Obedient Angel
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 | Subject: Coping with Less than Ideal Conditions  Fri Dec 28, 2012 4:10 am | |
| Anyone who studies the present day in careful detail and considers it in conjunction with the many Prophetic reports that talk about future times will notice many things about the state of the world around them that escape other people’s attention. The Prophet (peace be upon him) only spoke about the future so that later generations would be forewarned and avoid the pitfalls that awaited them. Also, by being forewarned that circumstance will be less than ideal, people will be more mentally prepared to cope with those circumstances when they happen, and less likely to succumb to frustration and despair.
For instance, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “You will follow in the ways of those who came before you, inch by inch, yard by yard, so that even if they were to go into a lizard’s burrow, you would follow them into it.”
His Companions asked him: “You mean the Jews and Christians?”
He replied: “Who else?” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī (7320) and Sahīh Muslim (2669)]
Here Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is foretelling how Muslims will gradually start acting contrary to Islamic teachings more and more as time goes on. By doing so, he makes that eventuality less difficult for the people who live to witness it, and easier to cope with. They will understand what is going on, and therefore suffer less from stress and anxiety. They will, as a result, act sensibly, appreciating that they do not live in the Prophet’s time and properly gauge how much they can expect from the people. This does not mean that they will accept the falsehood going on around them, but rather that they will be gentle and patient in the way they work to correct things, and not insist upon an idealistic vision that is out of touch with reality.
Moreover, they will appreciate that what they are witnessing, since it was accurately foretold by the Prophet, is actually a sign of his prophethood. Allah says: “When the believers saw the confederate forces (assembled against them), they said: ‘This is that which Allah and His Messenger promised us. What Allah and His messenger told us is true.’ It only confirmed them in their faith and submission.” [Sūrah al-Ahzāb: 22]
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to inform his secretary, Hudhayfah b. al-Yamān, of the tribulations that were to come. Hudhayfah later recalled: “When one of those things happened, I would recognize it after having forgotten all about it, just like when you see the face of someone you have forgotten about, you immediately know who that person is.”
Hudhayfah would say on those occasions: “My dear friend had spoken truly.” Other Companions had similar experiences.
We need to understand the difference between what Allah’s decrees will take place in the word and what Allah has prescribes for us to do when it happens. They are two different things. This is why a believer never uses Allah’s decree as an excuse to avoid responsibility or to be heedless of the wrongdoing that goes on in the world. A believer knows that the Prophet (peace be upon him) meant to warn us against that wrongdoing, and this will make the believer all the more steadfast.
Therefore, the Prophet’s foretelling of these events has a two-fold benefit. On the one hand, it gives us fortitude in the face of adversity. We do not grow despondent or feel the need to retreat from the world and its people in order to avoid their ills. We will, instead, see the best in the people around us, recognise the situation for what it is, and work to make things better. On the other hand, we will be able to avoid the pitfalls that the people have stumbled into, because we have been forewarned. This is why the Prophet (peace be upon him) promised such a great reward for those who are able to hold fast to the true path at the time when the community becomes corrupted.
This provides a further, crucial lesson for those who wish to engage in reform and the betterment of society. That is the importance of understanding the world around us, its political, economic, and social realities, on the local, regional, and global levels. If we attempt to institute hasty reforms without properly considering the people’s culture, level of understanding, and tolerance for change, we are going to make a mess of things. Furthermore, we will make an unfair assessment of the people, assuming that they are simply hostile and governed by base self-interest, and fail to see the considerable goodness that they have within them. In turn, we will become unjust in the way we treat them. This is why sensitivity to the circumstances and culture of the people is inseparable from the task of calling them to what is right.
Speaking to his Companions about the difficult days that future generations will face, Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Those who work for good in those times will have the reward of fifty people doing the same work.”
They said: “Do you mean they will get the blessings of fifty people from their time, or the blessings of fifty of us.”
He answered: “I mean they will get the blessings of fifty of you.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī (3058), Sunan Abī Dāwūd (4341), and Sunan Ibn Mājah (4014)]
Likewise, he said: “There will come a time when being steadfast in faith will be as difficult as holding a burning coal in your hand.” [Sunan al-Tirmidhī (66)]
Here the Prophet is encouraging patience and fortitude for those who live in a time when most people will be acting contrary to what is right. This is the most that can be hoped from a believer. Personalities differ, and many people find it very difficult to remain aloof to what is going on around them while remaining actively engaged in society.
This is why, when the Prophet (peace be upon him) was asked what kind of people are better, he replied: “The believers who strive with their persons and wealth for the sake of Allah.” Then, when they asked him who was next in rank, he answered: “Those who withdraw from society to worship their Lord, and eschew their people’s wicked ways.” [Sahīh al-Bukhārī (2786) and Sahīh Muslim (1888)]
Here, the Prophet (peace be upon him) gives preference to those who strive with their persons and their wealth for Allah’s sake while actively engaging in society: calling people to the truth, imparting knowledge, helping the poor and indigent, and redressing injustice.
Then, for those whose hearts cannot cope under such circumstances, the next best thing for them to do is keep their distance and protect themselves. This does not mean that they cut themselves off from society completely. They are not supposed to leave off congregational prayer in the mosque, or places of learning, or family gatherings that they must attend to maintain proper ties of kinship, or live without friends. What it means is that they stay away from superfluous activities which will expose them unnecessarily to sin and distress.
In this context, the Prophet said: “Soon there will come a time when people’s state will become confused and entangled, and the worst of them will endure, their affairs and trusts will be indistinguishable, like this.” and he interlaced the his fingers of his two hands.
The People asked him: “What should we do when that happens?”
He answered: “Hold firmly to what you know, eschew what is condemnable, stick closely with one another (on the truth), and avoid the general masses.” [Musnad Ahmad (7063)] http://en.islamtoday.net/artshow-432-4543.htm | |
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