5. To remember Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) abundantly
وعن أبي موسى رضي الله عنه قال: قال لي رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: ”ألا أدلك على كنز من كنوز الجنة ؟” فقلت: بلى يا رسول الله قال: ”لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله” (متفق عليه).
Hadhrat Abu Moosaa reported that Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s Messenger (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe Wasallam) said to him: "Shall I not guide you to a treasure from the treasures of Jannah (Paradise)?”
He said: "Yes, O Messenger of Allah!”
Thereupon he said: "(Recite) لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله (Laa haula wa laa quwwata illaa billaah i.e. “There is no change of a condition nor power except by Allah).” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Hadhrat Ibne ‘Abbas reported that when Hadhrat Ibrahim (Abraham) was thrown into the fire, he said:
حَسۡبُنَا اللّٰهُ وَنِعۡمَ الۡوَكِيۡلُ
(Hasbunallaahu wa ni`m al-Wakeel i.e Allah is enough for us, and excellent is he as the guardian). And it was likewise said by the Prophet Hadhrat Muhammad (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam) and his Sahaabah (Companions), as the Quraan quotes:
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ [آل عمران: 173]
“– (that is) those (the Prophet and his companions) to whom people said: ‘The people (of Makkah al Mukarramah) have gathered against you; so, fear them.’ It increased them in Faith and they (the Prophet and his companions) said: ‘Allah is fully sufficient for us, and the best One in whom to trust’.” (Aale ‘Imraan 3:173)
So, besides Tasbeeh (saying: سبحان اللہ Subhaanallah), Tahleel (saying: لا الہ الا اللہ Laa ilaaha illallaah) and Takbeer (saying: اللہ اکبر Allaahu Akbar) and Tahmeed (saying: الحمد للہ Alhamdulillaah) let us repeat these Azkaar or Supplications (Du’aas) often:
لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله
(Laa haula wa laa quwwata illaa billaah)
حَسۡبُنَا اللّٰهُ وَنِعۡمَ الۡوَكِيۡلُ
(Hasbunallaahu wa ni`m al-Wakeel)
We ask Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) to remove this affliction from us all.
6. To supplicate abundantly
Let us supplicate and call upon our Lord. His gates are open to those who ask of Him.
وَإِذَا سَأَلَكَ عِبَادِي عَنِّي فَإِنِّي قَرِيبٌ أُجِيبُ دَعْوَةَ الدَّاعِ إِذَا دَعَانِ فَلْيَسْتَجِيبُوا لِي وَلْيُؤْمِنُوا بِي لَعَلَّهُمْ يَرْشُدُونَ [البقرة: 186]
“If My worshipers ask you about Me, I am near, answering the prayer of the one who prays to Me”. (Al-Baqarah 2:186)
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ [غافر: 60]
“Your Lord has said, .Call Me, I will respond to you.” (Ghaafir 40:60)
Nothing repels Divine Decree except Du’aa. Du’aa helps in those things that have occurred and in those things that have not occurred. So let us supplicate and invoke Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) increasingly. Asking Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) to remove and lift this trial from us all; and ask Him for protection and safety. It is advised, not to abandon the morning and evening supplications in particular. They are from among the strongest protections and ‘fortresses ’.
7. To give Sadaqah (Charity)
The Prophet (SallAllaho ‘Alaihe WaSallam) said: “Charity extinguishes sin, the way water extinguishes fire.”
Let us be charitable, hoping in Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa)’s reward, especially in the current climate where many of the vulnerable are in need and unable to get to what their needs. Give them from what Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) has blessed you with.
This test is an opportunity to review and evaluate our relationship with Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), and with other humans, and with those whom Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) has made us stewards and guardians and responsible for in our households. Let us improve our relationships with our spouses, families and children. This test is an opportunity to increase and strengthen our faith; it is an opportunity to show our sole reliance on Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa), since none can rescue us except Him, alone! Let us then put it to good use, in whatever will deliver good for us in this world and the afterlife.
Finally, we seek refuge in Allah (Subhaanahu Wa Ta’aalaa) from calamities and hardships, the lowest depths of misery, the bad of what is decreed and the gloating and malice of the enemies. O First of the First and Last of the Last! O Allah! O Rahmaan! O Rahee! Forgive the sins which cause these calamities; and forgive the sins that tear apart our protections, and forgive the sins that make us regret, and forgive the sins that bar our provisions, and forgive the sins that bring trials and strength to enemies, and forgive the sins that prevent the rain from descending and result in a swift destruction and pollute and darken the air and repel the answering of supplications, and forgive us – O Lord! – all the sins that make us enter hell. Aameen!