With Hardhsip Comes Ease

Blood, tears, anger and a party of believers scattered like dying leaves on an autumn day. Some covered in blood and others exhausted. Desperation and disbelief had prevailed. Many believed that the man and the mission that they were promised would last forever, had been obliterated. However, five years later the same men accompanied by their beloved master march on to complete the greatest conquest in the history of mankind. Brothers, I am referring to the rise of the Muslims, all the way from the battle of Badr to the grand victory of Mecca. If there is anything that this inspiring account tells us, it is that with every adversity there is contentment, with every distress there is comfort and with every hardship comes ease.

This verse is best optimised by the one on whom it was revealed. Our Holy Prophetsa, is the best of mankind, the most beloved to Allah Almighty. He could have accumulated all the comforts and riches of the world but so deeply were the words of Allah ingrained in his heart, that he chose to live a life of hardship because he knew that Allah Himself would be his ultimate reward.

If we take a brief glance at the life of the Holy Prophetsa we see that he was but an orphan in a society that discarded them. He traversed the lands in deep anguish at the state of the world. He had no person to rely on and no stable means of income. It was exactly at such a time when God bestowed prophethood upon him. It was in this state that he challenged the idol worshipping majority of Arabia. These people were not bound by any moral code of conduct. He was boycotted by his family, doubted by his people and turned out of his home.

The Promised Messiahas faced similar difficulties. He too was sent to a society that had lost its moral compass. Just like the Holy Prophetsa launched a campaign against idolatry all by himself, so too did the Promised Messiahas challenge the major faiths of the world to compete with him at a time when he had no material power!

But lo and behold, is it not a sign of the great success of the two Prophets of Allah that we are convened in this hall today? Whilst they were alone in the very beginning, now they have millions of followers around the world, who are ready to fulfil their very mission. Yes, they may have felt alone at some points but now, as they recline in the company of their Beloved, their mission continues to this day.

These are not merely tales of the past. God Almighty’s words are always filled with wisdom and apply to all times. Hazrat Khalifatul Masih Vaba is a living example in this regard. One aspect of Huzoor’s life that strikes me is that after spending a substantial amount of time serving in Africa under tremendously dire and difficult circumstances. Upon returning to his homeland Pakistan, Huzooraba was imprisoned in the way of Allah. Upon being asked how he felt at that time? Huzoor responded that in jail, he was more than ready to have spent the remainder of his life there solely for the sake of Allah. Now see for yourself, God Almighty Who knew the passion he concealed in his heart and Who saw that His servant was wholeheartedly accepting hardship for His sake anointed him with the mantle of Khilafat.

To merely listen to faith inspiring accounts and be touched for a moment or two is not end and whilst every night is followed by daylight, both are stuck in a never ending cycle. But the hardship borne for the sake of Allah leads us to an eternal feeling of ease. When you have Him, no hardship is too difficult to bear.