There are norms and laws in the universe that man is not permitted to contradict. Instead, he should abide by them so as to enjoy a good life and eternal happiness in the Hereafter. One such norm is that if one works hard, he will find results; if one exhausts oneself a little bit, he can enjoy a long rest. Indeed reaping noble benefits depends on experiencing difficulties.
Pleasure and perfect qualities cannot be gained except with some difficulty. If it were not for difficulties, all people would be leaders.
A Person who Prefers Comfort has Scarce Potential for Success
Work in the worldly life relies upon diligence. Therefore, man is required to work hard and actively, leaving behind laziness. The Qur’an and Sunnah direct us towards this understanding.
Allah, The Almighty, Says (what means):
{And say, “Work, for Allah will see your deeds, and [so, will] His Messenger and the believers.”} [At-Tawbah 9:105]
{It is He who made the earth tame for you – so walk among its slopes and eat of His provision – and to Him is the resurrection.} [Al-Mulk 67:15]
The Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention) educated the Ummah (Muslim Nation) in different ways on how to be diligent. For instance, he urged Muslims to earn a living and provide from their own work, saying: “Nobody has ever eaten a meal better than that which he has earned from working with his own hands. The prophet of Allah, Daawood [David], would eat from the work of his own hands.” [Al-Bukhari]
The Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention) also advised us to work hard without giving in to feelings of frustration, saying: “Cherish that which gives you benefit [in the Hereafter], seek help from Allah and do not lose heart.” [Muslim]
He (may Allah exalt his mention) also said: “If the Hour comes while one of you has a shoot that he is able to plant, then he should plant it.” [Ahmad, Al-Bukhari in Al-Adab Al-Mufrad]
Moreover, the Prophet (may Allah exalt his mention ) assured people of the assistance of Allah, The Almighty, that He further increases the high motivation and ambition of people according to the sublimity of their ambition, saying: “Help from Allah comes to the servant according to his diligence.” [Al-Bazzaar]
Of course, hard work is exhausting, but it has great pleasure, especially when the diligent person reaps the outcome of his work.
Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:
The sages of every nation agree that welfare cannot be obtained through welfare, that anyone who prefers comfort will miss it, and that joy and pleasure depend on the level of risks and difficulties that are experienced when getting them. There is no joy for a person who has no resolve; no pleasure for a person who lacks patience; no bliss for a person who endures no hardships; and no comfort for a person who has no hard work. If a person is exhausted for a short time, he will relax for longer. If he endures difficulties for a short while, this will lead him to eternal welfare. People who will receive eternal delight [the people of Paradise] earned this status due to their patience in this very short worldly life. Truly, Allah alone gives help, and there is no power except in Him.
The loftier one’s own self is and the higher his aspirations are, the more a person’s body is exhausted and the less his comfort is. Yahya ibn Katheer (may Allah have mercy upon him) said. “Knowledge cannot be acquired when the body is in comfort.” [Muslim]
“All those who are sensible undoubtedly believe that perfect comfort depends on the level of exhaustion, and perfect bliss relies on the level of difficulties that are endured when achieving it. Comfort, pleasure, and bliss are free of exhaustion only in Paradise, not in this worldly life. [Quoted from ‘Uluw Al-Himmah by Shaykh Muhammad ibn Isma`il]
A person who takes diligence to be a slogan in life does not depend on his ancestors or family background, nor does he rely on boasting of his fathers and forefathers. Instead, he builds his own glory, adding it to that of his forefathers’.
Quotations from Sages and Scholars
Some sages have said, “Utilize your diligence as long as you are in good health, and take the opportunity to work while you are at leisure, for time will not be always on your side, nor will you be able to restore what you have lost.”
A scholar once said, “Work is like an armor that protects a person against afflictions, and diligence is like a sword that wards off misfortune.”
Another said, “Nothing is better than having a reason that is adorned with forbearance, a deed that is adorned with knowledge, and forbearance that is adorned with truthfulness!”
Some scholars have said, “Could it be true and logical that crops are harvested without prior sowing of seeds, fruits are reaped without the planting of trees, fire comes from two stones without striking them together, or that money yields without effort?”
It was also said, “There is a cause for every provision and whoever diligently seeks something, finds it.”
Indeed, what a great saying was that of the Commander of Believers, ‘Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) “Do not stop pursuing livelihood and supplicating, ‘O Allah, provide for me!’ You know that the sky does not rain gold or silver. Allah, The Almighty, provides for people by virtue of their interaction.”
Therefore, work hard and do not be indolent. Your Muslim nation is waiting for a push from you like that of ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) a push that illuminates the torch of enthusiasm in its heart, amidst the darkness of this gloomy state of obliviousness. It is also waiting for a cry from you like that of Salah Ad-Deen Al-Ayyoubi (Saladin) (may Allah have mercy upon him) a cry that plants hope in the desert of despair. Help from Allah comes in accordance with diligence, therefore, seek help from Allah and do not lose heart!
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Taken with slight editorial modifications from islamweb.net.