Family Problems: Maintaining Conviction in Allah During Difficulty & Tribulation
Answered by Ustadha Sulma Badrudduja
Question: I recently discovered that my husband is cheating on me and I am greatly disturbed and upset by this. He is unrepentant and is telling me I have to live with it. I have been very patient and am constantly making du`a to Allah, but his family and him continually slander me after we have agreed to a divorce when I sought legal counsel and scholarly advice. However, I am losing hope that i will receive any justice in this life, which is taking a toll on me and my children, especially since the community I live in treats divorce very negatively. Please advise me.
Answer: Wa alaikum assalam wa rahmatullah,
May Allah ease your difficulties and grant you a quick relief from them.
Alhamdulillah, it is very good that you are seeking legal advice and working with local scholars to deal with this situation. It is essential that you have legal, spiritual, and emotional support in this trying situation.
It can be very difficult to see the wisdom in hardship when one is in the thick of tribulations. The lessons one learns and the ways in which one grows by enduring trials is a change that occurs over a long period of time. They may only become clear to you after everything has settled down. But you should have conviction that Allah will give each person their recompense. There is no question about this. We believe it without any doubt, because Allah says,
“On that Day will men proceed in companies sorted out, to be shown the Deeds that they (had done). Then shall anyone who has done an atom’s weight of good, see it! And anyone who has done an atom’s weight of evil, shall see it.” [Quran 99:6-8]
Your patience and honorable behavior will be rewarded. Likewise, anyone who has wronged you shall see the result of their dhulm (oppression). The Prophet, may Allah’s blessings and peace be upon him, as reported in Sahih Muslim, said, “Oppression will be layers of darkness on the Day of Judgment.” It is clear in Islam that adultery and wrongful accusations of infidelity are among the greatest sins. There are abundant references to this in the Qur’an and Hadith.
The Prophet, may Allah’s bless him and give him peace, informed us that the du`a (supplication) of one who is wronged has no veil between it and Allah. Your consistent and sincere prayers will be answered, whether it is in a way that is understood by our limited abilities or not, for Allah is infinitely Wise and Just.
May Allah grant you ease.
wassalam,
Sulma Badrudduja
Checked & Approved by Faraz Rabbani
