REFLECTIONS READING:
SEEKING HELP AT TIMES OF DIFFICULTY

“It is You Whom we worship and it is You from Whom we seek support.”

Holy Qur’an 1:5

“Ali is from me and I am from him, and he is the protector of every true believer after me.”

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)

In our regular daily lives, each of us faces a variety of difficulties. However, in these extraordinary and uncertain times, many of us are feeling heightened anxiety, stress, isolation, ill health, and perhaps a sense of helplessness.

The Alid Shi’a tradition, to which the Ismailis belong, is rooted in the complementarity between intellect and faith. In such times, we should be wise and rigorously follow the guidance and recommendations of governments, health care practitioners, and scientists to keep ourselves and others safe and healthy. At the same time, believers of all faiths also seek hope and courage by drawing on their faith.

Sami Yusuf - Make Me Strong

Perspectives on Facing Difficulties

Our faith tells us that struggle is the meaning of life. The Holy Qur’an presents the difficulties that we face in life as tests of our faith, saying:

“Most certainly We shall test you all, so that We might mark out those of you who strive hard and are patient in adversity…” (47:31)

Just as mistakes can be our best teachers, difficulties also show us the strength of our own convictions to seek Allah’s help. We may not always know the reasons why we face problems, but humbly and patiently bowing in submission to Allah in the face of life’s challenges allows us to grow spiritually and foster meaning. Without facing difficulties, it would be difficult to truly appreciate the need for Divine help, grace and mercy in our lives, or for us to experience spiritual growth.

Putting Trust in Allah

No matter what problems we face in our lives, we can also take comfort when we are told that, “God does not burden any soul with more than it can bear.” (2:286)

When we pray for Allah’s help at times of difficulty, He promises His blessings and mercy:                

“But [Prophet], give good news to those who are steadfast, those who say, when afflicted with a calamity, ‘We belong to God and to Him we shall return.’ These will be given blessings and mercy from their Lord, and it is they who are rightly guided.” (2:155-157)

Therefore, we are asked to put absolute trust (tawakkul) in Allah’s mercy and justice: “…put your trust in God: God loves those who put their trust in Him.” (3:159)

Tawakkul is a form of trust whereby the faithful place their fate entirely in Allah’s hands. They believe that no matter what happens, He will do whatever is ultimately in their best interest. At certain times, this trust may come to be severely tested, and the faithful may come to experience doubt. In such situations, the Qur’an advises the believers to have patience.

This trust in Allah to look after our welfare is expressed very vividly in the common phrase when saying good bye: Khuda Hafiz or Allah Hafiz, meaning “May God be your Guardian/Protector.”

The Prophet as a Gateway to Mercy and Forgiveness

Many Muslim communities, both Sunni and Shi’a, believe that we can seek grace, mercy and Divine help through Prophet Muhammad. This belief is rooted in verses of the Qur’an. For example, the Prophet is referred to as, “a mercy to the worlds [rahmata'l-li'l-alamin].” (21:107)

Allah also says that we can seek forgiveness through the Prophet:

“…if, when they had wronged themselves, they had but come to you [Prophet] and asked forgiveness of Allah, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Forgiving, Merciful.” (4:64)

It is said that a blind man once approached the Prophet and requested a prayer which he could recite to ease his affliction. The Prophet suggested that the blind man offer the following prayer:

“O Allah, I turn towards You through Your Messenger, the conveyor of Your mercy. O Muhammad, I turn to my Lord through you so that He may grant me what I need…”

Similarly, a commonly used phrase among many Muslims is “Madad Ya Rasul Allah,” meaning “Help, O Messenger of God.” Such appeals for help from the Prophet are a regular feature of everyday Muslim piety, as expressed in poetry, music, and the arts. For example, this song, “Madad Madad” by the Burdah Ensemble, expresses a desire to seek the Prophet’s help and mercy:

The Burdah Ensemble - Madad Madad

Seeking Help in Shi’a and Sufi Interpretations

For the Shi’a and other mystical interpretations of Islam, such as Sufi tariqahs, the Prophet’s role as the repository of and gateway to Divine grace, forgiveness, mercy and assistance is extended to the awliya (singular wali, a term that shares the same Arabic root as mawla). According to Azim Nanji, in his Dictionary of Islam, the awliya are:

“The friends of God, those deemed by their piety, devotion and spirituality to have attained nearness to and understanding of God.”

In Sufi tradition, the awliya can be any person who has attained spiritual elevation and nearness to the Divine. This may include sayyids (descendants of the Prophet) and Sufi murshids (spiritual guides). It is a very common practice across the Muslim world of visiting the dargahs (shrines) of dead Sufi saints for fulfilment of wishes and alleviation of difficulties.

For the Shi’a, the term awliya refers specifically to the Ahl al-Bayt and the Imams descended from them, who are believed to be the inheritors of the Prophet’s authority. Seeking help from the Ahl al-Bayt is also rooted in this hadith of the Prophet: “My Ahl al-Bayt are like Nuh’s (Noah’s) Ark. Whoever sails on it will be saved…”

In the Shi’a and most Sufi traditions, Hazrat Ali (alayhi-salam) is regarded as the foremost spiritual guide after the Prophet. Among the many titles and epithets given to Hazrat Ali in Muslim mystical traditions is Mushkil Kusha, meaning “remover of difficulties.” For example, the famous Sufi singer Abida Parveen performs the following song, “Maula Ali Mushkil Kusha”:                                                 

Abida Parveen - Maula Ali Mushkil Kusha

Nad-e-Ali

One well-known prayer in Muslim tradition is Nad-e-Ali. It is recited by believers in times of difficulty and invokes the help of Hazrat Ali. The prayer is composed of the following words:

nade Ali, nade Ali
nade-aliyyan
maz’hara’l-aja’ib.
tajid’hu awnan laka fin-nawa’ib.
kullu hamin wa ghamin sayanjali bi wilayatika.
ya Ali, ya Ali, ya Ali.

Call Ali! Call Ali!
Call Ali, the manifester of wonders.
You will surely find him helping [you] in your troubles.
All grief and sorrow shall disappear by your authority,
O Ali! O Ali! O Ali!

Seeking the grace and help of the Prophet and Imam Ali are commonly expressed themes in Muslim artistic traditions. Examples can be found in calligraphy, and in a wide range of Muslim musical traditions, from diverse regions, languages, cultures, genres, and interpretations. The same is found within the diverse expressions of the Ismaili tradition historically.

Ali Shanawar - Ya Ali Madad

Conclusion

In times of difficulty, our faith offers us ways to seek help through prayer, through the mercy and assistance of Allah, the Prophet and the Imams. This gives us a sense of confidence and hope that we will be able to get through tough times.

We end with a prayer for Divine help attributed to Imam Zayn al-Abidin (alayhi-salam) from Al-Sahifa al-Sajjadiyya:

“To You I flee, You I fear, from You I seek aid, in You I hope, You I supplicate, in You I seek asylum, in You I trust, from You I ask help, in You I have faith, in You I have placed my confidence, and upon Your munificence and Your generosity I rely.”

For Mawlana Hazar Imam’s blessings and prayers for Mushkil Asan, and his guidance to always remember the faith, the Jamat is encouraged to read from the Farman made in Mumbai, India on March 1, 2018, which is published on pages 144 and 145 of the Diamond Jubilee (2017-2018) book of Farman Mubarak.

Salim-Sulaiman - Ali Maula

Family Chat Questions

What does tawakkul mean and why is it a central notion of our faith?

What are some prayers that can be recited to seek help in our faith?

Learn More

IIS Secondary Curriculum: Faith and Practice in Islamic Traditions vol. 1 and 2

Book: And Muhammad is His Messenger: The Veneration of the Prophet in Islamic Piety by Annemarie Schimmel  

Article: What is Shi’a Islam? by Dr. Farhad Daftary and Prof. Azim Nanji

eBook: Shimmering Light: An Anthology of Ismaili Poetry translated by Faquir M. Hunzai

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