|
Victory in Trials
Shaykh Abdul Baaree Ath-Thubaytee [(Safar 9,
1424 (April 11, 2003)]
All praise is
due to Allaah, Lord of all the worlds. May peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon the Messenger of Allaah, his household and companions.
Fellow Muslims! The ummah usually
finds its way to victory when its crises become severe. The only thing
that we need to have, however difficult our situation may be, is an
unalloyed trust in Allaah. The Messenger of Allaah said, “By Allaah! This
affair (Islaam) will be brought to completion.” (Al-Bukhaaree)
Allaah says,
“Verily, (many)
Messengers were denied before you (O Muhammad) but with patience they bore
the denial, and they were hurt; till Our Help reached them, and none can
alter the Words (Decisions) of Allaah.”
(Al-An‘aam 6:34)
In Makkah where there were
tribulations and hardships, the Messenger of Allaah was reminding his
companions of the importance of forbearance and patience. At the same
time, he assured them of a blossoming future for Islaam and strengthened
their morale. He assured his companions that Islaam should illuminate all
parts of the world so that they could have optimism and hope. No society
can survive except in the light of these concepts. Defeatism has more
dangerous negative effects on the future of the ummah. Also, the
present weak and helpless situation of the Muslims should not be an excuse
for despair. Having trust in the help of Allaah creates tranquility in the
hearts during trials.
An example of this is when the Messenger of Allaah was
in the cave of Hiraa with his companion, Aboo Bakr and the enemies were
very close to them wanting to kill them. Aboo Bakr said: ‘Had anyone of
them lifted his leg he would have seen us.’ The Messenger of Allaah
answered him with all confidence saying, “What are you thinking about two
men with whom is Allaah?” (Al-Bukhaaree) No doubt, having trust in Allaah
with certainty and a feeling of Allaah’s protection bring about victory
and remove calamities.
Brethren in faith! When
Prophet Moosaa was standing on the seashore and some of his followers said
in despair: ‘ Certainly, Pharaoh is pursuing us from the rear and here is
a sea in front of us. How will we be saved?’ Prophet Moosaa answered them
with all confidence in his Lord saying:
"Nay, verily! With me is
my Lord, He will guide me.”
(Ash-Shu‘araa 26:62)
And there and then, he was
victorious.
When one looks at the evil
cunnings of the enemies of Islaam throughout history, one will notice a
lot of killings, expulsions and persecutions that the Muslims were
subjected to. Yet, Islaam remained as strong as ever and those crimes
never increased the Muslims in anything but faith. When a Muslim looks at
this, he will know for sure that Allaah’s victory will come and that the
future belongs to this religion. There are many signs of good for this
religion from the Book of Allaah and from the realities. Allaah says,
“Those who oppose Allaah
and His Messenger (Muhammad (peace be upon him)) they will be among the
lowest (most humiliated). Allaah has decreed: "Verily! It is I and My
Messengers who shall be the victorious." Verily, Allaah is All-Powerful,
All-Mighty.”
(Al-Mujaadilah 58:20-21)
Allaah also says,
“Verily, We will indeed
make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe in this worldly life
and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of
Resurrection).”
(Ghaafir 40:51)
Allaah has guaranteed the
protection of His religion. He says,
“Verily We, it is We Who
have sent down the Dhikr (i.e. the Qur'aan) and surely, We will guard it
(from corruption).”
(Al-Hijr 15:9)
Therefore dear brother, do
not be afraid for Islaam, be afraid for yourself, for your eemaan
and for your steadfastness. For Allaah says,
“And if you turn away
(from Islaam and the obedience of Allaah), He will exchange you for some
other people, and they will not be your likes.”
(Muhammad 47:38)
However, the harbingers of
Allaah’s victory do not mean negligence and laziness. Allaah’s victory
does not come upon hearts that have been polluted with sins, lusts,
malevolence or resentment. It does not come upon a brotherhood that is
characterized by dissention, disunity and internal fighting. This is the
way of Allaah, which we must understand. Allaah says,
“Verily! Allaah will not
change the (good) condition of a people as long as they do not change
their state (of goodness) themselves (by committing sins and by being
ungrateful and disobedient to Allaah).”
(Ar-Ra‘d 13:11)
Brethren in Islaam! The
companions of the Prophet were sure of Allaah’s victory. Allaah’s promise
of help encouraged them to work more and give more. One of them spent all
that he had in the cause of Allaah and said when he was asked about what
he left for his family: ‘I left for them Allaah and His Messenger!’ Allaah
says,
“As for those who strive
hard in Us (Our Cause), We will surely guide them to Our Paths. And
verily, Allaah is with the good doers.”
(Al-‘Ankaboot 29:69)
People of falsehood may win
a temporary victory but a structure built on false foundation is bound to
fall. The permanent victory therefore belongs to the believers who are
pious. Allaah says,
“Let not the free
disposal (and affluence) of the disbelievers throughout the land deceive
you. A brief enjoyment; then, their ultimate abode is Hell; and worst
indeed is that place for rest.”
(Aal ‘Imraan 3:196-197)
When the Prophet was
migrating from Makkah to Al-Madeenah, Allaah promised him saying,
“Verily, He Who has
given you (O Muhammad) the Qur'aan (i.e. ordered you to act on its laws
and to preach it to others) will surely bring you back to the Ma'aad
(place of return, either to Makkah or to Paradise after your death). Say
(O Muhammad (peace be upon him)) "My Lord is Aware of him who brings
guidance, and of him who is in manifest error.”
(Al-Qasas 28:85)
He was thereafter made to
return to Makkah safely and gloriously and Allaah’s promise came to pass.
Brethren in faith! It is a
big mistake to narrow the meaning of victory. Victory has a wide meaning
and comprehensive form. He who conquers his forbidden lustful desires will
become victorious.
Among the manifestations of
victory is for a Muslim to meet his Lord while He is pleased with him.
Another meaning of victory is to be steadfast during trials. Prophet
Ibraaheem was thrown to fire when he exposed falsehood but despite that he
remained steadfast on his belief. That was certainly a victory. Allaah
says about Ibraaheem,
“We (Allaah) said: "O
fire! Be you coolness and safety for Ibraaheem (Abraham)!”
(Al-Anbiyaa 21:69)
When Pharaoh threatened his
magicians with killing and torture, their conviction in their newfound
faith did not weaken but increased and that gave victory to Islaam. As
their story is narrated to us in the Qur’aan, they said,
“No harm! Surely, to our
Lord (Allaah) we are to return; "Verily! We really hope that our Lord will
forgive us our sins, as we are the first of the believers (in Moosaa
(Moses) and in the Monotheism which he has brought from Allaah).”
(Ash-Shu‘araa 26:50-51)
Allaah says,
“Verily, We will indeed
make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of
Allaah - Islâmic Monotheism) in this world's life and on the Day when the
witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of Resurrection).”
(Ghaafir 40:51)
The commentators on the
Qur’aan said, “Certainly, Allaah helps His Messengers and the believers in
this world though the forms of helping them may vary. Allaah gives
strength to some of them until they overcome their enemies, Allaah
hastened punishments for those who refused to believed in them and He had
imposed on some of those who killed the Prophets others who avenged their
killing.”
The scholars also said, “It
was on this account that Allaah destroyed the people of Noah, the
communities of ‘Aad, Thamood and Ar-Rass, the inhabitants of Madyan and
others like them who denied the Messengers and rejected the truth. Allaah
rescued the believers among them and punished the disbelievers without
allowing anyone of them to escape.”
The Qur’aanic commentators
also said: “Allaah had not sent a Messenger whom his people killed; and He
had not sent a group of believers who called to the truth and were then
killed but sent, before the end of that century, those who helped the
Messengers and the believers and avenged for their killing. This means
that the Prophets, though they were killed in this world, they were always
triumphant.”
Fellow Muslims! Allaah is
Capable of giving victory to His Prophet and His religion right from the
first moments of the Battle of Uhud without any efforts from the
believers. But the matter was not about victory alone. Allaah wanted to
teach the Muslims steadfastness, forbearance and self-refinement.
Brethren in faith! Our
belief that the future is for this religion gives us a hope that drives us
to knowledge and action through firm belief in Islaamic Monotheism,
sincerity in acts of worship, good relationships among ourselves and lofty
morals. When belief is not well rooted in the heart, oppression and
falsehood prevail because they have material power.
If the Muslims really want
the help of Allaah, they should first help the cause of Allaah regarding
their own selves, their families and their societies. They should help the
cause of Allaah by treating one another in the best possible way and
implement the law of Allaah in their day-to-day life.
You can defeat your enemy
psychologically by taking pride in your religion, standing firm on your
truthful path and calling him to the way of Allaah. Allaah says,
“So hold you (O Muhammad
(peace be upon him)) fast to that which is revealed to you. Verily, you
are on a Straight Path.”
(Az-Zukhruf 43:43)
The foundation of real
victory lies in realization of worshipping Allaah honestly and
overpowering one’s soul. Allaah says,
“Allaah has promised
those among you who believe, and do righteous good deeds, that He will
certainly grant them succession to (the present rulers) in the earth, as
He granted it to those before them, and that He will grant them the
authority to practice their religion, that which He has chosen for them
(i.e. Islâm). And He will surely give them in exchange a safe security
after their fear (provided) they (believers) worship Me and do not
associate anything (in worship) with Me.”
(An-Noor 24:55)
However, we shall be
defeated and overwhelmed by the enemy if we disagree among ourselves, if
our intentions are not good and if the beauties of this world occupy our
hearts. Allaah says,
“If Allaah helps you,
none can overcome you; and if He forsakes you, who is there after Him that
can help you?”
(Aal ‘Imraan 3:160)
Brethren in Islaam! The
victory of the Muslims had turned to defeat in the Battle of Uhud because
some of the Muslims unknowingly disobeyed a command of the Messenger of
Allaah. The lesson learnt from the incidence was painful and the
punishment for that single act of disobedience was severe. Therefore,
there should be no wonder about disunity and helplessness that befall the
Muslims in these difficult days. Allaah says,
“(What is the matter
with you?) When a single disaster smites you, although you smote (your
enemies) with one twice as great, you say: "From where does this come to
us?" Say (to them), "It is from yourselves (because of your evil deeds).”
(Aal ‘Imraan 3:165)
It was this lesson that
‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab gave to Sa‘d bin Abee Waqqaas when he assigned him
as the leader of one of the Muslim armies. He told him, “I implore you and
those who are with you to fear Allaah in all conditions. The fear of
Allaah is the best weapon against the enemy and the best war strategy. I
also command you and those who are with you that you should be wary of
your own selves more than your enemies. For the army’s sins are more
dreadful to them than their enemies. Muslims only win wars because of
their enemy’s acts of disobedience to Allaah. Had it not been for that
reason, we would not have had any power because we are smaller than them
in number and our weapons are less sophisticated than theirs. If we come
to their level in terms of sins, they will have the upper hand because of
their superiority in numbers and weapons. And if we are given victory over
them on account of our merits, we can never defeat them through our
physical strength. Be also aware that there are guards from Allaah who
know all that you do. So be ashamed of them. Do not disobey Allaah while
you are in the way of Allaah. And do not say: ‘Our enemies are worse than
us, so we will be made victorious over them. For many are those who are
overwhelmed by those who are worse than them.”
Aboo Bakr also told his
army, “You can never defeat your enemy until you move nearer to Allaah and
they move farer from Him. When you come to their level in terms of sins,
victory shall belong to the greater in number and more sophisticated in
weapons.”
Fellow Muslims! Some people
may be complaining that the help of Allaah is late.
“ They thought wrongly of
Allaah - the thought of ignorance.”
(Aal ‘Imraan 3:154)
These people ask question
like, ‘Why is the truth always the victim? ‘Why is falsehood always
saved?’ ‘Why are the Muslims not winning?’
These are questions asked by
those who do not understand the way of Allaah regarding victory and
defeat. They do not know that things happen in line with His judgment. It
is of His Wisdom to give respite to falsehood and the unjust in order to
make him taste the bitterest of punishments that he deserves. Allaah says,
“And let not the
disbelievers think that Our postponing of their punishment is good for
them. We postpone the punishment only so that they may increase in
sinfulness. And for them is a disgracing torment.”
(Aal ‘Imraan 3:178)
Allaah also tests His
favoured servants to make a
distinction between the pure and the impure. He says,
“Allaah will not leave
the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes
the wicked from the good.”
(Aal ‘Imraan 3:179)
Among the reasons is that
Allaah wants to purify the hearts of His servants. He also wants to teach
the Muslims how to bear persecution and defeat with patience. He says,
“If a wound (and killing)
has touched you, be sure a similar wound (and killing) has touched the
others. And so are the days (good and not so good), We give to men by
turns.”
(Aal ‘Imraan 3:140)
Back
|
