بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Khutbah · Living Legacy
Patience During Trials
and Trusting Allah
Zeeshan Hayat
Delivered during Jumu'ah prayers
About this khutbah
This khutbah was delivered by Zeeshan Hayat during Friday prayers and was inspired by the spiritual teachings, wisdom, and lifelong Islamic study of his late grandfather, Aslam Hayat. It reflects themes that Aslam Hayat emphasised throughout his life: patience, trust in Allah, gratitude, hardship, and turning toward Allah during trials.
All praise belongs to Allah. We praise Him, we seek His help, and we ask His forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evil within ourselves and from the evil of our deeds. Whomsoever Allah guides, no one can misguide, and whomsoever Allah allows to go astray, no one can guide.
We bear witness that there is no god worthy of worship except Allah alone, without partner, and we bear witness that Muhammad ﷺ is His servant and His messenger. May Allah send peace and blessings upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, upon his family, his companions, and all those who follow his way until the Day of Judgment.
Dear brothers and sisters, today I want to remind myself first and then all of you about patience during trials and trusting Allah when life becomes difficult.
Every one of us will face tests in this dunya. Some are tested with health, some with wealth, some with family, some with grief, fear, stress, or uncertainty. Some tests are seen by people, and some are hidden in the heart where only Allah can see them.
As believers, we must understand that hardship is not always a punishment. Sometimes hardship is purification. Sometimes it is protection. Sometimes it is a way for Allah to raise our rank and bring us closer to Him.
Surah Al-ʿAnkabut · 29:2
أَحَسِبَ النَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوا أَن يَقُولُوا آمَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
“Do people think once they say, 'We believe,' that they will be left without being put to the test?”
This ayah teaches us that iman is not only proven when life is easy. Iman is proven when life becomes difficult and we still turn back to Allah.
The core of patience is this: when times are good, we say Alhamdulillah. When times are bad, we still say Alhamdulillah. In ease, we thank Allah for His blessings. In hardship, we thank Allah because He is still our Lord, He is still Merciful, and He knows what we do not know.
Hadith
“Wonderful is the affair of the believer, for there is good for him in every matter. If something good happens to him, he is grateful, and that is good for him. If something harmful happens to him, he is patient, and that is good for him.”
— Prophet Muhammad ﷺ · Sahih Muslim 2999
This hadith shows us that the believer never truly loses. In good times, the believer earns reward through gratitude. In difficult times, the believer earns reward through patience.
Sometimes we go through pain and we do not understand why. We may ask, “Why is this happening to me?” But our knowledge is limited. Allah sees what we cannot see.
Surah Al-Baqarah · 2:216
وَعَسَىٰ أَن تَكْرَهُوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ خَيْرٌ لَّكُمْ ۖ وَعَسَىٰ أَن تُحِبُّوا شَيْئًا وَهُوَ شَرٌّ لَّكُمْ ۗ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَعْلَمُونَ
“Perhaps you dislike something which is good for you, and perhaps you like something which is bad for you. Allah knows, and you do not know.”
This ayah brings peace to the heart. Sometimes a door closes because Allah is protecting us. Sometimes a delay happens because Allah is preparing something better. Sometimes a hardship comes, but through it Allah removes sins, increases our dua, softens our heart, and brings us closer to Him.
We do not always understand Allah's wisdom, but the believer trusts that Allah's wisdom is greater than our understanding.
Surah Al-Baqarah · 2:286
لَا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا
“Allah does not burden a soul beyond what it can bear.”
This means whatever Allah allows us to face, He knows we can carry it with His help. We may feel weak, but Allah is strong. We may feel overwhelmed, but Allah is near. We may feel alone, but Allah hears every dua and sees every tear.
Patience does not mean hardship feels easy. Patience does not mean we do not cry. Patience means we do not turn away from Allah. Patience means the tongue does not say what displeases Allah, the heart does not object to Allah, and the body does not act in disobedience to Allah.
Dear brothers and sisters, Allah tells us where to find strength.
Surah Al-Baqarah · 2:153
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ
“O believers, seek help through patience and prayer. Surely Allah is with those who are patient.”
When hardship comes, do not run away from Allah. Run toward Allah. Pray. Raise your hands. Cry to Allah. Say: Ya Allah, I am weak, but You are strong. Ya Allah, I do not understand, but You know. Ya Allah, give me patience and give me ease.
Allah has also promised that difficulty does not last forever.
Surah Ash-Sharh · 94:5–6
فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْرًا
“So surely with hardship comes ease. Surely with hardship comes ease.”
Allah repeats this message because when the heart is hurting, we need to hear it again. Sometimes the ease comes quickly. Sometimes it comes after time. Sometimes Allah removes the hardship, and sometimes Allah strengthens the heart while the hardship remains. And sometimes the greatest ease is saved for the Hereafter.
Surah Az-Zumar · 39:10
إِنَّمَا يُوَفَّى الصَّابِرُونَ أَجْرَهُم بِغَيْرِ حِسَابٍ
“Only those who endure patiently will be given their reward without limit.”
In this dunya, everything has a limit. Money has a limit. Health has a limit. Life has a limit. But the reward of patience with Allah has no limit.
So do not think your patience is wasted. Do not think your tears are unseen. Allah sees it. Allah knows it. Allah records it. And Allah rewards it.
Look at Prophet Ayyub, peace be upon him. He was tested with loss of health, wealth, and family, yet he remained connected to Allah.
Surah Sad · 38:44
إِنَّا وَجَدْنَاهُ صَابِرًا ۚ نِّعْمَ الْعَبْدُ
“We truly found him patient. What an excellent servant.”
This is the honor of patience. Allah Himself praised Ayyub, peace be upon him, because he remained patient.
The main message
When we are in ease — say Alhamdulillah.
When we are in hardship — say Alhamdulillah.
When we understand Allah's wisdom — say Alhamdulillah.
When we do not understand Allah's wisdom — still say Alhamdulillah.
Because Allah knows and we do not know.
Allah does not burden us beyond what we can bear.
With hardship comes ease.
And the reward of patience is without limit.
May Allah make us among those who are grateful in ease and patient in hardship.
Du'a
O Allah, make us among the people of sabr.
O Allah, grant us patience during trials and gratitude during ease.
O Allah, when we are tested, do not let our hearts turn away from You.
O Allah, make every hardship a means of forgiveness, purification, and closeness to You.
O Allah, remove the difficulties of those who are suffering. Cure the sick, comfort the grieving, provide for those in need, guide those who are lost, and bring ease to every heart carrying a burden.
O Allah, help us say Alhamdulillah in every condition.
O Allah, give us trust in Your plan when we do not understand Your wisdom.
O Allah, grant us ease after hardship.
O Allah, grant us goodness in this dunya and goodness in the Hereafter, and protect us from the punishment of the Fire.
Ameen.
Delivered during Jumu'ah prayers · Inspired by the teachings of Aslam Hayat
The spiritual foundation behind this khutbah was built through decades of study by Aslam Hayat.