A Reminder To Those Facing Trials Due To Their Striving Upon The Sunnah
﷽
Alhamdulillãh (all praises are due to Allãh alone), and I send blessings and salutations upon The Messenger of Allãh (ﷺ), and upon his household and companions, to proceed.
My advice to those striving to hold on to the book of Allãh and the Sunnah of The Messenger of Allãh (ﷺ) and to the way of the Salaf is that you should be patient. By Allãh, there's only a small amount of time left before the aid of Allãh comes. The Messenger of Allãh (ﷺ) informed us that:
بَدَأَ الإِسْلاَمُ غَرِيبًا وَسَيَعُودُ غَرِيبًا فَطُوبَى لِلْغُرَبَاءِ
Islãm started as something strange, and it will return to being something strange, so give the glad tidings of Tûbâ (a tree in Jannah) to the strangers. (1)
If you were to read the stories of the prophets and messengers, specifically the story of The Messenger of Allãh (ﷺ) and you were to see the sorts of oppressions he faced while in Makkah, then by Allãh you would understand that we have to be very patient in times of trials and tribulations. Things were very difficult for the believers and it was not easy for them to cope. In fact, some Muslims in the early days of Islãm were killed because of their faith, and that is why Sumayyah (رضي الله عنها) was the first martyr in Islãm. So it is the sacrifice of the early Muslims that we are benefitting from today!
The Messenger (ﷺ) faced oppression, problems and issues in his time, and he (ﷺ) informed the Sahãbah that the religion will later become strange just as it was before. So glad tidings to the strangers!
Who are the strangers? Ibn Rajab Al-Hanbalî (رحمه الله) mentioned in his Kashf-ul-Kurbah fî wasfi Hãli Ahlil-Ghurbah; where he explained various narrations that mention the strangers, that from the narrations, the strangers are those who will be righteous and those strive to be righteous when many have taken another path other than righteousness. So, when others are turning away from the religion of Allãh they will still be holding fast to the religion. While others are waging war against the Sunnah of Allãh's Messenger (ﷺ), the strangers will be reviving the Sunnah! So it is upon us to be patient!
Secondly, we should know that we cannot be true believers except that Allãh will test us in our claim! Allãh mentioned:
الٓمٓ - أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ
Alif-Lâm-Mîm. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be tested. (2)
So is it possible for you to be a believer and you won't be tested? Allãh said:
وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ ۖ فَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُوا۟ وَلَيَعْلَمَنَّ ٱلْكَـٰذِبِينَ
And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allâh will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allâh knows all that before putting them to test). (3)
Therefore, through tests and trials, Allãh makes it apparent those who are true believers, and He will expose those who are merely claiming to be. Many people make claims: "we are practising the Sunnah", "we are reviving the Sunnah", "we are striving upon the religion", then when the same people face one or two problems they run away, in other words, they turn their backs on the religion of Allãh! Allãh (ﷻ) said:
وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ حَتَّىٰ نَعْلَمَ ٱلْمُجَـٰهِدِينَ مِنكُمْ وَٱلصَّـٰبِرِينَ وَنَبْلُوَا۟ أَخْبَارَكُمْ
And surely, We shall try you till We test those who strive hard (for the Cause of Allâh) and As-Sâbirûn (the patient), and We shall test your facts (i.e. the one who is a liar, and the one who is truthful). (4)
The Messenger of Allãh (ﷺ) reminded the Sahãbah when they came complaining to him of the difficulties that they were facing from the Kuffãr to question themselves on what they have really faced?! Meanwhile, those who came before them, it would be said to one of them "it is either you drop your faith or you enter this fire", and they would choose the fire over losing their faith.
Reflect on the story of Ashãb Al-Ukhdûd (The People of The Ditch) in Sûrah Al-Burûj:
إِذْ هُمْ عَلَيْهَا قُعُودٌۭ - وَهُمْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَفْعَلُونَ بِٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ شُهُودٌۭ - وَمَا نَقَمُوا۟ مِنْهُمْ إِلَّآ أَن يُؤْمِنُوا۟ بِٱللَّهِ ٱلْعَزِيزِ ٱلْحَمِيدِ
When they sat by it (fire), and they witnessed what they were doing against the believers (i.e. burning them). And they had no fault except that they believed in Allâh, the All-Mighty, Worthy of all Praise! (5)
So imagine, the believers sat there by the fire, and they would be called one after the other by soldiers, and they would then be questioned "will you drop your faith, or will you enter the fire". Some dropped their faith because they did not want to die… Are they still alive today? By Allãh they have died. If they had stood with the religion of Allãh they would be dead by now, but they would be living in everlasting bounties from Allãh. Likewise, others stood firm! When the Messenger (ﷺ) narrated this incident he mentioned that there was a woman who had a baby with her, so when it was her turn to make a decision she looked at the baby - thinking: would she enter the fire even with this baby? - and by Allãh the baby spoke! The baby told its mother to enter the fire! Imagine a baby telling his/her mother to enter the fire, so they entered into it and died because of this faith!
Thirdly, we should know that our faith is the most precious thing we have, so we cannot afford to lose our faith for the sake of: the Dunyã, achieving positions, or for the pleasure of anyone! The Deen is too precious to be lost for anyone or anything! Why? It is because our entrance into Paradise or into the Hellfire depends on the Deen. If your faith is upright, even if you come from a bad, poor or wretched family you will be from the successful ones! But if you are deficient in your faith, or your faith is problematic, whether you come from a rich, influential, popular family your societal status will not save or benefit you! Allãh's Messenger (ﷺ) mentioned:
وَمَنْ أَبَطْأَ بِهِ عَمَلُهُ لَمْ يُسْرِعْ بِهِ نَسَبُهُ
And whoever is slowed down by his actions, will not be hastened forward by his lineage. (6)
So, I advise you to strive to stay firm upon the religion and strive hard not to compromise. It is not permissible to compromise, except in very difficult situations when a person is forced/ compelled. Rather, we make apparent our religion, this is what we are upon, and it is the truth. We ask that Allãh makes us from the strangers, and that He eases our affairs.
And Allãh knows best.
Abû Kawthar Luqmãn b. ʿAbdir-Ra'ûf (وفقه الله)
24/ November/ 2021.
Footnotes
(1) - Sahih Muslim 145
(2) - Sûrah Al-ʿAnkabût : 1 - 2
(3) - Sûrah Al-ʿAnkabût : 3
(4) - Sûrah Muhammad : 31
(5) Sûrah Al-Burûj : 6 - 8
(6) - Sahih Muslim 2699
Watch the series of talks explaining the story of: The Boy, The King & The Sourcerer
