On the authority of Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah, sal Allahu alayhi wa salla, said: “Seek out that which benefits you, seek help only from Allah and never say you can’t do it.
“If any adversity comes to you, do not say: ‘If I had only acted in such-and-such a way, it would have been such-and-such;’ but instead, say: ‘Allah has decreed (it) and what He willed, He has done,’ for verily, (the word) (if) opens the way for the work of Satan.” – Saheeh Muslim

Lessons from this hadith

If there is something that will benefit you, make every effort and go after it! Seek it out.
There is no failure, only lessons.

[taken from Muhammad Alshareef]

Ibn Abi Hatim recorded a narration from Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, attributing it to the Prophet

Be mindful of Allah and He will protect you; be mindful of Allah and you will find Him ever with you. Turn to Allah in times of ease and He will turn to you in times of difficulty. If you ask anyone for anything, then ask Allah; if you seek help from anyone, then seek help from Allah. Know that even if the entire nation were to come together to do you some harm that Allah has not decreed for you, they will never be able to harm you, and if they were to come together to do you some good that Allah has not decreed for you, they will never be able to do that. The pages have dried and the pens have been lifted. Strive for the sake of Allah with thankfulness and firm conviction, and know that in patiently persevering with regard to something that you dislike there is much goodness. Victory comes with patience, a way out comes from difficulty and with hardship comes ease.

I still remember the first time I heard this hadith. I was in MCNY in a summer program in the year 2002 or 2003. Since then this was my favorite hadith, maybe because of the beautiful meaning it held. It was like the answer to all my problems, to all the peer pressures to all the fears I had.

We easily forget Allah (SWT) and are afraid of people. We easily think that people are much more powerful than The Almighty Allah (SWT). Instead of turning to Allah at all times, we only turn to Him in difficulty. Instead of asking Allah for our needs, we ask people.

Living in this dream we forget reality, that only Allah (SWT) is capable of doing everything, only He can help us, only He can protect us. Only if Allah (SWT) wills can we be harmed, and only if Allah (SWT) wills can we be saved. …The pens have lifted and the ink has dried…

If we worry about pleasing people, then know they will never be pleased. But if we worry about only pleasing Allah, He will please us.