Light at The End of The Tunnel

Why isn’t everyone successful? How come there only seems to be a few people who appear to be fulfilled spiritually, financially, emotionally?

One common trait of successful individuals is the ability to persevere. Being able to press forward in spite of difficult challenges that lay ahead. Allah (SWT) reassures us that “”Indeed with difficulty, there is ease” [Al-Sharh:5-6]. 

You may have also heard of the phrase, “light at the end of the tunnel.” The thing about tunnels is that they are dark on all sides. When you look solely to your right, left, above or below, it’s pure darkness. However, the only way you’ll see light is if you look forward and straight ahead.  

Let us look at a prime example of a prophet, where he not only had to overcome darkness in the metaphorical sense, but in the literal sense too. 

Yunus (AS) was sent to a place called Ninevah. They were a disbelieving nation and Allah (SWT) commanded Yunus (AS) to deliver the message of Islam to them. However, they were a difficult group and eventually Yunus (AS) decided to leave. He boarded a ship with some companions but the tides were too much. The shipmates drew lots and Yunus (AS) lost, which meant that he needed to throw himself overboard. Then something remarkable happened. 

”And indeed, Jonah was among the messengers. [Mention] when he ran away to the laden ship.

And he drew lots and was among the losers. Then the fish swallowed him, while he was blameworthy.” [As-Saffat  37:139-142]  

Yunus (AS) was in the belly of a whale. A whale. Inside this unique dwelling, the darkness of the whale’s stomach, the darkness of the sea and the darkness of the night engulfed Yunus (AS). You can’t imagine a situation of despair more bleak than this. The loneliness and terrifying atmosphere paralyzed him. Yet, it is in this very dwelling where the famous dua was born. 

”And [mention] the man of the fish, when he went off in anger and thought that We would not decree [anything] upon him. And he called out within the darkness, ‘There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers.’ So We responded to him and saved him from the distress. And thus do We save the believers.” [An-Anbya: 87-88] 

Surrendering to Allah (SWT) and recognizing that He (SWT) is the ultimate availer to our struggles will free you from the shackles of gloom. After all, it is like the saying goes: “it is in the darkest of nights that the stars shine most brilliantly.”