Greif
The most difficult period in the life of the Prophet (s.a.a.w) was called the Year of Greif. In this year, his wife and soul-mate Khadijah (r.a) passed away and his protector and sponsor Abu Talib died while still a disbeliever. He (s.a.a.w) knew that he needed to seek new protection, so he travelled to Ta’if, but instead of finding protection, he was attacked, humiliated, and pelted with stones.After escaping the severe attack, the Prophet (s.a.a.w) made the following supplication:
اللَّهُمَّ إِلَيْكَ أَشْكُو ضَعْفَ قُوَّتِي وَقِلَّةَ حِيلَتِي وَهَوَانِي عَلَى النَّاسِ يَا أَرْحَمَ الرَّاحِمِينَ
O Allah, I complain to You of my own weakness, and of my lack of resources / creativity, and of the lack of my respect in the eyes of the people, O Most Merciful of the merciful ones.1
أَنْتَ رَبُّ الْمُسْتَضْعَفِينَ وَأَنْتَ رَبِّي إِلَى من تَكِلَنِي إِلَى بَعِيد يتجهمني أَوْ إِلَى عَدُوّ مَلَّكْتَهُ أَمْرِي إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِكَ غضب عَلَيَّ فَلاَ أُبَالِي غَيْرَ أَنْ عَافِيتَكَ هِيَ أَوْسَعُ لِي
You are the Lord of the weak ones, and You are my Lord. To whom will You entrust me? To a distant (stranger) who will show me an unwelcoming face? Or to an enemy whom You have given control over my situation? If You are not angry with me then I do not mind, though safety from You is easier for me.2
أَعُوذُ بِنُورِ وَجْهِكَ الَّذِي أَشْرَقَتْ لَهُ الظُّلُمَاتُ وَصَلُحَ عَلَيْهِ أَمْرُ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ أَنْ يَنْزِلَ بِي غَضَبُكَ أَوْ تُحِلَّ عَلَيَّ سُخْطَكَ لَكَ الْعُتْبَى حَتَّى تَرْضَى وَلَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِكَ
I take refuge with the Light of Your Face, which brings light to darkness, and upon which the affairs of the world and the Hereafter become right – from Your anger descending upon me, or Your displeasure befalling me. I will continue to seek Your Pleasure, until You become pleased (with me). And there is neither might nor power except with You.3
1.In this portion he places all the blame for his misfortune upon himself, not on Allah (swt), not on the people who are causing all of this hardship.
2.In this portion he affirms his acceptance of any and all hardships so long as it is not an indication of Allah’s displeasure.
3.Finally, he begs Allah to not be displeased with him as if his hardship was a punishment, and as if the people rejected him due to a deficiency in his da’wah. (both of which are obviously not the case)