In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Do you depend on "weather?"

All of us go through different tests and trials throughout our lives. The true submitters are those who worship God alone, unconditionally, and under all circumstances. Whether they are going through good times, bad times, feeling sad, frustrated, happy, sick, stressed, or satisfied, they accept it as God's will. Those who only remember and worship God under certain conditions, are not true believers. They are actually disbelievers. God gives illustrations of these people in the Quran as "Fair Weather Friends" and "Bad Weather Friends."

"Fair Weather Friends" are those who remember God when something good happens to them. They become appreciative, and they thank God for His blessings. However, when they face hardship or adversity, they get upset and they think of God in a negative light. God gives us some examples of these people in the Quran:

Fair Weather Friends [22:11] Among the people there is the one who worships GOD conditionally. If things go his way, he is content. But if some adversity befalls him, he makes an about-face. Thus, he loses both this life and the Hereafter. Such is the real loss.

[11:9] Whenever we bless the human being with mercy from us, then remove it, he turns despondent, unappreciative.

[16:53] Any blessing you enjoy is from GOD. Yet, whenever you incur any adversity you immediately complain to Him.

[41:49] The human being never tires of imploring for good things. And when adversity befalls him, he turns despondent, desperate.

Fair Weather Friends [29:10] Among the people there are those who say, "We believe in GOD," but as soon as they suffer any hardship because of GOD, they equate the people's persecution with GOD's retribution. But if blessings from your Lord come your way, they say, "We were with you." Is GOD not fully aware of the people's innermost thoughts?

[89:15] When the human being is tested by his Lord, through blessings and joy, he says, "My Lord is generous towards me."
[89:16] But if He tests him through reduction in provisions, he says, "My Lord is humiliating me!"

[30:36] When we bestow mercy upon the people, they rejoice therein. But when adversity befalls them, as a consequence of their own works, they become despondent.

There are also people who implore God when an affliction befalls them, but then forget God when that affliction is removed. Some even revert to idol worship as soon as God blesses them. These are "Bad Weather Friends," as described in the Quran:

[10:12] When adversity touches the human being, he implores us while lying down, or sitting, or standing up. But as soon as we relieve his adversity, he goes on as if he never implored us to relieve any hardship! The works of the transgressors are thus adorned in their eyes.

Bad Weather Friends [30:33] When adversity afflicts the people, they turn to their Lord, totally devoting themselves to Him. But then, as soon as He showers them with mercy, some of them revert to idol worship.*

[39:8] When the human being is afflicted, he implores his Lord, sincerely devoted to Him. But as soon as He blesses him, he forgets his previous imploring, sets up idols to rank with GOD and to divert others from His path. Say, "Enjoy your disbelief temporarily; you have incurred the hellfire."

Bad Weather Friends [17:67] If you are afflicted in the middle of the sea, you forget your idols and sincerely implore Him alone. But as soon as He saves you to the shore, you revert. Indeed, the human being is unappreciative.

[41:50] And when we bless him after suffering some adversity, he says, "This belongs to me. I do not believe that the Hour will ever come to pass. Even if I am returned to my Lord, I will find at Him better things." Most certainly, we will inform the disbelievers of all their works, and will commit them to severe retribution.
[41:51] When we bless the human being, he turns away, and drifts farther and farther away, and when he suffers any affliction, he implores loudly.

[11:10] Whenever we bless him, after adversity had afflicted him, he says, "All adversity has gone away from me;" he becomes excited, proud.

[16:54] Yet, as soon as He relieves your affliction, some of you revert to idol worship.

Human Fickleness [39:49] If the human is touched by adversity, he implores us, but as soon as we bestow a blessing upon him, he says, "I attained this because of my cleverness!" Indeed, this is only a test, but most of them do not know.

When something good happens to us, we should not become so happy and proud, giving ourselves the credit for it. All the credit and all praises should go to God; He is the source of all blessings and success. Once we have this conviction, our personal attachment to whatever we accomplish or get blessed with diminishes or even vanishes, and so we avoid falling into the trap of "Fair Weather Friends". We should always follow the good example set by the believer in the story of the man with the two gardens (18:32-43):

Important Commandment [18:39] "When you entered your garden, you should have said, `This is what GOD has given me (Mã Shã Allãh). No one possesses power except GOD (Lã Quwwata Ellã Bellãh).' You may see that I possess less money and less children than you.

Sura 8, verse 17 is an important verse that reminds us that God is doing everything.

God Is Doing Everything [8:17] It was not you who killed them; GOD is the One who killed them. It was not you who threw when you threw; GOD is the One who threw. But He thus gives the believers a chance to earn a lot of credit. GOD is Hearer, Omniscient.

If we suffer from an adversity, we should not blame God or become angry at Him for it. We should accept what is happening to us, trust in His wisdom, remember Him, and implore Him alone. We should strive to be steadfast and ask God for help. With this unconditional trust in God alone, we, again, stay away from being "Fair Weather Friends." We should not ignore or forget God just because of our hardship.

[59:19] Do not be like those who forgot GOD, so He made them forget themselves. These are the wicked.

On the other hand, as true believers, we must be imploring and commemorating God at all times, and not only during adversities. Being in touch with God whether through our basic worship, or through maintaining a spiritual mental status of remembering God, imploring Him, and appreciating all of His blessings must be the case under all circumstances. The strife to do so keeps us away from falling into the other trap of "Bad Weather Friends." We should learn from the teachings given to us in the following verses:

[2:155] We will surely test you through some fear, hunger, and loss of money, lives, and crops. Give good news to the steadfast.
[2:156] When an affliction befalls them, they say, "We belong to GOD, and to Him we are returning."
[2:157] These have deserved blessings from their Lord and mercy. These are the guided ones.

As submitters to God alone, we should try our best not to fall into the trap of becoming a "Fair / Bad Weather Friend." It can be challenging because we are human beings, but knowing that everything happens according to Gods plans is a big step towards lessening the challenge. Accepting God's will, giving Him all the credit, and remembering Him no matter what happens to us is what distinguishes us from the disbelievers, the hypocrites, and the idol worshipers. The following verses give us the correct guidelines and the cure for depending on the "Weather."

Profound Fact [57:22] Anything that happens on earth, or to you, has already been recorded, even before the creation. This is easy for GOD to do.
[57:23] Thus, you should not grieve over anything you miss, nor be proud of anything He has bestowed upon you. GOD does not love those who are boastful, proud.

[9:51] Say, "Nothing happens to us, except what GOD has decreed for us. He is our Lord and Master. In GOD the believers shall trust."

Divine Law [64:11] Nothing happens to you except in accordance with GOD's will. Anyone who believes in GOD, He will guide his heart. GOD is fully aware of all things.

Any blessing that we get or any hardship we face is a test from God. We must try not to get distracted by what comes our way in this life. Our priority should always be to worship God alone so we can eventually join His kingdom in the Hereafter. We should try our best to follow the examples of Solomon and Job in the Quran, who represent both ends of the testing spectrum. We must remember, implore, trust, and be appreciative of God in all situations.

[21:35] Every person will taste death, after we put you to the test through adversity and prosperity, then to us you ultimately return.

No matter what we're going through, we have so many things to appreciate God for. His provisions, our family/friends, our brains, eyes, and ears, the night and day, the air we breathe, etc. There is never an excuse to be unappreciative of God. The more we thank Him, the more He gives us.

[2:152] You shall remember Me, that I may remember you, and be thankful to Me; do not be unappreciative.

Appreciative vs Unappreciative [14:7] Your Lord has decreed: "The more you thank Me, the more I give you." But if you turn unappreciative, then My retribution is severe.

[14:34] And He gives you all kinds of things that you implore Him for. If you count GOD's blessings, you can never encompass them. Indeed, the human being is transgressing, unappreciative.

Peaceful Friday, Salaam and God bless.