Part 5: Testing, Affliction and Calamities

[Albaseerah.Org]

Testing, Affliction and Calamities

by Shaykh Dr. Saalih As-Saalih رحمه الله
Delivered on May 20th, 2006
http://albaseerah.org/forum/showthread.php?t=4151

CONCLUSION

If the calamity befalls us and we pass it in reality (by observing the proper manners) then we have learnt the lessons. The Salaf رحمهم الله were in a much better state than us regarding (their handling of) tests and trials. We have in them magnificent examples of patience, perseverance and anticipation of reward from Allaah سبحانه وتعالى.

It is reported from `Umar رضي الله عنه that he used to praise Allaah سبحانه وتعالى for tests and trials and when asked about it he said, “I was not touched by testing except that Allaah bestowed on me four favours: that it wasn’t a test in my Deen, that it was not greater than me, that it was not greater than what befell me, and that I was not deprived of being contented and patient, and that I hope for the reward from Allaah.”

We should not forget that in the test there is a reward and that this cannot be attained except with patience, and patience cannot be attained except with a strong will and faith. We should not forget to remember Allaah and be thankful for His favours and be patient upon His tests and trials. Let this be a sincere and hidden matter between us and our Rabb (Lord) سبحانه وتعالى because He Knows and He Sees and He is more Merciful to us than we and all mankind are to ourselves, so we should turn our affair to Him.

As a poet said, “If you complain to the son of Adam it is as if you are complaining to the one who has no mercy towards you.” We should remember that if we are touched by a calamity we should be thankful to Allaah that He did not touch us with something more intense, and far greater, and that whatever befalls us was not going to miss us and whatever missed us was not going to befall us.

The magnitude of the reward is proportional to the magnitude of the test. To Allaah سبحانه وتعالى is that which He gives and to Him is that which He takes. The complaints and discontent are not going to help you. Rather, it will magnify your calamity and will cause you to miss the reward and subject you to being held as sinful.

Let each of us remember that no matter how great the magnitude of the calamity that may befall us, it will never reach the intensity of the calamity which touched the entire Ummah – the loss of the beloved one, Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم, who reminded us by saying, “If anyone of you is touched by a calamity let him remember the calamity that befell him concerning me, for indeed it is the greatest calamity.”[13] It is reported by al-Bayhaqi and authenticated by Sheikh al-Albaanee رحمه الله.

When touched by a calamity we should remember to say:

إنّا لِلَّهِ وإنَّا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُونَ؛ اللَّهُمَّ أجُرْنِي فِي مُصِيبَتي وأخْلِفْ لي خَيْراً مِنْها

Verily we belong to Allaah and to Him we shall return. O Allaah help me in my calamity and bring me something better in return. [14]

We should not despair of the Mercy of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى no matter what calamity befalls us, no matter what its magnitude or how intense it is because Allaah سبحانه وتعالى stated in Surah ash-Sharh, verses 5–6:

فَإِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً {5} إِنَّ مَعَ الْعُسْرِ يُسْراً

{Verily, along with every hardship is relief. Verily, along with every hardship is relief (i.e. there is one hardship with two reliefs,
so one hardship cannot overcome two reliefs).} [Ash-Sharh 94:5–6]

Verily with hardship there is relief and “one hardship cannot beat two reliefs” as `Umar رضي الله عنه stated.

We should not forget the favour of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى if He restores to you your state of wellbeing and soundness, lest we become from those whom Allaah mentioned in surah az-Zumar, verse 8:

وَإِذَا مَسَّ الْإِنسَانَ ضُرٌّ دَعَا رَبَّهُ مُنِيبًا إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ إِذَا خَوَّلَهُ نِعْمَةً مِّنْهُ نَسِيَ مَا كَانَ يَدْعُو إِلَيْهِ مِن قَبْلُ وَجَعَلَ لِلَّهِ أَندَادًا لِّيُضِلَّ عَن سَبِيلِهِ قُلْ تَمَتَّعْ بِكُفْرِكَ قَلِيلًا إِنَّكَ مِنْ أَصْحَابِ النَّارِ

{And when some hurt touches man, he cries to his Lord (Allaah Alone), turning to Him in repentance. But when He bestows a favour upon him from Himself, he forgets that for which he cried for before, and he sets up rivals to Allaah, in order to mislead others from His path. Say: "Take pleasure in your disbelief for a while, surely, you are (one) of the dwellers of the Fire!"} [az-Zumar 39:8]

We should not forget that the tests, calamities and trials remind us of an Hour that is surely coming and of a time which will end. This life is not an endless abode and therefore we must work for our Hereafter. In the end, the reminder and the glad tidings are found in the same verse which we first spoke about:

وَلَنَبْلُوَنَّكُمْ بِشَيْءٍ مِّنَ الْخَوفْ وَالْجُوعِ وَنَقْصٍ مِّنَ الأَمَوَالِ وَالأنفُسِ وَالثَّمَرَاتِ وَبَشِّرِ الصَّابِرِينَ {155} الَّذِينَ إِذَا أَصَابَتْهُم مُّصِيبَةٌ قَالُواْ إِنَّا لِلّهِ وَإِنَّـا إِلَيْهِ رَاجِعونَ {156} أُولَـئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ صَلَوَاتٌ مِّن رَّبِّهِمْ وَرَحْمَةٌ وَأُولَـئِكَ هُمُ الْمُهْتَدُونَ

{And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabiroon (the patient). Who, when afflicted with calamity, say: "Truly, to Allaah we belong and truly, to Him we shall return." They are those on whom are the Salawaat (i.e. who are blessed and will be forgiven) from their Lord, and (they are those who) receive His Mercy, and it is they who are the guided ones.} [Al-Baqarah 2:155–157]

We ask Allaah سبحانه وتعالى to make us of those who when afflicted with a calamity truly remember and manifest the saying of Allaah: Innaa lillaahi wa innaa ilayhi raaji`oon. asking Him to help us in our calamities, tests and trials, to be able to persevere patiently, to overcome, and to ask His reward and anticipate the reward from Him سبحانه وتعالى, and to compensate us with that which is better.

All Praise is due to Allaah, and may the salaah and salaam be on Prophet Muhammad, his household, the noble Companions and those who follow them until the Day of Resurrection.

Questions & Answers

1. Question: Here in Australia by the tawfeeq of Allaah a couple reverted to Islaam, walhamdulillaah (and all Praise is due to Allaah). The brother who gave da`wah to the sister became the guardian (wali) of the sister and helped get her married. Is this marriage valid? The marriage took place in the presence of two witnesses, and the head of the local Islaamic Center executed the marriage. However, based on the fact that the brother who was the wali is not the Imaam of the masjid or the head of the Center, is that okay?

Answer: The Shaykh رحمه الله asked for clarification as to who helped arrange the marriage. The moderator explained that the brother who gave da`wah to the sister who reverted became the wali because the sister did not have any relatives. The moderator further clarified that the brother is not an imaam of the masjid and is a Da`ee. The Shaykh then affirmed that he understood the question and proceeded to answer:
Inshaa Allaah it is easy. They can now go and redo the contract with a wali that she assigns. Do you understand?
The moderator said: I think that the question stated that she selected him to be the wali.
The Shaykh explained: As he is not the head of an Islaamic Center or in a position of authority, to be on the safe side they should redo the contract after she assigns the head of an Islamic Center to redo the contract.

2. Question: I have house-birds in my home. Their droppings get on the carpet. I do not pray in that room. However, are the droppings of birds considered impure?

Answer: Inshaa Allaah their droppings are pure.

3. Question: Is it permissible to have wall hangings in the house with verses written from the Qur’aan or similar to that?

Answer: This had been something of concern to our Shaykh رحمه الله ( Shaykh Uthaymeen) for a very long time and he disliked when these verses are hung on walls. Firs of all, they are not meant to be hung, the verses of Allaah are not meant to be hung. This is especially asserted in situations where you find people sitting in gatherings/circles and participating into gheebah (backbiting), speaking ill of others etc. yet these ‘reminders’ are over their heads. In a way, this is belittling the aayaat (verses) of Allaah سبحانه وتعالى when they are placed in this manner. Our Shaykh (Uthaymeen) رحمه الله had a fatwa (religious verdict) on this stating that this should not be the practice of Muslims; the aayaat should be respected and not put on the walls.

In this is a reminder regarding another issue, where in many homes you find the name ‘Allaah’ in a frame and on the same level you find the name ‘Muhammad’ صلى الله عليه وسلم. This is another thing which our Shaykh رحمه الله spoke against. He said this is a matter in which one makes them both equivalent in magnitude and therefore this should not be done.

Additionally, another benefit we may derive is that in many Muslim homes you find the name ‘Muhammad’ framed with the following wording: ‘Yaa Muhammad’ (O Muhammad). This is done seeking Muhammad’s صلى الله عليه وسلم help or refuge etc. This is a form of shirk even though it is found in many places. It remains a very serious matter which people should be aware of because all worship, du`aa etc. should be done sincerely for Allaah سبحانه وتعالى (alone).

--
Visit us today
Al-Qur'an was-Sunnah Society of New York
http://albaseerah.org
http://studyislaam.org