Have optimism even in the midst of fear
وَرَدَّ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا بِغَيْظِهِمْ لَمْ يَنَالُوا خَيْرًا ۚ وَكَفَى اللَّهُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ الْقِتَالَ ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ قَوِيًّا عَزِيزًا
God repelled the disbelievers in their rage; they gained no advantage. God thus spared the believers
combat. God is Strong and Mighty. (33:25)
Surat al-Ahzab is referring to the Battle of al-Ahzab (Battle of the Trench) when 10,000 troops who were a coalition of Makkans, Jewish tribes who had been expelled from Madinah and the Bedouin tribe of Banu Ghatafan planned to destroy Islam and wipe out every trace of it from Madina. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be on him) did not have troops to match that – only about 3000 ill-equipped men.
Yet, when Allah Almighty wants something, He facilitates the means for it to happen. Salman al Farsi, the companion who had come from Persia advised that the believers could dig a trench to protect them from attack. Such a strategy was unheard of in Arabia. The Prophet (peace be on him) liked the idea, so they began digging the trench (3.5km x 6.5-7.5m x 7-10m) around Madina day and night in 3 to 4 shifts over 2-30 days. The Prophet (peace be on him) was with them the whole time digging and carrying the rocks and sand. The moral of the story is that even when you are no match for your enemy, and your numbers and resources are limited, do your best and put your trust in Allah.
The believers were absolutely terrified and to make matters worse, the Companions were troubled by a large, implacable rock that they could not shift. Allah Almighty describes their state:
اِذْ جَاۤءُوْكُمْ مِّنْ فَوْقِكُمْ وَمِنْ اَسْفَلَ مِنْكُمْ وَاِذْ زَاغَتِ الْاَبْصَارُ وَبَلَغَتِ الْقُلُوْبُ الْحَنَاجِرَ وَتَظُنُّوْنَ بِاللّٰهِ الظُّنُوْنَا۠ ۗ
When they came upon you from above you and from below you, and when the eyes grew wild and the hearts reached to the throats, and you were harbouring doubts about Allah. (33:10)
The companions sought help from the Prophet (peace be on him) who struck it. Suddenly a vision of the castles of Sham appeared. He gave them the good news that t they would survive and they would live to see the conquest of Sham which is the region of Palestine, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon.
He gave them optimism in their moments of despair. The Companions were heartened by this good news when they thought they were finished.
We all need someone to give us good news in the midst of bad news. We don’t need people to throw in their pessimism when we are down, or to tell us we will die, when we are ill, though we may die.
I had a friend who was sick and when people around him started recited Surat Yasin, which is often recited for the deceased, he was perturbed and exclaimed ‘I am not dying!’ as Surat Yasin.
Don’t make people feel pessimistic. Encourage them and motivate them and give them hope.
Take heart from the victory of the believers over their enemy. They could not vanquish the believers despite their magnitude and eventually dispersed with their tails between their legs. When the believers were ready to fight, support came from Allah and He protected them.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اذْكُرُوا نِعْمَةَ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ إِذْ جَاءَتْكُمْ جُنُودٌ فَأَرْسَلْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ رِيحًا وَجُنُودًا لَّمْ تَرَوْهَا ۚ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ بِمَا تَعْمَلُونَ بَصِيرًا
O you who believe! Remember God’s blessings upon you, when forces came against you, and We sent against them a wind, and forces you did not see. God is Observant of what you do. (33:9)
No matter how difficult the circumstances are, do your best and put your trust in Allah and He will give you relief.
Shaykh Haytham Tamim – Tarawih
- Sincerity vs insincerity is like a mountain vs dust
- What are the four fard elements of wudu?
- Don’t choose bad leaders and the khutbah of Shaytan
- Mulla Ali’s Introduction to his book and the contentious issue of mursal hadith
- Is it obligatory to rinse the mouth during wudu?
Shaykh Haytham Tamim
Shaykh Haytham Tamim is the founder and main teacher of the Utrujj Foundation. He has provided a leading vision for Islamic learning in the UK, which has influenced the way Islamic knowledge is disseminated. He has orchestrated the design and delivery of over 200 unique courses since Utrujj started in 2001. His extensive expertise spans over 30 years across the main Islamic jurisprudence schools of thought. He has studied with some of the foremost scholars in their expertise; he holds some of the highest Ijazahs (certificates) in Quran, Hadith (the Prophetic traditions) and Fiqh (Islamic rulings). His own gift for teaching was evident when he gave his first sermon to a large audience at the age of 17 and went on to serve as a senior lecturer of Islamic transactions and comparative jurisprudence at the Islamic University of Beirut (Shariah College). He has continued to teach; travelling around the UK, Europe and wider afield, and won the 2015 BISCA award (British Imams & Scholars Contributions & Achievements Awards) for Outstanding Contribution to Education and Teaching.
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