Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Salaam brother,

sorry also, i always bring upon mistakes upon myself and dont do things in a straight manner .  so i am always inflicted with problems, i pray from my heart but i feel my dua'ain are not being answered... i had started a business and am in soo much debt and have been praying for 6 months now, but to no avail. what would you advise?

and thank you for such a wonderful facility that you have created.  itsbrilliant and my friends and family all recommend this websites to all youngsters. 

 I pray ALLAH SWT gives you the rewards in paradise and ease you with all your difficulties AMEEN

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Debts and problems

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 2 Surah Baqarah verses 155-157:

155 Be sure 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 persevere.

156 Who say when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong and to Him is our return."

157 They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah and Mercy and they are the ones that receive guidance.

My beloved brother in Islam, the life of this world is no more than a trial set upon mankind by their Lord to see who amongst them is grateful when He bestows them with good, and who amongst them is patient when bestowed with an affliction. It is the principle of the trial, that the Lord does not burden anyone more than one can bear; and the Lord is well aware of the condition of each and every one in His creation. The Messenger of Allah (saws) said in an authentic narration that the more Allah loves someone, the more He puts trials and afflictions upon them, so that He may give them a huge reward for the patience and perseverance they practiced.

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1566 Narrated by Anas ibn Malik

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "The magnitude of the reward goes along with the magnitude of the affliction. When Allah who is Great and Glorious loves people He afflicts them (so that He may reward the pious who display patience and perseverance in their affliction in their eternal life of the Hereafter).”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1562 Narrated by Sa'd

When the Prophet (saws) was asked which people suffered the greatest affliction, he (saws) replied, "The Prophets, then those who come next to them (in piety), then those who come next to them (in piety)!. A man is afflicted in keeping his religion. If he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if there is weakness in his religion it is made light for him.”

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 1570 Narrated by Jabir ibn Abdullah

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "On the Day of Resurrection, when people who have suffered affliction are given their reward, those who are healthy will wish their skins had been cut to pieces with scissors when they were in the world."

Beloved brother in Islam, remain constant in your supplications to your Lord to make your trial easy for you, and implore him to give you the wisdom and the courage to face these afflictions with patience and perseverance and deeds that are pleasing to Him. Regardless of the trials and afflictions that befall you, know with conviction that it is Allah Alone Who has the Power to remove them from you; thus call upon Him and Him Alone to ease your condition for you and reward you from His Bounty in this world and the Hereafter.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 4.131b

When One is in Debt

Ali related that a slave, who had agreed on terms of his freedom with his master, came to him and said, "I cannot pay my master as I agreed in the terms of freedom, so help me." Ali said to him, "Let me teach you the supplication that the Prophet (saws) taught me. If you say it, Allah will cause your debt to be paid even if it be as great as a mountain. Say, 'O Allah, make Your lawful bounties sufficient for me so as to save me from what is unlawful, and from Your Grace grant me sufficient abundance to make me free from the need of all except You'."

Related by Tirmidhi.

Abu Sa'id al-Khudri reported, "One day the Prophet (saws) entered the mosque. He (saws) saw there a man from the Ansar called Abu Umamah. He (saws) asked, 'What is the matter with you that I see you sitting in the mosque when it is not the time of prayer.' He replied, 'I am very much worried and in great debt, O Messenger of Allah (saws)!' The Prophet (saws) said, 'Let me teach you words to say so that Allah will remove your worries and settle your debt?' He exclaimed, 'Of course, O, Messenger of Allah (saws).' The Prophet (saws) said, 'Say in morning and evening, "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from all worry and grief. I seek refuge in You from incapacity and slackness. I seek refuge in You from cowardice and niggardliness, and I seek refuge in You from being overcome by debt and being subjected to men".' The man said, 'When I did that, Allah removed all my worries and settled my debt'."

Related by Abu Dawood.

Fiqh-us-Sunnah Fiqh 4.132

When One is Faced with Something Difficult or Unpleasant

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "When one of you is afflicted with any misfortune he should say, 'Inna li llahi wa inna 'ilayhi Raji'un (We are from Allah, and to Him is our return),' even if it be merely losing one's shoe straps, for this is also a misfortune."

Related by Ibn As-Sinni.

Abu Hurairah reported that the Prophet (saws) said, "A strong believer is better and dearer to Allah than a weak believer, and there is good in everyone, but cherish what gives you benefit in the Hereafter and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart, and if anything (in the form of trouble) comes to you, don't say, 'If I had not done that, such and such thing would not have happened,' but say, 'Allah has ordained it so, and whatever He Pleases, He Does,' because 'ifs' and 'buts' open the door for Shaytaan."

Related by Muslim.

May Allah Subhanah make your trial easy for you and relieve you of your debt, and may the Bounteous and Gracious Lord make you free from the need of anyone, except Him Alone.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan