Allah is the master who meets all of humanity's needs, and His power is absolute. If He wills, He can make a poor man a ruler, and it takes Him no time to make a ruler poor. Power, influence and prestige all move at His sign. The life people boast about He can end in a moment, so people have nothing to be proud of; without Allah's mercy no one could live for a moment. Want and worry will always be part of life, and we must live with them while protecting our faith.

To be saved from the world's misfortunes, one should repent and seek forgiveness (tawbah and istighfar) often and ask for Allah's help. In a hadith narrated by Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA), the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever seeks forgiveness often, Allah will make a way out for him from every hardship, he will have no worry, and Allah will provide for him from sources he could never imagine." (Mustadrak al-Hakim)

So one should seek forgiveness often and tell Allah of one's needs and complaints. Allah is pleased by His servant's prayer and wants His servants to ask of Him openly. When asked, Allah will surely increase provision, remove want and bless earnings. We should try to be well ourselves and to see our relatives and neighbours well too; then Allah's mercy will be upon people, for Allah is merciful to those who show mercy to people, and helps those who help others.

Many people suffer from depression because they have no children. But, the writer asks, why suffer? No one knows better than Allah what is good for you. He is the best of judges and gives nothing to the undeserving. He tests the faith of some by granting them every blessing, and sometimes blesses even the oppressor with countless favours, so a believer never envies the dazzling splendour of the oppressor but seeks refuge from it. One should always be content with Allah's decision and ask of Him. Pray the tahajjud prayer late at night and ask Allah, and He will accept your prayer. Surrender yourself to Allah, and He will grant you much. Success lies not only in worldly gain; the hereafter is the real test, and whoever wins there has truly succeeded.

Most people think only of themselves, but a believer never does. He thinks of his relatives and loved ones too, because it is a duty of faith. People want longer lives and more provision, yet do not keep ties of kinship. In a hadith narrated by Abu Hurairah (RA), the Prophet (PBUH) said: "Whoever wishes his provision to be expanded and his life prolonged should maintain ties of kinship." (Bukhari) In a hadith narrated by Jubair bin Mutim (RA): "One who severs ties of kinship will not enter Paradise." (Bukhari and Muslim) The point is stressed again and again: "Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day should maintain ties of kinship." (Bukhari)

Relatives are a blessing from Allah. Increase your provision and lifespan by treating them well; such good conduct raises one's standing in this world and the next. There must be no flaw in one's intention: people should love one another for Allah's pleasure, and when someone falls into disobedience to God, leaving him should also be for Allah's pleasure. In everything there is good for the believer, because he cannot live a self-made life outside divine command.

Source: Amader Shomoy. First published in Bengali on The Agro News.