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Showing posts with label 17 Benefits of Tribulation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 17 Benefits of Tribulation. Show all posts
Saturday, February 22, 2020
Friday, December 13, 2019
Commentary on the Seventeen Benefits of Tribulation and Commentary on the Forty hadith on tribulation and affliction
Salam Alikum everyone
Please see links to these important new works
Please see links to these important new works
1. Commentary on the Forty hadith on tribulation and affliction
2. Commentary on the Seventeen Benefits of Tribulation
These are important works please buy them for yourself and other people.
Wednesday, August 03, 2016
Sunday, March 20, 2016
Wednesday, January 06, 2016
Friday, September 19, 2014
17 Benefits of Tribulation
17 Benefits of Tribulation
Taught by Sheikh Arfan Shah
Click here for original text
Click here on how to understand tribulations
Never thought I would be putting my own lectures up!
Taught by Sheikh Arfan Shah
Click here for original text
Click here on how to understand tribulations
Never thought I would be putting my own lectures up!
Thursday, October 31, 2013
Sunday, March 24, 2013
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Forty Prophetic narrations on Tribulation, Affliction and Patience
You can download the document
http://www.scribd.com/doc/45711523/40-Prophetic-Narrations-of-Tribulation
40 Prophetic Narrations of Tribulation
Thursday, June 03, 2010
The reality of tests
We are in the season of exams for all those in education. Many are asking for supplications to succeed. Students are either working hard revising or chilling out thinking that they do not need to revise. We were thinking about tests and wondering why we need tests.
Exams are in place to make sure that you have learnt the lessons that you have been taught. So the exam is a reflection of your understanding or lack of. If you fail then you cannot progress with your chosen educational field. You may need to resit the exam or you may need to take another route to a job.
Similarly, the tests of the world are exactly the same. We are given tests to see if we have learnt how to deal with a situation. And if we have learnt to deal with them then we are elevated to a higher grade and this helps us progress. If we fail then we are stuck until we get the message and or get another test.
So when you face a test know this is your chance to reach another level and pass with flying colors. Do not curse the test because you think that its too difficult to bear; if you make it then be aware that that you have reached a new level in this lifetime and in the next.............
See previous post
http://sheikhynotes.blogspot.com/2008/08/how-to-understand-tribulations.html
Friday, February 19, 2010
Sheikh Nuh Ha Mim Keller
Where is God in Haiti?
Please see link to recording of the lecture.
http://www.sunnipath.com/events/100213-haiti/
Please see link to recording of the lecture.
http://www.sunnipath.com/events/100213-haiti/
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Politics: the Art of blame
The Gaza Crisis
I am loathed to comment on politics or even discuss it for longer than a few minutes, but the current circumstances have forced my tongue and now my “cyber” pen.
Recent events in Palestine are not something new; unfortunately, it is something old, very old. That area of the world has soil full of the blood of martyrs from ages and epochs gone by. Today, new blood is being split and this war, like all others, is over land.
The right and possession of land has caused more wars than people care to remember. I do not like to forget the things that I have read; Some events in history scar your soul. One such event is the sacking of Jerusalem during the first crusade in 1099. Every living thing was killed, when the Christian crusaders entered and began a massacre of unforgettable horror. They picked the right time to attack as the Muslims did not suspect that such a force would come to their shores and cause such havoc. What was the response of the Muslims? Above all else they kept faith and did not waver. They pressed onward and kept doing what they had done before they kept faith, honoured agreements etc. During the two hundred year period that the Crusaders occupied the lands of the Muslims, they broke treaty after treaty (Richard the first of England also known as lionheart promised not to kill non-combatants when he overcame the city of Acre but then proceeded to massacre its entire inhabitants. Esposito Islam: The Straight Path. Oxford University Press: New York, 2005. pg. 59) Even despite the horror of the events of this terrible massacre, Muslims did not retaliate in the same manner. They did not say that they did this to us and we should do the same to them. They did not lose hope which is what many of us do now. This is no more vividly portrayed by the treatment of Salahudeen gave to the Christians after he defeated the Crusader forces, he let them remain or leave unharmed. The question that I want to pose is, what would we do now? If that were to happen to us?
We face these events and despite just watching the news, we cannot take it. It is too much. We keep asking questions, why doesn’t someone do something, where is the UN and most shocking of all for me, why doesn’t America do something. Why should they! Is this what the Muslim world has come to asking people instead of asking the only one that can help! Have we abandoned our falling brothers and sisters? No, ask Allah! Make supplication and keep doing it. As Muslims we already know that we have won just by being Muslim, we are already winners. So these tribulations are not something new and the situation now is not as bad as it was in the past.
The Past
Just go back one hundred years and you will find just about every Muslim country under some type of foreign occupation. From Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Parts of Africa, Parts of Arabia, India, Uzbekistan and the provinces of the Ottomans. As bad as things were then, we did not lower our high morals by using the underhand actions of our occupiers. If anything, we began to mimic them, the most shocking example is in the late Ottoman rule when traditional clothing is thrown out and new western style clothing became the norm. Even now you can visit any Muslim country and you see can Western modes of dress.
The point that I want to make is that the state of affairs, at the moment, is bad but it is not as bad as it could be or has been. If you read about the final years of the Ottoman rule and the nationalists uprising; it will make you weep. I have read books about the events that I will not speak about because they lay too heavy on my heart.
As Muslims we need to know that if we are not tested in the world, then where else will we be tested? It is part of being in the world! We should not be surprised when we read media bias about us. Really, it does not surprise me at all. The Ottoman Empire was known in the West as the “Sick man of Europe” and most shockingly “the terror of the east.” If someone owns the mass media sources and has a vested interest in degrading a set of people, for their political ends; then do not be shocked or surprised, believers in God have always had bad press from those that oppose them. Some things are not meant to change. To stay in touch with news events, I choose other methods and other sources than the condescending manner television news is delivered.
Blame
We do blame our leaders and their collective failure to address the needs of other Muslims. This is down to many reasons, some of the governments still have their strings pulled by foreign forces and like any good puppet they sing to tune of their masters. It is really easy to blame them but it is even more difficult to try to enter the political arena and try to change things. Anyone who is has the ability to put some pressure on them, please do in the most gentle manner possible. Otherwise this will cause more problems than it will solve.
The recent event of the teacher who called a teddy bear by the name of our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a strange event but even stranger was that some Muslims who are involved in political circles made every effort, on this side of the Europe, to try to free the teacher from prison. So the question now is, if they can mobilise themselves for a non Muslim teacher, what are they doing for a whole country of oppressed Muslims? They may be doing something that I do not know about, so inform me please.
A few years ago, when the war mongers were baying for the blood of Saddam, I went on a march with a few brothers. After a day of huffing, grunting and screaming, we got back onto the coach and then I realised something. I had wasted the entire day! Nothing had been achieved and nothing was gained. Maybe, someone could argue that that it slowed the “War Machine” down (contradiction). Protesting is like asking the people who have hurt you, killed you and beat you, not to hurt you so hard. Is there any point? So please do not ask me to protest, the global protests for Iraq was doomed to failure. This to me also proves that the democratic system does not work, when people outside the political spectrum can influence all our lives. The cold hard fact is that there were no bombs killing innocent people, until after the invasion.
History
After the fall of the Ottoman Khaliphate, European powers divided its lands like a hungry man takes a cake, taking the juicy parts for himself. The juiciest part was Palestine and Transjordan taken without conquest, taken over a table. The Treaty of Sevres splintered the once mighty kingdom into many parts. This is, more or less, what we see today in terms of countries. Britain had its famous mandate for Palestine pushed through by the “league of nations” or what we now call the United Nations. So do you now see the irony when we call on the UN to “do” something when it was the fault of that organisation! The mandate lasted from 1920 to 1948 and the aftermath of the British departure from Palestine saw the beginning of “Eretz Yisrael” or as we know it now Israel. It was just prior to the British mandate that Jewish Migration began, not after the Second World War. Land was sold to them by the Ottomans because of their dedts.
A look at the United nations website brings forth more irony. Israel has been a member state 11 May 1949 and according to the UNs own charter, "Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations." (http://www.un.org/members/) The signs of a hypocrite are there for you to know one.
Protesting
The next ironic item, in this post, is that we are protesting trying to make the British put pressure on the Israeli government to stop. Rashid Khalidi stated in his book “Palestine Reborn” that Israel was dependent on foreign funding to keep its economy going and more people were leaving Israel than migrating into it. There are only so many lifelines one can receive after that, well who knows?
I dislike nationalism in all its forms; it is nationalism that contributed to the weakening of the Ottoman Empire. It also is one of the most wretched characteristic of a person, leading to racism and other repulsive behaviors. I will not wear any flag of any country and I have stuck by this for many years. I do support the people but I cannot be a party to nationalism, in any way. I remember witnessing a Christian missionary wearing a Palestinian scarf, just so he could try to infiltrate the Muslims.
The whole point of this article is that the reason, the cause, for the overcoming of all of what history threw at us, was that Islam was strong in our hearts. Our Islamic way of life was not threatened, we carried on and we drew strength from it. Now, we draw weakness (because that is what is) from all manner of ideologies and slogans without going back and putting Islam into practice. This is where our strength is based and this is where we will be renewed. No other way of adhering to any specific group calling themselves the “saved sect” will help. So until we learn this lesson, we will suffer defeat after defeat.
The most important thing that any Muslim can do in this time is boycott their goods, give charity and make much supplication. Know, that what we are going through is nothing to what other Muslims have suffered in the past. It is difficult when most of the ink is against us but the reward for patience is unbound. In the Hanifa and Maliki (not sure about others) it is prohibited to sell anything that will make the forces against Islam stronger. This does not mean a complete trade embargo but for us to sell them certain things and not others.
If I have upset anyone with this post please, please forgive me. That was not my intention, I wanted to try to explain some issues and settle the hearts of the Muslims somewhat. Also for us all to reflect on our position in the world and what our next move should be.
It is prohibited to lose hope, in Islam, please, please do not delve into politics, as it is man at his worst and do not lose hope. In the aftermath of the Battle of Uhud, the pagans cried out about how they had defeated the Muslims. The Muslim response was, “Our dead are in Paradise and your dead are in the fire.” Muslims will be the largest of all the nations of believers, on the day of judgement, so shouldn’t we have the greatest number of martyrs?
I am loathed to comment on politics or even discuss it for longer than a few minutes, but the current circumstances have forced my tongue and now my “cyber” pen.
Recent events in Palestine are not something new; unfortunately, it is something old, very old. That area of the world has soil full of the blood of martyrs from ages and epochs gone by. Today, new blood is being split and this war, like all others, is over land.
The right and possession of land has caused more wars than people care to remember. I do not like to forget the things that I have read; Some events in history scar your soul. One such event is the sacking of Jerusalem during the first crusade in 1099. Every living thing was killed, when the Christian crusaders entered and began a massacre of unforgettable horror. They picked the right time to attack as the Muslims did not suspect that such a force would come to their shores and cause such havoc. What was the response of the Muslims? Above all else they kept faith and did not waver. They pressed onward and kept doing what they had done before they kept faith, honoured agreements etc. During the two hundred year period that the Crusaders occupied the lands of the Muslims, they broke treaty after treaty (Richard the first of England also known as lionheart promised not to kill non-combatants when he overcame the city of Acre but then proceeded to massacre its entire inhabitants. Esposito Islam: The Straight Path. Oxford University Press: New York, 2005. pg. 59) Even despite the horror of the events of this terrible massacre, Muslims did not retaliate in the same manner. They did not say that they did this to us and we should do the same to them. They did not lose hope which is what many of us do now. This is no more vividly portrayed by the treatment of Salahudeen gave to the Christians after he defeated the Crusader forces, he let them remain or leave unharmed. The question that I want to pose is, what would we do now? If that were to happen to us?
We face these events and despite just watching the news, we cannot take it. It is too much. We keep asking questions, why doesn’t someone do something, where is the UN and most shocking of all for me, why doesn’t America do something. Why should they! Is this what the Muslim world has come to asking people instead of asking the only one that can help! Have we abandoned our falling brothers and sisters? No, ask Allah! Make supplication and keep doing it. As Muslims we already know that we have won just by being Muslim, we are already winners. So these tribulations are not something new and the situation now is not as bad as it was in the past.
The Past
Just go back one hundred years and you will find just about every Muslim country under some type of foreign occupation. From Morocco, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Parts of Africa, Parts of Arabia, India, Uzbekistan and the provinces of the Ottomans. As bad as things were then, we did not lower our high morals by using the underhand actions of our occupiers. If anything, we began to mimic them, the most shocking example is in the late Ottoman rule when traditional clothing is thrown out and new western style clothing became the norm. Even now you can visit any Muslim country and you see can Western modes of dress.
The point that I want to make is that the state of affairs, at the moment, is bad but it is not as bad as it could be or has been. If you read about the final years of the Ottoman rule and the nationalists uprising; it will make you weep. I have read books about the events that I will not speak about because they lay too heavy on my heart.
As Muslims we need to know that if we are not tested in the world, then where else will we be tested? It is part of being in the world! We should not be surprised when we read media bias about us. Really, it does not surprise me at all. The Ottoman Empire was known in the West as the “Sick man of Europe” and most shockingly “the terror of the east.” If someone owns the mass media sources and has a vested interest in degrading a set of people, for their political ends; then do not be shocked or surprised, believers in God have always had bad press from those that oppose them. Some things are not meant to change. To stay in touch with news events, I choose other methods and other sources than the condescending manner television news is delivered.
Blame
We do blame our leaders and their collective failure to address the needs of other Muslims. This is down to many reasons, some of the governments still have their strings pulled by foreign forces and like any good puppet they sing to tune of their masters. It is really easy to blame them but it is even more difficult to try to enter the political arena and try to change things. Anyone who is has the ability to put some pressure on them, please do in the most gentle manner possible. Otherwise this will cause more problems than it will solve.
The recent event of the teacher who called a teddy bear by the name of our Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) was a strange event but even stranger was that some Muslims who are involved in political circles made every effort, on this side of the Europe, to try to free the teacher from prison. So the question now is, if they can mobilise themselves for a non Muslim teacher, what are they doing for a whole country of oppressed Muslims? They may be doing something that I do not know about, so inform me please.
A few years ago, when the war mongers were baying for the blood of Saddam, I went on a march with a few brothers. After a day of huffing, grunting and screaming, we got back onto the coach and then I realised something. I had wasted the entire day! Nothing had been achieved and nothing was gained. Maybe, someone could argue that that it slowed the “War Machine” down (contradiction). Protesting is like asking the people who have hurt you, killed you and beat you, not to hurt you so hard. Is there any point? So please do not ask me to protest, the global protests for Iraq was doomed to failure. This to me also proves that the democratic system does not work, when people outside the political spectrum can influence all our lives. The cold hard fact is that there were no bombs killing innocent people, until after the invasion.
History
After the fall of the Ottoman Khaliphate, European powers divided its lands like a hungry man takes a cake, taking the juicy parts for himself. The juiciest part was Palestine and Transjordan taken without conquest, taken over a table. The Treaty of Sevres splintered the once mighty kingdom into many parts. This is, more or less, what we see today in terms of countries. Britain had its famous mandate for Palestine pushed through by the “league of nations” or what we now call the United Nations. So do you now see the irony when we call on the UN to “do” something when it was the fault of that organisation! The mandate lasted from 1920 to 1948 and the aftermath of the British departure from Palestine saw the beginning of “Eretz Yisrael” or as we know it now Israel. It was just prior to the British mandate that Jewish Migration began, not after the Second World War. Land was sold to them by the Ottomans because of their dedts.
A look at the United nations website brings forth more irony. Israel has been a member state 11 May 1949 and according to the UNs own charter, "Membership in the United Nations is open to all other peace-loving states which accept the obligations contained in the present Charter and, in the judgment of the Organization, are able and willing to carry out these obligations." (http://www.un.org/members/) The signs of a hypocrite are there for you to know one.
Protesting
The next ironic item, in this post, is that we are protesting trying to make the British put pressure on the Israeli government to stop. Rashid Khalidi stated in his book “Palestine Reborn” that Israel was dependent on foreign funding to keep its economy going and more people were leaving Israel than migrating into it. There are only so many lifelines one can receive after that, well who knows?
I dislike nationalism in all its forms; it is nationalism that contributed to the weakening of the Ottoman Empire. It also is one of the most wretched characteristic of a person, leading to racism and other repulsive behaviors. I will not wear any flag of any country and I have stuck by this for many years. I do support the people but I cannot be a party to nationalism, in any way. I remember witnessing a Christian missionary wearing a Palestinian scarf, just so he could try to infiltrate the Muslims.
The whole point of this article is that the reason, the cause, for the overcoming of all of what history threw at us, was that Islam was strong in our hearts. Our Islamic way of life was not threatened, we carried on and we drew strength from it. Now, we draw weakness (because that is what is) from all manner of ideologies and slogans without going back and putting Islam into practice. This is where our strength is based and this is where we will be renewed. No other way of adhering to any specific group calling themselves the “saved sect” will help. So until we learn this lesson, we will suffer defeat after defeat.
The most important thing that any Muslim can do in this time is boycott their goods, give charity and make much supplication. Know, that what we are going through is nothing to what other Muslims have suffered in the past. It is difficult when most of the ink is against us but the reward for patience is unbound. In the Hanifa and Maliki (not sure about others) it is prohibited to sell anything that will make the forces against Islam stronger. This does not mean a complete trade embargo but for us to sell them certain things and not others.
If I have upset anyone with this post please, please forgive me. That was not my intention, I wanted to try to explain some issues and settle the hearts of the Muslims somewhat. Also for us all to reflect on our position in the world and what our next move should be.
It is prohibited to lose hope, in Islam, please, please do not delve into politics, as it is man at his worst and do not lose hope. In the aftermath of the Battle of Uhud, the pagans cried out about how they had defeated the Muslims. The Muslim response was, “Our dead are in Paradise and your dead are in the fire.” Muslims will be the largest of all the nations of believers, on the day of judgement, so shouldn’t we have the greatest number of martyrs?
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Life is better...
The Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said, "Wisdom is the lost property of the believer. So let them take it wherever they find it." At-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.
The believer has a right to wisdom because it's his lost item and he has a rightful claim to it.
This narration springs to mind:
"I know that which you do not." Sura Baqarah 2:29
It was knowledge that raised the status of Adam (upon him peace) above the angels, "He was taught all the names." 2: 30
(Please forgive the writer for any mistakes. I hate proofreading!)
The believer has a right to wisdom because it's his lost item and he has a rightful claim to it.
I remember reading a comic, in my childhood, where there was a crime fighter who was pursing some criminals. They lead him to a garbage dump, where he found something that confused him and sent him into deep wonderment. He found a rose, a red rose, bright and clean, amongst all the rubbish; growing in the garbage dump. I still wonder about this now, even in the worst of places, there maybe something good growing. Even amongst all the rubbish, something wonderful is growing; this is almost like a person. Who may have one good trait amid many bad ones but that good trait may overcome the remainder.
I was wandering home the other day, as most of do, tired and dragging my feet. The day was officially over, at least the working day was! When a caption on a billboard caught my eye, this does not normally happen, but it seemed to draw my attention. It was an advert for a credit card, which of course none of us have! I did not notice this at first, as it was the words that make me think. The picture was of a man painting on an imaginary wall, almost. The picture made little sense but the caption make me ponder.
It read, "Life is better, when you know what’s coming." That’s it, I know I built it up a bit but it was a simple, small caption.
Life is better when you know what’s coming. This to me made perfect sense. I began thinking about how the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessing of Allah be upon him) had spoke, at length, in hundreds of different narrations, about the events that would come after his passing away, events leading us the Day of Judgement, the day itself, Paradise and Hellfire.
This narration springs to mind:
Abu Hurairah said, I heard the Prophet saying to Thawban, "O Thawban, what will you do when the nations call one another to invade you as people call one another to come and eat from one bowl?" Thawban said, "May my father and my mother be sacrificed for you. O Messenger of Allah! Is it because we are few?" The Prophet said, "No, on that day you (Muslims) will be many, but Allah will put weakness (wahn) in your hearts." The people asked, "What is that weakness, O Messenger of Allah?" He said, "It is love for this world and dislike of death." Imam Ahmad
It has been all recorded in various books of prophetic narration. We know for instance, that Al-Mahdi will come and we know that the Dajjal then Jesus (upon him peace) will appear. There is even a narration stating that if the Day of Judgement comes and you are planting a tree, finish planting it. It is really extra-ordinary that this information has been given to us and we fail to take full advantage of it.
The main advantage of having this information is that you can prepare for events that will occur because of the knowledge given to us. It's like some who knows the stock market is going to crash and he takes his money out of the market, just before the crash. Why? because when you know what’s coming you are ready and prepare yourself. It is not a shock, it is just confirmation of what you already know.
We know that one day we will all die and we know, from the information given to us, what the questions will be and who will ask them. Life really is better for the believer in Allah because he knows what’s coming. He/she is calm and there no shock or panic, all there is, is calm. This is one of the meanings of Islam, to submit to the will of the creator. Admit that he knows what is better for you than you do. When you enter into this process, rebellion becomes submission. This goes right back to the angels protesting about the Humans placed on Earth as a vice-gerent. What was the answer that Allah (mighty and majestic) gave to the Angels?
"I know that which you do not." Sura Baqarah 2:29
Please do not misunderstand me, Allah (mighty and majestic) possesses knowledge without limit, without bounds, beyond the understanding of anything, ever, this is just an example.
It was knowledge that raised the status of Adam (upon him peace) above the angels, "He was taught all the names." 2: 30
Without knowledge events can make people say what they do not mean and do what they will regret. Knowledge can turn even the least of people into an important person. It can lift people out of the places of sin that they used to be in. Life is better with knowledge because with knowledge you'll see what is coming and it will not surprise you; when you hear the news or read a headline. You know the ways of the world and you know the rewards of the afterlife. Know that in all the nations before, believers in Allah suffered hardship from disbelievers; this is fact. So do not be surprised by what you hear, this has already happened to every nation.
We know what's coming and life is better, when you are a Muslim. You know, so what are you worried about? It is all being taken care of, better than you could ever imagine! So relax and prepare by performing your obligations and any good works. There is no need to worry, it is all going to be alright.
(Please forgive the writer for any mistakes. I hate proofreading!)
Monday, August 11, 2008
How to understand tribulations
Tribulations are not easy to go through, they can be really difficult, unexpected and last a while. We must know that tribulations cannot be seen through the eyes of the people of the world. They see tribulations as punishment full stop, it's unwanted, it interrupts their plans and it gets in the way. Some accept it as part of life and others deny it totally and cannot cope with it.
Tribulations can shake someone's faith to the core when they are unable to find answers. Sometimes we do not know where to look. So, as Muslims what is our first port of call? It has to be the majestic Quran, we must look at that then look further a field.
"We have sent already unto peoples that were before you, and We visited them with tribulation and adversity, in order that they might grow humble." The cattle 6:42
The Muslims are not the first nation be send tribulations but they are the last. Tribulations are not something new, it's something old.
Linguistics
The English word Tribulation goes back to Latin word tribulare which means to press or oppress. The Arabic word Fatana comes from a word to purify gold, to take out the impurities, which can only be done in a fire.
"And that He may purge those who believe and deprive the unbelievers of blessings."
Tribulations can shake someone's faith to the core when they are unable to find answers. Sometimes we do not know where to look. So, as Muslims what is our first port of call? It has to be the majestic Quran, we must look at that then look further a field.
"We have sent already unto peoples that were before you, and We visited them with tribulation and adversity, in order that they might grow humble." The cattle 6:42
The Muslims are not the first nation be send tribulations but they are the last. Tribulations are not something new, it's something old.
Linguistics
The English word Tribulation goes back to Latin word tribulare which means to press or oppress. The Arabic word Fatana comes from a word to purify gold, to take out the impurities, which can only be done in a fire.
"And that He may purge those who believe and deprive the unbelievers of blessings."
The Family of Imran 3:141
Many of us feel oppressed when tribulations befall us. One of the synonyms, in English, for tribulation is evil; so this brings an idea that something bad or evil is afflicted a person. In Christianity, there is an interesting belief of the great tribulation, something akin to the grief of the people towards the end of time and the Antichrist/Dajjal. We have no problem of evil in Islam; we know that whatever happens is good. If I break my pen, something that I possess, you cannot say anything to me about it. It is my pen and I own it, so I can do what I like to it. Nor do I need a reason to do so. Likewise the whole world belongs to God; so how can he be unjust in anything he does? How can He be unjust to anything he owns? When He owns everything! It can never happen can it? Good, so we agree that now there is no problem, problem solved guys!
I was talking to a non Muslim about my absence due to illness, he said that it was no good, without thinking I agreed. Then I realised that for a believer in God everything is all good and my error became clear.
Does Allah give us tribulation more than we can bear?
"No person shall have a burden laid on him greater than he can bear." The Heffer 2:233.
"Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope." The Heffer 2:286
"Allah wishes to lighten (burden) for you." The Women 4:28
"We burden not any person, but that which he can bear." The Cattle 6:152
These verses are clear and do not need explaination. We can bear the burden, we can bear the tribulation; it may not be easy for us but we can do it.
Love what's bad for us?
Sometimes something that you love contains harm. You can desire something and it can be withheld from you or something that you wished for does not happen. Then this becomes like a burden upon you, dragging you down. Beware, satan at this point, because he can beautify the worst thing in your eyes. Like wine/alcohol we know it is prohibited but some of us still consume it because we love it. This is an example of something we love but has harm in it. Likewise, we can hate tribulations even though it is something good for us. This is also due to the heart being so sick that it loves the prohibited.
"If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good." The Women 4:19
“Perhaps that you hate something which is good (better) for you; and
perhaps you love something which is evil (worse) for you.” Many of us feel oppressed when tribulations befall us. One of the synonyms, in English, for tribulation is evil; so this brings an idea that something bad or evil is afflicted a person. In Christianity, there is an interesting belief of the great tribulation, something akin to the grief of the people towards the end of time and the Antichrist/Dajjal. We have no problem of evil in Islam; we know that whatever happens is good. If I break my pen, something that I possess, you cannot say anything to me about it. It is my pen and I own it, so I can do what I like to it. Nor do I need a reason to do so. Likewise the whole world belongs to God; so how can he be unjust in anything he does? How can He be unjust to anything he owns? When He owns everything! It can never happen can it? Good, so we agree that now there is no problem, problem solved guys!
I was talking to a non Muslim about my absence due to illness, he said that it was no good, without thinking I agreed. Then I realised that for a believer in God everything is all good and my error became clear.
Does Allah give us tribulation more than we can bear?
"No person shall have a burden laid on him greater than he can bear." The Heffer 2:233.
"Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope." The Heffer 2:286
"Allah wishes to lighten (burden) for you." The Women 4:28
"We burden not any person, but that which he can bear." The Cattle 6:152
These verses are clear and do not need explaination. We can bear the burden, we can bear the tribulation; it may not be easy for us but we can do it.
Love what's bad for us?
Sometimes something that you love contains harm. You can desire something and it can be withheld from you or something that you wished for does not happen. Then this becomes like a burden upon you, dragging you down. Beware, satan at this point, because he can beautify the worst thing in your eyes. Like wine/alcohol we know it is prohibited but some of us still consume it because we love it. This is an example of something we love but has harm in it. Likewise, we can hate tribulations even though it is something good for us. This is also due to the heart being so sick that it loves the prohibited.
"If you dislike them, it may be that you dislike a thing and Allah brings through it a great deal of good." The Women 4:19
Quran: The Heffer 2:216.
Imam Al-Qurtabi (may Allah be pleased with him) says perhaps/'saa means definitely/qad.
Its reads like this: "Definitely you will hate something which is good for you and you will definitely love something which is evil for you."
This is something to ponder over.
Hearts re-connect to Allah the exalted
This sounds strange but hear me out, tribulations draw a person closer to Allah by means of opening a dormant channel between that person and Allah.
This happens quite frequently, we are sent a tribulation and then and only then do we remember Allah because we realise that we have no one else to turn to.
The only problem is when the tribulation ends and we return to our old ways.
We cannot remember Allah in adversity alone, don't we realise the blessings that are showered upon us, in every moment!
Ponder the following
"Who has created death and life, that He may test you which of you is best in deed. And He is the All-Mighty, the Oft-Forgiving." The Dominion 67:2
"Those unto whom men said: Lo! the people have gathered against you, therefore fear them. (The threat of danger) but increased the faith of them and they cried: Allah is Sufficient for us! Most Excellent is He in Whom we trust!" The Family of Imran 3:173
I remember Sheikh Hamza Yusuf commentating on this verse, the subject of this verse had been told that people would oppose you if you believed and when this occurred they took it as proof that their belief was strong. Which leads me onto another point; as much as your faith is strong, you will be tested in accordance to it.
The more faith you have the more you are tested and likewise the lesser faith you have the least you are tested with. The people who have tribulation all the time are those of strong faith and those who are weak are rarely tested. In any case what our reaction to events that transpire that are against us?
Al-Tirmidhi (2398) narrated that Sa'd ibn Abu Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) said, I asked, "O Messenger of Allah, which of the people are the most sorely tested?" He said: "The Prophets, then those similar, then those similar. A man will be tested in accordance with his level of faith. If his faith is strong, he will be tested more severely, and if his faith is weak, he will be tested in accordance with his faith. Calamity will keep befalling a person until he walks on the Earth with no sin on him."
If you look into the lives of the Prophets (upon them peace) they were sorely tested, Adam (upon him peace) lived during the time when one of his children murdered the other, Nuh's (upon him peace) son disbelieved at the time of the flood, Ayyub's (upon him peace) sickness, Musa's (upon him peace) people adopting polytheism at Mount Sinai, Ibrahim's (upon him peace) sacrifice of his son, Isa's (upon him peace) nation transgressing the limits by turning into polytheists. Then look at the life story of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), his father died before he was born, his mother died when he was six and his grandfather died when he was eight years old. Think about this, you are eight years old without brother or sister and your parents are dead.
So, now the question is; did Allah love the Prophets? The answer from any responsible person is a resounding yes! Yes, of course, so tribulations are sent to those with great faith, to those who can bear it and those who are strong.
So listen dear friend if you are in a tribulation then be patient and know relief is coming. Do not feel angry or upset, be calm and remain steadfast. Please do not lose hope and direct yourself to Allah (the Exalted).
As we all know tribulations can be one of two:
1. Expiation - for previous wrongs
2. To raise the persons rank closer to Allah Ta'ala
All these states are good because the Muslim is losing his sins which is the least that a person gets from tribulations. If we are patient as well then there is a reward for that as well! So He wants to remove your sins and reward you for it!
There is a wonderful saying that the Moroccans have which is when something of material value breaks or is lost they say that something bad was going to happen to that person and instead that thing broke or was lost. Most of all tribulations remind us not to get too comfortable in the world because we are going to leave it one day. Only when we have closed the door to the past, can we open the door to the future. It is difficult but we can learn and move on. You are stronger than you know and you can make it past this, to see better days. One day you will look back at this time and realise the strength you found to move on was the best thing that you did. Look back one last time and move forward. You can do it, one day at a time. Laughter is the best medicine, it really is and it really helps. Your heart might be busy with pain so make it busy with something else.
Also, I do not claim to be an expert because there have been many times that I have lost my temper during tribulations. I hope that Allah (Mighty and Majestic) allows us all to get "double" points from our tribulations! Hang on in there because it is always darkest before dawn.
Please see this link it is a clip of Sheikh Hamza yusuf talking about the four states of man
40 hadith on tribulation
The 17 benefits of tribulations.
For our German readership here is a link to a partial German translation.
http://www.islamische-zeitung.de/?id=12096
Our lecture on seventeen benefits of tribulation
http://sheikhynotes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/sheikh-arfan-shah.html
Our lecture on seventeen benefits of tribulation
http://sheikhynotes.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/sheikh-arfan-shah.html
Sunday, March 16, 2008
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