In Every Difficulty,
There is Ease

There are always opportunities along with difficulties. We should ignore the difficulties and avail of the opportunities to continue our path to success.

When Muslims had been going through very difficult times in Makkah, this verse was revealed: “So, surely with every hardship there is ease; surely, with every hardship there is ease.” (94:5) This Quranic verse tells us of the law of nature by which there are always opportunities side by side with difficulties. Therefore the wisest course is to ignore the difficulties and avail of the opportunities. In this way, one can continue on one’s onward journey in a far better way.

Generally, people know only one type of action in this world, and that is battling with difficulties, removing all obstacles and carving out their path. But this is not Islamic activism. Islamic activism, on the contrary, is to avoid difficulties rather than fighting with them and availing rather of the opportunities which present themselves. Therefore, Islamic activism, to put it briefly, is to ignore the problems and avail of the opportunities.

In the modern world, difficulties and problem can never be brought to an end. In the present world the existence of difficulties and problems is inevitable, just like the thorns in the rose plant. Therefore, opting for a course of confrontation to solve the problem of difficulties is to fight with eternal realities. There is no one who can change these realities of nature by opting for a collision course.

Wise indeed is he who ignores the difficulties and problems and seeks out the opportunities. The successful journey of life always follows in the path of opportunities, rather than colliding with the rocks of difficulties. Just as there are both roses and thorns in the bush, so also is the present world filled with both difficulties and opportunities. The test of a person’s acumen is his ability to not embroil himself in difficulties. He should try to discover opportunities and avail of them. He should abandon the way of protest and complaint and continue on his journey with patience and fortitude. Such are the people who will finally be successful. For those who adopt the contrary course, there will be for them nothing but failure in this world of God.