The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “Surely I know an Ayat which, if people would have followed it, would have sufficed for them concerning everything (in life), ‘For those who fear Allah, He provides a way out for them, (and) He also provides them provisions from (sources) that they could never have imagined (Surah at-Talaq, Ayat 2-3).’” [Ibn Majah]

The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island.

He prayed feverishly to Allah (subhana wa ta’ala) to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.

Exhausted, he eventually built a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements and store his few possessions.

But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief.

Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.

“How did you know I was here?” asked the weary man of his rescuers. 

“We saw your smoke signal,” they replied.

It is easy to get discouraged when things are going badly. But don’t lose heart, the next time your little hut is burning to the ground - it just may be a smoke signal that summons the Grace of Allah.