If I wear hijab/a beard, will I be fired? I wish it were time for vacation! Will my children catch the virus that is going around? If I don’t pay this debt, I will be able to afford X, Y and Z.
We all do it. Some more than others, and some do nothing else.
It is a part of our nature, as Allah tells us:
Indeed, mankind was created anxious. (70:19)
In our minds, we live most of our lives in the future.
But thinking too much about the future is like buying furniture for a house that has not yet been built. Then when the furniture is in our possession, we have no place to put it, and it crowds our life in the present.
In other words, we fill our days with thought, concern, anticipation and anxiety with a tomorrow we may never see.
We Rush to the Future for the Good it may Hold
As children, we are eager to be older so that we can be one of the “big kids”. As teenagers, we cannot wait to be adults and free from our parents’ restrictions. As adults, we dream about retirement when we will be able to enjoy all our free time.
As human beings, we have a tendency to rush to the future for the good we perceive to be there. But we are not guaranteed tomorrow, nor are we guaranteed anything from it.
When we place too much hope in tomorrow, we risk dangerous outcomes. We can start to feel entitled to a certain future that may not come. We can become bitter when the future we hoped for does not happen. And we can miss out on enjoying the blessings in the here and now.
Allah tells us in the Quran very clearly that:
The command of Allah is coming, so be not impatient for it. Exalted is He and high above what they associate with Him. (16:1)
This verse reminds us about the unknown nature of the Last Day, but we can also apply it to our everyday lives. What is to come will come. So don’t be impatient for it to happen.
If we must live our lives thinking and hoping for the future, we can do so by remembering we will receive good in the next life for the good we do in this life. However, we can only meet with the delights of the hereafter by taking action in the present. So let’s hope for Allah’s mercy and leave the future of this life to Allah’s will.
We Fear the Future for the Evil it may Hold
On the other side of the coin, as human beings, we spend a lot of our time worrying about what bad things may come.
As children, we worry about bedtime and the monsters that might be waiting for us in the dark. As teenagers, we stress over what our career should be and if we will ever get married. As adults, we worry about poverty, illness and on and on.
Worrying about the future is something nearly everyone does. We are so predictable in our worry that there is even an entire industry built around it. But no matter how much insurance we buy to protect ourselves against what may come, we cannot change Allah’s will for the future.
Even the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) could not know his future or change it. Allah says in the Quran:
Say (O Muhammad), “I have no power to benefit myself, or harm myself. Only what God wills happens to me. If I knew the future, I would have increased my wealth, and no harm would have afflicted me. I am no more than a warner, and a bearer of good news for those who believe. (7:188)
Satan Uses Our Worry against Us
Like Prophet Muhammad, we have no power over what happens in the future. When we burden our minds with tomorrow, we fall prey to one of the tricks of Satan. Allah tells us in the Quran:
Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. (2:268)
Often, this is an effective trick. How many have done haram because they fear poverty, all the while missing out on the opportunity to trust in Allah?
How many have become miserly because they fear calamity, all the while missing out on the chance to be reimbursed many times for giving in charity?
How many have become frustrated and disillusioned by trying to force a future outcome that was not written, all the while missing out on present blessings? We underestimate Allah’s wisdom and ability to provide for us when we stress over the future.
But if we must worry about a future, the Day of Judgment is the only future we know for certain and it is one that is worthy of our anxieties. However, we can only prevent an evil outcome on that day if we take action now. Fear Allah’s punishment and leave the future of this life to Allah’s will.
All We can Do is Prepare and Leave it Alone
This is not to say that we shouldn’t seek the means.
Seeking the means is part of life. As we see in this hadith:
“One day Prophet Muhammad noticed a Bedouin leaving his camel without tying it. He asked the Bedouin:
Why don’t you tie down your camel?
The Bedouin answered:
“I put my trust in Allah.”
The Prophet then said:
Tie your camel first, then put your trust in Allah. (At-Tirmidhi)
We have to seek the means to facilitate our lives. Leaving the future alone does not mean that we shouldn’t plan, that we shouldn’t protect ourselves against the harm of losing “the camel”. But it also doesn’t mean that we have to “tie our camel” and preoccupy our minds and actions with the future good or bad that may come from it.
When we preoccupy our minds with the future, we forget Allah’s wisdom and ultimate capability; we miss the blessings of the present; we waste our time; and we miss the chance to prepare for the hereafter.
For those of us living in the West, qadar (divine will or destiny) is a difficult topic to grapple with.
The Western world is based on the idea that we make our own destiny and that we should push to reach our goals no matter what it takes. And this attitude has led to some amazing advances and discoveries that benefit mankind greatly.
But, as Muslims, should we consider this attitude impetuous?
How should we understand the destiny Allah has ordained for us?
And how do we explain the fact that we have free will?
As Muslims, we know that whatever is written for us will unerringly come to us; whether it is fortune or calamity. But we also know that we must put forth the effort to try to reach our goals. Islam does not prohibit the Western “go get ‘em” attitude, it only tempers it with wisdom.
Destiny and Free Will
Some of the wisdom Islam affords us is in knowing that: “What comes to us would never have missed us and what misses us would never have reached us.” And understanding that means we should not grieve for or exceed the limits set by Allah for something that is not meant for us.
So how do we understand free will if Allah has already ordained everything?
First, we have to understand that Allah is all aware. It is a grave mistake to try to apply our limitations to Allah, the Limitless. We have a linear understanding of time. We move along in time not seeing what will come next. But time, a part of the creation, does not apply to the creator – Allah.
Allah has created the future and understands intimately what it holds, just as He has created our past and present. Even though Allah knows and has ordained what will happen in the future, we still have free will in the present. We have the will to choose our good or bad intentions and actions whether or not they attain the intended result.
For us, not knowing what the future holds motivates us to act, to take advantage of our free will. if we already knew what the future held, we would never use our free will to strive for anything. And our striving to do good is what we are rewarded for.
Allah tells us in the Quran:
Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful provision); and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to the best of what they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter). (16:97)
Futility of Exceeding the Limits
At the same time that we have free will to strive for the good in the future, we should not over step the limits set by Allah. If we are to strive to build an orphanage, we will be rewarded for our intention and efforts to do that righteous deed; even though the end result is from Allah.
But what if we steal money to build that orphanage?
It was the will of Allah that the orphanage would be built, with or without the stealing. What was the use in mixing bad intentions and deeds with good?
There is benefit in Western mentality of “get it done” but there is wisdom in leaving off the “at all costs”. This is where the Islamic attitude lies. It is a balance of knowing you can try your best to do your best while not exceeding the limits set by Allah; because the result is already written.
In hindsight, we can see the truth of “what is written will come to you” in parts of our lives where the opposite has happened. That is to say we all have times in our lives where we worked toward something but did not attain the end result no matter what we did.
The Story of the Shrimp
As I look back through my life, I can find many examples. Like the time my husband and I invited a sister and her family over for dinner. The dish I was planning to make was my favorite from my Creole culture and it called for shrimp. I was hoping to share the delicacy with the sister and her family.
As I prepared for the meal I intended to serve, I made a list and went to the store. When I got to the cashier to pay for my selections, something very strange happened. As the cashier rang up all my items, she could not ring up the shrimp.
The cashier tried and tried and tried again to ring up the shrimp so that I could pay for it, but the register would not recognize the purchase. In fact, the computer recognized all other items but when the cashier tried to ring up the shrimp…
In the end, I had to put the shrimp back and quickly think of something else to make that didn’t require shrimp.
When I told the sister what I had planned to cook for her family and what had happened at the store, she informed me that she was deathly allergic to shrimp. I had no idea about her allergy; looking back on the strange event, what happened made complete sense. I was never meant to cook that meal, to serve it to her, and she was never meant to be harmed by it. It was the will of Allah and nothing could have changed that.
Allah willing, I will still be rewarded for my intention and efforts in trying to make the meal that I loved for the sister and her family. But Allah had written that I would not serve that meal and nothing I could have done would have changed that, even if I had exceeded the limits set by Allah to obtain the shrimp.
What is meant for us will come to us. What is not meant for us will never come to us. And there is no error in what we have missed out on or what we have received. This is the will of Allah. But it is up to us to strive with good intentions obeying the limits set by Allah.
There is wisdom in taking a path between “fatalism” and “at all costs”.
The wisdom of Islam lies in the middle path.
Anxiety is being afraid to face things which might happen. It’s being afraid to face our futures and the consequences of our actions. And it’s not just a psychological state. It affects our bodies in the following ways:
- Sweating
- Trembling
- Dizziness
- Rapid heartbeat
In this world of uncertainties, anxiety is a pretty common problem. Probably everyone has suffered from it at some point. Many of us are perpetually anxious, and we just don’t know how to cease to be scared of the future.
Of course, this is different from thinking of the future and preparing for it, which is very much encouraged in Islam. We’re supposed to think about the hereafter all the time, and that thinking should be reflected in all the things we do throughout our lives.
We prepare for getting Jannah and saving ourselves from the Fire. That is a praiseworthy characteristic, and that doesn’t fall under the category of anxiety.
We’re scared of a whole lot of things. We wonder how we’ll manage to pay next month’s bills, how we’ll manage to pass our exams, and whether we’ll look funny wearing that particular dress. We’re afraid of standing up and speaking to our colleagues during a presentation.
So how do we cease to be afraid and start living our lives with peace? Here are a few tips which may help.
1- Change of Attitude: Know that Allah Says you don’t Need to Be Afraid
This phrase occurs so many times in the Quran that you probably know it by heart:
. . . there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.
Allah says about a group of people that there will be no fear on them. Who are these amazing people?
Allah says this after He orders Adam and Eve to descend on earth:
We said, ‘Go down from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from Me, whoever follows My guidance – there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve.’ (2:38)
Allah clarifies further in other places what is means to ‘follow My guidance’:
Indeed, those who believe and do righteous deeds and establish prayer and give zakah will have their reward with their Lord, and there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve. (2:277)
So it means that if we obey Allah, we don’t need to be scared of the future.
2- Change of Attitude: Have Tawakkul
Just remember that the Prophet said:
If you were to rely on Allah as He should be relied on, He would provide for you as He provides for the birds. They go out early in the morning hungry and return in the evening full. (At-Tirmidhi)
Let go of all your worries. Close your eyes and jump off the cliff, confident that Allah is there to catch you.
3- Change of Attitude: Develop Optimism
Some people have this unhealthy notion that a Muslim is supposed to be pessimistic – he/she has to wallow in grief and anxiety thinking about the worsening situation of the ummah and about the Hellfire.
You just need to ask one question to dispel this idea: did the Prophet behave in that way? He was a very optimistic person. In fact, he advised us to think the best about Allah, and that automatically means being optimistic about the future.
Professor Lyubomirsky mentions some excellent methods of cultivating optimism in her book The How of Happiness. Here is one of them:
“Best possible self” diary: Take a nice notepad and paper, sit in a quiet place and take 20-30 minutes and imagine a future where all your plans and wishes have come true, and you’re at your best. Write down everything you can imagine it looks and feels like.
According to Lyubomirsky , ‘You may discover new insights into yourself as you write about your future and your goals.’ We tend to focus more on the negatives when we’re anxious. This diary approach will highlight the positives in our minds and make us feel better.
4- Action point: Apply CBT
Once you know for sure that Allah guarantees you won’t be sad if you obey Him, have complete trust that Allah will take care of everything, and have a written record of positive outcomes, you are ready to fight Shaytan’s whispers. Learn more about CBT in my article How Shaytan Whispers.
Take about ten minutes everyday to do the following exercise:
| Negative Thoughts | Positive Thoughts |
Write down all the thoughts that are worrying you in the left column. Then take each thought individually, analyze it rationally and see if it really is practical to think like that. Then think about an alternative positive outcome that also likely. Write the positive thought in the right column. Here are a few examples for you:
| Negative Thoughts | Positive Thoughts |
| I’ll probably fail my exams | I’ll probably pass my exams in sha Allah |
| I’ll make a fool of myself during the presentation | I’ll have an awesome presentation in sha Allah |
Once you have done this for a few weeks, you will notice a big decrease in the number and intensity of negative thoughts that bother you, and you’ll have a database of positive thoughts to combat them with.
Note: If you are having a serious persistent anxiety problem, do not hesitate to check with a doctor or psychiatrist, because it could be a symptom of many psychological and biological problems.
Before talking about how a believer behaves when ill or injured it is important to understand just what Islam teaches us about the life of this world.
Our existence here on earth is but a transient stop, on the way to our real life in the Hereafter. Paradise or Hell will be our permanent abode.
This world is a place of trial and testing. God created it for us, for our enjoyment, but it is a place of more than just worldly pleasures. It is here that we fulfill our true purpose; we live our lives based on the worship of God.
We laugh, we play, we cry and we feel heartache and sorrow, but every condition and every emotion is from God. We react with patience and thankfulness and hope for eternal reward. We fear eternal punishment and know with certainty that God is the source of all mercy and all forgiveness.
And this life of the world is only amusement and play! Verily, the home of the Hereafter, that is the life indeed (i.e. the eternal life that will never end), if they but knew. (29:64)
God did not create us and then abandon us to the pleasures and trials of life; rather He sent Prophets to teach us and Books of revelation to guide us. He also provided us with countless blessings.
Each blessing makes life wonderful and at times bearable. If we stop for a moment and contemplate our existence, the blessings of God become evident.
Observe the rain falling outside, feel the tingle of the sunshine on your bare skin, touch your breast and feel the strong rhythmic beating of your heart.
These are blessings from God and we should be thankful for them, along with our homes, our children, and our health. God however tells us, that we will be tested:
And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to the patient ones. (2:155)God has advised us to bear our trials and tribulations patiently. However, this is difficult without understanding that everything that happens in this world happens by the permission of God.
No leaf falls from a tree without God’s permission. No business crumbles, no car crashes, and no marriage ends without God’s permission. No illness or injury touches a human being without God’s permission. He has power over all things.
God does what He does for reasons that are at times beyond our comprehension and for reasons that may or may not be apparent.
However, God, in His infinite wisdom and mercy wants only what is best for us. Ultimately, what is best for us is eternal life in a place of eternal bliss, Paradise.
Their Lord gives them glad tidings of a Mercy from Him, and that He is pleased (with them), and of Gardens (Paradise) for them wherein are everlasting delight. (9:21)
In the face of every trial, a believer must be certain that God does not decree for him anything but good. The good may be among the pleasures of this world or it may be in the hereafter.
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is also good for him.
God tests us with the trials and tribulations of life, and if we bear patiently we will attain great reward. Through changing circumstances and trying times God tests our level of faith, ascertains our ability to be patient and wipes away some of our sins.
God is all loving and wise and knows us better than we know ourselves. We will not attain Paradise without His mercy and His mercy is manifest in the tests and trials of this life.
Life is a Place of Tests
The life of this world is mere deception. The most beneficial thing to us are the good deeds that we were able to perform. Families are a trial, for God says that they can lead us astray, but equally they can lead us to Paradise.
Wealth is a trial; coveting it can make us greedy and miserly, but distributing it and using it to benefit those in need can bring us closer to God.
Health is also a trial. Good health can make us feel invincible and not in need of God, but bad health has a way of humbling us and forcing us to depend on God. How a believer reacts to the circumstances of life is very important.
What happens if the pleasures of this life suddenly become torments? How should one behave when struck by illness or injury? Of course, we accept our fate and try to bear the pain, sadness, or suffering patiently because we know with certainty that from this God will bring about much good.
Prophet Muhammad said:
No misfortune or disease befalls a Muslim, no worry or grief or harm or distress — not even a thorn that pricks him — but God will expiate for some of his sins because of that.
However, we are imperfect human beings. We can read these words, we can even understand the sentiment, but behaving with acceptance is sometimes very difficult.
It is much easier to bemoan and cry about our situation, but our Most Merciful God has given us clear guidelines and promised us two things, if we worship Him and follow His guidance we will be rewarded with Paradise and that after hardship comes ease.
So verily, with the hardship, there is relief. (94:5)
A believer is obligated to look after his body and mind, therefore trying to maintain good health is essential. However, when struck by illness or injury, it is vital to follow God’s guidance.
A believer must seek medical aid and do everything he can to bring about a cure or recovery, but at the same time he must seek help through prayer, remembrance of God and acts of worship.
Mankind comes across many afflictions and trials, sometimes in overwhelming sequences.
Removing the darkness of these worries, distresses, depression and grief is a very important matter to which Islam gives serious attention…
There are many authentic du’as and supplication from Hadith which can help us remove anxieties according to Islam.
If we are feeling depressed, we should strengthen our belief in Allah and predestination (Qada’ wa Qadar) and recite these supplication for depression and worries.
First of all we should know that the greatest darkness is disbelief in Allah and to associate partners with Him. Whoever associates partners with Allah will always remain in darkness and thus feel depressed. Allah says in Holy Quran:
{Allah is the Protector of those who have faith He will lead them from the depths of darkness into light. As for those who disbelieve, their patrons are the devils: from light they will lead them forth into the depths of darkness. They will be companions of the fire, to dwell therein (for ever). } (2:257)
Prophet Muhammad said:
“How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for all his affairs are good, and this applies to no one except the believer. If something good happens to him, he gives thanks, and that is good for him, and it something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience, and that is good for him.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2999)
This world should not be the main concern of the Muslim. Worry about his provision should not find any room in his heart or mind, lest that make his sickness and his anxiety worse.
He also said:
“Whoever is mainly concerned about the Hereafter, Allah will make him feel independent of others and will make him focused and content, and his worldly affairs will fall into place. But whoever is mainly concerned with this world, Allah will make him feel in constant need of others and will make him distracted and unfocused, and he will get nothing of this world except what is decreed for him.” (At-Tirmidhi)
Remedy for Depression and Worries
The scholars of Islam have extracted from the Quran and the authentic Sunnah many remedies and cures to help us in our daily affairs and remove our problems.
1. It was reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to recite this Dua:
“O Allah, I hope for Your mercy. Do not leave me to myself even for the blinking of an eye (i.e. a moment). Correct all of my affairs for me. There is none worthy of worship but You.” (Abu Dawud)
2. In al-Saheehayn it was reported from Ibn ‘Abbas that the Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) used to say, when he felt distressed:
“La ilaaha ill-Allah al-‘Adhim ul-Halim, Laa ilaaha ill-Allah Rabb il-‘arsh il-‘adhim, Laa ilaaha ill-Allah Rabb is-samawaati wa Rabb il-ard wa Rabb il-‘arsh il-karim”
“There is no god except Allah, the All-Mighty, the Forbearing; there is no god except Allah, the Lord of the Mighty Throne; there is no god except Allah, Lord of the heavens, Lord of the earth and Lord of the noble Throne.” (Al-Bukhari 8/154, Muslim 4/2092)
3. It was reported from Anas that the Prophet (Peace be upon him) used to say, when something upset him:
“Ya Hayyu ya Qayyum, bi Rahmatika astagheeth (O Ever-Living One, O Everlasting One, by Your mercy I seek help).”
4. It was reported that Asmaa’ bint ‘Umays said: The Messenger of Allah said to me:
“Shall I not teach you some words to say when you feel distressed?
‘Allah, Allah, Rabbi laa ushriku bihi shay’an’
Allah, Allah, my Lord, I do not associate anything with Him (Abu Dawud 2/87. See also Al-Albani, Sahih Ibn Majah 2/335.)
5. It was reported from ‘Abd-Allah ibn Mas’ud that the Prophet said:
“No person suffers any anxiety or grief, and says:
‘Allaahumma innee ‘abduka wa ibn ‘abdika wa ibn amatika, naasiyati bi yadika, maadin fiyya hukmuka, ‘adlun fiyya qadaa’uka, as’aluka bi kulli ismin huwa laka sammayta bihi nafsaka aw anzaltahu fi kitaabika aw ‘allamtahu ahadan min khalqika aw ista’tharta bihi fi ‘ilm il-ghaybi ‘andak an taj’ala al-Qur’aana rabee’ qalbi wa noor sadri wa jalaa’a huzni wa dhahaaba hammi’
“O Allah, I am Your slave, son of Your slave, son of Your female slave, my forelock is in Your hand, Your command over me is forever executed and Your decree over me is just. I ask You by every Name belonging to You which You named Yourself with, or revealed in Your Book, or You taught to any of Your creation, or You have preserved in the knowledge of the unseen with You, that You make the Quran the life of my heart and the light of my breast, and a departure for my sorrow and a release for my anxiety” but Allah will take away his sorrow and grief, and give him in their stead joy.” (Ahmad 1/391)
As we move into the new century, those of us privileged to live above the poverty line are faced with a unique set of challenges.
We have food enough to eat, shelter, and most of us can even afford life’s little luxuries.
Physically we have all that we need, but spiritually and emotionally, we are bereft.
Our minds are filled with sadness and worry. Stress and anxiety mount.
As we gather possessions, we wonder why we are not happy.
As we embark on yet another holiday we feel alone and desperate.
The Purpose of Life
A life that is far removed from God is a sad life indeed. No matter how much money we accumulate, or how grand our house is, if God is not the centre of our lives then happiness will elude us forever. True happiness can only be found when we at least attempt to fulfil our purpose in life.
Human beings exist to worship God. God wants us to be happy, in this life and in the Hereafter, and He has given us the key to real happiness. It is not a secret or a mystery. It is not an enigma or a puzzle, it is Islam.
{And I (God) created not the jinn and humankind except that they should worship Me.} (51:56)
Islam explains clearly our purpose in life and gives us guidelines to follow to make our search for happiness easier. The Quran and the authentic traditions of Prophet Muhammad are our guide books for a life completely devoid of sadness and worry.
This however does not mean that we will not be tried and tested because God states very clearly in Quran that He will test us. Our lives will be filled with situations that require us to reach out for God and depend upon Him. God promises us that He will reward those who are patient, He asks us to be grateful to Him, and He tells us that He loves those who put their trust in Him.
{…put your trust in God, certainly, God loves those who put their trust in Him.} (3:159)
{The believers are only those who, when God is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Quran) are recited unto them, they increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord Alone.} (8:2)
Life is filled with triumphs and tribulations. Sometimes it is a roller coaster ride. One day our faith is high and sweet, the next it has plummeted and we feel sad and worried.
The way to even out our journey is to trust that God knows what is best for us. Even when seemingly bad things happen, there is a purpose and wisdom behind them. Sometimes the purpose is known only to God, sometimes it is obvious.
Consequently, when we realize that there is no power or strength except from God, we can begin to relax. Prophet Muhammad, may God praise him, once reminded one of his young companions that God was all-powerful and nothing happens without His permission.
“Young man, uphold the commands of God, and He will protect you in this life and in the next. Uphold the commands of God and He will help you. When you ask for anything, ask it from God, and if you seek help, seek help from God.
Know that if people were to unite to do you some benefit, they could benefit you only what God has recorded for you, and if they were to unite to do you some harm, they could harm you only with what God has recorded for you. The pens are withdrawn and the pages are dry.” (At-Tirmidhi)
Trust in God
When we are mindful of the fact that God has control over all things and that He ultimately wants us to live forever in Paradise, we can begin to leave our sadness and worry behind. God loves us, and wants what is best for us. God has given us clear guidance and He is the Most Merciful, and the Most Forgiving.
If things do not go according to our plan, if we do not see the benefits of the challenges we face in life it can become very difficult not to despair and fall prey to stress and anxiety. At this point, we must learn to trust God.
{If God helps you, none can overcome you; and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that can help you? And in God (Alone) let believers put their trust.} (3:160)
{Say: “He is my Lord! None has the right to be worshipped but He! In Him is my trust, and to Him will be my return with repentance.} (13:30)
{And we shall certainly bear with patience all the hurt…, and in God (Alone) let those who trust, put their trust.} (14:12)
As believers, our trust in God must be constant, in all situations, good, bad, easy, or difficult. Whatever happens in this world happens by the permission of God.
He provides sustenance and He is able to withdraw it. He is the master of life and death. God determines whether we are rich or poor and whether we are healthy or ill.
We thank God for granting us the ability to strive and to go out and acquire that which is good for us. Whatever our circumstances may be we need to thank and praise God for them.
If need be we must bear our difficulties with patience and above all we must love and trust God.
When life becomes dark and difficult we must love God more; when we are overcome by sadness and worry we must trust God more.
