How often do we feel impatient after making Dua to Allah swt; waiting for His promise to be fulfilled?
The Qur’an is a reflection of ourselves; The Chapter of Yusuf (AS), Surah Yusuf, encompasses a million gems and lessons, of which some can be extracted here.
Why the tale of Yusuf AS you ask? Even before commencing the story, Allah SWT introduces it as ‘The best of stories’ that He narrates. We are well aware that the story of Yusuf AS has been well explained and understood in many Tafasirs, amongst which Yaqub’s AS legendary statement of ‘Beautiful Patience’ and its application throughout the story of his life has been emphasized upon. So I am not really going to talk about that, except I am going to exactly, in a way, discuss patience. [Hint: It’s not Yaqub’s AS statement, rather Allah’s SWT statement]
It’s just mindboggling when you sit and read/learn tafasir and then reflect on the verses of Allah SWT yourself at different points in your life and suddenly something new and relevant clicks!
Allah SWT initiates the story with Yusuf AS narrating an extraordinary dream he sees the previous night, to his father, Yaqub AS. This dream, is as said by Allah SWT in His next verse, a promise of Allah SWT to Yusuf AS to be fulfilled. Young, naïve Yusuf AS doesn’t know its meaning or whether even when/if it would be fulfilled, yet doesn’t for once question it or waver in his faith over the next stages of his life.
Years pass by, and by years I mean months of trials, seasons of pain and loneliness, days and nights of never ending trials (all of which are narrated in the chapter itself) pass by; yet at the end of it all, as Allah SWT had promised, Yusuf’s AS dream comes true before his eyes.
Ever made duas to Allah SWT and felt like you’ve done all you could, and yet what you desire isn’t happening in the time frame you desire it to?
Ever felt tired and drained of all the cliché statements and messages or *advises* from people about ‘having faith, accepting Qadr, being content, being patient’ etc etc with whatever trial you face?
Ever heard stories of the Prophets and their patience with their tests and felt like perhaps their level of Iman was different and at unreachable heights that you just didn’t feel you’d relate to them?
In this very Surah, Allah SWT says HE narrates to us the best of stories, and when He talks about His promise to Yusuf AS, the most beautiful fact is that He doesn’t address Yusuf (AS) ALONE and SPECIFICALLY, but DIRECTLY addresses YOU. Yes, YOU.
“We narrate to YOU the best of narrations, by Our revealing to you this Quran, though before this you were certainly one of those who did not know…
And thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of sayings and make His favor complete to you and to the children of Yaqoub, as He made it complete before to your fathers, Ibrahim and Ishaq; surely your Lord is Knowing, Wise.” [Surah Yusuf Verse 3 and 6]
‘عليك وعلى ال يعقوب’ [verse 6]
‘make His favor complete TO YOU and…”
However Allah SWT also says in another verse (as His promise),
“And when My servants ask you concerning Me, then surely I am very near; I answer the prayer of the suppliant when he calls on Me, so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way.” [Quran, 2:186]
We often focus on the first part of this verse which appeals to us, yet we forget the second part which is (kind of) a condition for our dua to be fulfilled: ‘so they should answer My call and believe in Me that they may walk in the right way.’
Meaning to say, staying in obedience of Him SWT and choosing His pleasure over our desires (when/if the two clash). Meaning to say, keeping our tongue moist with the sound of Istighfar. Meaning to say, keeping our minds busy in His thoughts over others. And striving to gain His pleasure, and seeking forgiveness every time we forget. Once we train our hearts, it guides us through, easily. Only the first step is the hardest.
However, He also says ‘I am very near; I answer the prayer of every suppliant when he calls on Me’. He didn’t specify any righteous, pefect Muslim/Muslimah. He says ‘Every supplicant’.
So don’t despair! Because giving up means losing hope in Him. And losing hope in Him has a penalty– disbelieving in His ability and withdrawing trust in Him, the most dangerous and unfortunate penalty of life to befall anyone- those you don’t want to be among.
‘امن يجيب المضطر اذا دعاه ويكشف السوء ويجعلكم خلفاء الارض االه مع الله قليلا ما تذكرون’
Is He [not best] who responds to the desperate one when he calls upon Him and removes evil and makes you inheritors of the earth? Is there a deity with Allah ? Little do you remember! [Surah Naml; verse 62]
Don’t despair! And rejoice that your duas are going to be answered; Even if it takes ‘years or months of trials, seasons of pain and loneliness, or even days and nights of never ending tests.’ And even after all that, if you’ve felt it’s not answered; then know that He is the most Wise and Most Just in His decisions for you- Al Mujeeb (The One who Responds) and Al Hakeem (The All Wise) is always our AlWaliyy (cannot find a word equivalent in English to AlWaliyy). 😉
Alhamdulillah for the gift of Dua. Dua away your impatience!
The secret is to never in the slightest of corners in your heart have doubt in the fulfillment of your dua, as THAT is the first and main obstacle already in having your Dua answered…
Believe with STRENGTH in your faith. And leave a legacy like Yusuf AS and Yaqub AS did. ❤
Sameera Hameed 