By Haruna  Razaq
When a Muslim encounters a problem, he must realize the fact that he needs the intervention of Allah to solve the problem and this can only be achieved through divine mercy and by involving in different virtuous deeds. Virtuous deeds elicit Allah’s mercy and reduce Allah’s anger, prevent His punishment and pave the way for solution to a problem.

The deeds include: (i) Believe in Allah: A Muslim in problem must not only believe but strengthen his/her believe, love and closeness to Allah. It must be noted that at no point must a Muslim lose faith in Allah because it is the foundation of other deeds in Islam.

This is applicable to all problems with exception of those suffering from severe mental disorders or total insanity. (for details, see Muhammad AL-Jibali;(2003): Sickness, Regulations & Exhortations p.61)

(ii) To attribute the Problem to Allah: unlike the non-Muslims that usually attribute their problems to creatures of Allah, a Muslim must attribute his/her problem to Allah and not to any creature of Allah
; and must accept that whatever struck him could not have missed him, and that it was ordained before he was created. See Qur’an (57Al- Hadid: 22-23).

(iii) To have good thoughts about Allah:- A Muslim should maintain good thoughts about his Lord, turning only to Him in worship and supplication, remembering His great generosity, and looking forward to His blessings and forgiveness. Jabir Bin Abdullah (RA) reported that the Messenger (SAW) said: “None of you should die without having good expectations in Allah (SWT).”

(iv) BETWEEN FEAR AND HOPE: One must simultaneously show fear (Khauf) and hope (Raja’) :fearing Allah’s punishment for his sin, and hoping for Allah’s mercy. Allah says about the true believers: “They invoke their Lord with fear and hope, they spend out of what we bestowed on them.”(Q32:16). (Muhammad AL-Jibali op citp.63)