by How to Survive the Trials (Part 1)
Author: Sheikh Prof. DR. Abdur-Razzâq bin Abdil-Muhsin Al-‘Abbâd
It is narrated from Al Miqdad Ibn Al Aswad -may Allah be pleased with him- that the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him – said,
( إِنَّ السَّعِيدَ لَمَنْ جُنِّبَ الْفِتَنَ.)
“Verily, the successful one is the one who is kept away from the trials.” [1]
Many people, of the Islam activists and the advisors who want for themselves success and happiness, and for the muslims, high position and nobility, are asking,
“How can we attain success?”
“How can we reach this noble goal?”
“How can we be protected from many kinds of trial?”
“How can a muslim survive from the evil, danger, and the badness of trial?
They asked about this because every muslim who likes to advise other, as well as being an Islamic activist wouldn’t want for himself and other muslim to fall into the trial, because inside their hearts there are a sense of obligation to advise themselves and the faithful slaves of Allah. This kind of person has practiced the prophet’s saying -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- :
( الدِّينُ النَّصِيحَةُ.) قُلْنَا لِمَنْ؟ قَالَ: ( لِلَّهِ وَلِكِتَابِهِ وَلِرَسُولِهِ وَلِأَئِمَّةِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ وَعَامَّتِهِمْ.)
“Religion is an advice. We asked, To whom (the advice), O the messenger of Allah? He said, To Allah, His books, His messenger, leaders of muslim people, and community in general. (Muslim).”[2]
As a form of advice to himself and others, a slave should warn others from the trials and do his best to stay away from it, get rid of it from himself, be cautious not to fall into its trap, and seek Allah’s protection from the seen and unseen trials.
In this occasion, I’d like to emphasis on several important points, vital foundations, and straight principles, which, if a muslim pays attention to it and practice it, he’ll find himself away from the trial -by Allah’s permission-. These great principles originate from the Noble Book of Allah, The Almighty, and sunnah of the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him-. The principles are:
Indeed, the most important factor that could shield a person from the harm and damage of trial is for him to fear Allah -the High and Almighty-, and maintain it both in crowd or while alone.
Allah the Glorified and Exalted said,
{وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مَخْرَجًا (2) وَيَرْزُقْهُ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا يَحْتَسِبُ (3)}
” Allah will find a way out for him who fears Allah, and will provide him sustenance from whence he never even imagined.” (Chapter Ath Thalaq/The Divorce:2-3)
It means that Allah will create a way out for him from all kind of trials and tests and harms in this world and in the hereafter.
Allah the Exalted decreed,
{ وَمَنْ يَتَّقِ اللَّهَ يَجْعَلْ لَهُ مِنْ أَمْرِهِ يُسْرًا }
“Allah will create ease for him who fears Allah.” (Chapter Ath Thalaq/The Divorce:4)
And the best result will always be for the God-fearer.
When a severe trial happened during the time of the tabe’en, a group of advisors came to Thalq Ibn Habib -may Allah have mercy on him-. They said, “A trial happens. How could we shield ourselves from it?”. He replied, “Shield yourselves with God-fearing,”. They said, “Please explain to us what it means by God-fearing!”. He said, “Fearing Allah is by obeying Allah, by the light from Allah, wishing for Allah’s favors, and abandoning disobedient to Him, by light from Allah, fearing Allah’s torment.”
Hence, fearing Allah is not a mere words that is easily to be said by anyone with his mouth, nor that it is a mere claim. Indeed, it could only be achieved through earnestness, struggling, and self-motivating to obey Allah, get closer to Him by doing everything that He pleases upon, particularly by doing the compulsory deeds, and staying away from committing immorality and evildoing. Whoever does as such, by Allah’s permission, will be able to attain good yield and commendable result.
2. Among the vital principles to avoid trial is by practicing the Qur’an and the Sunnah, and holding firm to it.
Indeed, holding firm to the Qur’an and the Sunnah is a way to the glory, safety, and fortunate life in the world and in the Hereafter.
Imam Malik (Imâm Dâril-Hijrah) once said,
( اَلسُّنَّةُ سَفِيْنَةُ نُوْحٍ, فَمَنْ رَكِبَهَا نَجَا وَمَنْ تَرَكَهَا هَلَكَ وَغَرِقَ.)
“The Sunnah is like the Noah’s arc. Whoever boards it will be safe, and whoever leaves it will perish and get drown.”
Whoever places the Sunnah as his leader in life will speak with wisdoms, safe from the trial, and obtain two goodnesses, i.e., the goodness in the world and in the hereafter.
There is a valid hadith from Al ‘Irbadh Ibn Sariya that the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- said,
( إِنَّهُ مَنْ يَعِشْ مِنْكُمْ بَعْدِي فَسَيَرَى اخْتِلَافًا كَثِيرًا فَعَلَيْكُمْ بِسُنَّتِي وَسُنَّةِ الْخُلَفَاءِ الْمَهْدِيِّينَ الرَّاشِدِينَ تَمَسَّكُوا بِهَا وَعَضُّوا عَلَيْهَا بِالنَّوَاجِذِ وَإِيَّاكُمْ وَمُحْدَثَاتِ الْأُمُورِ فَإِنَّ كُلَّ مُحْدَثَةٍ بِدْعَةٌ وَكُلَّ بِدْعَةٍ ضَلَالَةٌ.)
“people who live after me will witness so many conflicts. Therefore, holding yourself strongly into my lesson and the lesson of Khulafa Ar-Rasyidin Al-Mahyidin, bite it strongly with your wisdom teeth. Shun yourself from those newly created matters (bidah), because all bidah is astray.”
To survive when the trial and feud happens could only be achieved through holding firm to the sunnah of the Prophet -peace and prayer of Allah be upon him- and staying away from heresies (innovated thing in religion) and improper desire. A person should position the sunnah as a judge for himself, a decider for anything he does or does not, for every move and stop, every time he stands and sits, and all of his deeds.
Whoever does as such, then by Allah’s permission, he will be guarded and protected from every kind of evil, calamity, and trial. And whoever doesn’t, and instead let his improper desire goes wild, then indeed, he has dragged himself and other slaves of Allah into the pit of evils.
