The Honorable Stress
The prophet (pbuh) said: “If the believer is seized (by death), the angels of death will approach him with a white silky piece of cloth and say: ‘exit to the soothing mercy of Allah’. And so it will exit as the best smelling scent of musk in which the angels will hand it to each other smelling it and they will say: ‘what is this nice scent that came from earth?’ And every high (heaven) they reach but (the angels) will say the same. When they bring him to (other) believer’s souls they would be more joyful than the absent when unites with family. They will say: ‘what did such (person) do?’ (Angels) will say: ‘let go of him until he rests; for he was in the stress of life’.” Hadith narrated by Ibn Hibban. ( إن المؤمن إذا قبض أتته ملائكة الرحمة بحريرة بيضاء ، فتقول : اخرجي إلى روح الله ، فتخرج كأطيب ريح مسك حتى إنهم ليناوله بعضهم بعضاً يشمونه ، حتى يأتون به باب السماء ، فيقولون : ما هذه الريح الطيبة التي جاءت من الأرض ؟ ولا يأتون سماء إلا قالوا مثل ذلك ، حتى يأتون به أرواح المؤمنين فلهم أشد فرحاً به من أهل الغائب بغائبهم ، فيقولون : ما فعل فلان ؟ فيقولون : دعوه حتى يستريح ، فإنه كان في غم الدنيا) .
The angels knew how stressful life is for humans in general and for believers in particular; (For he was in the stress of life). It is a true description of the reality of life since angels only know what Allah allows them to know.
Stress (Al Hamm), as defined by Imam Al Razi is “sadness or sorrow” (Mukhtar Al Sihah). Ibn Manthzour said, “Al Hamm means the melting down of a matter after it had been solid” (Lisan El Arab). Another term in Arabic also used for stress is “Al Ghamm” or anguish, which means: “Al Karb” the agony or suffering (Lisan El Arab). This term refers to “covering something” (Mukhtar El Sihah). These descriptive definitions can give you an idea of what stress can do to you; it brings sadness which melts you down from within and covers you in worry, leaving you in a state of agony.
Allah, in His wisdom, made life a journey of tests, trials and afflictions that is always associated with stress. Allah (SW) said, {very truly, We created man in [a life of] travail.} 90:4. {لقد خلقنا الإنسان في كبد} Allah also said, {O humankind- [for], indeed, you are [all] laboring to your lord, most laboriously- then shall you meet Him} 84:6. {يا أيها الإنسان إنك كادح الى ربك كدحا فملاقيه}
These tests and trials are meant to be something good for you! The prophet (pbuh) said, "For whomever Allah wants righteousness, He will touch him (in hardships and afflictions.)" Hadith narrated by Bukhari (من يرد الله به خيرا يصب منه) To help us understand how righteousness reaches us through such hardships, the prophet (pbuh) said, “The person will be (assigned) by Allah an honorable level that he did not reach through his deeds; Allah will continue testing him with what he dislikes until He makes him reach it” Hadith narrated by Al Haithami and Al Siyooti. (إن الرجل ليكون له عند الله المنزلة الرفيعة فما يبلغها بعمله ، فما يزال الله يبتليه بما يكره حتى يبلغه إياها) . The prophet (pbuh) further explained when he said, “Trials will still (reach) the servant until he walks on earth with not even one (single) sin” Hadith narrated by Ahmad. (وما يزال البلاء بالعبد حتى يمشي على ظهر الأرض ليس عليه خطيئة) .
A Muslim who understands these meanings can better deal with the stress that comes along with these hardships. Patience shall be granted by Allah for such righteousness to be obtained, and indeed it will ease the effects of stress on us. The prophet (pbuh) said, “For the one who (engages effort) in patience, Allah will (grant him) patience” Hadith narrated by Bukhari. (ومن يتصبر يصبره الله) . It is worth the effort to remain patient when we know how many rewards can be earned through stress, tests, trials and hardships. The prophet (pbuh) said, “Whatever hits a believer, whether it is fatigue, pain, sickness or sadness, even for stress overwhelming (him), Allah will cover (erase) his sins.” سيئاته) (ما يصيب المؤمن من نصب ولا وصب ولا سقم ولا حزن حتى الهم يهمه الا كفر به من Hadith narrated by Muslim.
Stress is associated with anything we are occupied with. It would be intelligent then, to seek honorable matters to engage in, and in that, stress would be honorable too! I mean, if stress is present in all matters of life, we could strive for honorable issues which will earn the help and support from Allah to ease our stress and make it a positive thing (like being rewarded.)
The prophet (pbuh), for example, was worried and under stress because of his caring and loving heart in wanting guidance for his people. It was after the battle of Uhud when the prophet (pbuh) knew that Allah would punish those who wanted to harm him, he said, “O Allah; forgive my people for they know not.” Hadith narrated by Albani. (اللهم اغفر لقومي فإنهم لا يعلمون) . After the people of Taif told their children to throw stones at him until he bled, Allah ordered Jibril and the angel of mountains to respond to the prophet’s request! The prophet (pbuh), after making a long beautiful Dua, was allowed to order the mountains to fall down on Makkah and Taif, but he replied, "No, for I hope Allah will bring from their offspring some who will worship Allah alone.” Hadith narrated by Bukhari (بل أرجو أن يخرج الله من أصلابهم من يعبد الله وحده).
The prophet (pbuh) advised us to try to limit our worries and stresses toward (Al Akhirah) the Hereafter. He said, “For whomever the Hereafter was his worry, Allah will place richness in his heart, make him feel complete, and life will come (obedient) to him coerced. And for whomever life was his worry, Allah will place poverty between his eyes, dissipate his wholeness and nothing of this life will come to him but what had been written.” Hadith narrated by Tirmizi. (من كانت الآخرة همه جعل الله غناه في قلبه وجمع له شمله وأتته الدنيا وهي راغمة ، ومن كانت الدنيا همه جعل الله فقره بين عينيه ، وفرق عليه شمله ، ولم يأته من الدنيا إلا ما قدر له).
Because we are humans, honored, chosen, created by Allah’s (mighty) Hands, placed upon the earth as a (human) successor (to steward it) and everything created on earth was made for our service, nothing shall be worthy of our worry from this life at all. It is only the Hereafter that our ambitions and dreams and hopes should strive for. Allah said, {Rather, with all that God has given you, seek (the glory of) the abode of the Hereafter and do not forget your portion of this life.} 28:77 {وابتغ فيما آتاك الله الدار الآخرة ولا تنس نصيبك من الدنيا}When our worries reflect our yearning for the Hereafter, then the help and support will come from Allah.
Relief from stress and worry is a gift from Allah; you cannot obtain it on your own, for only Allah can bring such relief to your inner soul (Nafs).
A group of men from the Yemeni tribe of Tajeeb came to the prophet (pbuh) bringing Zakah money collected from their people. The prophet (pbuh) welcomed them and ordered Bilal to answer their requests. When the time came for them to begin their journey home, the prophet (pbuh) noticed a youth among them and asked him if he had received what he asked for. The young youth said, “I asked nothing before but now I ask you!” The prophet (pbuh) said, “What is your need?” The boy said, “Ask Allah to forgive me, have mercy on me and make my wealth (richness) in my heart.” So the prophet made the Dua for him. In the 10th year of Hijrah, during Hajj, the prophet (pbuh) asked a group going to hajj from that tribe for news of that young man. They said of him that he is always pleased with what Allah brings to him. The prophet (pbuh) then said, “Thanks to Allah, I hope he will die as a whole.” (الحمد لله ، إني لأرجو الله أن يموت جميعا). One of his tribesmen said, “Don’t all people die as a whole, O prophet of Allah?” The prophet (pbuh) said, “(it could be that) stress and desires separate him in the valleys of life and his (Ajal) appointed time of death reaches him in one of these valleys where Allah does not bother in which one he has perished.”(تشعّب أهواؤه وهمومه في أودية الدنيا ، فلعل أجله أن يدركه في بعض تلك الأودية فلا يبالي الله عز وجل في أيها هلك).
This is a reminder to shift our worries toward the Hereafter, and in doing so, we will have acted on what Allah wanted from us, following the path of the prophet (pbuh) and making good use of the stress we face every day, for it could be an honorable stress indeed.