When a person is aware of the reward that results from…

BRAVERY - One of The Qualities Needed When Making Tough Decisions

Imam As-Sadi [may Allah have mercy upon him] stated about loft quality of bravery:

This is a great quality that Allah commands in many verses about Jihad, praises the people who possess it, declares that it is the path of the Messengers and the Truthful, and forbids its opposite, which is cowardice, dismay, and fear of the creation when striving in Allah’s path. This lofty quality is inherent in a servant of Allah and is strengthened by the Islamic faith – helps to strengthen and calm the heart during important events and difficult situations, and it is a necessity, especially for leaders engaged in important matters. The Qur’an commands a person to fear Allah alone and not the creation, and the person’s heart is strengthened when he fears Allah alone and understands that the creation cannot help or hurt him except by Allah’s Will. His heart is strengthened when he is steadfast and relies on Allah, just as Allah [The Most High] said concerning the best of creation.

ٱلَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ ٱلنَّاسُ إِنَّ ٱلنَّاسَ قَدۡ جَمَعُواْ لَكُمۡ فَٱخۡشَوۡهُمۡ فَزَادَهُمۡ إِيمَـٰنً۬ا وَقَالُواْ حَسۡبُنَا ٱللَّهُ وَنِعۡمَ ٱلۡوَڪِيلُ

Those unto whom the people said, ”Verily, the people have gathered against you (a great army), therefore, fear them.” But it (only) increased them in Faith, and they said: ”Allaah (Alone) is Sufficient for us, and He is the Best Disposer of affairs (for us)” (3:173)

When a person is aware of the reward that results from being strengthened in courage and commitment to the Islamic religion, their strength and bravery increase, just as Allah said:

إِن تَكُونُواْ تَأۡلَمُونَ فَإِنَّهُمۡ يَأۡلَمُونَ كَمَا تَأۡلَمُونَ‌ۖ وَتَرۡجُونَ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا يَرۡجُونَ‌ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا

If you are suffering (hardships) then surely, they (too) are suffering (hardships) as you are suffering, but you have a hope from Allah (for the reward, i.e. Paradise) that for which they hope not] (4:104)

And what is observed and known about the situation and characteristics of the creation is that they do not own any means of benefit, assistance, and protection (unless Allah bestows it on them and makes it effective by His Will), therefore, it must be understood that attaching the heart to them with fear, veneration, awe, fervent desire, and reverence is a loss, rather it is harm. A person is required to attach their fear, hope, expectation, and awe to Allah (Alone), Who (alone) owns everything. Allah is The One who wants the best for you even when you don’t want it for yourself, knows (with perfect, all-encompassing knowledge) what is best for you even when you don’t know it, and makes it possible for you to attain what you are unable to receive on your own. The individual comes to understand that cowardice is a disease and a weakness of the heart that results in the loss of good and advantageous things -affects the helpless, and those affected resemble timid women.

And among the benefits of bravery are the fulfilment of Allah’s and His Messenger’s commands, and (as a result) one is described with the qualities of the people of insight among the men of (sound) understanding. There is no greater way to achieve what is desired and a way to safety from obstacles and troubles when the heart is strengthened by the relief and tranquillity Allah places in it. The brave individual is able to guide and benefit the people with wisdom and fair speech in accordance with their various social statuses, but as for the coward, he misses out on a lot of good since fear prevents him from reaping the benefits of his knowledge and from guiding and giving sincere advice to Allah’s servants.

Bravery saves a person from a lot of hardships! When faced with afflictions and calamities, the person finds peace and responds with what Allah loves: patience and firmness, while hoping for Allah’s reward, (but) as for a coward, he becomes distracted when confronted with these affairs, and what is beneficial to him is wasted away.

He becomes unsettled due to harbouring harmful thoughts (or views), which result in (other) painful things along with calamities and difficulties, and he loses the benefit and reward for enduring difficulty. This praiseworthy quality (bravery) stems from the excellent and all-inclusive quality of patience. And Allah knows best.

An Excerpt from “Fat’hul Raheemil Malikil Allaam Fee Ilmil Aqaa-id Wat-Tawheed Wal Akhlaaq Wal Ahkaam. page 40-41

We ask Allah:

اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنَ الْهَمِّ وَالْحَزَنِ، وَالْعَجْزِ وَالْكَسَلِ، وَالْبُخْلِ وَالْجُبْنِ ، وَضَلَعِ الدَّيْنِ، وَغَلَبَةِ الرِّجَالِ

O Allaah! I seek refuge with You against distress and grief, helplessness and laziness, miserliness and cowardice, being heavily in debt and being overcome by men. [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari. Number 2893]