How Do You Handle Yourself in Time of Difficulties
By Yassir Fazaga | 2026-01-13T17:56:25.724132+00:00 | Topic: Time
How Do You Handle Yourself in Time of Difficulties
By Shaykh Yassir Fazaga
Opening
Khutbat al-Hajah (Opening Khutbah)
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the most honored of the prophets and the purest of messengers. The intercessor of the hypocrites and the beloved of the Lord of the worlds. Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him and upon his family and companions, the good and the pure.
Praise be to Allah, we praise Him, we ask for His help, we ask for His forgiveness and we ask for His guidance. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and the evil of our deeds. Whoever Allah guides, there is no misguidance for him, and whoever He misguides, there is no guidance for him. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, and no partner for Him. And that Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is His servant and Messenger. He conveyed the message and fulfilled the trust and advised the Ummah. And he left it on the white path. It is like its day. Nothing escapes it but destruction.
As for the rest, indeed, the best of speech is the book of Allah. And the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. And the evil of the affairs is their innovation, and every innovation is an innovation, and every innovation is a mistake.
Main Khutbah
Character and Morality in Islam
Indeed, the best of speech is the book of Allah. And the best of guidance is the guidance of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. We bear witness that no one is worthy of worship but Allah. And we bear witness that Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, is indeed His final Messenger.
Every religion that has no morals is a religion that has no value. Every religion that has no morals is a religion that has no value. Especially in our deen, especially in the teachings of Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, when he said that his main mission:
(Musnad Ahmad 8595)
"I was sent so that I may perfect for people the best of characters, the best of manners."
So to us, we Muslims, the way that we express our deen, our religiosity, by what kind of people are we becoming as a result of being Muslims.
Tests Through Difficulty
And subhanAllah, the way that our akhlaq, our manners, our character, what kind of people that we are, are tested by events that are around us. And subhanAllah, especially nowadays, financially speaking, people losing their jobs, people getting laid off, people not able to pay the rent, people's healthcare is in jeopardy, people's mortgages are difficult to cope with nowadays, and as a result, questions come up. What kind of a person are you becoming because of the financial difficulties that you are facing? And let us face it, we are facing some very difficult financial times.
Very common nowadays, it becomes that people come into the masjid and they come in and say, it's an eviction notice. I have been told to vacate because I can't pay rent. People come into the masjid with their medical bills saying, look, I can no longer afford to pay my insurance, I need help.
We had one brother who came to the masjid and he said, look, I registered my daughter for school, but I cannot buy her the books. He said, my daughter will not go to school this semester because I do not have $250 extra to pay for the books of my daughter. These are difficult times for a good number of people out there.
But the question is, these difficult times, what kind of people are we becoming as a result of these difficult times? Because subhanAllah, it is in these difficult times that the true nature of us comes out. Who are you? And that's why the Qur'an tells us as to how do human beings respond to these types of difficulties:
"It's that amongst people are men or women who when Allah chooses to constrain as far as the sustenance that is given to them, they get all disappointed and they are all miserable and they say, 'My Lord has disgraced me.' And the same test happens on the other hand, when you have a lot and you have plenty, the man rejoices and says, 'my Lord is indeed pleased with me.'"
So that we start thinking that we don't have much, it's because Allah does not like us. And if we have a lot, it is because Allah likes us. And that is not the case.
Negative Responses to Difficulty
And subhanAllah, interestingly speaking, just looking into how people react to this, when they don't have the cash in their hands, when they don't have the money, what kind of people do they become? What kind of people do we become as a result of us not having money? And here are some of the negative choices that people have made so far:
There is a rise in the consumption of alcohol. People start drinking. They cannot cope with the level of stress that is being placed on them, so what do they do? They start drinking. But how does drinking elevate your problems? How does drinking bring you more money? It does not. And maybe, yes, it does relax you, but it is a false sense of relaxation. So for us to go through that route, there is a very unwise, poor decision to be made. We don't want to do this.
Yes, things are difficult, but you don't take that route. People come in and they are so unbelievably depressed, to the point that they are no longer interested in living anymore. Times are so difficult, they tell you, I don't have any money, I feel worthless, I feel I am like a no one.
And now, they are not even interested in living anymore. As a result, some people, what they do is, they don't have a job, they are really stressed out because of this. So what do they do? They go home and they take it out on their families.
Nowadays, domestic violence is on the rise as well. A man beats his wife because he doesn't have a job. How is this her fault? How does beating your wife make you get a job, or a raise, or a promotion, or any of that stuff? It does not.
Or people look for shortcuts, they start gambling. Because now they think that, you know what, this is so difficult, I can't make it like that, I need some quick money. Let us gamble, let's do this, let's do that. And it does not work, my brothers and sisters. It does not work out that way.
The True Worth of a Person
But the bigger question that we want to know is, who are you becoming as a result of you not having money? See nowadays, we live in a culture, in times where a person's worth is determined by how much money you have.
They say in Europe, it's all about what you wear. Are you wearing the Armani suit? Are you wearing the Gap? What kind of a brand name are you wearing? So now your worth is determined by what you wear. They say in the East Coast in New York, it's about where you dine. What restaurants have you gone to? And when you speak, can you speak about the different plates and dishes that you have had? And then it's in California, it's all about what you drive. Let the Lexus speak for you. I don't want no Lexus speaking for me, I want to speak for myself.
A car does not make a man, a man makes his own self. But this is what we've been taught. That somehow material things gives us values. Material things is what makes us who we are. And that is not the case. So these are difficult times, but as a result, what kind of a person are we becoming?
The Importance of Gratitude
And the worst of all, is when we stop being grateful to Allah. How are you doing? How are you doing? You ask people, how are you doing? And you hear the worst types of expressions. About how terrible things are and how bad they are. And in the process we stop being grateful.
We're no longer thankful. We are so busy thinking about what we do not have. That we forget to enjoy what we have. We literally forget to enjoy what we have. We are very ungrateful. And this is what's happening now.
And that is why it's said that one time, Umar Ibn Khattab is going around the Kaaba. And he hears this Bedouin making a strange dua. "Oh Allah make me amongst the few or the minority."
And Umar Ibn Khattab thinks that this dua is so vague. And he holds the man and says, "Who is this minority that you are speaking about that you want to be with?" He said, "Umar have you not read the book of Allah?" For in it Allah says:
"And only small group amongst My servants are truly those who are grateful to Allah."
So he's praying and he's saying, "Oh Allah make me amongst those who are grateful."
But you know what we understand gratefulness to be? When you move to the new house, "Alhamdulillah." But what about the house that you had? No Alhamdulillah for that one? When you buy the new car, "Oh Alhamdulillah." Well what about before? No Alhamdulillah from before? We think that we are supposed to be grateful to Allah only when big things happen to us.
The Prophet's Example of Gratitude
Very similar to the students. Before they take their exam they raise their hands, "Oh Allah please make this exam easy." And they haven't studied before the exam. Yet they come into the exam and they beg Allah for their help. But the minute they're done, and what happens afterwards? Allah is not remembered. And that is why Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala reminds us to be grateful.
But to be grateful, the fact that we are living is a sign that deserves to be on our part to be grateful for. The Prophet peace be upon him, used to say. Listen to this, The Prophet peace be upon him, the very last words that he would speak when he goes at night. What does he say? What does he pray for? What does he say? Some of the most beautiful, optimistic, positive words. He gets up there:
(Sahih Muslim 2715)
"All praises due to Allah, Who has given us something to eat for the day. And something to drink. And he gave us a shelter to be under. And He has provided us family to give us love and care. And then the Prophet peace be upon him said and reminds us, 'For how many people are going to spend the night with no shelter, and nobody to take or to look after them.'"
What happens when he wakes up in the morning? He said:
(Sunan at-Tirmidhi 2346)
"Whosoever wakes up in the morning, physically they are okay. In their heart they are in peace. Guaranteed that they have some sustenance for the day. It is as if this whole world was presented to them on a golden plate."
Not talking about something big, it's just these basic elements. If you are grateful for them, subhanAllah your life becomes much easier.
The Story of Isa and the Dead Dog
Gratefulness, gratitude my brothers and sisters, is a sign of optimism. When you are grateful, there is good energy that comes from you. Especially around your kids.
Some people they are with their kids and all they talk about is negativity. All they speak about how bad things are. They speak to their wives about how difficult things are. Yes, that may be the case. But the point is, why don't you look for what is going on good, and you speak about that.
"It is narrated that Jesus was walking with his disciples, and they see a dead dog."
And everybody grabs their nose and they turn away about how ugly, and how disgusting, and how bad it smells. Isa عليه السلام looks at it and what does he say?
"He said, all praise is due to Allah. This dead dog has got some beautiful white teeth."
So some of the disciples, they looked at him and they said:
"He said, O messenger of Allah, it is just a dead dog."
Isa عليه السلام then says:
"You people saw the worst in it and you spoke and I saw the best in it and I spoke."
Not denying anything but the point is, where do you want to be fixated at? What do you want to see? It is all at your disposal but what do you choose to see?
The Characteristics of the Best People
So at this time brothers and sisters, we need to be grateful. We need to be giving shukr to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala for things that we take for granted. For things that, you know, if you have a family, alhamdulillah. If you have health, alhamdulillah. If you are conscious and not dead, alhamdulillah. If you are here today, alhamdulillah. Let that be our motto in life.
That we are people, no matter how bad things are, we can genuinely and sincerely say, alhamdulillah. Because it is, alhamdulillah. And that is why the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم would speak about who are the best type of people.
"When he was speaking about the five characteristics of people, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: 'Those who when they do something good, they rejoice. And when they sin, they make poor choices, they repent to Allah جل جلاله. And when they are given, they are always thankful to Allah, grateful for His blessings. And when they are tested, they are patient. And when trials befall them, they are patient.'"
Allah speaks about Ibrahim:
"Allah speaks about Ibrahim, he was a devout man or a devout individual. But then also Allah reminds us that what made him so special is that he was always grateful to Allah for His blessings."
"Allah speaks about Nuh and the very first thing that Allah mentions about him was that he was always a grateful person to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala."
Practical Advice for Difficult Times
Yes brothers and sisters, times are difficult but now is not the time to be depressed. Now is not the time to be stingy. Now is not the time to be going through anxiety and worry but rather now is the time of being practical. But at the same time also we want to be grateful to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
As far as practicality, when they talk about why do people get into the mess that they have gotten in, they say that the number one reason is when we buy things we don't need. Please, if you don't need it, you don't have to have it. Don't buy it, it's as simple as this.
"When something becomes expensive, leave it, for when something becomes expensive, it will eventually become cheap."
"Fight high prices by not needing them."
He said that when things get expensive, the best way to fight the high prices is by you're not buying them. So the point is, if you don't need it, do not buy it.
And then the second reason that they mention is, people do not budget. We have to start to learn how to budget and see the need in budgeting. Because this is one way of coping, practically coping with what is going on around us.
But besides all of this, then the last one is really sad, is people want to take shortcuts in making quick money. Shortcuts in making quick money and then we end up losing. Nothing wrong with wanting more, but also it has to be something that is calculated.
But by the end of the day, in these difficult times, what we want to do is we want to be more grateful. Do not forget what you have, because that you are so worried about what you do not have, that you forget to enjoy what Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala has blessed us with.
Recent Events and Muslim Responsibility
You are probably aware of what is going on in India, in Mumbai. We've been watching this for the last almost 48 hours. Where it is said that a good number of innocent souls are either lost, killed or they are injured. And as you know what happens when there is such a heinous act takes place.
The first thing is people always think of, now what did the Muslims do this time? We Muslims pray, oh Allah please not one of us again. Because this is giving such a terrible image. And it's not about image but it's about the innocent souls that are lost.
People are going about doing their business, be they tourist, be they locals, be they native, be they foreigners. People are where they are because where they want to be and that is their right. Nobody goes anywhere and expects to be harmed because of the place that they are in.
They get ambushed, they get attacked and somebody comes in and when it is done in the name of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. Because people look into this and immediately everybody starts saying, well who might it be? Within the Muslims, see we know that it's a Muslim. But what we are worried about is we want to be as exact as possible.
Which Muslims are they? Because the fact that they are Muslims is almost a given. We are not saying that it is or it is not. But the fact that when something bad happens for people to immediately think, oh it's the Muslims again.
Wallahi we have young kids at the masjid, again they ask. They are asking of us Muslims, elders and saying again Muslims are doing it. This is embarrassing. This is embarrassing. You know the innocent souls that are lost but also this idea of what do people think about us at this point.
The Prophet's Approach to Public Relations
In the hadith it was mentioned that in Medina the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam knew about the hypocrites. And everybody knew who they were. And everybody knew what terrible things that they were doing. So some people will come to the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and say, ya Rasulullah, naqtuluhum, let's kill them.
And then what does the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam say? Do you want people to talk and say that Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is killing his companions, he kills his people. He said the fact that it may potentially be a terrible public relation or something that is bad for people to talk about. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, I am not going to do this.
We can't do that. After one of the battles, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is distributing war booty. And this rigid man comes and says, ya Muhammad, be just. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam looked at him and he said:
(Sahih al-Bukhari 3610)
"He said, woe to you, who is to be just if the Messenger of Allah himself is not just."
And somebody gets up and volunteers and says, Prophet of Allah, should I kill him? And the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said, so that people will say that Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam killed
people who oppose him. Or Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam killed his own companions. Something like that is not accepted. The fact that people can mention it, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam did not find to be something that was good.
Islam vs. Muslims' Actions
And nowadays you look into this and you say, la ilaha illallah, here goes again. They've done it again. Nowhere in our deen, absolutely nowhere in our deen, it's said that if you are wronged, you go and you wrong somebody else. They are as innocent as you are. Why do you think that it's bad when it happens to you? But somehow you give yourself a license that you can do it to some other innocent soul. Said who? Said who? How were these people involved in whatever it was? How were they involved?
So when we look into this, we have to have this conviction that what Islam says is one thing. What Muslims do is totally different. Islam is one thing, but the Muslims and what they do may or may not be a reflection of the teachings of Islam. And such a thing, if it was the Muslims that have done it, it has nothing to do with the deen of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.
And we don't say this because that's what we want the media to hear. We say this because wallahi this is our genuine sincere conviction that there is no way on earth that Allah allows the killing of the innocent souls the same way that it has been happening right now. We just don't accept that.
Abu Bakr's Example
And there is no ifs, there is no but they do this somewhere else, they do what they do, but we don't do that. Abu Bakr as-Siddiq, he was brought two heads of patriarchs. They had a fight with Rome, and then they had beheaded people, and they brought the two heads to him.
And he said, what is this? And they said:
"So that we tell you that we have killed them."
Abu Bakr looked at them and he said:
"A messenger would have sufficed that they send a messenger to let me know that such and such person are dead, part of the battle."
And then they said to him:
"This is what they do to us," they tell Abu Bakr.
He looked at them and he said:
"Since when do we follow them? We follow Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلمwe do not follow that."
Even if they do it, it does not say that you go and you do something like this. You look into this and you cannot help and say, Please, this is getting sickening. It is getting to the point where some Muslims come in and they say, You know what, this is just too much. Very little I want to have with Islam and the Muslims.
If we are going to judge Islam on the actions and the basis of other Muslims, we are going to be very disappointed. We will be disappointed. So, let us see the beauty of Islam for what it is, not for what the people do with it.
Prayers for the Victims
And please do keep in your prayers the families of the people that died. May Allah give them lots and lots of sabr, Ya Rabbil Alameen. The Muslims and the non-Muslims amongst them. And for those who are injured, may Allah give them a speedy recovery. Because of what has happened to them. And when we pray like this, we are sincere inshaAllah about our prayers.
The First Ten Days of Dhul Hijjah
InshaAllah, tomorrow will be the first day of Dhul Hijjah. You know that Eid inshaAllah will be on the 10th. And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم:said
(Sunan Abu Dawood 2438)
"There are no days where good deeds are most beloved to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala than the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah."
This is an opportunity, so please inshaAllah let us seize the opportunity of being alive during the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah. And the good deeds will include the recitation of the Qur'an, keeping in good relationship with your relatives, the fasting during the days, especially the day of Arafah, the giving in charity and what have you. So please inshaAllah do seize that opportunity for the first 10 days of Dhul Hijjah.
And also please do remember inshaAllah that part of this Eid is that we have to make a sacrifice. The sacrifice we can make locally and we can also delegate somebody else to do it somewhere else where there is more need for it. And I believe that there are brothers outside who are going to be collecting your sacrifice to be slaughtered for the people in Palestine or any other place that is of your choice. So
please do see them outside and it is perfectly fine that you don't have to do your sacrifice yourself. Do it where it is needed more inshaAllah.
Also keep in your prayers those who are going for Hajj and pray that Allah subhan wa ta'ala give them a safe journey, that they go there and their deeds are accepted. And inshaAllah on their way back also they have a safe journey as well in the process.
Closing Duas
Also please keep in your prayers those who are having difficult times, be it their health issues, be it their financial issues, maybe they don't have a job, may Allah subhan wa ta'ala open the gates for them. And those who have passed away, may Allah subhan wa ta'ala bless all their souls.
"O Allah, make us among Your grateful servants."
"O Allah, help us to remember You, to thank You, and to worship You in the best manner."
"O Allah, accept from us, for You are the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, and turn to us in forgiveness, for You are the Acceptor of Repentance, the Most Merciful."
"Our Lord, give us in this world [that which is] good and in the Hereafter [that which is] good and protect us from the punishment of the Fire."
"Indeed, Allah orders justice and good conduct and giving to relatives and forbids immorality and bad conduct and oppression. He admonishes you that perhaps you will be reminded."
"So remember Allah; He will remember you. And be grateful to Him for His favors, and He will increase you [therein]. And the remembrance of Allah is greater. And Allah knows that which you do."
"And establish prayer."