Is it alright to complain about the problems we face every day?

We must stop our tongues from complaining about the trials of life. Complaints destroy the patience. But when one complains to Allah that complaint is not that which destroys the patience.

Narrated Anas bin Malik: The Prophet (ﷺ) passed by a woman who was weeping beside a grave. He told her to fear Allah and be patient. She did not recognize him and said to him, "Go away, for you have not been afflicted with a calamity like mine." Afterwards she was informed that he was the Prophet (ﷺ). So she went to the house of the Prophet (ﷺ), where she did not find any guard, and said to him, "I did not recognize you." He said, "Verily, the patience is at the first stroke of a calamity." [1]

Her complaint was a complaint to the human being, who cannot do anything about the trials of the life. However, turning to Allah, is suitable. Such is the example of Prophet Yaqoob (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ) in the Qur’an. In Surah Yusuf, Yaqoob (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ) complained to Allah after hearing news about young Yusuf (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ) being killed by a wolf:

 قَالَ إِنَّمَآ أَشۡكُواْ بَثِّى وَحُزۡنِىٓ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ وَأَعۡلَمُ مِنَ ٱللَّهِ مَا لَا تَعۡلَمُونَ

He said, "I only complain of my suffering and my grief to Allah, and I know from Allah that which you do not know.” [2]

Yaqoob (عَلَيْهِ السَّلاَمُ) turned to Allah which is perfectly legitimate, and in the same manner, we should also take our complaints to Him.

Patience is real and is maintained as long as we stay away from complaining to people who cannot do anything for us. When we complain to people, we’re just looking for sympathy. If a certain something happens to you, it’s because Allah wrote it for you. Allah chose you to experience that trial.[3] And it is only Him, by His mercy, who can reduce or relieve you of that calamity.

References:

[1] Bukhari, Book 2, Volume 23, Hadith 372

[2] Surah Yusuf, 12:86

[3] See Uddat as-Saabireen wa Dhaakirat ash-Shaakireen by Ibn Al-Qayyim