The mother rabbit is teaching her young. “If the hunter comes from this direction, you should do this; you should run this way; you should hide there,” she tells them. But suddenly, a net falls upon them from above. The young rabbits ask their mother, “What are we going to do now?” The mother replies:
“This is a net coming from above. There is nothing you can do against it.”
In much the same way, unexpected things can happen to a person. From this perspective, it is very important to believe in destiny, to do whatever is required in response to what happens, and yet never to lose heart. One must always take precautions in the face of events. If, despite all the precautions taken, the event still occurs, then we should remember the principle: “What destiny decrees, not what one plans, will ultimately come to pass.”
Death is destined; we will certainly die, but we do not know when it will come to us. Just as those before us departed from this world, we too will depart, but we do not know when. Allah has created the world in this way. Living beings and human beings are born, grow, grow old, and then die and move to the other realm—the Hereafter, the true and permanent abode.
Apart from death, it is very important for a person to know that there are appropriate, lawful, and humane ways and solutions for dealing with every event and difficulty that may come his way. Except for death, there is a remedy for everything.
Throughout life, a person encounters many problems, both small and great. Sometimes obstacles appear before us that seem difficult to overcome; at other times, we may feel as though there is simply no way out of the circumstances in which we find ourselves. Yet one of the most important characteristics of human beings is their ability to think when faced with problems, search for different paths, and develop new solutions.
Whatever the issue may be, whenever and wherever it occurs, and however it may come into a person’s life, there have always been—and will continue to be—ways out of such situations and problems, through the intelligence Allah has given us, through experience, and through consultation with others.
These situations may sometimes be very simple, sometimes very complicated, and sometimes extremely difficult. Yet, without ever falling into despair, if we approach them by asking, “How should I solve this problem with the resources I have, the experiences I have gained, and by consulting with others? How can I find a solution?”, then, with Allah’s permission, there is no problem that cannot be addressed.
They say that the Japanese have a saying: “If only there were a problem so that we could solve it.” I do not know whether the Japanese actually said this, but the attitude behind the expression conveys an important principle: a person should never give up in the face of problems. One should believe that problems can be solved and practice active patience—that is, working diligently to solve the problem while remaining calm, avoiding panic, exercising sound judgment, and patiently continuing the effort.
From the day a person is born until the day he dies, he may—and inevitably will—encounter matters and problems of all kinds: small or large, difficult or easy, simple or complex. From childhood onward, a person first learns from his family, then from his teachers during his education, from friends, and later from colleagues, his spouse, and his children. He seeks their opinions and advice in solving his problems and continues his journey through life. He also benefits—and should benefit—from the experiences of those who lived before him.
The fundamental point to understand here is this: There is no completely unsolvable problem and no road that is permanently without an exit. Every problem has a solution; what matters is knowing the ways and methods by which that solution can be found.
As Archimedes (287–212 BC) is said to have declared, “Give me a place to stand, and I will move the world.” When the right position, the right tool, and the right method are found, even a person’s seemingly small amount of strength can, when used appropriately, produce remarkably great results in solving a problem.
A person should be conscious that, through the intelligence Allah has given him, the experiences he has acquired, and the perspectives of people he has consulted, he can find ways to deal with the problems he encounters. What matters here is not merely strength. Finding the right point of leverage, using the right method, and making proper use of available resources are at least as important as strength itself.
In other words, it is of great importance to know that there are always ways out, rather than merely dead ends.
Not every problem necessarily has the same solution; nevertheless, most problems have a way out. Sometimes it may be patience; sometimes a different perspective; sometimes consultation; sometimes lessons from past experiences; and sometimes an entirely new method that we had never considered before. Any of these may reveal the way forward.
For this reason, before saying, “There is nothing more I can do,” a person should ask himself: “Could there be another way that I have not yet seen?” Life is not made up entirely of one-way roads. If one door closes, another may open. If one opportunity disappears, another may emerge. Sometimes something a person regards as a loss may actually become the beginning of a new and more beneficial path.
Of course, this understanding does not mean that a person can accomplish everything through his own power. A person works, thinks, takes precautions, learns from experience, and makes use of available means, but ultimately he should leave the result to Allah. Being able to say, “I have done everything within my power; now I place my trust in what my Lord decrees,” is also one of the sources of inner peace.
Experience has a special place in this matter. A person should learn not only from his own experiences but also from the experiences of others. A solution that one person discovers in dealing with a difficulty may be the very way out that another person has been searching for for years. Therefore, sharing the experiences we gain is not merely an act of kindness; it is also an important investment in the cause of gaining and benefiting others. Allah Almighty will, in one way or another, reward such goodness, whether in this world or in the Hereafter. When a person illuminates another person’s path, he also increases the light on his own path.
Human life is limited. Half of our lives are already spent in sleep. A significant portion is spent in childhood, and another portion may be consumed by illnesses and activities that will ultimately be of no lasting benefit to us, either in this world or in the Hereafter. Therefore, our truly active lifespan—our effective period of conscious living—is very short. Accidents and various calamities may shorten it even further.
For this reason, knowing that after this short life we will proceed to the eternal realm called the Hereafter, expressed symbolically as the figure eight, and knowing that our destination there will be determined in accordance with how we fulfill the responsibilities Allah has entrusted to us, we should strive to live this life carefully and consciously, with faith, hope, determination, perseverance, and active patience.
There is another important dimension to this matter. When a person passes from this world to the next, he will ultimately be asked: “Where and how did you spend your time?” Especially from this perspective, we should understand that life is not a game or something to be treated carelessly. Everything that happens to us in this temporary life should be approached as a question in an examination.
We should also know that these “examination questions” necessarily have answers, and we should live accordingly. Such an approach is one of the qualities that can enable a person to succeed in the Hereafter. At the same time, it allows him to live this brief worldly life with peace and contentment.
Therefore, our fundamental principle in facing life should be this:
Not giving up in the face of problems; thinking, researching, consulting others, benefiting from experience, trying new paths, and asking Allah for help are the requirements of being a conscious human being.
There may sometimes be walls standing before us, but every obstacle has a side that can be overcome, bypassed, or used as an indication to turn toward another door.
The important thing is to keep searching for a new path before concluding that the way out has disappeared.
One of life’s greatest forms of gain is not merely finding our own way, but helping others find the good path that we have discovered.
Therefore, since every event that may befall us has a solution and a way out, and since it is evident that Allah has given human beings different abilities and qualities with which they can deal with such matters, let us not become among those who lose in the “zone of gaining.”
Human life is intertwined with many tests and problems, both large and small. Sometimes obstacles appear before us so great that we may think there is no way out. Yet Allah has given human beings reason, will, experience, and the ability to think. What matters is not the size of the problem we face, but whether we are able to continue searching for its solution.
Therefore, instead of saying “It is over,” we should ask, “What other way might there be?”
We will work, we will think, we will take precautions, we will consult others, and then we will leave the result to Allah.
In the Qur’an, Allah Almighty says:
“Indeed, with hardship comes ease.”
(Surah Al-Inshirah, 94:5–6)
This means that even within difficulty, there is the possibility of ease. A person should not give in to despair; rather, he should think, investigate, consult others, benefit from experience, and continue searching for new paths.
Finding our own way is a success; helping others find the way we have discovered is an even greater beauty.Perhaps we cannot move the world from its place; but through a sound idea, a kind word, and sincere guidance, we may be able to change the world of one person.
There is also another very important point: after every possible way out has been tried, whatever result ultimately occurs should be accepted with the belief in divine destiny, which is one of the six articles of faith. Being able to say, “There must be some good in this as well,” and to act accordingly can make a person among those who attain true gain, both in this world and in the Hereafter.
Starting from the awareness that every matter has a way forward, let us first help ourselves and the members of our families, and then, beginning with those closest to us and extending outward to humanity as a whole, let us help people in these matters through appropriate methods and language, in suitable measure and proportion, and within the framework of reasonableness.
In this way, by never losing hope in Allah’s mercy, let us ensure that we do not become among those who lose in the zone of gaining.
What do you think?
