Discussion on when to say "Praise be to Allah in all circumstances"
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner : ... My Shaykh.
The Shaykh : And I did not say just "Praise be to Allah."
The questioner : Because I ... I feel that I am delayed and I have work there that I am committed to, so I feel that I have ...?
The Shaykh : A calamity! Did you mean what I said ...? We usually walk with our brothers, all the brothers, as long as brotherhood unites us ... let alone if it is a special brotherhood, we feel ... the problem from the start. So when we say to one of them, "How are you?" and he says to us, "Praise be to Allah in all circumstances," we feel fear. Why? Because it is established in our minds, whether that is correct or incorrect, that this praise is only said in response to what is disliked. Based on the good opinion that necessitates that the one who says "Praise be to Allah in all circumstances" has heard the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had two phrases of praise that he used to praise Allah with. When something that pleased and delighted him came to him, he would say, "Praise be to Allah by whose grace good deeds are completed." And when something that distressed and saddened him came to him, he would say, "Praise be to Allah in all circumstances." So when we hear someone say "Praise be to Allah in all circumstances," we are struck with sadness, as if we ourselves have also been struck by something disliked, because he does not say this except when something has befallen him that saddens him.
The Shaykh : And I did not say just "Praise be to Allah."
The questioner : Because I ... I feel that I am delayed and I have work there that I am committed to, so I feel that I have ...?
The Shaykh : A calamity! Did you mean what I said ...? We usually walk with our brothers, all the brothers, as long as brotherhood unites us ... let alone if it is a special brotherhood, we feel ... the problem from the start. So when we say to one of them, "How are you?" and he says to us, "Praise be to Allah in all circumstances," we feel fear. Why? Because it is established in our minds, whether that is correct or incorrect, that this praise is only said in response to what is disliked. Based on the good opinion that necessitates that the one who says "Praise be to Allah in all circumstances" has heard the hadith of Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), who said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) had two phrases of praise that he used to praise Allah with. When something that pleased and delighted him came to him, he would say, "Praise be to Allah by whose grace good deeds are completed." And when something that distressed and saddened him came to him, he would say, "Praise be to Allah in all circumstances." So when we hear someone say "Praise be to Allah in all circumstances," we are struck with sadness, as if we ourselves have also been struck by something disliked, because he does not say this except when something has befallen him that saddens him.