Trials and tribulations
Before we start, we welcome everyone into the month of Rabi’ Al Awwal, the birth month of the blessed Prophet Muhammad, salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam, who was sent as a mercy to the worlds. May all of our days of our lives be a spring (rabi’ being spring) where we are constantly serving the Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam.
Secondly, in this month the ummah (nation) of the Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salaam – the Muslims – the ummah of Allah subhana wa ta’ala are witnessing many trials and tribulations (fitan) on Earth. These trials and tribulations have the possibility of dividing the ummah. We see today many events unfolding. We see some examples of the weakness of the ummah in some areas. We see the poverty of the ummah. We see the disease that is spreading amongst the people. We see the widespread division that is occurring on Earth. During these times, what is required of us is that we share with the Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam his concern for his ummah. Just as he was concerned about his ummah, you should also feel the same concern and worry for the ummah. Whatever it is that you seek yourself, whatever prayers and du’as that you ask Allah for yourself and your family also draw into those prayers a share for your fellow brothers and sisters. Have them also in your prayers. Seek for your brothers as you seek for yourself. Weep for them. During all the tests that our brothers and sisters are facing – all the Muslims in the east and the west – you should feel for them and empathize with them. Through this, you may taste what it means to love your brothers and sisters for the sake of Allah. So share the same feelings of sorrow, the same feelings of hunger that they’re going through. With whatever requests that they seek and whatever wishes they have, you should also feel the same. Also partake in their spiritual condition. Feel for them in their spiritual condition and their physical condition also. Share this with your brothers and also educate your children on what is happening and what is going on. They should also empathize with their fellow brothers and sisters around the world. May Allah unite us and protect us all, inshaAllah wa ameen.
Thirdly, a very important point to keep in mind is that as we get closer to the end of time, the trials and tribulations will increase. This was mentioned some years back in some classes/khutbas we gave. If you see the political events, natural disasters, and all the different signs of the end of time becoming more and more frequent and they follow each other one after the other and they occur suddenly without anything leading up to their events, know that the command of Allah and what He has planned has come close and is soon to unfold. What Allah wishes to unfold has come close.
What is it that Allah wants? It is to bring success and victory to this deen. Allah wants the deen of Islam to shine amongst the all the trials and tribulations of the world today. However, before this happens (the victory نصر or manifestation of Allah’s deen comes forward), there must be a lot of sacrifices made on the part of the ummah. There will be sacrifices made and a lot of hardships that the ummah will go through even though these forms of hardship, outwardly, will differ. Every one of us goes through one form of hardship in one way or another. These different forms of trials and tribulations (fitnah) are there to test the heart of the believer (the mu’min). They occur to see who will remain steadfast. When these events happen, there are some that will say, “Where is Allah?” They will utter such words, and it has happened. While these trials and tribulations are happening, the non-believers (kuffar) are enjoying themselves. They are in their so-called state of bliss. They are running about in the dunya playing and enjoying whereas the mu’min at the same time is being killed here and there, being tortured here and there, suffering, and at the same time the believer gets fooled and is tricked by the system that exists today. So beware because the fitna (trials and tribulations) are a test of who is really with Allah.
As these trials and tribulations unfold, there are two types of believer (mu’min).
1) The one who remains steadfast in his iman and raises his hands up and says, “O Allah save us.”
2) The type that when the trials and tribulations increase, his iman also increases and gets stronger. They say that all of these events are from Allah. They read these tribulations like a book. They understand who is the author behind the trials and tribulations – the author being Allah. As the fitna increases, their iman and strength increases. May Allah make us of them, ameen.
When did Allah prefer, exalt, and help the Bani Israel (Children of Israel)? It occurred when Fir’awn killed the children of Bani Israel. He ordered the deaths of the children of Israel and also abused and belittled their women. How did Allah give them victory? He sent them Musa to help the Bani Israel. This is why Allah says in Surah Al Baqarah, “Remember the blessings I gave you, and I preferred you over the nations.” Allah is addressing Bani Israel because they forget the blessings that Allah gave them.
Allah also teaches the Prophet Muhammad, salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam.
إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرً۬ا – “Surely with difficulty comes ease” (surah 94, ayah 6). He didn’t say “after difficultly comes ease.” He says, “with difficulty comes ease.” In other words, there is no time factor between the difficulty and the ease. There is no separation between the two. It’s a subtle point. He didn’t say, “after difficulty comes ease.” They are together.
Now we will give three ayahs that will help the believer be steadfast during the times of trials and tribulations (fitan).
In these three ayahs, Allah has hidden a secret which protects a person's heart and helps a person in such a way that his iman is not weakened for him to fall prey to fitna (trials and tribulations). These three ayahs will help your deen/iman, your wealth, and your children/offspring.
In regards to your offspring, we mean the method that is used is that you put your hand on the heart of your son or daughter and you read these three ayaat with sidq (full sincerity) and yaqeen (certainty) to have Allah’s help, inshaAllah, so that your child does not to fall into the trials and tribulations. Read them with sidq – under the word sidq falls the definition of sincerity, certainty, and really believing in your heart that Allah wants to keep you steadfast on the path. The will comes with the sidq and with having that belief, inshaAllah.
These ayaat will also protect people from falling into (filthy type of) sins. One of the secrets in these three ayahs is that Allah uses the word "thubut" – Allah makes firm your heart.
1) Surah al Anfaal, ayah 45: "O you believe, if you fall upon a fitna, be firm and remember Allah much."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا لَقِيتُمۡ فِئَةً۬ فَٱثۡبُتُواْ وَٱذۡڪُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ ڪَثِيرً۬ا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ
2) Surah Ibrahim, ayah 27: "Allah makes firm the believer with the firm statement...."
يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَفِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِۖ وَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَۚ وَيَفۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ
3) Surah al Isra, ayah 74: "And if it wasn't for Us making you firm, you would have fallen to them even if it be little."
وَلَوۡلَآ أَن ثَبَّتۡنَـٰكَ لَقَدۡ كِدتَّ تَرۡڪَنُ إِلَيۡهِمۡ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا قَلِيلاً
We should make these three ayaat part of our daily routine (wird). If you do this, then it is a good thing. There is much khayr in it. If you read these three ayahs every day you will, inshaAllah, be equipped to meet with the trials and tribulations that are present every day. Recite these ayaats everyday when you leave your home. Put your hand on your heart and recite these three ayaat. They’re easy to remember. Recite them with full presence of heart. Imagine that Allah really wants to make you firm and steadfast and protect your iman.
Secondly, in this month the ummah (nation) of the Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salaam – the Muslims – the ummah of Allah subhana wa ta’ala are witnessing many trials and tribulations (fitan) on Earth. These trials and tribulations have the possibility of dividing the ummah. We see today many events unfolding. We see some examples of the weakness of the ummah in some areas. We see the poverty of the ummah. We see the disease that is spreading amongst the people. We see the widespread division that is occurring on Earth. During these times, what is required of us is that we share with the Prophet Muhammad salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam his concern for his ummah. Just as he was concerned about his ummah, you should also feel the same concern and worry for the ummah. Whatever it is that you seek yourself, whatever prayers and du’as that you ask Allah for yourself and your family also draw into those prayers a share for your fellow brothers and sisters. Have them also in your prayers. Seek for your brothers as you seek for yourself. Weep for them. During all the tests that our brothers and sisters are facing – all the Muslims in the east and the west – you should feel for them and empathize with them. Through this, you may taste what it means to love your brothers and sisters for the sake of Allah. So share the same feelings of sorrow, the same feelings of hunger that they’re going through. With whatever requests that they seek and whatever wishes they have, you should also feel the same. Also partake in their spiritual condition. Feel for them in their spiritual condition and their physical condition also. Share this with your brothers and also educate your children on what is happening and what is going on. They should also empathize with their fellow brothers and sisters around the world. May Allah unite us and protect us all, inshaAllah wa ameen.
Thirdly, a very important point to keep in mind is that as we get closer to the end of time, the trials and tribulations will increase. This was mentioned some years back in some classes/khutbas we gave. If you see the political events, natural disasters, and all the different signs of the end of time becoming more and more frequent and they follow each other one after the other and they occur suddenly without anything leading up to their events, know that the command of Allah and what He has planned has come close and is soon to unfold. What Allah wishes to unfold has come close.
What is it that Allah wants? It is to bring success and victory to this deen. Allah wants the deen of Islam to shine amongst the all the trials and tribulations of the world today. However, before this happens (the victory نصر or manifestation of Allah’s deen comes forward), there must be a lot of sacrifices made on the part of the ummah. There will be sacrifices made and a lot of hardships that the ummah will go through even though these forms of hardship, outwardly, will differ. Every one of us goes through one form of hardship in one way or another. These different forms of trials and tribulations (fitnah) are there to test the heart of the believer (the mu’min). They occur to see who will remain steadfast. When these events happen, there are some that will say, “Where is Allah?” They will utter such words, and it has happened. While these trials and tribulations are happening, the non-believers (kuffar) are enjoying themselves. They are in their so-called state of bliss. They are running about in the dunya playing and enjoying whereas the mu’min at the same time is being killed here and there, being tortured here and there, suffering, and at the same time the believer gets fooled and is tricked by the system that exists today. So beware because the fitna (trials and tribulations) are a test of who is really with Allah.
As these trials and tribulations unfold, there are two types of believer (mu’min).
1) The one who remains steadfast in his iman and raises his hands up and says, “O Allah save us.”
2) The type that when the trials and tribulations increase, his iman also increases and gets stronger. They say that all of these events are from Allah. They read these tribulations like a book. They understand who is the author behind the trials and tribulations – the author being Allah. As the fitna increases, their iman and strength increases. May Allah make us of them, ameen.
When did Allah prefer, exalt, and help the Bani Israel (Children of Israel)? It occurred when Fir’awn killed the children of Bani Israel. He ordered the deaths of the children of Israel and also abused and belittled their women. How did Allah give them victory? He sent them Musa to help the Bani Israel. This is why Allah says in Surah Al Baqarah, “Remember the blessings I gave you, and I preferred you over the nations.” Allah is addressing Bani Israel because they forget the blessings that Allah gave them.
Allah also teaches the Prophet Muhammad, salla Allahu ‘alayhi wa salam.
إِنَّ مَعَ ٱلۡعُسۡرِ يُسۡرً۬ا – “Surely with difficulty comes ease” (surah 94, ayah 6). He didn’t say “after difficultly comes ease.” He says, “with difficulty comes ease.” In other words, there is no time factor between the difficulty and the ease. There is no separation between the two. It’s a subtle point. He didn’t say, “after difficulty comes ease.” They are together.
Now we will give three ayahs that will help the believer be steadfast during the times of trials and tribulations (fitan).
In these three ayahs, Allah has hidden a secret which protects a person's heart and helps a person in such a way that his iman is not weakened for him to fall prey to fitna (trials and tribulations). These three ayahs will help your deen/iman, your wealth, and your children/offspring.
In regards to your offspring, we mean the method that is used is that you put your hand on the heart of your son or daughter and you read these three ayaat with sidq (full sincerity) and yaqeen (certainty) to have Allah’s help, inshaAllah, so that your child does not to fall into the trials and tribulations. Read them with sidq – under the word sidq falls the definition of sincerity, certainty, and really believing in your heart that Allah wants to keep you steadfast on the path. The will comes with the sidq and with having that belief, inshaAllah.
These ayaat will also protect people from falling into (filthy type of) sins. One of the secrets in these three ayahs is that Allah uses the word "thubut" – Allah makes firm your heart.
1) Surah al Anfaal, ayah 45: "O you believe, if you fall upon a fitna, be firm and remember Allah much."
يَـٰٓأَيُّهَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوٓاْ إِذَا لَقِيتُمۡ فِئَةً۬ فَٱثۡبُتُواْ وَٱذۡڪُرُواْ ٱللَّهَ ڪَثِيرً۬ا لَّعَلَّكُمۡ تُفۡلِحُونَ
2) Surah Ibrahim, ayah 27: "Allah makes firm the believer with the firm statement...."
يُثَبِّتُ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ بِٱلۡقَوۡلِ ٱلثَّابِتِ فِى ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنۡيَا وَفِى ٱلۡأَخِرَةِۖ وَيُضِلُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلظَّـٰلِمِينَۚ وَيَفۡعَلُ ٱللَّهُ مَا يَشَآءُ
3) Surah al Isra, ayah 74: "And if it wasn't for Us making you firm, you would have fallen to them even if it be little."
وَلَوۡلَآ أَن ثَبَّتۡنَـٰكَ لَقَدۡ كِدتَّ تَرۡڪَنُ إِلَيۡهِمۡ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا قَلِيلاً
We should make these three ayaat part of our daily routine (wird). If you do this, then it is a good thing. There is much khayr in it. If you read these three ayahs every day you will, inshaAllah, be equipped to meet with the trials and tribulations that are present every day. Recite these ayaats everyday when you leave your home. Put your hand on your heart and recite these three ayaat. They’re easy to remember. Recite them with full presence of heart. Imagine that Allah really wants to make you firm and steadfast and protect your iman.