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Trials
Shaykh Usaamah Al-Khayyaat
[(Safar 2, 1424 (April 4, 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!
Fear Allaah and put your trust in Him. Have good opinion of Him and call
on Him in fear and hope. Remember your stand before Him on the Day of
Resurrection;
“That Day shall a man
flee from his brother, and from his mother and his father, and from his
wife and his children. Everyman that Day will have enough to make him
careless of others.”
(‘Abasa 80:34-37)
Dear Muslims! It is during calamities and afflictions
that some people get confused and issues become muddled up in their heads.
This then makes them hesitate to say the truth that they know. It is in
this situation that false rumours
become widespread, that facts are turned upside down and random judgments
that have no basis are passed.
A Muslim sometimes forgets
that Allaah has decreed that He will be testing His servants from time to
time. But how can he forget that while he reads this reality every time in
the Book of Allaah. Allaah says,
“Do people think that
they will be left alone because they say: "We believe," and will not be
tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah 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 Allaah knows all that before putting them to test).”
(Al-‘Ankaboot 29:2-3)
Allaah also says,
“You shall certainly be
tried and tested in your wealth and properties and in your personal
selves, and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you from those
who received the Scripture before you (Jews and Christians) and from those
who ascribe partners to Allaah; but if you persevere patiently, and become
pious then verily, that will be a determining factor in all affairs (and
that is from the great matters which you must hold on with all your
efforts).”
(Aal ‘Imraan 3:186)
Brethren in faith! It is the way of Allaah from which He
excludes even none of His Prophets and Messengers. He rather makes the
Messengers the most afflicted. Saad bin Abee Waqqaas said: “I said: ‘O
Messenger of Allaah! Who is tested with the most severe afflictions?’ The
Messenger of Allaah answered: “They are the Prophets and then those who
are closer to them in merits.” (At-Tirmidhee)
Man is tested in accordance
with the strength of his religion. If he is strong in religion, his trials
become greater and if he is weak in religion he will be tested according
to his weakness. So man will in any case be afflicted with trials until he
walks on the land with no more sins left on him.
The Messenger of Allaah had
been afflicted with many calamities that are known to all. His people
persecuted him, called him a liar, mocked him and prevented others from
accepting his call. They expelled him, waged wars against him and
instigated others to hurt him. They even invaded the city to which he
migrated and attempted to annihilate him and his religion. While in he was
in Al-Madeenah, the Jews and the hypocrites plotted against him. They
reneged on their covenants with him and entered into an alliance with the
polytheists to fight him. They even attempted to assassinate him.
The Messenger of Allaah was
therefore like the Prophets who came before him in terms of bearing trials
and afflictions with perseverance. He fought in the way of Allaah
sincerely and as it was due until victory came to him and people started
embracing the religion of Allaah in groups. The light of guidance then
filled the world and the illuminations of eemaan filled the hearts.
He thereafter died after he had contentedly fulfilled his mission; leaving
behind for his ummah two things that would never let them go astray if
they hold unto them: the Book of Allaah and his Sunnah.
Brethren in faith! It was
not a surprise that the Messenger of Allaah and other Prophets were so
patient and persevering in the face of calamities that afflicted them,
because they certainly know that Allaah had not decreed these trials on
his servants in order to destroy them. They knew that Allaah ordained the
trials for great wisdoms and immense benefits.
Among the benefits is that Allaah tests the patience of
His servants so as to know if he is eligible to be among His successful
friends. If he therefore perseveres, Allaah chooses him,
honours him
and makes him among His favoured
slaves.
But if he turns against
Allaah and is displeased on account of the trial, Allaah becomes annoyed
at him and increases him in punishment.
Patience is the greatest
gift that man can have. The Messenger of Allaah said, “No one is given a
gift greater than patience.”
Among the wisdoms of trials
is the realization of the worship of Allaah. For Allaah trains His
servants with both prosperity and adversity in other to make them worship
Him in all conditions. For the real servant of Allaah is the one who
worships Him at all times. As for the one who worships Allaah only during
times of prosperity, that one only worships Allaah temporarily and he
cannot therefore be regarded among the sincere worshippers of Allaah.
Fellow Muslims! Trials are
signs of eemaan and indications of sincerity and truthful
submission to Allaah. They are like the effective medicine from a
compassionate physician who knows what is good for his patient. The wise
patient must therefore patiently and submissively use the medicine with no
complaint so that the benefit of the medicine may not turn to harm. Allaah
says,
“It may be that you
dislike a thing and Allaah brings through it a great deal of good.”
(An-Nisaa 4:19)
The Muslim must therefore
remain steadfast whenever there is a calamity.
There are some factors that
help in steadfastness. Among these are:
-Taking sincere refuge with
Allaah.
-Having trust in Him.
-Returning to Him in
repentance by abandoning all sins. ‘Alee bin Abee Taalib said: “No
calamity befalls except as a result of a sin and it will be removed except
through sincere repentance.”
-Having good opinion of
fellow Muslims especially the rulers and the scholars. This is by giving
their words and actions the best possible interpretations.
-Referring to the scholars
for unclear issues.
-Refraining from being
self-righteous and opinionated.
-Not to be influenced by
false analyses of biased people.
-Keeping away from engaging in
rumours
from which the Messenger of Allaah prohibited his ummah when he
said, “Allah has forbidden you
from being undutiful to your mothers, from withholding (what you should
give) or demanding (what you do not deserve) and from burying your
daughters alive. And Allah dislikes that you talk too much about others,
or ask too many questions (in religion), or waste your property.” (Al-Bukhaaree
and Muslim)
Talking too much includes saying all
that one hears. The Messenger of Allaah said, “It is enough a lie (or a
sin) for someone to talk about all that he hears.” (Muslim and Aboo
Daawood)
Though the
Muslim must follow all these instructions at all times, he must follow
them with greater emphasis during times of crises and trials. Allaah says,
“Or think you that you
will enter Paradise without such (trials) as came to those who passed away
before you? They were afflicted with severe poverty and ailments and were
so shaken that even the Messenger and those who believed along with him
said, "When (will come) the Help of Allaah?" Yes! Certainly, the Help of
Allaah is near!”
(Al-Baqarah 2:214)
Fellow Muslims! Fear Allaah
and know that you are going to meet Him. Be conscious of Him in private
and public and worship Him with all sincerity. Let your belief in His
Oneness materialize in your acts of worship. That is the guarantee for
prosperity in this world and safety in the Hereafter. Know also that the
best speech is the Word of Allaah and the best guidance is that of the
Prophet. The worst of all affairs are the innovations and every innovation
is error and every error leads to Hell. Keep to the community of the
Muslims; For Allaah’s help is always with the congregation. Whoever
isolates himself has cast himself into the Fire.
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