I have always reflected on this verse and questioned exactly what does it mean? Everyone faces hardship at some point in their lives but not every feels at ease. Yasmin Mogahed explains the verse as the ease that comes when the hardships forces you back to Allah swt is what is being referenced. The ease of being able to talk to our Creator, the ease of knowing He will handle our affairs, the ease of trusting He will make it better.
You just have to scan over some of my content to know that I too have come across some hardship in my life. However, here is what I have learnt in the process…
Hardships will turn you back to Allah swt even if you weren’t straying. I have found a renowned sense of pleading to the most Merciful for His mercy in prayers. I have found greater peace and comfort in being able to fall to my knees for the most important conversations of the day, five times a day.
Hardships prepares you for what was meant for you. I felt like a broken engagement was the end of the road for me. I felt that I would never recover, I would always feel down. How silly am I?! Would my Creator not provide for me? How naive was I? Alhamdullilah I have been gifted the biggest gift of all, the gift of a beautiful soul. The gift of a lifelong companion. A gift I wouldn’t have appreciated or valued if I hadn’t gone through hardship. A gift I will be eternally thankful for.
Hardships awaken your inner strength. Often we go through things and can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. We often feel over-burdened and question “why me?” Well, the hardships will make you realise that the things you think you couldn’t face, you overcame. You made it!
Hardships allow us to appreciate the blessings we have received. During times of hardship we or our loved ones often remind us that it could be a lot worse. Sometimes it may not be what you want to hear, but it will eventually ring true – we are all so immensely blessed, even in the lowest moments of our lives.
So I guess what i’m trying to say is welcome those hardships, allow them to strengthen you, allow them to empty your hands for a greater gift from Allah swt, allow those tears to cleanse your soul, allow those overbearing times to push you down so then you can perform a sujood and say Alhamdullilah.
From your lowest point, the only way is up….you’ve got this, believe in yourself!