Beware of sadness (احذروا الحزن) - Imam Ibn Al Qayyim's advice

By Umme MI - January 11, 2019

﷽

Happy days and sad days are all part of life. Allah tells us that this life is nothing but a test. Even our blessings are a test to see if we will remain grateful and grounded or become heedless in our party mode. And so are our trials and sorrows, to see how patient and loyal we remain to Allah. From an early age, we are taught how to handle setbacks and sorrows yet we fail to compose ourselves in the thick of it, Subhan Allah.

My teacher shared the following much-needed reminder while I was going through some hard times and Alhamdullilah I found them very beneficial. I wanted to add it my post for my future self and hopefully, others can benefit from it too إن شاء الله‎,

Beware of sadness (احذروا الحزن)

Ibn Al Qayyim may Allah have mercy on him said the word (الحزن) – (sadness) does not appear in the Quran only in the form of forbidding it (ولا تهنو ولاتحزنوا) or in the form of negating it (فلاخوف عليهم ولا هم يحزنون).

And the reason for this is that there is no benefit to having sadness in the heart. The most beloved thing to the shaitan is to make the believing slave sad by taking him off track.

The Prophet (ﷺ) sought refuge in Allah (SWT) from sadness:
(اللهم إني أعوذ بك من الهم والحزن)

Ibn Al Qayyim said: Sadness weakens the heart and diminishes determination and wanting to go forward. And there is nothing more beloved to the shaitan than the sadness of a believer.

For this reason, be happy, optimistic, and think good about Allah (SWT). Have trust in what Allah (SWT) is able to do and depend on Him. You will find happiness and pleasure in all situations.

Ibn Al Qayyim said: Don’t ruin your happiness with worry and don’t ruin your mind with pessimism. Don’t ruin your success with deception and don’t ruin the optimism of others by destroying it. Don’t ruin your day by looking back at yesterday.

If you think about your situation, you will find that Allah (SWT) has given you things without asking, so have trust in Allah (SWT) that He doesn’t prevent anything you want except there is goodness for you.

You could be sleeping and the doors of the heavens are being opened with duas being made on your behalf, Subhan Allah: perhaps from someone poor whom you helped, or someone sad whom you brought joy, or someone passing by and you smiled at him, or someone in distraught and you removed it.. so don’t ever underestimate any good deeds.

One of the righteous predecessors said: I make dua’a to Allah (SWT) for something I want, and if He gives it to me then I’m happy once and if He doesn’t give it to me then I’m happy ten times because the first was my choice and the second was Allah’s choice.

As Sa’ady may Allah have mercy on him said: life is short so don’t shorten it with worries, grief, and sadness.

So be the owner of a heart that breathes happiness and satisfaction.

· May Allah (SWT) make your times happy and may Allah (SWT) forgive us all. Ameen.