431. The Mercy Of The Most-Merciful

By Asma bint Shameem   

The Mercy of the Most Merciful is boundless, unsurmountable, and BEYOND comprehension. 

And His Love for us is unimaginably profound. 

Ibn Masud radhi Allaahu anhu said:

"A person may hope for some matter of trade or position of authority, until he is close to attaining it. 

Thereupon Allaah looks at him and says to His angels: "Divert it from him, for if he attains it I shall enter him into the Hellfire." 

Thus, Allaah diverts it from him and the slave of Allaah remains pessimistic, saying "So and so preceded me to it, So and so outwitted me," when in fact it is a *FAVOR* from Allaah."

(Ibn Rajab in Jami al-Ulum wal Hikam)

And Ibn al Qayyim said:

"The divine decree related to the believer is *ALWAYS* a bounty, _even_ if it is in the form of *withholding* (that which is desired), and it is a *blessing*, even if it appears to be a *trial*. 

And an *affliction* that has befallen him is in reality a *cure*, even though it appears to be a disease!

Unfortunately, due to the ignorance of the worshipper, and his transgressions, he does not consider anything to be a gift or a blessing or a cure unless he can enjoy it immediately, and it is in accordance with his nature. 

If he were only given a little bit of understanding, then he would have counted being *withheld* from as a *blessing*, and the *sickness* as a *mercy*, and he would *relish* the *trouble* that befalls him *MORE* than he relishes his *ease*, and he would *enjoy poverty* *MORE* than he enjoys *richness*, and he would be *more thankful* when he is blessed with *little* than when he is blessed with a *lot*."

(Madaarij al-Salikeen 2/215-216)

And lastly, Sufyaan ath-Thawri said:

"Verily, when Allaah withholds, He actually *GIVES*, because He did not withhold on account of miserliness or stinginess, but rather He looked at the *BENEFIT* of the servant.

So the fact that He withheld is actually *HIS CHOICE* for the servant and His *excellent decision*."

(Madaarij as-Salikeen 2/215)

Subhaan Allaah! 

The affliction is a BLESSING. 

The sickness is a MERCY. 

The problem is actually RELIEF. 

Allaah, ar-Raheem is actually  *blessing* us with every problem, every calamity. 

What a *Merciful Master* of such an *ungrateful* slave...

And yet we complain...

فَبِاَىِّ اٰلَاۤءِ رَبِّكُمَا تُكَذِّبٰنِۙ‏

“So which of your Lord's favors will you then deny?”