Episode 37 - A Special Relationship with Allah the Almighty

When we go through a difficult time or wish for something unlikely to happen, there is a thought that weakens our hope in achieving what we pray for, so we pray to Allah with indifference. This thought is: (Many others have gone through a similar situation, and I see them better off than me. They prayed to Allah, but He did not answer them. So, it is even less likely that He will answer me).

Brothers, let me share with you the answer I gave myself to this question, which had a great impact on my relationship with Allah the Almighty, and I believe it is one of the great reasons for the acceptance of prayers.

The answer: (Look at your relationship with Allah the Almighty as a special relationship that is not affected by what happens to others). Many others may have fallen into a similar or even worse calamity, and their prayers were not answered, even though they prayed to Allah more and were more pious than you. It has nothing to do with you. Pray with certainty and hope in Allah's generosity, and do not compare yourself to others. What are the evidences for this? 1. Comparing oneself to others (Others are better and their calamities were not lifted, so it is even less likely for me) is a form of calculation. And Allah the Almighty says: {Verily, Allah provides for whom He wills without any account 37} [Al-Imran: 37]... So, the relief of distress, the fulfillment of wishes, and all forms of sustenance from the Creator are not subject to calculation. Ibn Ashur said in his interpretation (Al-Tahrir wa Al-Tanwir): (The calculation in His saying: (without any account) means limitation, because calculation requires limiting the counted thing so that it does not increase or decrease. The meaning is that Allah provides for whom He wills with an amount whose measure is unknown because it is entrusted to Allah's grace). - Reflect on the saying of Allah the Almighty: {Say: Verily, the favor is in the hand of Allah; He gives it to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Encompassing, All-Knowing 73 He singles out with His mercy whom He wills. And Allah is the Owner of the Great Bounty 74} [Al-Imran: 74, 73].. 2. And the meaning of the special relationship is supported by a hadith narrated by Al-Bukhari, in which our Prophet (peace be upon him) said: (... And the example of you and the Jews and the Christians is like the example of a man who employed workers, and said: Who will work for me until midday for a qirat? The Jews worked, then he said: Who will work for me from midday to afternoon? The Christians worked, then you (the Muslims) work from afternoon to sunset for two qirats, two qirats. They said (the Jews and Christians - those who died upon monotheism before the Prophet's mission): (We are more in work and less in reward?!), He said: (Did I wrong you in your right?) They said: (No), He said: (That is My favor, and I give it to whom I will). The point is that Allah does not wrong anyone, but He gives every good doer more than he deserves, but He may choose people for additional favor. Notice that it is called (favor) and not a right that He must fulfill. So, the Muslim should hope to be among those whom Allah the Almighty has singled out with additional favor.

O noble people: - One of the purposes of religion is to reassure the servant in Allah's mercy and to instill great hope in His giving. The comparison mentioned with the response to others contradicts this noble purpose. - If the mentioned comparison is correct, then what is the point of praying?! I will look at others and compare, and the answer will be ready: (They did not achieve what they prayed for, so I will not achieve it either), so the servitude of prayer is often paralyzed. - Look at the calamities of others to be patient as they are patient as long as you are in your calamity. But it is not right to make your relief dependent on their relief. - But do you know what happens? Sometimes we wait for the relief of others because we feel that in that there is "proof of Allah's mercy" and the response to the prayer! While the evidences of mercy and response are continuous without limit, were it not for forgetfulness and lack of contemplation. - Those whom you see better than you may not achieve what they asked for, such as the lifting of the calamity, because they are better than you! So, their prayers are preserved to expiate sins and raise their ranks, because He knows that their faith can bear it, and He provides them with contentment with His decree and comfort for their hearts, and thus He has responded to their prayers with what is more beneficial to them than what they actually asked for, while He may know that there is weakness in you (your return is soft), so He has mercy on your weakness, and makes the response to your prayers by lifting the calamity.

For all of the above, pray to Allah with certainty, make your relationship with Him special, and hope to be among those who are favored by Him, as if you say: (O Lord, I have nothing to do with so-and-so and so-and-so whose calamities were not lifted. You are more merciful to them and more knowledgeable of what is best for them. What I know is that I am a servant of a Generous Lord whose giving has no limit, and there is no Lord for me but Him, so I hope in Him, who provides for whom He wills without any account, so respond, O Generous One).