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The law of trials

The law of trials

Allah mentioned trials and tribulations (ikhtilaf) in the Quran many times. In Surat al Baqarah, He said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اسْتَعِينُوا بِالصَّبْرِ وَالصَّلَاةِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الصَّابِرِينَ     

O you who believe, seek help through patience and prayer. Surely, Allah is with those who are patient. [Al-Baqarah, 2:153]

وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ لِمَن یُقۡتَلُ فِی سَبِیلِ ٱللَّهِ أَمۡوَ ٰ⁠تُۢۚ بَلۡ أَحۡیَاۤءࣱ وَلَـٰكِن لَّا تَشۡعُرُونَ 

Do not say of those who are slain in the way of Allah that they are dead. Instead, they are alive, but you do not perceive. [Al-Baqarah, 2:154]

وَلَنَبۡلُوَنَّكُم بِشَیۡءࣲ مِّنَ ٱلۡخَوۡفِ وَٱلۡجُوعِ وَنَقۡصٍ مِّنَ ٱلۡأَمۡوَ ٰ⁠لِ وَٱلۡأَنفُسِ وَٱلثَّمَرَ ٰ⁠تِۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّـٰبِرِینَ

Surely We will test you with fear and hunger, and loss in wealth and lives and fruits, and give good tidings to the patient. [Al-Baqarah, 2:155]

ٱلَّذِینَ إِذَاۤ أَصَـٰبَتۡهُم مُّصِیبَةٌ قَالُوۤا۟ إِنَّا لِلَّهِ وَإِنَّاۤ إِلَیۡهِ رَ ٰ⁠جِعُونَ 

who, when a suffering visits them, say: “We certainly belong to Allah, and to Him we are bound to return.” [Al-Baqarah, 2:156]

أُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ عَلَیۡهِمۡ صَلَوَ ٰ⁠تࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡ وَرَحۡمَةٌ وَأُو۟لَـٰۤىِٕكَ هُمُ ٱلۡمُهۡتَدُونَ 

Those are the ones upon whom there are blessings from their Lord, and mercy as well; and those are the ones who are on the right path. [Al-Baqarah, 2:157]

In the previous khutbahs, we talked about Allah’s law of change (taghyeer), the law of replacement (istibdaal), and the law of alternation (tadawul), today we look at the law of trials and tribulations (ibtilaa’). These are laws that Allah created for all nations for certain reasons. One of the main reasons is to test the strength of imaan. When asked who was the most tested of all people, the Prophet (peace be upon him) said that it was prophets and messengers and then those nearest them and then those nearest them.

Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

عَنْ سعد بن أبي وقاص، قَالَ: قُلْتُ: يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ، أَيُّ النَّاسِ أَشَدُّ بَلاَءً؟ قَالَ ‏:”‏الأَنْبِيَاءُ،ثُمَّ الأَمْثَلُ، فَالأَمْثَلُ. فَيُبْتَلَى الرَّجُلُ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ، فَإِنْ كَانَ دِينُهُ صُلْبًا اشْتَدَّ بَلاَؤُهُ، وَإِنْ كَانَ فِي دِينِهِ رِقَّةٌ، ابْتُلِيَ عَلَى حَسَبِ دِينِهِ، فَمَا يَبْرَحُ الْبَلاَءُ بِالْعَبْدِ حَتَّى يَتْرُكَهُ يَمْشِي عَلَى الأَرْضِ مَا عَلَيْهِ خَطِيئَةٌ ‏”. رواه الترمذي.

“O Messenger of Allah! Which of the people is tried most severely?” He said: “The Prophets, then those nearest to them, then those nearest to them. A man is tried according to his religion; if he is firm in his religion, then his trials are more severe, and if he is weak in his religion, then he is tried according to the strength of his religion. The servant shall continue to be tried until he is left walking upon the earth without any sin.” (Tirmidhi)

Trials and tests are forms of purification for the pious, not a punishment, and they are a means of elevation. In the context of believers, tests are sent to reveal who is strong and who is wobbly, and to separate true believers from the ones who merely profess they are believers, when in fact they are hypocrites. Without tests it would not be evident to us (though Allah knows) who are the hidden hypocrites among us who claim they support human rights, but when it comes to the crunch they fail the test and show themselves to be big, fat liars. The trial in Palestine is exposing these liars and at the same time showing the dignity and humanity of those who are upholding the truth. You don’t need to be a Muslim to support humanity or be on the right side to protect the lives of the innocent and the children and the civilians. Allah has mentioned that these trials are for prophets and messengers, the righteous, believers and good people, so don’t think they are a bad thing. Allah said that the dead are only dead in our realm, they are alive with Allah. The life which we do not perceive is the life which Allah gives to those who sacrifice their lives for Him, while defending their homes and their children. Not only are they alive Allah gives them sustenance. They are roaming in Jannah distinct from all other souls, enjoying the bliss of Jannah. Is it a loss? Or an advancement and elevation. This is why Allah says seek help through patience and salah. This ayah was revealed in Madinah, before any battle had taken place and no one had been martyred. Ibn Ashur said that this is an introduction to what would come. He was preparing them. Badr would come two months after this and they would lose some Companions in that battle.

Sabr helps you face reality and salah provides you with connectivity to Allah, which strengthens you to stand your ground, despite all the forces against you.

The Palestinians are alone as they defend themselves against the onslaught of Israel. It is not a big surprise for the believers, because Allah promised that He is with those who practice patience. He is with them when He gives them strength and enables them to stand firm, even as they lose their homes and loved ones and are still on their feet proclaiming their faith. Allah is with those who are patient. Then He said give good news to the patient. What is the good news when they have lost their homes, their limbs and their families? This is not their final destination. Allah will elevate them in their akhirah. You are not here to last in the dunya or stay in the dunya, you are here to work for your akhirah. The good news is that with each of their losses, Allah has elevated them to eternal bliss in the Hereafter. The highest level is for the shuhada, who have lost their lives for the sake of Allah.

The description of the patient ones is those who, when a misfortune befalls them, say ‘we belong to Allah and to Him we will return’ as they understand that they belong to Allah and He has authority over them and manages their affairs as He wills, so they do not despair over what befalls them, knowing He will reward them for that.

Abu Ja’far At-Tabari said: “O you who have believed, seek help through patience in obeying Me in the struggle against your enemy, avoiding My disobedience, and fulfilling all My obligations upon you. And do not say about those who are killed in the way of Allah: ‘They are dead,’ for the dead among My creation are those from whom I have taken away their life and deprived them of their senses, so they neither feel pleasure nor perceive bliss. For those who are killed in My way, from among you and the rest of My creation, are alive with Me, in a life of pleasure, comfort, and bountiful provision, rejoicing in what I have bestowed upon them of My favour and honoured them of My grace.”

During the years in Makkah, when the believers were tortured and persecuted, Khabbab asked Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to make dua for them.

Khabbab bin Al-Aratt (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet (peace be upon him) replied saying they should not be hasty:

عَنْ خَبَّابِ بْنِ الأَرَتِّ، قَالَ شَكَوْنَا إِلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَهْوَ مُتَوَسِّدٌ بُرْدَةً لَهُ فِي ظِلِّ الْكَعْبَةِ، قُلْنَا لَهُ أَلاَ تَسْتَنْصِرُ لَنَا أَلاَ تَدْعُو اللَّهَ لَنَا قَالَ ‏ “‏ كَانَ الرَّجُلُ فِيمَنْ قَبْلَكُمْ يُحْفَرُ لَهُ فِي الأَرْضِ فَيُجْعَلُ فِيهِ، فَيُجَاءُ بِالْمِنْشَارِ، فَيُوضَعُ عَلَى رَأْسِهِ فَيُشَقُّ بِاثْنَتَيْنِ، وَمَا يَصُدُّهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَيُمْشَطُ بِأَمْشَاطِ الْحَدِيدِ، مَا دُونَ لَحْمِهِ مِنْ عَظْمٍ أَوْ عَصَبٍ، وَمَا يَصُدُّهُ ذَلِكَ عَنْ دِينِهِ، وَاللَّهِ لَيُتِمَّنَّ هَذَا الأَمْرَ حَتَّى يَسِيرَ الرَّاكِبُ مِنْ صَنْعَاءَ إِلَى حَضْرَمَوْتَ، لاَ يَخَافُ إِلاَّ اللَّهَ أَوِ الذِّئْبَ عَلَى غَنَمِهِ، وَلَكِنَّكُمْ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ ‏”‏‏.‏ رواه البخاري.

We complained to Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) (of the persecution inflicted on us by the infidels), while he was reclining in the shade of the Ka`bah, using his cloak (burdah) as a pillow. We said to him, “Would you seek help for us? Would you pray to Allah for us?” He said, “Among the nations before you a (believing) man would be put in a ditch that was dug for him, and a saw would be put over his head and he would be cut into two pieces; yet that (torture) would not make him give up his religion. His body would be combed with iron combs that would remove his flesh and nerves from the bones, yet that would not make him abandon his religion. By Allah, this religion (i.e. Islam) will prevail till a traveller from Sana (in Yemen) to Hadramaut will fear none but Allah, or a wolf as regards his sheep, but you (people) are hasty”. (Bukhari)

Trials will persist until the world comes to an end, but they will change the course of history. Though the trials faced by the Prophet (peace be upon him) were acutely painful, he gave good news to his Ummah, that good news and success would come – this is the promise of Allah and the promise of the Prophet (peace be upon him). It took many years before the relief and victory came, but we need to be patient and wise and keep making dua and supporting the people of Palestine as much as we can through all legitimate available means. Much as it pains us to witness the horrific events that are continuing to take place, these will change the course of history.

Every time we see the news and read of the atrocities it causes us pain. Many innocent people were burned alive, and the world’s leaders make excuses and say it was just a mistake. They have lost their humanity and morality and their dignity. How many people’s deaths will it take before a ceasefire will be called?

No politician should be complicit in the killing of the innocent and we should keep calling for a ceasefire and for relief for our brothers and sisters in Palestine. We will never give up.

We ask Allah to give relief and bring an end to the atrocities and enable us to be on the right side of history. Ameen

Based on the khutbah of Shaykh Haytham Tamim 31st May 2024

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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.