[3] The Strangers

In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Imam Ibn Rajab, may Allah have mercy upon him, stated:

Then, it became a common thing (or understanding) among many later scholars, both from Ahlul Hadith and others, that the term “Sunnah” refers to that which is free from Shubuhaat and Shahawaat in beliefs, particularly concerning matters of belief in Allah, His angels, His Books, His Messengers, and the Day of Judgment, and also issues related to Qadr and the virtues of the companions of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Scholars have written in the knowledge of (this affair) under the title of Sunnah because its danger is great and the one in opposition is at the very edge of destruction.

As for the complete Sunnah, it is the path free from Shubuhaat and Shahawaat, as stated by Al-Hasan, Yunus Ibn Ubaid, Sufyan, Al-Fudayl, and others. Due to this, its adherents are described as strangers during the end of time because of their small number and strangeness (upon the complete Sunnah). Due to this, it has been transmitted in some of the narrations previously mentioned in the explanation of the (word) strangers (that they will be) “A righteous people, small in number among a large number of evil people. Those who disobey them are more numerous than those who obey them”. [a]

This demonstrates their small number, the few that will respond and accept them, and the numerous people who will oppose and disobey them. Due to this, commendation has been transmitted in several hadiths regarding the one who adheres to his religion during the end of time that he’ll be like one grasping hot coals; [b] and that the reward for one among them will be equivalent to that of fifty among those before them, as they will not find helpers in goodness (righteousness). These strangers (adhering to the Sunnah and righteousness) are two types of people: the first rectifies himself amidst the corruption of the people, while the second is the one who rectifies what has been corrupted by the people, and of the two, he is loftier and more virtuous in status. [1]

A Warning Against The Shubuhaat and The Shahawaat

Al-Allamah Rabee Bin Hadi Al-Mad’khali, may Allah preserve him, said:

Let us increase in obedience to (Allah); let us be mindful of Shubuhaat and Shahawaat because the Fitan (trials, tribulations, temptations) will be exposed to the hearts. Hudhaifah, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “The Fitan (trials, temptations) will be presented to the hearts of the people like a reed mat woven stick by stick, and any heart afflicted by them will have a black mark put into it, but any heart that rejects them will have a white mark put into it. Thus there will be two kinds of hearts: one is pure like a white gemstone and it will not be harmed by any tribulation as long as the heavens and earth endure, and the other is black and dusty like a worn-out vessel, neither recognizing good nor rejecting evil, but rather immersed in its desires”. Sahih Muslim. Number 144]

The first type of heart is pure like a white gemstone and it will not be harmed by any trials long as the heavens and earth endure. This is because Allah grants them firmness and not due to their own power or strength; rather Allah grants them firmness. “Allah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allah Alone and none else), and in the Hereafter]. [Ibraaheem. Ayah 27]

Allah bestows His favour upon them by granting them firmness, so they are not harmed regardless of the greatness of the trials. Let me give an example: I say, indeed amongst the people in the midst of these trials – just as Allah’s Messenger described the situation- are those who are firm like mountains; the winds, floods, hurricanes and storms come along, but they do not shake because the Iman in the hearts (of these people) is like the firm mountains. Allah keeps them away from the trials and make them firm, thus they are not harmed. However, there are other people who are like the trees that are moved by the wind to the right and the left until they finally fall. There are others who are like feathers and the Henna leaves- flying along with the trials when a small trial occurs, such as when a mild wind (blows) the fragile leaves to a far-off place. We ask Allah to keep us firm.

The second type of heart is described (as follows), “Black and dusty like a worn out vessel, neither recognising good nor rejecting evil, but rather immersed in its desires”. This is the state of the one whose heart is immersed in trials, agrees with them and does not reject them, thus the trial enters him gradually until his heart is worn out and becomes black like a worn-out vessel – a vessel whose mouth is turned upside down, so regardless the amount of water, butter fat and other things one attempts to pour, it will not accept anything. Indeed, we have often experienced the affair of this category of people whose hearts are worn out and regardless of the proofs and evidence from the Qur’an and Sunnah presented to nullify their falsehood, they do not accept that from you. This has to be the case because Allah’s Messenger described such a person as one with a heart that is similar to a worn-out vessel – a heart that neither recognises truth nor rejects evil; rather it is immersed in its desires. Whatever agrees with his desires, he accepts it – not because it is the truth, but rather only because it agrees with his desires. This (behaviour) is similar to that of the Yahud [i.e. those Yahud who rejected the clear message of the final Messenger] because they know the truth, but wage war against it, accept what agrees with their desires, reject what opposes their desires and wage war against it. This is something rife in this era amongst those whose hearts are worn out, thus they reach this state that has been described by Allah’s Messenger. It is as if we are witnessing this affair while Allah’s Messenger describes these people in our presence and we can see their deeds and dishonourable stances. [2]

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[a] Silsilah As-Saheehah. Number 1619]

[b] Anas Ibn Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, reported that Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, said, “A time of patience will come to people in which adhering to one’s religion is like grasping a hot coal”. [Sahih Tirmidhee 2260]

Listen to the lecture by Shaikh Abu Khadeejah – may Allah preserve him:

https://www.salafisounds.com/living-in-times-when-holding-on-to-islam-is-like-holding-on-to-hot-coal-by-abu-khadeejah/

We ask Allah:

اللَّهُمَّ بِعِلْمِكَ الْغَيْبَ وَقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ أَحْيِنِي مَا عَلِمْتَ الْحَيَاةَ خَيْراً لِي وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْراً لِي، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ فِي الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الْقَصْدَ فِي الْغِنَى وَالْفَقْرِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ نَعِيماً لَا يَنْفَذُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَا تَنْقَطِعُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضِا بَعْدَ الْقَضَاءِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ بَرْدَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ لَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِكَ وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ فِي غَيْرِ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ وَلَا فِتْنَةٍ مُضِلَّةٍ، اللَّهُمَّ زَيِّنَّا بِزِينَةِ الْإِيمَانِ
وَاجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُهْتَدِينَ

O Allah! By Your Knowledge of the unseen and by Your Power over creation, let me live if life is good for me, and let me die if death is good for me; O Allah! I ask You to grant me (the blessing of having) fear of You in private and public, and I ask You (to make me utter) a statement of truth in times of contentment and anger, and I ask You for moderation when in a state of wealth and poverty, and I ask you for blessings that never ceases, and I ask You for the coolness of my eye that never ends, and I ask You (to make me pleased) after (Your) decree; and I ask You for a life of (ease, comfort, tranquillity, etc) after death; I ask You for the delight of looking at Your Face (i.e. in the Hereafter) and yearning to meet You without any harm and misleading trials (coming upon me). O Allah! Adorn us with the adornment of Iman, and make us (from those who are) guided and guiding (others). [3]

اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي

وَأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشِي

وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادِي

وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ

وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ

O Allah! Rectify my religion for me, which is the safeguard of my affairs; rectify my worldly [affairs], wherein is my livelihood; and rectify my Afterlife to which is my return; and make life for me [as a means of] increase in every good and make death for me as a rest from every evil. [4]

To be continued…InShaAllah

[1]Kash al-Kurbah Fee Wasf Ahl Al-Ghurbah page 7

[2]An Excerpt from ‘Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm’. pages 206-208

[3]https://salafidawah.uk/2021/01/01/o-allaah-let-me-live-if-life-is-good-for-me-and-let-me-die-if-death-is-good-for-me/

[4]https://salafidawah.uk/2020/12/29/o-allaah-rectify-my-religion-for-me-which-the-safeguard-of-my-affairs-a-tremendous-supplication/