The dawn breeze.
The successful graduates of the College of Adversity.
There, in the corridors of pain,
a great number of people wait in various departments of the College of Adversity,
spending their bitter time,
awaiting graduation and the receipt of their certificate of achievement.
Some people graduate having failed in various ways.
One may fail in the subjects of contentment with Allah and His decree,
leaving in a state of resentment and agitation,
perhaps even carrying with him accusations against the justice and wisdom of Allah in His decree,
departing having lost both this world and the Hereafter.
Another may fail in the subjects of patience during hardships,
leaving with pain as his constant companion,
becoming impatient and losing the reward for his affliction
and the elevation in the sight of his Lord.
Yet there is another category, contrary to the former,
they are the successful ones in that academic institution,
those who endured the hardship of standing firm in the face of adversity,
and struggled against their own selves to remain patient through the bitterness of their training during that period,
until they graduated with a certificate that brings them happiness in their worldly life and their Hereafter.
So what are the successes with which they graduated?
As for the Hereafter, it is the attainment of the pleasure of Allah,
and salvation from His Fire, if they die upon faith and patience regarding that with which they were tested.
As for this world, they graduated with the success of spiritual purity,
after trials had buffeted them and they had buffeted trials,
and they had squeezed and been squeezed by them,
until they emerged purified of the impurities of weakness and frailty,
and of doubt and agitation.
The dross was removed from them in the fire of adversities, which they faced with steadfastness,
so they became refined gold.
Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said:
"The point is that the wisdom of Allah, Glorified be He, necessitated that He must test souls and try them,
so that through the test, their good may be distinguished from their evil,
and those fit for His guardianship and honor may be distinguished from those who are not.
And to refine the souls that are fit for Him, and to purify them in the furnace of testing,
just like gold that cannot be purified or cleansed of its dross
except through testing.
For the soul is, in its origin, ignorant and unjust,
and it has acquired, through ignorance and injustice, such filth
that requires smelting and refining to be removed.
If it is removed in this world, [it is well],
otherwise, it will be in the furnace of Hell."
So when the servant is refined and purified,
he is permitted to enter Paradise.
In the Battle of Uhud,
which involved such wounds as it did,
it became a laboratory
through which the believers were distinguished from the hypocrites.
Allah the Exalted says:
“If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Allah loveth not wrong-doers.” (3:140)
“If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Allah loveth not wrong-doers.” (3:140)
“If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Allah loveth not wrong-doers.” (3:140)
"And He may take martyrs from among you,"
"And Allah does not like the wrongdoers."
“And that Allah may prove those who believe, and may blight the disbelievers.” (3:141)
"And He may destroy the disbelievers."
Allah the Exalted says:
“It is not (the purpose) of Allah to leave you in your present state till He shall separate the wicked from the good. And it is not (the purpose of) Allah to let you know the Unseen. But Allah chooseth of His messengers whom He will, (to receive knowledge thereof). So believe in Allah and His messengers. If ye believe and ward off (evil), yours will be a vast reward.” (3:179)
“It is not (the purpose) of Allah to leave you in your present state till He shall separate the wicked from the good. And it is not (the purpose of) Allah to let you know the Unseen. But Allah chooseth of His messengers whom He will, (to receive knowledge thereof). So believe in Allah and His messengers. If ye believe and ward off (evil), yours will be a vast reward.” (3:179)
The successful ones graduated from the College of Adversity with the success of
fortitude and endurance in facing the hardships of life.
They developed an immunity that protects them from the painful shocks of the future,
as the poet says,
even if he erred in attributing evil to time:
"Time pelted me with calamities until
my heart was encased in a shield of arrows.
And whenever arrows struck me,
the arrowheads would shatter against other arrowheads.
So here I am, unconcerned by disasters,
because I never sought to be unconcerned."
The successful ones graduated from the College of Adversity with the success of
the sweetness of supplication before Allah.
For that pleasure in intimate conversation with Allah and calling upon Him, which pain gave birth to,
had a great effect in calming their souls and reassuring them,
and in attaining what they sought.
Thus, upon graduation, they realized
that what they disliked was the path to reaching what they loved.
Ibn 'Uyaynah said:
"What the servant dislikes is better for him than what he loves,
because what he dislikes stirs him to supplication,
while what he loves distracts him from it."
And Ibrahim al-Taymi said:
"If there were no good for us in what we dislike,
there would be no good for us in what we love."
The successful ones graduated from the College of Adversity with the success of
mercy for those in affliction,
and compassion for the prisoners of hardship.
They became softer in heart and more tender in spirit toward them.
So whenever they saw them,
they hastened to their aid, remembering:
“O ye who believe! When ye go forth (to fight) in the way of Allah, be careful to discriminate, and say not unto one who offereth you peace: "Thou art not a believer," seeking the chance profits of this life (so that ye may despoil him). With Allah are plenteous spoils. Even thus (as he now is) were ye before; but Allah hath since then been gracious unto you. Therefore take care to discriminate. Allah is ever Informed of what ye do.” (4:94)
"Allah has been gracious to you."
And no one performs such a favor
except those of abundant gratitude.
As al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih,
from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who said:
"Three people among the Children of Israel—
a leper, a bald man, and a blind man—
Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, wanted to test them..."
[He continued] until the hadith says:
"And he came to the blind man in his [former] appearance and said:
'A poor man and a wayfarer,
and my means have been cut off in my journey,
so there is no way for me today except through Allah, then you.
I ask you by the One who restored your sight,
for a sheep to help me on my journey.'
He replied:
'I was blind and Allah restored my sight,
and I was poor and He made me rich,
so take whatever you wish.
For by Allah, I will not burden you today with anything
you take for the sake of Allah.'
He said: 'Keep your wealth,
for you have only been tested.
Allah is pleased with you and is displeased with your two companions.'"
The successful ones graduated from the College of Adversity with the success of
knowing people for who they truly are.
They recognized the one who was sincere in his love for them from the liar,
and the enemy from the friend,
because days of ease do not distinguish the true nature of people.
So when the winds of adversity blew,
they overturned the pots of the liars,
who dismantled their tents and departed,
leaving you under the storms of adversity to struggle alone,
except for the loyal ones among relatives and strangers,
who stood with you under the gusting wind.
So when the adversity passed,
you knew the true mettle of people.
The poet said:
"If time has been harsh to me,
with types of grief that choked my throat,
it has done me a favor, for
through it, I knew my enemy from my friend."
And another said, expressing the same meaning:
"May Allah reward adversities with every good,
even if they choke me with my own breath.
My gratitude to them is not praise, but
through them, I knew my enemy from my friend."