Islam is truly a beautiful religion that embodies balance and understanding. Since its inception, Allah (SWT) has granted us a spiritual path that steers clear of extremes, offering a delightful middle ground. It’s fascinating to explore the reasons why certain practices may feel challenging at times. After all, Allah (SWT), the Creator of all, knows our human nature better than we do. That’s why He has tailored a faith that perfectly aligns with our needs—a religion that embraces ease while fostering growth and understanding. Embracing this perspective can not only enhance our spiritual journey but also bring joy and fulfilment to our lives!
Allah (SWT) said; {يُرِيدُ ٱللَّهُ بِكُمُ ٱلْيُسْرَ وَلَا يُرِيدُ بِكُمُ ٱلْعُسْرَ }
‘Translation’ {Allah intends for you ease, and does not want to make things difficult for you} [Al-Baqarah:185];
The beauty of our faith shines through in the hadeeth shared by Abu Hurairah, radiya Allahu ‘anhu. The Prophet (PBUH) encourages us by saying, «Religion is easy…» (Bukhari) and reminds us, «The best of your religion is the easiest» (Ahmad). It’s wonderful to see how our beloved Prophet embodied this simplicity while sharing Allah’s (SWT) message. It’s truly uplifting to realize how accessible and inspiring our faith is for everyone!
{لَقَدْ جَاءَكُمْ رَسُولٌ مِنْ أَنْفُسِكُمْ عَزِيزٌ عَلَيْهِ مَا عَنتُّمْ حَرِيصٌ عَلَيْكُمْ بِالْمُؤْمِنِينَ رَءُوفٌ رَحِيمٌ}
{Verily there has come unto you a Messenger from amongst yourselves, it grieves him that you should suffer any difficulty, he is anxious for you, for the believers he is full of pity and merciful} [At-Tawbah:128].
This understanding is clarified in a hadeeth in which the Prophet (PBUH) said; «… Allah did not send me to be harsh, or cause harm, but He sent me to teach and make things easy» (Muslim). This understanding is further implemented by the mercy sent to mankind, Muhammed (PBUH) in the hadeeth reported by his noble and pure wife, ‘Aishah, radiya Allahu ‘anha, who said; «Whenever the Prophet (PBUH) has a choice between two matters, he would choose the easiest, unless it is sinful (act)» (Bukhari).
Throughout our rich tradition, we find numerous hadeeths emphasizing the principle of ease in our lives. It’s beautifully stated that Allah desires ease for this ummah and dislikes hardship and adversity (Tabaraani). A wonderful illustration from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) highlights this when a Bedouin began to urinate in the mosque. Rather than allowing anger to take over, the Prophet compassionately instructed the people to simply clean the area with water. He reassured them, saying, “You have been sent to make things easy and not difficult” (Bukhari).
This spirit of ease is particularly evident in Salah, one of the most significant acts in Islam. The Prophet (PBUH) emphasized its importance by saying, “Between a person and disbelief is discarding prayer” (Muslim). Even in his final moments, he passionately urged us to never neglect our prayers. How reassuring it is that Allah has made provisions for ease even in such a vital aspect of our worship! Let us embrace this beautiful message of compassion and understanding in our spiritual journeys, supporting each other along the way.
At first, the number of prayers was fifty in number, but they were reduced several times until they were five. Then it was proclaimed «O Muhammad, the order is not changed. These five are (equal in reward) to fifty» (Tirmidhi). : If Islam is a religion of ease, why do we find many Muslims not practising it? Why do we find them doing very little of what they ought to be doing, and why do those who practise their religion sometimes find it difficult? There are reasons why the practice of Islam can become hard: ⊙ Lack of piety When we speak about Islam being easy we are, in reality, speaking about the easiness of its acts of worship and morals. Religion by definition means commitment and an obligation to a master. Therefore, being a religious person means to be always aware that we are slaves to a master, Allah (SWT). From here we see the mistake of those who want ‘ease’ to mean ‘doing nothing’, just saying “I am a Muslim”, committing themselves to nothing. It is obvious that they want it to be easy, but what exactly do they want? They want an easy life, a life without any religious practices. The idle belief of ‘existing only to live’ has long ago been negated by Allah (SWT).
He said: {أَفَحَسِبْتُمْ أَنَّمَا خَلَقْنَاكُمْ عَبَثًا وَأَنَّكُمْ إِلَيْنَا لَا تُرْجَعُونَ} ‘Translation’ {Do you think you have been created for nothing and that you will not be resurrected and brought back to Allah again?} [Al-Mu’minun:115].
Practicing Islam is truly a beautiful journey! For those who may not yet grasp the deeper meanings of their existence or the core concepts of the faith, embracing its practices might seem challenging. However, the essence of Islam shines through its commandments, which are designed to inspire and uplift us. While some might feel certain practices, like Salah, are difficult, it’s essential to remember that often it’s our own perceptions that can make things seem harder than they are. Allah (SWT) has made worship a joyful and accessible experience. Embracing this perspective can transform our spiritual journey into one filled with ease, understanding, and fulfilment!
{وَاسْتَعِينُواْ بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلاَةِ وَإِنَّهَا لَكَبِيرَةٌ إِلاَّ عَلَى الْخَاشِعِينَ}
‘Translation’ {And seek help through patience and prayer, and indeed, it is difficult except for the humbly submissive [to Allah]} [Al-Baqarah:45]. Prayer is an easy act of worship except, of course, for those who do not truly submit to their Lord; they will find it toilsome. Why do they find it so? The answer is that it is not the prayer that is difficult, but it is the hearts of these people which have changed from good to bad, as Allah (SWT) mentioned:
إِنَّ الْمُنَافِقِينَ يُخَادِعُونَ اللَّهَ وَهُوَ خَادِعُهُمْ وَإِذَا قَامُوا إِلَى الصَّلَاةِ قَامُوا كُسَالَى} {يُرَاءُونَ النَّاسَ وَلَا يَذْكُرُونَ اللَّهَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا
‘Translation’ {Verily, the hypocrites seek to deceive Allah, but it is He Who deceives them. And when they stand up to pray, they stand with laziness …} [An-Nisa’:142];
‘in another verse He (SWT) said; {وَلاَ يَأْتُونَ الصَّلاَةَ إِلاَّ وَهُمْ كُسَالَى}
‘Translation’ {and they do not come to the Salah but lazily} [At-Tawbah:54]. ⊙ Ignorance The rules of Islam did not come as mere do’s and don’ts. Each obligation has wisdom and motivation behind it. It should make no difference to us if the wisdom for that particular practice is known or not, because if it is not known to us today, then if Allah wills, He will reveal it to future generations.
What is primarily expected from us is to fully submit and implement every command. For example, the giving of charity, which apparently decreases the wealth of the giver. Islam did not say “Pay charity, pay charity”, as this would not motivate people and therefore make it difficult to act upon. Instead Allah says;
{مَّن ذَا ٱلَّذِى يُقْرِضُ ٱللَّهَ قَرْضًا حَسَنًۭا فَيُضَٰعِفَهُۥ لَهُۥٓ أَضْعَافًۭا كَثِيرَةًۭ}
Translation’ {Would you not like to give a loan to your Lord, and this loan will be paid back to you multiplied and you will be rewarded for it} [Al-Baqarah:245]. The Prophet (SWT) said; «Verily, wealth does not decrease because of charity» (Muslim). It seems Muslims often ask why this act or matter is Halaal or Haraam. With such an attitude they will never achieve their goal, because behind each injunction there is an aspect of wisdom. Without understanding this, practising Islam becomes a heavy burden. With strong belief, we do not even have to ask whether this or that is Halaal or Haraam, but rather if it pleases Allah. Therefore we should take the rules seeking the pleasure of Allah (SWT). If pleasing Allah (SWT) is always our aim, then undoubtedly the practice of religion becomes easy, no matter what apparent hardships we may encounter.
It’s completely understandable that practicing our faith can sometimes feel challenging, even for the most committed believers! One significant factor can be the environment we find ourselves in. Islam thrives in a supportive community, and when we practice our beliefs in a less-receptive setting, it can make things tougher. It’s important to remember that these challenges stem from societal circumstances rather than any flaw in our beautiful religion. Take prayer, for instance—while it’s a straightforward act, doing so alone in a crowd of non-Muslims can indeed feel daunting. Embracing our faith together with others can truly uplift our spirits and create a more fulfilling spiritual experience. Let’s continue supporting one another, as there’s strength in community!
The obvious conclusion is that the prayer in itself is not difficult, but the environment has made it difficult. Another example is that of a woman who wears hijab and is happy to cover herself. If this were an Islamic society, it would have been difficult for her not to be covered, or for a man not to respond to the call to prayer and pray in a mosque. Thus difficulty is not the nature of our religion, but we are trying to be pure in a decadent and immoral environment. These realities are not unknown to Islam, because the Prophet (PBUH) already warned his companions some fourteen centuries ago, and by that has also warned us by saying, as reported by Abu Tha’laba, radiya Allahu ‘anhu, «… Ahead of you are days which will require endurance (in the practice of religion), in which he who shows endurance will be like him who grasps live coals. The one who acts rightly during that period will have the reward of fifty men who act as he does».
The listeners exclaimed, “The reward of fifty of us, Messenger of Allah?!” He joyfully replied, “No! The reward of fifty of you!” A companion reflected on this enlightening difference in reward: “Today, we see people supporting and inspiring one another to do good, but in the future, they may only encounter challenges that oppose them.” (Tirmidhi). This insight reminds us that Islam is truly the religion of ease! When we embrace it wholeheartedly and foster a pure environment—one that nurtures good deeds—it becomes a beautiful path to practice. Let’s confidently engage with these concepts and experience the joy of living our faith in a supportive and uplifting atmosphere!
AWhile achieving a completely pure society may not be possible, we can certainly work towards it by surrounding ourselves with good Muslims. This supportive environment can truly lighten our burdens and enrich our lives. Even those who challenge Islam have acknowledged its beauty and simplicity. An example from the time of the Prophet (SWT) shows this, as some Jews remarked, “Let us go to this Prophet, for he has been sent with an easy law…” (Abu Dawood). Let us embrace this spirit of ease and kindness, and may Allah (SWT) bless us to be among those who embody these values in our lives. Together, we can create a more compassionate and understanding community.
{الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُ ۚ أُولَٰئِكَ الَّذِينَ هَدَاهُمُ اللَّهُ ۖ وَأُولَٰئِكَ هُمْ أُولُو الْأَلْبَابِ }
‘Translation’ {Listen to the word and follow the best thereof, whom Allah has guided and those are men of understanding} [Az-Zumar:18]. Ameen.