Important Guidelines for Dealing with Tribulation

Praise be to Allaah alone, and blessings and peace be upon the one after whom there will be no Prophet.

During these turbulent times, when the Muslim ummah is facing savage attacks against the Muslim lands by the crusaders, it is essential to discuss the guidelines which the Muslim must follow in dealing with the tribulations to which he is or will be exposed. There follow some of these important guidelines for dealing with tribulation.

1 – True Tawheed and sincerity towards Allaah alone

Allaah is the Lord and Controller of the universe, and nothing happens except by His Leave. His is the power of creation and command,

“Every day He is (engaged) in some affair (such as giving honour or disgrace to some, life or death to some)” [al-Rahmaan 55:29 – interpretation of the meaning]

The Muslim has to renew his faith in his Lord, and put his trust in Him, for He cares more about His religion and His believing slaves than anyone.

“Truly, Allaah defends those who believe” [al-Hajj 22:38 – interpretation of the meaning]

And he must attain perfect belief in the Divine will and decree, and believe that nothing, subtle or obvious, great or small, happens in this universe except by the will and decree of Allaah:

“No calamity befalls, but by the Leave [i.e. Decision and Qadar (Divine Preordainments)] of Allaah” [al-Taghaabun 64:11 – interpretation of the meaning]

“Verily, We have created all things with Qadar (Divine Preordainments of all things before their creation as written in the Book of Decrees Al Lawh Al Mahfooz)” [al-Qamar 54:49 – interpretation of the meaning]

“Say: “Nothing shall ever happen to us except what Allaah has ordained for us. He is our Mawlaa (Lord, Helper and Protector).” And in Allaah let the believers put their trust” [al-Tawbah 9:51 – interpretation of the meaning]

2 – Clinging to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah

The ummah cannot be saved from the tribulations and hardships that have befallen it except by clinging to the Qur’aan and Sunnah, because whoever adheres to them Allaah will save him, and whoever promotes them will be guided to the straight path. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of Allaah (i.e. this Qur’aan), and be not divided among yourselves…” [Aal ‘Imraan 3:103]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “I have left among you that which, if you cling firmly to it, you will never go astray: the Book of Allaah.” Narrated by Muslim 1218.

And he said: “I have left among you two things, you will never go astray if you cling to them: the Book of Allaah and my Sunnah, and they will never be separated until they meet me at the hawd (cistern).” Al-Albaani said in Manzilat al-Sunnah (13): its isnaad is hasan.

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz said: The way to be saved from tribulation is to adhere to the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).

It was narrated from ‘Abd-Allaah ibn ‘Abd al-Rahmaan ibn Abza that his father said: When the tribulation at the time of ‘Uthmaan took place and the people started arguing about that, I came to Ubay ibn Ka’b and said, “O Abu’l-Mundhir, what is the way out?” He said, “The Book of Allaah.”

3 – Worship and righteous deeds.

Muslim (2948) narrated from Ma’qil ibn Yasaar that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Worshipping at times of tribulation and confusion is like migrating to join me.” Narrated by Muslim, 2948.

Al-Nawawi said: “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, ‘Worshipping at times of tribulation and confusion is like migrating to join me.’ The reason why worship at such times is of such great virtue is that people become negligent about worship and are distracted from it, and no one focuses on worship except a few.”

Al-Qurtubi said: “Tribulation and great hardship will happen until the matter of religion is taken lightly and people will care about nothing but their worldly affairs and how to earn a living. So worship becomes very important at times of tribulation.”

So the believer is required to worship Allaah all the time, especially at times of tribulation and crisis. He is required to occupy himself with something beneficial such as prayer, reciting dhikr, and persisting in making du’aa’ instead of wasting his time with talk which is of no benefit, and may even be harmful.

4 – Repentance, seeking forgiveness, glorifying Allaah and du’aa’.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not humble themselves (believe with humility)? But their hearts became hardened, and Shaytaan (Satan) made fair seeming to them that which they used to do” [al-An’aam 6:43]

Humbling oneself means turning to Allaah at times of hardship, calling upon Him (du’aa’) and submitting to Him. This is understood from the comments of al-Qurtubi, Ibn Katheer and al-Sa’di on this verse.

Al-‘Abbaas and ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with them) said: No torment befalls (people) except because of sin, and it cannot be removed except by repentance.

5 – Arming oneself with Islamic knowledge

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “One of the portents of the Hour will be the taking away of knowledge and the prevalence of ignorance.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari, 6808; Muslim, 2671

Islamic knowledge is an important requirement in facing tribulations, so that the Muslim will understand his religion. If the Muslim loses Islamic knowledge he will becomes confused at times of tribulation.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “When the light of Prophethood is cut off from the people, they fall into the darkness of tribulation, and innovations and immorality prevail, and evil arises among them.”

Shaykh ‘Abd al-‘Azeez ibn Baaz said: “There is no way to avoid any type of tribulation and trials or to be safe from any of them except by understanding the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and knowing the way of the early generations of the ummah (the salaf), namely the Sahaabah (may Allaah be pleased with them) and those who followed their way, the imams of Islam and those who call to true guidance.”

It is essential for each person to make the most of the time of ease in order to learn before tribulations come and he can find no time to learn.

6 – Gathering around the experienced scholars and the sincere daa’iyahs.

It is important that there be scholars and daa’iyahs around whom people may gather. If there are such people, then we must gather around them, especially at times of tribulation, because gathering around the sincere and active scholars who have previously experienced tribulation and stood firm and not wavered is an important element in helping to be steadfast and avoid deviating at times of tribulation. It is essential to gather around them by attending their study circles, visiting them, following their advice, and not forming any opinion or taking any stance without referring to them. In Islamic history there have been tribulations in which Allaah enabled the Muslims to stand firm because of their scholars. For example:

‘Ali ibn al-Madeeni said: Allaah supported Islam by means of [Abu Bakr] al-Siddeeq on the day of al-Riddah and by means of Ahmad on the day of al-Mihnah. Hence when things changed, the righteous salaf used to gather around their scholars. There follow some examples of that:

(i)

It was narrated that Basheer ibn ‘Amr said: We were walking out with Ibn Mas’ood to bid him farewell. He stopped on the road to al-Qaadisiyyah and entered a garden and relieved himself, then he did wudoo’ and wiped over his leather slippers, then he came out and there was water dripping from his beard. We said to him, “Advise us, for the people have fallen into fitnah (confusion), and we do not know whether we will see you again or not.” He said, “Fear Allaah and be patient so that a righteous man may find ease with you and until an immoral man is out of the way; and you must adhere to the jamaa’ah (main body of the Muslims) for Allaah will never cause the ummah of Muhammad to unite on misguidance.”

(ii)

It was narrated that ‘Umar ibn Yahya ibn ‘Amr ibn Salamah al-Hamadaani said: My father told me: We used to sit at the door of ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood before Zuhr prayer, and when he came out we would walk with him to the mosque. One day Abu Moosa al-Ash’ari came to us and said, “Has Abu ‘Abd al-Rahmaan come out yet?”

We said, “No.” So he sat with us until he came out, and when he came out we all stood up to greet him. Abu Moosa said to him, “O Abu ‘Abd al-Rahmaan! Just now I saw something strange in the mosque, but I do not think it is anything but good.” He said, “What is it?” He said, “If you live you will see it.” He said, “I saw some people sitting in circles in the mosque, waiting for prayer, and in every circle there was a man, and in their hands they had pebbles. He would say, ‘Say Allaahu akbar one hundred times,’ and they would say it one hundred times. Then he would say, ‘Say Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah one hundred times,’ and they would say it one hundred times. Then he would say, ‘Say Subhaan-Allaah one hundred times,’ and they would say it one hundred times.” He said: “What did you say to them?”

He said, “I did not say anything to them; I was waiting to see what you think.” He said, “Why did you not tell them to count their evil deeds, and promise them that none of their good deeds would be lost?”

Then he left and we left with him, until he came to one of those circles, and stood by them, and said, “What is this that I see you doing?”

They said, “O Abu ‘Abd al-Rahmaan, these are pebbles with which we are counting our takbeer (saying Allaahu akbar), tahleel (saying Laa ilaaha ill-Allaah) and tasbeeh (saying Subhaan Allaah).” He said, “Count your evil deeds instead, for I guarantee you that none of your good deeds will be lost.

Woe to you, O ummah of Muhammad, how quickly you have become doomed! For these are the companions of your Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) still living amongst you, and his garment has not yet worn out, and his vessels have not been broken. By the One in Whose hand is my soul, is there a way that is more guided than the way of Muhammad, or are you deviating from that path?”

They said, “By Allaah, O Abu ‘Abd al-Rahmaan, we did not intend anything but good!” He said, “How many of those who intend good do not achieve it. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) told us… [and he mentioned the hadeeth]… By Allaah, perhaps most of you are among them.”

Then he turned away from them, and ‘Amr ibn Salamah said: Then we saw most of the people in those circles fighting us on the day of al-Nahrawaan with the Khaarijis.

Narrated by al-Daarimi, 1/68; al-Albaani said in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (5/12): its isnaad is saheeh.

(iii)

Ibn al-Qayyim narrated from his shaykh, Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah, in al-Tathbeet:

When fear overwhelmed us and we were in despair, we would go to him, and as soon as we saw him and heard his words, then all those worries would disperse from us.

7 – Adhering to the jamaa’ah (main body) of the Muslims and their khaleefah (leader, caliph)

al-Bukhaari (3606) and Muslim (1847) narrated that Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamaan said: The people used to ask the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about good things but I used to ask him about bad things, fearing that they might catch up with me. I said,

“O Messenger of Allaah, we were in a state of ignorance and evil, then Allaah brought us this good. Will there be any evil after this good?” the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Yes.” Hudahyfah asked, “Will there be any good after that evil?” He said, “Yes, but it would be tainted with dakhan (i.e. a little evil).” I asked, “What will its dakhan be?” He said, “There will be some people who will guide (people) according to something other than my guidance and will lead them according to something other than my Sunnah. You will see their actions and disapprove of them.” Hudhayfah said, “Will there be any evil after that good?” He said, “Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation to it will be thrown in it (by them).” Hudhayfah said, “O Messenger of Allaah, describe those people to us.” He said, “They will be from among us and speak our language (i.e., from among the Arabs).” Hudhayfah asked, “What do you command us to do at that point?” He said, “Adhere to the jamaa’ah (group) of the Muslims and their leader.” Hudhayfah asked, “What if there is no jamaa’ah and no leader?” He said, “Keep away from all those different sects, even if you have to bite (i.e. eat) the root of a tree, till you die while you are still in that state.”

The jamaa’ah does not mean the group that has the largest numbers, rather it means that everyone who follows the path of Ahl al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah is part of the jamaa’ah.

‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood said: Even if there is only one faqeeh on the top of a mountain, he is the jamaa’ah.

He also said: The jamaa’ah is that which is accordance with the truth, even if you are on your own.

One of the ways of being saved from trials and tribulation is adhering to the jamaa’ah of the Muslims.

When ‘Abd-Allaah ibn Mas’ood went to Hajj with ‘Uthmaan, and ‘Uthmaan was offering the prayers in full [i.e., four rak’ahs] in Mina, Ibn Mas’ood said, “The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to pray two rak’ahs.

It was said to him, Why do you say this when you are praying four rak'ahs with ‘Uthmaan? He said, Differences are no good.

8 – Establishing the principles of Islamic brotherhood in all forms

This includes feelings in the heart, words on the lips and physical actions according to one’s ability. For example:

(i)

Loyalty towards the believers and not helping the kaafirs against them, because the ruling on supporting the kaafirs against the Muslims and taking the Jews and Christians as friends is quite clear and unambiguous. Shaykh al-Islam Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Wahhaab (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Nawaaqid al-Islam: “The eighth thing that cancels out Islam is supporting the mushriks and helping them against the Muslims. The evidence for that is the verse in which Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And if any amongst you takes them (as Awliyaa’ – friends, protectors, helpers), then surely, he is one of them” [al-Maa’idah 5:51]

What is required of the Muslims is to establish brotherhood amongst themselves, supporting one another, for the bond of loyalty and friendship (wala’) is based on the texts of the Qur’aan and Sunnah.

(ii)

That also means hastening to help those who are afflicted – children, old men, woman and the homeless. Their brothers should be the first to help them, not the Red Cross or the World Food Program or any other organization from eastern or western countries.

9 – The role of Islamic youth at times of calamity and tribulation

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2- Administering public institutions

3- Emergency aid to the afflicted

4- Teaching and advising people

Important Guidelines for Dealing with Tribulation

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