The Prick of a Thorn: Coping with the Trials and Tribulations of Life

by Aisha Utz

In 'The Prick of a Thorn: Coping with the Trials and Tribulations of Life', Dr. Aisha Utz helps the reader to understand the logic of events in a seemingly chaotic world, to comprehend the rationale for seemingly unbearable trials and tribulations, and to implement sound Islamic methodology in finding the most effective coping techniques.

The book’s title was inspired by a saying of Prophet Muhammad (sa):
'Every fatigue, illness, distress, worry, grief, or harm that befalls the Muslim, including the prick of a thorn, will be accepted by Allah as expiation for some of his or her sins.' (Bukhari)

Genres: Islam, Spirituality

304 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2012

About the author

Aisha Utz, formerly Aisha (Laureen Marie) Hamdan is an American mother of five, currently living in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology from West Virginia University and a Bachelor's Degree in Islamic Studies from the American Open University. She has written over 100 articles on various topics for al-Jumuah Magazine and has several published books. She has written several professional journal articles and book chapters related to the topic of Psychology and Islam, has presented these ideas at a number of professional conferences, and regularly integrates the Islamic perspective into her teaching. She is also Associate Editor of the Faith-Based Practice section of the Journal of Muslim Mental Health. Her current efforts involve the development of a research program to study the relationship between religiosity and mental health in Muslim populations. She has been Muslim for 25 years and is actively involved in various da'wah activities.

Her professional experience includes:

Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychology, College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
SEP 2010 - present

Assistant Professor, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah
Sharjah, UAE
2005 – 2010

Assistant Professor, College of Family Sciences, Zayed University
Abu Dhabi, UAE
2002 – 2003

Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology, University of St. Thomas
St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
1999 – 2002

Reviews

[sawaaiiq · Rating 5 out of 5]

I started this book so many times over the last few years, this was the only time I finished it.. definitely recommend for better perspectives on dealing with trials in life, and with topics like these you must read with an open mind because not everything may make sense to you in the depth of stress, depression, or despair with life.

The part about Ayyub عليه السلام especially hit me because of health woes in the last few two years or so, but you wonder how he was tested after 70 years of ease with some years of difficulty and was bearing with patience by virtue of his gratitude for those years. Now, imagine us. Years spent in sin and heedlessness, do we have any right to complain? And about something which Allah is expiating our sins through?

A lot of this is a collection of ayat and ahadith which you should reflect on, less a self-help advice type of book but more educating you on that.


"The believer never says, "If only...," for this phrase indicates doubt in the decree of Allah. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:

«A strong believer is better and more beloved to Allah than a weak believer, although both are good. Pay attention to what benefits you, seek Allah's help, and never feel helpless. If something happens to you, do not say: If only such and such would have happened. Say instead: Allah has decreed it, and He does what He wills. Saying "if only' opens the way for Satan.» (Muslim)

Comprehending and accepting the decree of Allah leads to bounties and blessings, even in the midst of the most desperate circumstances. Ibn Qayyim al-Jawziyah articulates this reality most eloquently:

Indeed, Allah does not pre-ordain a divine decree for His believing servant except that it is good for him, whether the servant is displeased or pleased with the decree, So, His divine decree for His believing servant of withholding is [in reality] a bounty, even if
it is in the form of deprival, and it is [in reality] a blessing, even if it is in the form of a tribulation, and his affliction is [in reality] well- being, even if it is in the form of a trial. But, due to the ignorance of the servant, and his transgression, he does not consider anything to be a bounty or a blessing or well-being unless he can enjoy it immediately and it is in accordance with his nature. If he were only endowed with a portion of cognizance, he would have considered the withholding as a blessing and the tribulation as a mercy, and he would find pleasure in the affliction more than his enjoyment of well-being, and he would find pleasure in poverty more than his enjoyment of affluence. And he would be more grateful during a state of paucity than in a state of abundance."

[Iman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but I would have wanted a bit more. It was mostly just a bunch of hadith/ayat under each topic and there wasn't enough explanation for them. Alot of the ayat were repeated many times and it was just a hard book to read. If the book had insight from the author on how she interpreted each ayah/hadith to fit the topic then it would have been alot better.

[These Okudum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Notwithstanding the fact that this was an enlightening read, for a sensitive person like myself, it was hard to finish. That's because for a book on coping with trials and tribulations, the language that the author used feels very apathetic to me.

Many of the main points were too lacking of elaboration and when there were elaborations, they don't feel understanding nor comforting, rather they only feel informing and in some places, unfortunately, dictating us that this is how we should feel instead. This, to me, seems to disregard many natural human emotions, which is quite sad considering it was written by someone with advanced education in clinical psychology.

I would still come back and reread this when I have to remind myself of the salient points which were discussed therein, but it would only be when I'm feeling strong, perhaps in a good mood, and not too sensitive.

After all, maybe it's just me.

[Nur Fatin · Rating 3 out of 5]

bought this book at the hotel lobby back during hajj 2018 to accompany me while i was having menses and left alone in the hotel room by my family haha.
at first, the sole reason i bought this book was because i was trying to help my friend who was in misery and confused about his life. i really have no words and idea on how to help but i really wanted to. but little did i know, i was actually the one who need it. it helps me a lot going through tribulations at that time.
3 stars because i think there are lots of repetitive points inside. although the points are supported with different ayahs and hadiths.

[Lynn Hajjar · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book to be kept on one’s nightstand, which can be opened and read whenever one is feeling worried or exhausted by the stressors and obstacles of life. Although some concepts are explained too simplistically, this book still provides one with gentle and easy-to-read reminders of what really matters; it brings back to one’s mind the importance of not allowing oneself to get too attached to this life, and to keep one’s connection with God as alive as possible, for that is what eases any pain a believer may encounter during a lifetime.

[Huma · Rating 5 out of 5]

As rightly said “were it not for the calamities of this world, we would could come empty-handed on the Day of Resurrection”
The book gives you a great understanding of the reality of trials bestowed upon us & knowledge of it’s coping mechanisms.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book did a good job of covering reasons for trials, how to deal with trials, and examples from the prophets (a.a.s.) of how they dealt with trials.