“Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal was severely tortured and flogged, and yet he emerged triumphant from that ordeal, becoming the Imam of the Sunnah. Imam ibn Taymiyah was put into prison; he later came out an even more accomplished scholar than he was before. Imam As-Sarakhsi was held as a prisoner, kept at the bottom of an unused well; he managed therein to produce twenty volumes on Islamic jurisprudence. Ibn Atheer became crippled, after which he wrote Jam’ey al-Usool and an-Nihayah, two of the most famous books in the Science of Hadith. Imam ibn al-Jawzi was banished from Baghdad. Then, through his travels, he became proficient in the seven recitations of the Qur’an.”

- Don’t be Sad by ‘Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni

“The entrails of a camel were placed upon the head of the Prophet (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam); his feet bled; his face was fractured; he was besieged in a mountain pass until he was forced to eat tree leaves; he was driven out of Makkah; his front tooth was broken in battle; his innocent wife was accused of wrongdoing; seventy of his Companinos were killed; he was bereaved of his son and of most of his daughters; he would tie a stone around his stomach to lessen the pangs of hunger; and he was accused of being a poet, a magician, a soothsayer, a madman, and a liar - all at the same time. Yet Allah proteced him throughout these severe trials and tribulations. Prophet Zakariyah was killed, Prophet Yahya was slaughtered, Prophet Musa was afflicted with great trials, and Prophet Ibrahim was thrown in the fire (may peace be upon them all)…”

- Don’t be Sad by ‘Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni

“Or do you think that you will enter Paradise while such [trial] has not yet come to you as came to those who passed on before you? They were touched by poverty and hardship and were shaken until [even their] messenger and those who believed with him said,” When is the help of Allāh?” Unquestionably, the help of Allāh is near.” [2:214]

“Here for you is a list of those who have shone from our Islamic heritage despite each being challenged by various disadvantages:

• Ataa ibn Rabah was a world-renowned scholar of his time. He was not only a freed slave and snub-nosed, but he was also paralyzed.
• Al-Ahnaf ibn Qays was famous among the Arabs for his singular level of patience. He achieved that fame despite being emaciated, humpbacked, with crooked legs, and a fragile frame.
• Al-A’mash was among the most famous scholars of hadith in his time. He was a freed slave, he had bad eyesight, and he was poor. His clothes were ripped, his appearance was disheveled, and he lived in straitened circumstances.”

- Don’t be Sad by ‘Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni

“Immanuel Kant, the German philosopher, said, ‘The drama of this life is not complete; there must be a second scene to it, for we see the tyrant and his victims without seeing justice being executed. We see the conqueror and the subjugated, without the latter finding any revenge. Therefore there must be another world, where justice will be carried out.’ “

- Don’t be Sad by ‘Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni

Allah says in the Quran, “This Day every soul will be recompensed for what it earned. No injustice today! Indeed, Allāh is swift in account.” [40:17]

“Next time you’re about to make tasleem from your salah reflect over the fact that you are about to disconnect from a divine conversation that ONLY you are benefitting from.”

William James said, “We, humankind, brood over what we don’t own and we don’t thank God for what we do own. We always dwell on the tragic and dark side of our lives, and we don’t look at the brighter side of our existence. We rue over what is missing in our lives and we are not happy with what is there.”

- Don’t be Sad by ‘Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni

Allah said, “…If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]…” [14:7]

1. Wasting time

2. Talking abou tmatters that don’t concern us, matters that are none of our business. “From the goodness of one’s Islam is leaving alone that which does not concern him.”

3. Being preoccupied with trivial issues. Listening to rumors, predictions, and gossip are three common examples.

- Don’t be Sad by ‘Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni

“Abu Bakr (radi Allahu anhu) put his own life at risk on the road to Madinah in order to protect the Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alayhi wa sallam).

In order to feed his guiests, Hatim would sleep on a hungry stomach.

Abu Ubaydah would stand guard at night in order to give rest to the Muslim army.

Umer would walk through the streets at night while people were asleep in order to ensure their safety. And in the year of the great famine he would go hungry in order to feed the people.

Abu Talha used his body as a shield, protecting the Prophet (S) from arros during the battle of Uhud.

Ibn Mubarak would distribute food while he himself was fasting.”

- Don’t be Sad by ‘Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni