Breeze of Magic | Episode (6) | Sorrow relieves sorrow

0:02 The breeze of dawn.

0:08 Sorrow alleviates sorrow.

0:11 If the sun of happiness sets from your eyes,

0:18 And the day of your life is still standing,

0:21 Do not feel lonely in the darkness of your hardship,

0:25 For around you are people who suffer what you suffer,

0:29 And feel pain just as you feel pain.

0:32 Do not think that you are the only one afflicted and pained,

0:37 Or the only one distressed and burdened.

0:40 For if you were to look at many people,

0:43 And reflect upon their conditions,

0:46 Your comfort would return amidst your affliction,

0:49 Your sadness and complaints would lighten,

0:52 And your calamity in this world would seem trivial to you.

0:55 A wise man said to a man he saw in distress:

0:58 "If you were to bring to your heart the calamities that others face,

1:02 Your worry would diminish."

1:06 This is one of the benefits of the universality of hardship in this abode,

1:10 For in that is a solace that lightens the calamity,

1:14 And extinguishes its heat from the hearts.

1:17 Ibn al-Qayyim said,

1:19 While discussing the remedy for the heat of calamity and its sorrow:

1:23 "Among its remedies

1:25 Is to extinguish the fire of one's calamity with the coolness of finding solace in other afflicted people.

1:30 Let him know that 'in every valley there are the sons of Sa'd' (i.e., everyone has their own troubles).

1:35 Let him look to his right: does he see anything but trials?

1:40 Then let him turn to his left: does he see anything but regret?

1:46 And if he were to search the world,

1:48 He would see no one in it but one who is afflicted,

1:51 Either by the loss of a beloved or the attainment of a burden."

1:55 He also said:

1:57 "When an afflicted person is joined by others in calamity,

2:00 A kind of relief and consolation is attained through this solace.

2:04 When calamities in this world become widespread,

2:07 They become a source of consolation."

2:09 This is Tumadir bint 'Amr,

2:12 Known as al-Khansa',

2:14 May Allah be pleased with her.

2:16 She loved her brother Sakhr with a great love,

2:20 And when he died,

2:22 Her heart and eyes wept for him,

2:25 And the verses of her poetry wept bitterly.

2:28 She continued to weep and lament for him,

2:31 Until her grief was lightened by finding solace in the afflicted people around her,

2:36 To the point that she said:

2:38 "Were it not for the many people weeping around me

2:41 For their own brothers, I would have killed myself.

2:45 They do not weep for anyone like my brother, but

2:48 I console my soul by finding solace in them."

2:52 Similar to the words of al-Khansa' are the words of the poet:

2:56 "How many a friend have I lost, and a cousin,

3:01 And a dear one whom death has claimed!

3:04 So I found solace through comfort and patience,

3:07 Though I am deeply attached to my companion."

3:10 And another said:

3:12 "Were it not for sorrow, I would not have lived among people after him,

3:16 But whenever I wish, someone like me answers me."

3:21 And another said:

3:23 "If no one remains,

3:26 Then finding solace is the medicine for sorrow."

3:29 Indeed, if you were to reflect,

3:33 You would find that the mention of finding solace

3:35 Is something the Qur'an speaks of frequently,

3:38 In order for Allah to lighten for His Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him,

3:43 And the believers with him, the intensity of what they faced from the disbelievers,

3:48 And their turning away and harming them.

3:51 How many stories and accounts did Allah the Exalted mention regarding the previous prophets

3:57 And their believing followers,

3:59 So that He might console the people of faith thereby,

4:02 Regarding the pain they find on the path of faith.

4:06 Then Allah says to His noble Messenger:

4:10 “Then have patience (O Muhammad) even as the stout of heart among the messengers (of old) had patience, and seek not to hasten on (the doom) for them. On the day when they see that which they are promised (it will seem to them) as though they had tarried but an hour of daylight. A clear message. Shall any be destroyed save evil-living folk?” (46:35)

4:14 Until those Qur'anic stories became

4:17 A medicine that lightens the believers' trials,

4:21 And they counsel one another to seek healing through it at all times and moments.

4:26 Thus, a friend consoles his imprisoned friend by saying:

4:31 "The vicissitudes of time have refined you, for

4:35 Pure gold is refined by the furnace before you."

4:39 "Is there not in the Messenger of Allah, Yusuf, an example

4:44 For someone like you, imprisoned due to injustice and falsehood?

4:48 He maintained beautiful patience in prison for a while,

4:52 And that beautiful patience led him to the kingdom."

4:56 So, O you who are distressed,

4:59 Find solace in those around you who are also afflicted,

5:03 And remember that no one is safe from calamity.

5:07 For if he is safe from it today, he will not be safe tomorrow,

5:11 And if it has cleared from him today,

5:14 It had descended upon him yesterday.

5:17 In this, there is comfort for you,

5:20 Until the anxiety of your soul calms down.

5:24 Ibn al-Jawzi mentioned, saying:

5:27 "Some of those who read in the books told me

5:30 That when Dhu al-Qarnayn returned from the east

5:33 And the west of the earth,

5:36 And reached the land of Babylon, he fell severely ill.

5:40 When he feared he would die, he wrote to his mother:

5:44 'O mother, prepare a meal,

5:47 And gather whomever you are able to,

5:50 But let no one eat of your food who has been afflicted by a calamity.'

5:54 'And let me know if you found anything that has a lasting stability,

5:59 Or an eternal existence.'

6:03 'I have come to know with certainty

6:06 That what I am going to is better than my current place.'

6:09 He said: When his letter reached her,

6:12 She prepared the food,

6:15 And gathered the people and said:

6:18 'This is for those who have been afflicted by a calamity.'

6:21 No one ate, and she realized what he intended.

6:25 So she said: 'Who will convey to you on my behalf

6:28 That you exhorted me, and I took heed,

6:31 And you consoled me, and I found solace?

6:34 So peace be upon you, living and dead.'"

Breeze of Magic | Episode (6) | Sorrow relieves sorrow

Transcript