of the sick, saying, “It is a form of complaint.” Thereafter, Ahmad did not groan until his death. Complaining to the Creator, however, does not conflict with gracious patience, for Jacob said:
“So gracious patience is best.”
He also said:
“I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah.”
ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, used to recite the surahs Jonah, Joseph, and The Bee in the dawn prayer. When he came to this verse in his recitation, he wept until his sobbing could be heard from the back rows.
Among the supplications of Moses was:
“O Allah, to You belongs all praise; to You complaints are brought; You are the One whose help is sought; from You relief is sought; and upon You we rely. There is neither might nor power except through You.”
In the supplication the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, made after the people of Tāʾif treated him as they did, he said:
“O Allah, to You I complain of my weakness, my lack of resources, and my low standing among people. You are the Lord of the oppressed, and You are my Lord. O Allah, to whom will You entrust me? To a stranger who receives me harshly, or to an enemy whom You have given power over me? If You are not angry with me, I do not mind, though Your protection from affliction would bring me greater ease. I seek refuge in the light of Your Face, through which darkness is dispelled and the affairs of this world and the Hereafter are set right, lest Your displeasure descend upon me or Your anger fall upon me. It is for me to seek Your pleasure until You are pleased. For there is neither might nor power except through You.”
In some narrations: “And there is neither might nor power except through You.”
The stronger a servant’s longing for Allah’s bounty and mercy, and his hope that Allah will fulfil his needs and relieve his distress, the stronger his servitude to Him and his freedom from everything besides Him. Just as placing his hopes in a created being brings him into servitude to that being, giving up hope in him makes his heart independent of him.
As it has been said:
“Be independent