What to do during times of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation)
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The first question of Fatwa No. ( 7703 ):
Q1: Is this the time referred to in the statement of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) when a Companion asked him: "What should I do when fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) and division become widespread?" He replied to his question: "Withdraw from the people and sit in your house." And in [Sahih] in the Book of Fitnah, in the chapter (What is the situation if there is no Caliph?), the hadith, in its meaning, states that he (peace and blessings be upon him) ordered them to withdraw when calamities occur, and said: "Even if you have to bite the root of a tree." We ask for clarification of this hadith and the statements of the scholars regarding it?
A1: It is in the two Sahihs, and others, and the wording is al-Bukhari's , from Abu Dhir al-Khawlani that he heard Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman say:
The people used to ask Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) about the good but I used to ask him about the evil lest I should be overtaken by them. So I said, "O Allah's Messenger (ﷺ)! We were living in ignorance and in an (extremely) worst atmosphere, then Allah brought to us this good (i.e., Islam); will there be any evil after this good?" He said, "Yes." I said, 'Will there be any good after that evil?" He replied, "Yes, but it will be tainted (not pure.)'' I asked, "What will be its taint?" He replied, "(There will be) some people who will guide others not according to my tradition? You will approve of some of their deeds and disapprove of some others." I asked, "Will there be any evil after that good?" He replied, "Yes, (there will be) some people calling at the gates of the (Hell) Fire, and whoever will respond to their call, will be thrown by them into the (Hell) Fire." I said, "O Allah s Apostle! Will you describe them to us?" He said, "They will be from our own people and will speak our language." I said, "What do you order me to do if such a state should take place in my life?" He said, "Stick to the group of Muslims and their Imam (ruler)." I said, "If there is neither a group of Muslims nor an Imam (ruler)?" He said, "Then turn away from all those sects even if you were to bite (eat) the roots of a tree till death overtakes you while you are in that state."
كان الناس يسألون رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم عن الخير وكنت أسأله عن الشر مخافة أن يدركني، فقلت: يا رسول الله، إنا كنا في جاهلية وشر فجاءنا الله بهذا الخير، فهل بعد هذا الخير من شر؟ قال: نعم، قلت: وهل بعد ذلك الشر من خير؟ قال: نعم، وفيه دخن، قلت: وما دخنه؟ قال: قوم يهدون بغير هديي تعرف منهم وتنكر قلت: فهل بعد ذلك الخير من شر؟ قال: نعم، دعاة على أبواب جهنم من أجابهم إليها قذفوه فيها قلت: يا رسول الله، صفهم لنا، قال: هم من جلدتنا ويتكلمون بألسنتنا قلت: فما تأمرني إن أدركني ذلك؟ قال: تلزم جماعة المسلمين وإمامهم، قلت: فإن لم يكن لهم جماعة ولا إمام؟ قال: فاعتزل تلك الفرق كلها ولو أن تعض بأصل شجرة، حتى يدركك الموت وأنت على ذلك
Source
www.alifta.gov.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.