Maulana Wahiduddin Khan | Quranic Wisdom

The Prophet of Islam started his mission in the first quarter of the seventh century in Arabia-an age of religious persecution. The Prophet's mission was based on the oneness of God, while the people of that time were believers in idolatry. So, they became hostile to the Prophet and he and his companions became victims of various kinds of problems.

It was obviously an unfavorable situation for the Prophet and his companions. At this critical juncture, God revealed a meaningful piece of guidance which is recorded in chapter ninety-four of the Quran. This divine guidance is as follows:

So, surely with every hardship there is ease; surely with every hardship there is ease. (94:5-6)

In this Quranic verse the same phrase is repeated twice. From this repetition, the Prophet drew a very meaningful inference. That is, according to the law of nature, the situation of ease is double that of the situation of difficulty. So he formulated this principle: "Two situations of ease will surely prevail over one of difficulty."

The fact is that in every situation there are problems, but at the same time there are opportunities. This is a law of nature. But it is also a law of nature that the quantum of opportunities will be more than the quantum of problems. This being so, the best course to adopt is to ignore the problems and divert one's energy to availing of the opportunities.

Complain about or protest against problems is of no value. Problems are not created by some person: they are a part of the creation plan of God. No one has the power to change the course of Nature. We have no option but to accept this natural course. The above Quranic formula is the only formula which it is feasible to follow in our world.

So, when you face a problem, do not be negative. Be normal. Do not be disturbed. Do not allow tension to develop in your mind. Simply assess the situation and, by avoiding the problem, try to discover the opportunities. Believe with complete conviction that there are enormous opportunities waiting for you-either hidden or open. So, set about discovering them, using all your mental powers and energy.

In such a situation, lodging complaints and making protests are nothing but a waste of time. Developing tension in your mind is only the result of your failure to understand the law of nature. So, be a realist and ensure your success.