Page 54 - The School of Yusuf (as)

THE SCHOOL OF YUSUF

know these difficulties to be a Divine bounty through which we
may gain greater merit; and since we have the absolutely cer-
tain conviction, at the degree of “absolute certainty,” that we
have dedicated our lives to a truth more brilliant than the sun,
as beautiful as Paradise and sweet as eternal happiness; cer-

tainly, knowing that we are carrying out this immaterial strug-
gle in Allah’s way, proudly and offering thanks, despite the
distressing conditions, we should not complain. 12
When Bediuzzaman wrote this letter, he was under duress, old
and of ill health, but he showed the morality of a true believer. He

endured all the sufferings in patience, he believed that after hard-
ship comes ease, and that all such hardship serves to earn for him a
great reward. But he also considered the immediate spiritual re-
wards.
Obviously, these are all crucial secrets not known to those who
conspired to have the believers imprisoned. As the following verse
states, “… They love what causes you distress. Hatred has ap-
peared out of their mouths, but what their breasts hide is far
worse. We have made the Signs clear to you if you use your intel-

lect,” (Surah Al ‘Imran, 118) the unbelievers wish to see the believ-
ers suffer hardship, but their cruelty only reinforced the motivation
and optimism of the believers, when they consider the reward
awaiting them in the Hereafter for their patience. The unbelievers
do not understand that the believers know the secret of hoping for
Allah’s reward. As, for instance, Bediuzzaman’s letter quoted
above can only be correctly understood by those who know true

patience, and believe that there is good in everything Allah or-
dains.
In the Qur’an, Allah reveals that the patient will be distin-

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