How to Find Peace for Muslims Who Are Having A Difficult Time

Assalamu’alaikum. For Muslims who feel that they are suffering and facing difficulties or serious trials in their lives, Allah and Rasulullah PBUH have given us some guidance. The way out of that situation is to submit to Allah and believe that everything we are experiencing is part of our life, and the path for us to go to Heaven, as long as we remain faithful to Allah and Islam. Don't let the disturbances that we feel in this life damage our faith or make us distance ourselves from Allah. In fact, we were given those difficulties so that we could get closer to Allah, pray more, and worship more, with the belief that Allah will provide easiness, compassion, and solutions for our problems in the future. No matter what happens, remain calm, and submit to the Will of Allah SWT.
-Gene Netto

*Allah Does Not Burden People Beyond Their Ability*

2. Allah does not burden a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned. "Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred. Our Lord, and lay not upon us a burden like that which You laid upon those before us. Our Lord, and burden us not with that which we have no ability to bear. And pardon us; and forgive us; and have mercy upon us. You are our protector, so give us victory over the disbelieving people."
(Al Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:286)

*God Told the Pen to Write the Destiny of Everything*

Rasulullah PBUH said: "The first thing Allah created was the Qalam (pen), then Allah said to it: 'Write!' It answered: 'O my Lord, what should I write?' Allah said: 'Write the fate of everything until the Hour.'"
(Hadith Abu Daud, Tirmidzi, and Ahmad)

*Allah Will Give Us A Way Out*

2. […] That is instructed to whoever should believe in Allāh and the Last Day. And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him a way out.
3. And will provide for him from where he does not expect. And whoever relies upon Allāh - then He is sufficient for him. Indeed, Allāh will accomplish His purpose. Allāh has already set for everything a [decreed] extent.
4. […] And whoever fears Allāh - He will make for him of his matter, ease.
5. That is the command of Allāh, which He has sent down to you; and whoever fears Allāh - He will remove for him his misdeeds and make great for him his reward.
(Al Quran, Surah At-Thalaq 65:2-5)

*If Allah Helps Us, No One Can Defeat Us*

160. If Allāh should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allāh let the believers rely.
(Al Quran, Surah Ali 'Imran 3:160)

*Allah Will Test Us With Some Fear*

155. And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient,
156. Who, when disaster strikes them, say, "Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raaji'un." [Indeed we belong to Allāh, and indeed to Him we will return."]
157. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy. And it is those who are the [rightly] guided.
(Al Quran, Surah Al-Baqarah 2:155-157)

*How Long Do We Live On This Earth?*

112. [Allāh] will say, "How long did you remain on earth in number of years?"
113. They will say, "We remained a day or part of a day; ask those who enumerate."
114. He will say, "You stayed not but a little - if only you had known.
115. Then did you think that We created you uselessly and that to Us you would not be returned?"
(Al Quran, Surah Al-Mu'minum 23:112-115)

*This World Is Not Real*

64. And this worldly life is not but diversion and amusement. And indeed, the home of the Hereafter - that is the [eternal] life, if only they knew.
(Al Quran, Surah Al-Ankabut 29:64)

20. Know that the life of this world is but amusement, and diversion, and adornment, and boasting to one another, and competition in increase of wealth and children - like the example of a rain whose [resulting] plant growth pleases the tillers; then it dries and you see it turned yellow; then it becomes [scattered] debris. And in the Hereafter is severe punishment and forgiveness from Allāh and approval. And what is the worldly life except the enjoyment of delusion.
(Al Quran, Surah Al-Hadid 57:20)

*If We Are Grateful, Allah Will Increase Our Blessings*

7. And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you deny, indeed, My punishment is severe.'"
(Al Quran, Surah Ibrahim 14:7)
[Say "alhamdulillah" continuously, and God willing, the blessings from Allah will be added continuously, without limit.]

*We Cannot Count the Blessings that Allah Gives Us*

18. And if you should count the favors of Allāh, you could not enumerate them. Indeed, Allāh is Forgiving and Merciful.
(Al Quran, Surah An-Nahl 16:18)

*Give in Charity To Ward Off Disaster And Disease*

Rasulullah PBUH said, "Hurry up and give alms in charity, because disaster can never precede charity." (Hadith Baihaqi)

Rasulullah PBUH said, "Alms can ward off 70 kinds of disasters, and the lightest of them are leprosy and hair loss." (Hadith Thabrani)

Rasulullah PBUH said, "Fortify yourself from the torment of hellfire, even with half a date (in charity)." (Hadith Bukhari & Muslim)

*Pray With Confidence That Prayers Will Be Accepted*

Rasulullah PBUH said, "Pray to Allah with confidence that the prayers will be accepted and know that Allah does not respond to prayers from a disinterested heart." (Hadith Tirmidzi)

*Tests From Allah According to Our Religious Level*

Rasulullah PBUH was once asked by Sa'd bin Abi Waqqash: "O Rasulullah! Who has the hardest test?" He answered, "The Prophets, then people like them, then people like them. A person will be tested according to the level (strength) of his religion. If his religion is strong, then the test will be tougher. If his religion is weak then he will be tested according to the level of his religion."
(Hadith Tirmidzi, An-Nasai, & Ibnu Majah)

Rasulullah PBUH said, "Indeed, the magnitude of the reward depends on the extent of the test. Indeed, if Allah loves a people, then He will test them. Whoever is pleased with the test, then he will gain Allah's pleasure. Whoever hates the test, he will gain Allah's Wrath."
(Hadith Tirmidzi & Ibn Majah)

*Difficulties Or Pleasures In This World Will Be Forgotten When We Experience Heaven Or Hell For Just A Moment*

From Anas bin Malik, Rasulullah PBUH said, "On the Day of Judgment, there will be a resident of hell who had tasted the most delicious pleasures while in the world, and he will be dipped into hell just one time. Then he will be asked, 'O son of Adam, have you ever seen goodness? Have you ever felt any pleasure?' So, he will answer, 'Absolutely never, O my Lord.' And they will also bring a resident of heaven who had the most difficult life on earth, and he will be dipped into heaven just one time. Then he will be asked, 'O son of Adam, have you ever seen hardship? Have you ever felt any difficulty?' So, he will answer, 'Absolutely never, O my Lord. I have never seen any hardship and have never felt any difficulty.'" (Hadith Muslim)
[ >> Meaning: All worldly difficulties and suffering that was felt by Muslims will be forgotten with just one moment spent in the pleasure of heaven. On the other hand, no matter how enjoyable the pleasures felt in this world by the disbelievers, everything will be forgotten with one moment spent in the torment of hell.]

Never despair that Allah's mercy and blessings cannot be found. Allah is always close to us, so what we have to do is submit to Allah and continue to be patient no matter how difficult our situation is. We should try to understand our destiny and search for the best outcome from every event. Hopefully the verses and hadith above will bring you a feeling of peace and calm as you work to increase your faith in Allah and Islam.
Wa billahi taufiq wal hidayah.
Wassalamu'alaikum wr.wb.
-Gene Netto