The Path of Steadfastness in Tawhid Amidst Trials
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Question:
May Allah bless you and reward you, and we ask Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, to make us all among[Az-Zumar 39:18]. Honorable Shaykh Salih, may Allah bless you. Life is a field of trial and a place of testing, and people in it are not equal [Al-Hajj 22:11]. How does the one who holds to tawhid (the oneness of Allah) remain steadfast during trials?
Answer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The one who holds to tawhid, who believes in Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and believes in the decrees of Allah, His judgment, His wisdom, His knowledge, and His mercy, does not waver during trials. Rather, he is steadfast, with a steadfast heart and steadfast thinking, because he trusts in his Lord, Mighty and Majestic.
And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:[Ibrahim 14:27], [Ibrahim 14:27]. [Ibrahim 14:27] The believers are steadfast in Allah; the believers are the ones who possess the correct creed and have full confidence in Allah (Mighty and Majestic). They know that what befalls them was not to miss them, and what missed them was not to befall them. They know that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) is aware of their conditions, and knows their secrets, their intentions, and their purposes. So they have complete confidence in Allah (Mighty and Majestic). When hardship and trials befall them, they are patient, and the outcome is for them. When prosperity befalls them, they thank Allah (Mighty and Majestic). So in both states, they are with Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). They do not transgress in times of blessing, nor do they panic in times of calamity and misfortune. Rather, they are always with Allah. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: [An-Nahl 16:128] The companionship here is companionship of care and success, and companionship of victory and support from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). So they have confidence in Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and are reassured by His divine decree and destiny. As for the hypocrite who is weak in faith, he wavers at the first, at the first severity or trial, as the verse mentioned: [Al-Hajj 22:11] meaning on the edge, on the edge of the religion, [Al-Hajj 22:11], because faith has not taken hold in his heart, and he has not trusted the promise of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He).
She (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:[Al-'Ankabut 29:10] So he is only with the believers when they are in blessing and ease of life. But when the believers are struck by some severity, trial, or test, he abandons them, because he does not have with him a faith that steadies him and gives him confidence in Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Rather, he only looks at his own interests, and if they are not available, he turns back on his heels. But the believer has confidence in Allah (Mighty and Majestic) in all circumstances, in all prosperity and hardship. And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) rewards him for his patience and rewards him for his gratitude in times of blessing. So Allah is with him always and forever. Yes. Ah.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh,
May Allah bless you and reward you, and we ask Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, to make us all among
Who listen to speech and follow the best of it
الَّذِينَ يَسْتَمِعُونَ الْقَوْلَ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ أَحْسَنَهُAnd of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face [to the other direction]. He has lost [this] world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍ فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَ ذَٰلِكَ هُوَ الْخُسْرَانُ الْمُبِينُAnswer:
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, and upon his family and all his Companions. The one who holds to tawhid, who believes in Allah, Mighty and Majestic, and believes in the decrees of Allah, His judgment, His wisdom, His knowledge, and His mercy, does not waver during trials. Rather, he is steadfast, with a steadfast heart and steadfast thinking, because he trusts in his Lord, Mighty and Majestic.
And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
Allah keeps firm those who believe, with the firm word, in worldly life and in the Hereafter
يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِAnd Allah sends astray the wrongdoers
وَيُضِلُّ اللَّهُ الظَّالِمِينَAnd Allah does what He wills.
وَيَفْعَلُ اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُIndeed, Allah is with those who fear Him and those who are doers of good.
إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوا وَّالَّذِينَ هُم مُّحْسِنُونَAnd of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge.
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَعْبُدُ اللَّهَ عَلَىٰ حَرْفٍIf he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face [to the other direction]. He has lost [this] world and the Hereafter.
فَإِنْ أَصَابَهُ خَيْرٌ اطْمَأَنَّ بِهِ وَإِنْ أَصَابَتْهُ فِتْنَةٌ انقَلَبَ عَلَىٰ وَجْهِهِ خَسِرَ الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةَShe (Exalted and Majestic is He) said:
And of the people are some who say, "We believe in Allah," but when one [of them] is harmed for [the cause of] Allah, they consider the trial of the people as [if it were] the punishment of Allah. But if victory comes from your Lord, they say, "Indeed, We were with you."
وَمِنَ النَّاسِ مَن يَقُولُ آمَنَّا بِاللَّهِ فَإِذَا أُوذِيَ فِي اللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَةَ النَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ اللَّهِ وَلَئِن جَاءَ نَصْرٌ مِّن رَّبِّكَ لَيَقُولُنَّ إِنَّا كُنَّا مَعَكُمْThe presenter:
May Allah reward you, Honorable Shaykh,
Source
قناة «مؤسسة الدعوة الخيرية»، فتاوى على الهواء 14-10-1434هـ - الفوزان — youtube.com (0:56)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.