Stories of inspiration Prophet Yunus- Reaching out in times of despair ‘And Yunus was also one of the Messengers, when he fled to the laden ship. He (agreed to) cast lots and he was of the losers. Then the whale swallowed him, and he was blameworthy.’ (37:139-142) And so Yunus called out to Allah for His help, asking for forgiveness and reprieve; pleading to be forgiven for his anger and frustration after fleeing his people, who had not listened to his message. He lay in humility at the bottom of the ocean…making dua to Allah, he called out in the darkness: ‘There is no god (worthy of worship) but You. Glory be to You! I was indeed wrong.’ So We responded to his call, and rescued him from distress, thus do We rescue the believers.’ (21:87-88) Yunus, may peace be upon him, was a Prophet of Allah, and yet he was taught an invaluable lesson: the absolute importance in placing one’s complete trust in Allah’s Power and Will, believing that He is the One who has planned all affairs accordingly.
The dua of Yunus was not granted for Yunus alone. It is one that should be utilised by us all, particularly in times of distress or hardship. It is a supplication that compels us to glorify and thank Allah, humble ourselves before Him, recognise our wrongdoings and shortfalls, and ask for forgiveness and salvation, praying to be resuced from our own calamities as Yunus once was.
Our greatest example, Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h, once said: ‘Guard the duties of Allah, Allah will guard you. Guard the duties of Allah, you will find Him in front of you. Know Allah in the time of your comfort, Allah will know you in the time of your hardship.’ (Ahmad). Remembering to give thanks and praise to Allah in good times is just as important as asking him for help when times are tough. Know that Allah hears your prayers, even the most secret desires and fears that lie buried deep within your soul. There is nothing in this world that can match the comfort and respite we feel when we draw near to Allah and ask for His help and support, knowing that what we say is listened to and answered, inshaaAllah. Prophet Ayub- Patience, Patience, Patience ‘A man is put to trial according to the strength of his religion. If he was strong in his religion, his trial is increased’ (Hadith- Ibn Majah) The many trials and tribulations suffered by Ayub only made him more steadfast in his belief, increasing his patience and gratitude to Allah s.w.t.
Prophet Ayub a.s. was afflicted with much physical suffering. His health was taken from him, leaving him physically weak and vulnerable. His emotional and mental state, however, were steadfast and strong through the strength of his belief in Allah s.w.t.
Various opinions state that Prophet Ayub suffered these afflictions for between seven and eighteen years. Throughout this time, he continued to praise and thank Allah s.w.t. Never once did he complain, or begrudge the fate that Allah s.w.t had decreed for him. Instead, he fell in prostration, making dua to Allah; ‘O Allah! By Your Honour, I will never lift my head till You release me from my suffering’. And he did not lift his head, praying and thanking Allah, until he was cured.
What lessons can we take from Prophet Ayub? Perhaps we need to stop to consider our own circumstances as a blessing from Allah s.w.t, regardless of how difficult or strenuous they may be. Even though that may not be so easy at first, we should remind ourselves of Prophet Ayub’s struggle, and the condition of so many of our brothers and sisters who are sick, oppressed or mistreated all over the world. Remember to be patient and steadfast in the face of all your struggles, and draw strength from the blessings that have been bestowed upon you by Allah, the Greatest. And most importantly, remember to make dua to Allah s.w.t to help you as you encounter these difficulties along the way.
Prophet Muhammad- Victory ‘O Allah! The proud and arrogant Quraishites are already here rebelling against You and belying Your Messenger. O Allah! I am waiting for Your victory which You have promised me. I beg You Allah to defeat them (the enemies).’ To any bystander, it would have seemed a predictable ending- an army of experienced, well-equipped soldiers would surely defeat a small number of men that had chosen to believe in the message of a man who claimed to be a decreed Prophet.
However, the decree of Allah the Almighty suggested otherwise… As the army of our righteous predecessors faced their enemy on the battlefield of Badr, Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, began supplicating to Allah s.w.t with the above dua, praying for victory against Abu Jahl and his army of men.
Allah s.w.t answered this great dua by sending throngs of angels to support the Muslims as they strived to defeat their enemy on the battlefield. Allah s.w.t. inspired a message to Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h, saying ‘I will help you with a thousand of the angels, each behind the other in succession.’ (8:9).
And so the great army of Abu Jahl was defeated, reminded of the great power of dua in times of need, and the Might of Allah s.w.t even in the most desperate of situations. What lessons can we take into our own lives? When making dua, think big! Don’t be shy or hesitant when asking Allah s.w.t for His assistance. Allah s.w.t answers the dua of the sincere believer who asks of Him in times of difficulty and ease. Nothing is too great or too small in the sight of Allah s.w.t; He alone has the Power to decree what He wills. All that is required of you is to ask with sincerity and humility from your Lord. Asma bint Abi Bakr- Strength through adversity ‘O Allah, I commend him to your cause and I am pleased with whatever You decree for him. Grant me for his sake the reward of those who are patient and who persevere.’ Asmaa was the daughter of one of the closest companions of our great Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h. She lived during the birth of Islam and witnessed the many victories and losses the burgeoning ummah experienced after its conception. She was a woman of great strength and stature, known for her steadfastness on the path of Allah s.w.t through the most difficult of times. When her father left Makkah with Prophet Muhammad p.b.u.h he took all his wealth with him, not leaving any for his family. When his father, Abu Quhafah heard of his departure, he said to his granddaughter Asmaa ‘He has left you bereft of any money and abandoned you.’
‘No, grandfather. In fact, he has left us much money.’ She took some pebbles and put hem in a small place where they used to keep money. She threw a cloth over the heap and took the hand of her blind grandfather and said, ‘See how much money he has left us?’ It is the meeting between Asmaa and her son Abdullah ibn az-Zubayr that remains to be one of the most unforgettable moments in the early history of Islam. She encouraged her son to meet his foes in battle regardless of his imminent death at their hands. After realizing that he was wearing armour, she said to him ‘This, my son, is not the dress of one who desires martyrdom. Take it off. That will make your movements lighter and quicker. Wear a sirwal (a long garment) so that if you are killed your ‘awrah (private parts) will not be exposed.’ As he left, Asmaa raised her hands to the heavens and made a long, emotional dua to Allah, asking Him to have mercy upon her son and forgive him for his sins. Her son Abdullah was dead by sunset of that day. What lessons can we take from Asmaa? Even through the most difficult periods of her life, Asmaa stood firm on her beliefs, trusting that her reward was with Allah s.w.t. We should remember in the most difficult of times to seek comfort and support in Allah s.w.t, and to increase our faith so that we may be equipped to handle anything that comes our way. | 
