It’s one of those days. You woke up late and missed a make-up test for a test you missed before because you woke up late. You just got a call from your manager and you’ve been “laid off.” Your friends are being acting up. Your laptop died mid essay writing. You walked home soaking wet because you, like a genius, forgot your umbrella even though rain has been forecasted for three days. You just looked at your calendar and realised that it’s early March and assignment deadlines and final exams loom in the not so distant horizon, dark and threatening a violent storm. It seems like the hours of the day are getting shorter while your to-do list just keeps stretching out; there seems to be no relief in sight.

In situations like this, it’s so easy to wallow in misery and let bad feelings fester. So, here are a few reminders that insha’Allah will help to keep yours and my chin up!

 - Umar al-Khattab (radiallahu anhu)  whenever he faced any difficulty, he would be take heart and say:

1)     The calamity is not losing one’s deen. 
2)     It could have been worse.
3)     Allah forgives my sins for my suffering.
4)     Any loss after losing the Prophet (SAW) is nothing.

- The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wassalam) said : “How wonderful is the affair of the believer, for his affairs are all good, and this applies to no one but the believer. If something good happens to him, he is thankful for it and that is good for him. If something bad happens to him, he bears it with patience and that is good for him.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2999). 

- The Messenger of Allah (salAllahu alayhi wassalam) said: “The du’aa’ of the person who is in distress is: ‘Allaahumma rahmataka arjoo fa laa takilni ilaa nafsi tarfat ‘ayn wa aslih li sha’ni kullahu laa ilaaha illa anta (O Allaah, for Your mercy I hope, so do not leave me in charge of my affairs even for the blink of an eye; rectify all my affairs. There is no god except You)’”

 - And Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) has said in the Qur’an: (translation) “Verily with every difficulty there is relief.” [Ash-Sharh 94:6]

And really, at the end of the day, how bad do we really have it? There are people who have lost loved ones. There are people facing bombs, occupation, earthquakes, famine and homelessness. Allah has blessed us, and real calamities (may Allah protect us) and these off days are excellent in reminding us to be thankful. Alhamdulillah.