. To instill patience in oneself, and to learn to accept tests and trials without any objection, especially towards The Almighty.

“Jabir reported: I heard Allah’s Apostle (peace be upon him) as saying three days before his death; ‘None of you should court death but only hoping good from Allah.’” (Sahih Muslim, no. 2877)

“And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,” (2:155)

“Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars.” (29:2-3)

Time to wake up, take a look around and stop thinking that the world revolves around us. Whatever calamity we are facing now, be sure, there is someone who is facing worse than us.

Anisah Matasim,
Writer, AAT