Have Faith!

“Have faith”, you hear it all the time. To the point where the phrase in itself begins to lose value.

Someone died? “Have faith”

Lost a job? “Have faith”

Having relationship issues? “Have faith”

Having faith is important. But when you only hear this phrase, how much can it really help you? I’m going to try and briefly elaborate on this using some narrations from Ahlul Bayt(as) and verses from the Holy Quran.

First let’s break it down. What does it mean to have faith? According to the good’ol dictionary, faith is defined as “Complete trust or confidence in someone or something”. For example, when you pick up an apple and drop it, you have faith in Newton’s law of gravity that this object will drop – and so it does.

Your lack of doubt in the apple dropping to the ground is next to nil, you are confident in this cause and effect because you understand the concept of gravity. Therefore, your understanding results in your confidence in ‘gravity’ that it will result in the apple falling to the ground when you let go of it.

In religious context, we use faith in Allah(swt) for every aspect of our lives. Financial, emotional, mental, physical, absolutely anything and everything! Rightfully so as Allah(swt) himself says in the Holy Quran:

Chapter 40 verse 60: And your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you."

He also says:

Sura 2 verse 186: And when My servants ask you, [O Muhammad], concerning Me - indeed I am near. I respond to the invocation of the supplicant when he calls upon Me. So let them respond to Me [by obedience] and believe in Me that they may be [rightly] guided.

It is imperative to understand that when Allah says something, it’s going to happen. There is 100% certainty and truth behind every word of Allah. In fact, He even states:

Sura 30 verse 60: So be patient. Indeed, the promise of Allah is truth.

So, Allah is stating in the Quran that if you call unto Him, He will answer you and He is closer to you than you could ever imagine, ANNNDDDDD His word is truth, His promise is truth, there is no doubt in it.

Now, let’s use some examples in what we can have faith in and make it relative to our daily lives. Money. We all like money yea? I don’t care what anyone says, money does make the world go round and money can make you happy. The issue with money is when it begins to control you and compromise on your faith.

The issue with money is when one changes negatively as oppose to positively. However, money in essence can establish a wonderful community and positive life. In fact, an abundance of money can mean a longer trial on Judgement Day as a result of having to answer for every dollar.

Nonetheless, If you read the previous blog about hardship, you will have seen that I made a reference to a verse from the Quran about Allah saying He will test you with wealth (if you haven’t, go read it now!). So, with trials regarding loss of finances comes stress.

What do you do? I can simply tell you “Have faith”, but if I do, we haven’t really accomplished much. So, instead I will reference some narrations from the Prince of believers, Imam Ali son of Abu Talib(as).

In Ghorar al Hikam, it is noted that Imam Ali says the following:

• Your sustenance is seeking you, so spare yourself the trouble of seeking it.
• The sustenance of every person is preordained just as the end of his life is predetermined.
• That which has been decreed for you will come to you, so take it easy in your earning.
• All of you are the dependents of Allah, and Allah the Glorified takes care of His dependents.
• No(Other) seeker will ever overtake you in (acquiring) your sustenance.
• Your sustenance seeks you with more intensity than you seek it, so be moderate in what you seek.
• Sustenance seeks the one who does not seek it.

Pretty cool right? Let me tell you this ugly truth some people don’t like to hear. Your hard work is not the result of your income. For if hard work was the result of great income I would imagine those in third world countries who work day in day out would be far richer that those in air conditioned rooms answering a phone call or email.

The reality is ALLAH IS IN CONTROL OF YOUR SUSTENANCE. You going to work is simply a means of attaining it. But, how much you attain, when you attain it and so on is in the control of Allah. Therefore, when you are in financial difficulty, remember this – Have faith!

Here is another one to think about. Death. Your safety. How does that work? You see, Imam Ali(as) again speaks about this in a wonderful way. Referenced from Ghorar al Hikam he says:

• The appointed time of death is sufficient as a guard
• No shield is more protective than the appointed time of death
• Verily there is a shield over me, in the form of my appointed death, which protects me; so when my day comes, It relieves itself of me and surrenders me (to death). At this time the arrow will not miss its target and the wound will not heal

It’s pretty straight forward I think, but basically, even on the battlefield one should simply – Have faith. Of course this can go for any aspect of your life. When it’s your time it’s your time. But, when it’s not, nothing will stop you. Your trust in Allah is sufficient as a protector.

I will leave you with one more verse from the Quran which to me personally speaks volumes:

Sura 3 verse 160: If Allah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allah let the believers rely.

Sura 65 verse 2 & 3: That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allah and the Last day. And whoever fears Allah - He will make for him a way out And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allah - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allah will accomplish His purpose. Allah has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.

So – Have faith!