And when they board a ship, they supplicate to Allah, sincere to Him in religion. But when He delivers them to the land, at once they associate others with Him. [Quran 29:65]

The scenario above can be applied to a volatile plane ride, difficult surgical procedure for a loved one, or with all the climate changes occuring today, a weather catastrophy heading our way. At times of extreme distress we sense a need to call out to the One in control, who can resolve our problems. There is an innate urge to raise our eyes and hands to the sky and plead:"My Lord, please help me!" It is at times like this when all the forms of shirk are set aside and a pure form of worship takes root. It is a great call because it is pure, sincere, and recognizes the greatness and Oneness of Allah the Glorified. The caller knows his Creator is the only one that can help, and the All-Hearer hears his plea. But as soon as Allah relieves him of his difficulty, the sincere call is uprooted by the caller returning back to associating partners with Allah.

Turning back to Allah during difficult times is an opportunity to reconnect with Him. Perhaps the encounter will help us realize the error of our ways, and reconnect with the path outlined by His Messenger Muhammad (pbuh). However, these days many disbelievers persist in shirk in times of ease and in times of hardship. Shirk is a choice one makes. It distinguishes the light of Tawheed, closes the doors of mercy, and leaves its prey deaf, dumb, and blind; stranded in a world filled with nothing but pitch-black darkness.

Their example is that of one who kindled a fire, but when it illuminated what was around him, Allah took away their light and left them in darkness [so] they could not see. Deaf, dumb and blind - so they will not return [to the right path]. [Quran 2:17-18]