BY: ABOLARIN MUHAMMAD (University of Ilorin Debate Union)
In life, Challenges, difficulties, Hard times, gridlocks (or whatever Synonym you can give it) are just Inevitable, it is how we deal with them that determines the aftermath of such period. Hence, the Story of a man whose donkey falls into a deep precipice; He can’t pull it out no matter how hard he tries; He therefore decides to bury it alive. Soil is poured onto the donkey from above. The donkey feels the load, shakes it off, and steps on it; More soil is poured. It shakes it off and steps up; The more the load was poured, the higher it rose; By noon, the donkey was grazing in green pastures. After much shaking off (of problems) And stepping up (learning from them), One will graze in green pasture. Two lessons can be learnt from both Dramatis Personae in the above story, One from the Donkey owner who gave up after some trials and secondly from the donkey which transformed what was meant to be the end to it’s life to the beginning of another episode of life. As hard as the world might be, we still have 2 Tips not to be Sad;
1) Shake off your Problems: There is no Utility at all in Crying over spilt milk except you get your head aching, the most important thing is find a way to shake off your Problems no matter how enormous they might be and move on by finding ways to transform your losses into profits, only the intelligent one does this. What the Unwise person does is aggravate his Problems, often making two predicaments out of one. You need to learn how to convert a lemon life throws at you into a sweet drink. When life throws you limes, return with smile. Ain’t you going to learn from the story of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) when he was sent out of his own Country, instead of falling into despair and quitting his mission, he moved to make a great fortune in Madinah where he migrated to.Mind you, the indomitable spirit to shake of your Problems (which are definitely not as easy as the proverbial sand poured on the donkey in the above story) can only be gotten with a strong believe that;
“… Allah does not burden a soul beyond that it can bear…” Q2:286.
2) Step Up from your Problems: Do all you can to be patient in your period of trials and tribulations because Almighty Allah rewards has bountiful reward in stock for those who are exercise patience during their times of trials. Emphasis was laid that:
“… So be patient, The promise of Allah is the truth…” Q30:60.
With the above in mind, patience will be a key character and that will help instill the believe that after the Hardship that is almost at its climax, comes relief just as Eating follows Hunger, drinking follows thirst, sleep comes after restlessness and health comes after sickness. Just as it was reiterated that;
“So, Verily after the Hardship comes relief. Verily with Hardship comes relief” Q94:5 -6
to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B. U.H) when he was sent out of his own Country not knowing it was the beginning of positivity for him. You need to be Patient, Persevere and be Optimistic.
In a nutshell, Inform the night of a coming Morning, the light of which will permeate the mountains and valleys, Give to the afflicted tidings of a sudden Relief that will reach them within the spread of light or within the blink of an eye. If you see that the desert extends for miles and miles, then know that beyond that distance are green meadows with plentiful shade and water. If you see the rope Tighten and tighten, then Know that it will soon snap!
If hardship seems to be reaching its Climax, then Relief is just by the Corner.
Don’t Despair! PERSEVERE! Don’t be a pessimist! be OPTIMISTIC! .
