The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for Allah to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming. Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and to store his few possessions. But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "Allah, how could you do this to me!" he cried. Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him. "How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But we shouldn't lose heart, because Allah is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground-it just may be a smoke signal that summons The Grace of Allah. "Seek help in patience and prayer; and truly it is hard except for the humble-minded." [Surah al-Baqarah; 2: 45] "O you who believe! seek assistance through patience and prayer; surely Allah is with the patient." [Surah al-Baqarah; 2: 153] "Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere." [Surah al-Baqarah; 2: 155] "If good befalls you, it grieves them, and if an evil afflicts you, they rejoice at it; and if you are patient and guard yourselves, their scheme will not injure you in any way; surely Allah comprehends what they do." [Surah ali-'Imran; 3: 120] "Do you think that you will enter the garden while Allah has not yet known those who strive hard from among you, and (He has not) known the patient." [Surah ali-'Imran; 3: 142] Patience implies firmness of purpose, dogged determination, strong will, steadfast pursuit and self-control. By patience and prayer a person strengthens his relationship with Allah. It has been said that: 'Patience and prayer are the two great powers' There is a warning in the same verse to the effect that it is indeed hard, except to those who bring a lowly spirit.   Print this Page [Mainpage] [Dhikr] [Du'a] [Articles] [History] [Prayer] [Stories] Copyright © 1999-2006 Mutmainaa. All Rights Reserved to the respective owners. Kindly inform me of any typing errors or mistakes.