This month! Since this is the usual situation of work, it did not come as a surprise to me. What however seemed out of place were the groans and complaints of some of my colleagues who kept wondering aloud when we would be paid.
It soon became obvious that a lot of people were not through tough times simply to come to i/y. Since it was the first time I would witness such strain on the usual late salaries, I wondered why this month turned out so difficult especially with the long holidays we observed during the month. Of course, it occurred to me that Schools had just resumed and parents had been weighed down with the burden of paying school fees, buying books and ensuring that their children were comfortable and fully kitted for the new session. Now, this set me seriously thinking; how could the average worker survive in these days of high cost of living?
Take a Civil Servant for example, with children to educate, a wife to feed and some relatives who depend on him. How would he cope on his meagre salary? I have come to understand that very often, we end up spending more than we earn. No matter how harsh the situation is, we often survive.
How else would we explain the difference between our monthly income and expenditure? Now, dont think that I did not feel the bite of the economy too! I guess I just wasn't as hard hit as my colleagues -Alhamdulilah. My secret was the Rahmah [Mercy] ofAIlaah! How else would my family and I have been able to survive the tough times? Sustenance is granted only by Allaah because He (Subuhana hu wa taala) is the only one who grants wealth.
He is also the only one who can put barakah [blessings] in whatever we earn so that we can be content at all times. He says in the Quran: Say: "Truly, my Lord enlarges the provision for whom He wills of His slaves, and (also) restricts (it) for him, and whatsoever you spend of anything (in Allaah's cause), He will replace it. And He is the best of providers. "-Soorah 34(Saba):39. Allaah also says in the Quran: "To Him belong the keys of the heavens and the earth. He enlarges provision for whom He wills, and straitens (it for whom He wills). Verily, He is the All-Knower of everything."Soorah 42(Ash-Shura):12. Should we not then count ourselves lucky that Allaah has chosen us to be of those whom He grants sustenance? No matter how tight our situation is, we need to always remember that we are still better off than some others.
Whenever we pass through tough times, we should remember that just like this life, it is transient. Continue to be patient and prayerful at all times. Dont forget the saying "tough times dont last but tough people do!" "Which of the favours of your Lord do you deny?" _ Soorah 55(Ar-Rahman).
This article was culled from the publications of Deen Communication Limited