(022) Bouncing Back: Overcoming Unexpected Setbacks

Author

Adnaan Menk
November 24, 2024

(read time : 4 minutes)

Alhamdulilah, I’ve added a new section to the newsletter dedicated to answering a question a week.

Today At A Glance

  • Psychological Upliftment

  • Money Exchange

  • The Trip To Taif

Psychological Upliftment

Describing the month of Ramadan, Allah says:

“A select number of days…”

[Al-Baqarah 2:184]

Some of the scholars mention, this description of ramadan being a select few days during the year is a form of ease granted to us by Allah.

The fact that these days are limited and few in number makes the fast feel easier and more achievable for a Muslim.

Many a time, just the words used to describe an endeavour, either puts people off or gives them encouragement, regardless of the actual level of difficulty.

The next time you talk yourself out of doing something, take a moment to ask, Is my fear based on reality or does it stem from somebody else's description of what may happen?

Summary

Use encouraging words. They make life so much easier for everybody

Ponder Over The Verse

'‘Allah has put a seal over their hearts and their hearing, and a cover over their eyesight…” (2:7)

Reflection

The physical possession of a bounty of Allah does not mean the person who possesses it, is capable of using it. Ask Allah to grant you the ability to use the bounties he has given you in a way that pleases HIM

Money Exchange

Al Baraa Ibn Aazib and Zayd ibn Arqam R.A said

We were businessmen at the time of The Messenger ﷺ, so we asked him about Sarf (exchanging gold for silver or vice versa) so he said:

"If it’s hand to hand (immediate settlement) then there’s no harm, and if it’s delayed then it is not permissible.” [Bukhari]

This hadith contains many benefits

  • From this hadith we learn that there were companions of the Messenger ﷺ who were businessmen and would deal in money exchange.

  • The businessmen at the time of the Messenger ﷺ would ask him about rulings pertaining to their field of trade.

  • Gold and silver were used as currency at the time of The Messenger ﷺ. There is no harm in exchanging different currencies, including the ones we have today, as long as the settlement is immediate.

  • Two main reasons for this ruling is to close the door of interest as well as the door of dispute especially when dealing with a fluctuating rate.

Summary

Many Islamic prohibitions in the chapter of buying and selling are to prevent a dispute arising between the transacting parties.

Practise Upon A Sunnah

The Messenger ﷺ said

“When you wear/dress start with the right” (Abu Dawud, Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)

This hadith encourages one to begin with the right when wearing clothes/shoes etc. As for removing clothing/shoes then a person begins with the left.

The Trip To Taif

As Quraysh continued their torture of The Messenger ﷺ and the early muslims, along with he ﷺ having lost his beloved wife and uncle, he decided to convey the message of Allah to the nearby town of Taif.

The leaders of Taif were no better than Quraysh. They rebuked him, mocked him, abused him and assaulted him ﷺ.

However, on this trip, there was a man knows as Addaas who accepted the message of Islam as well as some of the Jinn who heard the Messenger ﷺ reciting the Quran on his return to Makkah.

Upon his retun to Makkah, The Messenger ﷺ entered under the protection of Al Mut’im Ibn Adi.

Lesson

As you read the life of the Messenger ﷺ you realise that giving up is never an option.

My Thought

We all plan for what we would like our ideal lives to be. We have ambitions, goals and dreams. At times the unexpected comes in the way. It could be a new responsibility, sickness, something completely out of your control. You know what I mean. This generally throws anybody off course.

Firstly, I’m here to tell you that this happens to everybody. The unexpected is part and parcel of life.

A Muslim believes that this is the decree of Allah that was never meant to miss.

Secondly, If this happens to you as you’re pursuing a noble endeavour, Maybe you’re just started your Quran journey, or a health journey, or quitting a bad habit, understand that it’s not all or nothing.

What I mean is, Don’t give up because you missed a day or a week etc or even if you messed up because it was your fault.

Pick yourself up. Put a full stop where it got out of hand and start a new chapter. Don’t hold the baggage/guilt of the past. Refocus and Restart.

Everybody falls. It’s how quickly you get up.

Question : How do you gather this newsletter?

Answer: Alhamdulilah, during my time in Madinah as a student, I used to read through some of the books of tafsir, hadith and other beneficial books using physical copies, as well as apps/online copies.

Our Sheikh always taught us to mark/make a note of the benefits that stand out in the book. Over time I managed to gather topics of interest to myself and eventually I thought others may also be interested in them and that’s basically how it started.

As for the newsletter itself. I usually sit on a Sunday and write it out before sending. It takes an hour or so. Usually if I miss sending it out on a Sunday it’s because I’m away. I’m not somebody who is the best at scheduling content/ preparing well in advance, however it is something I hope to improve on 🙂 

If you found this beneficial, I would be grateful if you could share it with others and encourage them to subscribe

If you have any general feedback, i would love to hear it. You can reply directly to this email.

See You Next Week إن شاء الله

Wassalamualaykum

Adnaan

This is the last episode in the athkaar series. In it we discuss some of the most encompassing duaas of The Messenger ﷺ