Faced with the trials and difficulties of life in this world. It is sometimes difficult for each of us to cope and remain optimistic. However, there are many means available to Muslims to face trials and afflictions and remain firm in their faith. Among these means, There is the reminder of Allah ﷻ, in particular by listening and reciting the surahs of the Quran. The Book of Allah soothes the hearts and strengthens the faith of every believer. Listening to a surah when you are sad allows you to remember the greatness of Allah. And to tell yourself that true life is that of the afterlife. And to understand the words of the Noble Quran better.
Written by: Online Quran Zoom Academy
The invocation in case of sadness
Moreover, concerning regret, worries, and sadness, a hadith reported by Ahmed, may Allah have mercy on him, teaches us an invocation to remedy this. Indeed, according to Ibn Mas’oud, may Allah be pleased with him. The Messenger of Allah Mohammed ﷺ said that the servant who is affected by hazn (regret for something that has passed), of gham (concerns the present, having fears), or ham (anxieties for the future). And who then recites the following du’aa, will see his sadness change into joy:
اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي عَبْدُكَ ابْنُ عَبْدِكَ ابْنُ أَمَتِكَ نَاصِيَتِي بِيَدِكَ، مَاضٍ فِيَّ حُكْمُكَ، عَدْلٌ فِيَّ قَضَاؤكَ أَسْأَلُكَ بِكُلِّ اسْمٍ هُوَ لَكَ سَمَّيْتَ بِهِ نَفْسَكَ أَوْ أَنْزَلْتَهُ فِي كِتَابِكَ، أَوْ عَلَّمْتَهُ أَحَداً مِنْ خَلْقِكَ أَوِ اسْتَأْثَرْتَ بِهِ فِي عِلْمِ الغَيْبِ عِنْدَكَ أَنْ تَجْعَلَ القُرْآنَ رَبِيعَ قَلْبِي، وَ نُورَ صَدْرِي وَ جَلاَءَ حُزْنِي وَ ذِهَابَ هَمِّي
“O Allah! I am Your servant, son of Your servant, son of Your handmaid. I am under Your power. Your judgment is fulfilled on me, Your decree on me is righteous. I ask You by every name that belongs to You, by which You have called Yourself, or which You have revealed in Your Book, or which You have taught to one of Your creatures, or which You have kept secret in the science of the unknown, to ensure that the Quran is the spring of my heart, the light of my chest, that it dispels my sadness and puts an end to my worries. »
Hearing this, the Companions of the Last of the Prophets ﷺ asked him if they should learn this beneficial invocation. To which the Messenger ﷺ replied that everyone who hears this du’a should learn it.
Regarding this Islamic invocation, the scholar of Islam Al-Jawziya said that it represents the knowledge of many things. Such as the Oneness of Allah (At-Tawhîd) and worship. Indeed, this invocation begins by praising Allah ﷻ. The Creator of the heavens and the earth. And this, by confessing to Him that you, as well as your parents, are only servants of Allah ﷻ
Sheikh Al-Jawziya also explains that by repeating this invocation, the Muslim remembers that his salvation is found only with God, in the benefit He grants us. The servant of Allah also remembers that if He leaves him for even a moment, he will get lost and go astray..
Passages from the Quran beneficial in cases of sadness
Furthermore, in addition to this more than beneficial invocation, the Muslim can return to reading, meditation, and memorization of the Quran, through numerous verses. Reminds the believer of the importance of being grateful in the life of down here.
For example, in the Quranic surah Ar-Ra’d (verse 28), Allah ‘azza wa jal tells believers to remember Him abundantly so that their hearts can calm down. Allah says:
ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَتَطْمَئِنُّ قُلُوبُهُم بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ ۗ أَلَا بِذِكْرِ ٱللَّهِ تَطْمَئِنُّ ٱلْقُلُوبُ
A close translation of the meaning of the verse:
{Those who believe, and whose hearts are at peace when they remember Allah. » Is it not through the evocation of Allah that hearts are calmed?}
Indeed, the reminder of Allah is important in appeasing believers’ hearts. And this is because of their hope in the reward and retribution of Allah.
Dans un autre passage du Saint Coran (Sourate At-Talaq, verset 3), Allah ﷻ dit :
وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ ۚ وَمَن يَتَوَكَّلْ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ فَهُوَ حَسْبُهُۥٓ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ بَٰلِغُ أَمْرِهِۦ ۚ قَدْ جَعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لِكُلِّ شَىْءٍۢ قَدْرًۭا
A close translation of the meaning of the verse:
{and will grant him His gifts by [means] on which he did not count. And whoever puts his trust in Allah, He [Allah] is sufficient for him. Allah achieves what He intends, and Allah has assigned a measure to everything.}
Thus, he who trusts Allah sees his heart calm down and strengthen. By reading this verse. The believer no longer worries about the incidents and difficulties that may arise because he sincerely places his trust in his Creator.
In verses of the Quran, in Surah Al-Anfâl (verse 46), we can also read:
وَأَطِيعُوا۟ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ وَلَا تَنَٰزَعُوا۟ فَتَفْشَلُوا۟ وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ ۖ وَٱصْبِرُوٓا۟ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ مَعَ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ
A close translation of the meaning of the verse:
{And obey Allah and His Messenger; and do not quarrel, otherwise, you will give way and lose your strength. And be patient, for Allah is with the patient.}
We are therefore recommended to be patient in the face of the difficulties that can sometimes accompany us during our lives. Reading the Holy Quran in Arabic, meditating on its Quranic verses, memorizing it, multiplying its recitations, reading the exegesis of scholars, and making the sacred book a daily companion, are many effective ways to increase one’s faith, redouble one’s sincerity during one’s life. Prayer and its invocations and obtain the approval of Allah ﷻ in order to enter Paradise and escape the punishment of Hell.
Soothing hadiths that ward off all sadness
Furthermore, in addition to the Quranic text, many hadiths from the Prophet Mohammed ﷺ to ward off sadness are present in the Prophetic Sunnah.
For example, in an authentic hadith reported by a Muslim in his Sahih, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ asks us to take care of what is useful to us, to rely on Allah, and not to be helpless. In this same hadith, he ﷺ explains that if something happens to us, we should not say: “If I had done this, this would have happened” but rather we should say. “This is what Allah predestined and willed.” By explaining that the “if” opens the doors to Shaytan’s actions.
Thus we are advised to rely on Allah ﷻ in all situations in this world. And to accept past situations while submitting to the decree of Allah and what He has predestined.
Let us end with a magnificent hadith from the Sunnah reported by a Muslim in his Sahih, in which the Prophet of Allah ﷺ explains to us the situation of the believer. He tells us that his situation is truly astonishing because it is all good: if happiness reaches him. He is grateful for it and it is good for him. And if he is afflicted with misfortune, he is patient. It is also good for him. The Prophet ﷺ adds at the end that such a situation only occurs among the believer.
Thus, it is by reading the entire Quran. The Word of God, the Merciful ﷻ, by meditating on it, by learning. The chanting also takes a close interest in the prophetic stories. The books of great imams of the Muslim religion that the believer keeps sadness. And the inspiration of Satan away from him.
