By Hajiya Maryam Mairo Aminu Tambuwal

Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) was asked which people suffered the greatest affliction. He replied: “The prophets, then those who come next to them. A man is afflicted in keeping his religion. If he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if there is weakness in his religion it is made light for him. A man is continuously tried with an affliction till he walks on the earth having no sin.” [Sahih Bukhari]
Aasia was crucified by Firawn. The People of the Ditch dug trenches out, filled them with fire, and then threw believers alive into them. The beautician of Firawn’s daughter and her children were thrown into fire. Zakariya (alaihis salam)’s body was cut in two by a saw. Yahya (alaihis salam) was killed for his head to be presented to a dancer. In their eyes, they crucified Eesa (alaihis salam).
Many attempts were made on the life of Muhammad (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam). Bilal (radi Allahu anhu), his Sahabi, was dragged by a rope tied around his neck on burning hot sand. Khabbab bin Arat (radi Allahu anhu) was weighed down on burning coals so that the fat from his skin would sizzle on the coals. Sumayya (radi Allahu anha) was martyred by being repeatedly stabbed by a spear. Habeeb bin Zaid Ansari (radi Allahu anhu) was killed by having pieces of his body chopped off bit by bit. The list of Muslims tried is long and grows with each century.
All scholars have unanimously agreed that patience (Sabr) is obligatory. However, higher than patience is Rida — acceptance of and satisfaction with Allah’s decree and judgement. Rida with Allah’s Al-Qadar means that there is no looking back, no moment of regret or feeling sorry. Only Allah decides and what He wills He does. Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) pours tranquility (Sakeena) on the people who display Rida in excruciatingly difficult circumstances wherein they are helpless. Angels bring good news to them and show them their places in Jannah.
When Rasul Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) saw the family of Yasir bin Amir (radi Allahu anhu) who had been chained, whipped till blood flowed, and bodies burnt by torches, he wept, and said: “Yasir’s family, be patient! Your reward will be Paradise!”
When news of Habib bin Zaid Ansari’s death reached his mother, she simply said, “I bore him for these days. I ask God to reward him. As a child, he pledged loyalty to the Prophet on the night of Aqaba. As an adult, he fulfilled his pledge.”