“We mature with experience and not with age”
It is a statement everyone of us is familiar with, but the Question is: Do we really understand it?
Well let’s have a profound look at it.
When we mature we are able to distinguish between right and wrong, truth and falsehood.And being given a situation and being able to succeed in judging and dealing and finding a solution.
As they say, “Age is just a number ”.Many agree with these words.
You can be 30 years old and act like a kid, and at the same time you can be 20 yrs old and act like a grown up.
Have you ever wondered why ?
Well the answer lies in just one word: Trials.
Many of us get tested by Allah in many different ways, if not by loss of wealth,loss of loved ones, loss of identity, and so on.
As mentioned in the following Ayah:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُم بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الْأَمْوَالِ وَالْأَنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ
“And We will most certainly try you with somewhat of fear and hunger and loss of property and lives and fruits; and give good news to the patient.” Surah Al-Baqara, Verse 155
These 5 things each one of us has either been tested before or maybe will be tested as long as your are in this world.
Well what does Allah want us to do after it?
Glad tidings to the patient .
Patience is the key to opening the new door of ease.
As Allah says in Surah Inshirah “Verily with every hardship there’s ease”
So let’s understand the word Patience:
While many people advise us on having Sabr, they fail to make us understand how deep this word is.
Does it mean we are supposed to be quiet and endure whatever is being done, or whatever we do?
Does it mean digesting the words and just remaining silent like a statue with no feelings?
Absolutely Not.
Patience is enduring something with the thought of making a CHANGE.
A change towards a better life than before.
We may fail in many steps in the staircase of Life, but when you topple over and fall and break your leg, that doesn’t mean you won’t be able to walk ahead! And that doesn’t mean you will stay where you are and never move forward…No!
You will find assistive substitutes in your life to make your way and attempt taking the next step forward. But as usual always consult Allah before anything, before anything you do in Life.
قال إِنَّ عِظَمَ الْجَزَاءِ مَعَ عِظَمِ الْبَلَاءِ وَإِنَّ اللَّهَ إِذَا أَحَبَّ قَوْمًا ابْتَلَاهُمْ فَمَنْ رَضِيَ فَلَهُ الرِّضَا وَمَنْ سَخِطَ فَلَهُ السَّخَطُ سنن الترمذي كتاب الزهد باب ما جاء في الصبر على البلاء
2396 المحدث الألباني خلاصة حكم المحدث حسن صحيح
“Verily, with greater rewards come greater trials. Verily, when Allah loves a people he will test them, so whoever is pleased then for him is satisfaction, and whoever is angry then for him is wrath.”
Source: Sunan al-Tirmidhī 2396
Grade: Sahih (authentic) according to Al-Albani
So Glad tidings to the most tested person, as Allah loves you and He wants you to change your ways to better ones, more devoted ones, getting closer to Him in worship.
Two Quick Examples:
- A man got Diabetes and he ignores it saying he is persevering and being patient…by not taking any precautions.
- A man got Diabetes and he tries to go by the new change in food program reducing sugary foods, eating healthy, and so on. And he calls this being patient.
Which one would you do?
Absolutely 2! Why ?
Ask yourself why?
Well, in reality, the first man is what we usually do with our lives! We make it hard on ourselves to move on by not changing.
We pretend to persevere by enduring everything, and finally the man will get killed if he continues with his usual daily life programme- no restrictions, no healthy food, etc.
Well, that’s where we are heading if we will follow Man number 1!
We are slowly killing ourselves.
As they say,
Where there’s smoke there’s fire!
The patience we give to persevering diseases attacking us physically should be the same with spiritual and emotional diseases.
The tests we are given by Allah. Because He wants us to be In Paradise, He does not want us to follow our desires and Shaitan.
These tests are wake up calls for our sleeping souls.
Everyone shall taste Death.
An example :
A man living a very luxurious life, his family is there,parents are there, children, very wealthy , health-wise okay, Ma shaa Allah tabaraka Allah!
But, this same person is very distant in terms of worshiping the One who created him. Very, very distant from realizing the favors Allah has given him.
He has these big plans in his life, he has already planned his future.
But suddenly, he got tested by loss of wealth. All of his bank accounts got bankrupt.
This test didn’t move him. He was still not mending and changing his ways.
Well, Allah tries him with another one.
He lost his parents.
Still unmoved and doesn’t realize it’s a wakeup call for him.
He got another one, his children got into an accident and got severely injured.
That’s when he realizes his steps are not on the Right track.
He moves one step back to reflect on what to do next, and attempts the next step by making a new change in his life.
This time he will be more tactic, careful, and well armed to take the step.
So,
Maturity, Trials, & Sabr go hand in hand.
The connection between Maturity, Trials and Sabr is that trials make someone earn Sabr, and Sabr makes one experienced thus making him/her more mature!
The Key to guidance is:
Always look at the results of a test.
Someone can be tested but that doesn’t even move him.
Look at how the person managed to overcome that trial.
Did he/she Succeed or Fail?
If succeeded it means they are experienced and matured.
And if not then it’s the opposite.
The mature ones are the people whom you would seek advise about a certain trial which they managed to overcome successfully. As they say: “You won’t know how the storm was if you haven’t experienced the rain”
Written by: Sr. Amatullah B.M.
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