Qur'anic Reflections

Day 17: Pray harder when it gets hard to pray

الَّذِينَ اسْتَجَابُوا لِلَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَصَابَهُمُ الْقَرْحُ ۚ لِلَّذِينَ أَحْسَنُوا مِنْهُمْ وَاتَّقَوْا أَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

(Sahih International)
Those [believers] who responded to Allah and the Messenger after injury had struck them. For those who did good among them and feared Allah is a great reward -

-Sura Aal-E-Imran, Ayah 172

After the battle of Uhud, after having incurred heavy losses, the Muslim army returned to Medina in low spirits. 

With the guilt of disobeying the Prophet and the dreadful consequences that had unfolded due to it, the soldiers were exhausted, both mentally and physically. 

The death toll was high, compared to Badr and the number of injured were higher. Every house had men with wounds that needed healing.

At this point, the Makkan army decided to act mischievous. It sent a messenger boy to Medina to give them the false news of a large Polytheist Makkan army advancing towards Medina. 

The Prophet peace be upon him, concerned that an attack on Medina would be something the Muslim army couldn't handle and so he called out to the ones who had accompanied in Uhud. 

He called out to them to march with him to a place called Hamra Ul Assad, a ground miles away from Medina. His plan was to meet the Makkans there and put up their best fight out of whatever was left in them. 

Only the ones who had been present at Uhud were commanded to go forth in this misson. The Muslim army then marched to the said place and waited there for any enemy attack. 

But none came. The Muslims camped there and when there were no signs of any possible attack, they returned to Medina. 

At the outset, it doesn't seem like much of a victory, right? I mean, there was no attack after all! 

But wait for a second and think, these soldiers had already been injured a lot during Uhud. They were broken, physically and mentally, they had families back home scared for their lives, some were unable to walk, some with wounds that were still fresh and needed treatment, yet when the Messenger of Allah called them, they immediately responded with labbaik ( I am present) without a second thought. 

They were not scared for a moment. When the messenger boy told them of the Makkan army approaching in large numbers, they didn't cower with fear inside of their homes, instead they marched on, only placing their belief in Allah and their own strengths, how much ever was left. 

Allah summarises this beautifully : 

الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ

(Sahih International)
Those to whom hypocrites said, "Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them." But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, "Sufficient for us is Allah, and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs."

-Sura Aal-E-Imran, Ayah 173

HasbunAllahu wa ni'mal wakeel! 

That was their response!

In the end, there was no war. But they did win. They won in the war against their own Nafs that would urge them to rest for a while. 

I mean, it's normal isn't it? To want to rest after you've been fighting so fiercely. 

But even in that state, even when they were at their lowest, even when they were tired, they responded to Allah and despite there being no fight, they got the rewards because they intended to fight and put in their efforts. 

This jolted me. 

After a particularly long day, we think it is permissible to take our ibadah lightly. Maybe shorten the prayer or rush through it or God forbid maybe even miss it. 

But here's the thing : 

It's easy to give Allah time when you're free. Anyone can do that. 

Real love is when you give Allah your time when you're the busiest. 

It is to give Allah your efforts when you're at your lowest. 

It is to put Him above everything else, even when it's out your own comfort level. 

And then no matter what the outcome, you'll be rewarded for it in sha'Allah because it's not about whether you got it right or not, it's about the intention and effort to try and do it. 

So next time you don't feel like praying--pray. Try your best to maintain Khusho, stay focused and in sha'Allah Allah will do the rest. 

Pray harder when it gets hard to pray. 

May Allah give us all the strength, Ameen!