Can I complain to Allah SWT? (Of Verses & Affirmations)

Can I complain to Allah SWT? (Of Verses & Affirmations)

Yes, you can. He is All-Hearing

When we are at loss, and we wonder who to turn to for help and aid, the first One to turn to is Allah SWT. As Muslims, we place utmost importance in seeking aid in Allah SWT. Is it okay to then complain to Allah SWT, when we are at a dead end? Yes, and in fact it is praiseworthy to complain to Him. This was the practice of the Prophets before, which is mentioned in the story of Prophet Ya’qub AS when he lost his beloved son, Prophet Yusuf AS. In Surah Yusuf verse 86, Allah SWT says as part of Prophet Ya’qub’s plea:

 قَالَ إِنَّمَا أَشْكُو بَثِّي وَحُزْنِي إِلَى اللَّهِ وَأَعْلَمُمِنَ اللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعْلَمُونَ

He said, “I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know.

Complain to Him first, before anyone else.

Human beings are expressive creatures. We need to let out emotions and express at times of need. Yet, for the believer, the first One to turn to should be Allah SWT before anyone else. This is befitting with the saying of our Prophet SAW:

“Whoever is afflicted by a pressing need and complains to people, his need will never be satisfied. Whoever is afflicted by a pressing need and complains to Allah, eventually Allah will provide for him, sooner or later.”

(At-Tirmidzi)

This Hadith should serve as a reminder for us to always seek Allah’s help in the first instance of a difficulty. It can be as easy as asking Allah for forgiveness or asking Him to give ease. Then, one can proceed to tell people He trusts on his troubles, and seek counsel from them.

Be confident that He hears your pleas.

The best way a true Muslim sees his or her prayers is to be confident that the calls will be answered no matter the circumstance. The Prophet SAW says:

“Call upon Allah, being certain of a response, and know that Allah will not answer a supplication from a negligent and heedless heart.”

(At-Tirmidzi)

The Hadith is clear in its speech, reminding us to always stay positive and have conviction that Allah SWT will answer it, at the right time and place, even if it were not instantaneous. The second thing is to put in optimum quality in the prayers we make; that is to be sincere, earnest and to not be the opposite – which is to be negligent and heedless. He is All-Hearing and All-Knowing.

Stay Strange & Remain Positive.

The Prophet SAW says:

“Strange are the ways of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.”

(Muslim)

Once we have complained to Allah SWT about an inconvenience, we must fix our mindset and convert it to a positive one, even if the silver lining is not clear cut or is far-fetched. The truth is, we may sometimes never know the reason to our challenges. What we do know and can do is to be accepting of any trouble that may befall us, even if this attitude is one that is seemingly strange.

Many tests is not because it’s your fault. It’s meant to be.

There is this misconception that if someone is tested in many ways, it means he or she is unlucky or because the person has many sins. Undoubtedly, tests may be a way Allah wills for sins to be washed away (since humans are sinful creatures), it is also a sign of His love for the individual. The Prophet SAW says:

“If Allah wills good for someone, He afflicts him with trials.”

(Sahih Al-Bukhari)

If one is tested in many ways despite trying, and if it becomes tiring after a while, find comfort in these words, where the Prophet SAW also says:

“On the Day of Judgement, when the people who were tried (in this world) are given their rewards, the people who were pardoned (in life), will wish that their skins had been cut off with scissors while they were in the world.”

(At-Tirmidzi)