We pledge to Allah (SWT) that we will seek assistance from him. The best way to do that would be do follow his instructions for seeking assistance. Allah (AWJ) says in the Qur’an, “O believers, take my help through sabr and salah.” How do we take Allah (SWT)’s help through sabr? It means, firstly, keeping ourselves restrained to the obedience of Allah (SWT). Remaining consistent in the obedience in Allah (SWT) even in difficulty and inconvenience – this is the first component of sabr. It requires patience and discipline. The second component is to restrain oneself from the disobedience of Allah (SWT). This also requires discipline because there are many times that, when a person feels compelled to do a certain thing or to walk away from a certain thing, the temptations are extremely strong and so on and so forth. It takes a great amount of willpower to keep away from sin and do it consistently. The third component of sabr is to withstand and tolerate when something is not going our way. When circumstances are unfavorable and calamity befalls or when someone does something or says something that is painful to us – to do sabr at that time is also a very important chapter in deen. When you put all of this together, you get a complete life of a person ready to take from Allah (SWT) as opposed to someone who does not remain punctual in good deeds and is inconsistent in abstaining from bad deeds. When problems come for these people, sometimes the problems come from their own actions. This is not the complete formula and this is why Allah (SWT) joins sabr with taqwa in many places in the Qur’an. Repeatedly in the Qur’an, that sabr, which is a composite of all of these things, is going to bring the help of Allah (SWT) and will protect you against other people. If you have sabr and taqwa, people may plot against you but they cannot harm you. If you want reward from Allah (SWT), Allah (SWT) will give it to you with sabr and taqwa. All of these promises are with that sabr that is joined with taqwa.
Speciifcally, from all the deeds that Allah (SWT) has designated to take his assistance directly, Allah (SWT) has given salah. Salah itself is a very powerful medium of taking the help of Allah (SWT). Whenever a person turns to salah for fulfillment of their needs, Allah (SWT) rushes to the assistance of that person. Salah is a tool that Allah (AWJ) has given us to solve our problems if we start seeing it that way. The interesting thing is that salah is very closely linked to sabr. Why? Because salah also requires a person to remain consistent. Someone who does not pray 5 salahs every day and only do 2 rakahs when they need something is missing out on the bigger picture. Salah is also instrumental in keeping us away from bad deeds. Salah is one of those things that enable us to bring good in our lives and become disciplined. This is why, in salah, all things have been restricted; even halal speech and halal activities such as eating, drinking, talking or doing anything is prohibited. This is also a course in discipline and a course in building one’s focus and connection with Allah (SWT). It is a multitude of beautiful things in salah. If someone wants Allah (SWT)’s help in any and all affairs, sabr and salah is a very complete victor. May Allah (SWT) enable us to take his help and assistance through these mediums.
