Achievement of Patience and The Curing of Grief‏

I found this advice from Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim (RH) to be quite outstanding , so I thought it would be worth a share. I hope that others, who might not have read it before, find it beneficial .The Imaam beautifully explains that...

...Curing grief and anguish comes through knowing that missing the rewards for being patient and content, such as mercy and correct guidance that Allah has promised in return for being patient, is much larger than the calamity itself. A part of the cure also comes through knowing that grief brings comfort to the heart of the enemy, grief to the friends, anger to the Lord, joy to the devil, destruction to the reward and weakness to the heart. On the other hand, when one observes patience and satisfaction, he will expel the devil and defeat his plots, will please the Lord, bring joy to the friends and sadness to the enemy. In this case, the person would say words of condolence to his friends instead of they to him. This, indeed, is the sought after perfection and firmness, unlike striking the cheeks, uttering foul words and being dissatisfied with what Allah has decided.

Further on in the chapter the Imaam writes:

Ahmad and At-Trimidhi related that the Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Salam) said:
"When Allah loves a people, He tests them with trials. If they are content, then they will achieve contentment. Those who get enraged, will only reap rage."

Curing grief also entails knowing that no matter how much grief one feels he will sooner or later be forced to forego the matter. And then, he will not be rewarded for this forced patience. A wise man once said, "In the first day when a calamity strikes, the wise person behaves just like the ignorant person behaves days later. Those who do not observe an honorable patience, will soon be forced to forget just as the animals do."

Also in the Sahih it is related that the Prophet (Sallalahu Alayhi Wa Salam) said:
"Verily, patience is at the stroke of the calamity."

Further, Al-Ash'ath bin Qays said, "Observe patience with Faith and await the reward from Allah alone. Otherwise, you will be forced to forget just as the animals do."

Finally I feel it will be best to end the Imaam's words with a brilliant quote from part of his conclusion to the chapter.

Curing grief also entails knowing that the bitterness of this life is itself the sweetness of the Life Hereafter, as Allah will turn it to sweetness later on. Also the sweetness of this life is itself the bitterness of the Life Hereafter. Moving away from a short-lived bitterness to acquire an eternal sweetness is surely better than vice versa.

[Quotes taken from: Imaam Ibn al-Qayyim al-Jawziyyah's, At-Tibb an-Nabawi]