Imam Ghazali (R.A) has given great lesson about fluctuations of life. He writes:
“Every person has to be patient throughout his life because everyone faces two types of situations in life; either situations and events occur according to his will and desires, which makes him happy, or they occur against his will and desires, which makes him unhappy.”
Patience during prosperity:
Imam Ghazali (R.A) says that if a person has been awarded everything according to his will, for example, health, wealth, children, status, knowledge, fame, then he has to be very patient. The reason for this is that if such a person does not fully control his desires and continues to follow them without any restrictions, his soul will lead him astray. Imam Ghazali (RA) has written that the Sahaba Karam (R.A) said, “When we were afflicted with the trial of poverty and hardship, we were patient, but when we were afflicted with the trial of abundance and prosperity, we could not be patient.” (Tabligh-e-Din)
In prosperity, patience means that a person should not fall in love with the world that has been given to him, but rather remember that whatever Allah Almighty has given me is a trust from Allah Almighty that will soon be taken away from me. Therefore, as long as I have these blessings, I should be grateful for them, and when they are taken away, I should not be too sad. And if this person forgets gratitude and patience and starts following the desires of his soul, he will be called heedless.
