Strength in Faith – a Virtue of the Believers - II

Examples of Strength in Faith in the Lives of the Prophets, may Allaah
exalt their mention
Anyone who reads the books of Sunnah and Seerah (biography), and
reviews the stories of the Prophets and Messengers, will find that
strength in practicing the religion, facing the disbelievers, as well
as in calling others to Allaah The Almighty was evident in their
lives.
Prophet Nooh (Noah) was engaged in Da'wah (propagation to Islam) day
and night, in secret and in open; it was said that he even went to
their homes to preach to them. However, his people would make him
bleed until he would faint; and even then, whenever he would regain
consciousness, he would say to them, "Worship Allaah, for you have no
deity other than Him." For nine hundred and fifty years, he persevered
in his Da'wah and in the end, only a few people had believed in him.
Did he lose heart or discontinue his Da'wah? Never!
In fact, he was ordered to build a ship, which he did on land, knowing
well that Allaah The Almighty would set it to sail and anchor it. So,
whenever someof his people passed by and mocked him, he would simply
respond with what is stated in the verse (which means): {If you
ridicule us, then we will ridicule you just as you ridicule.} [Quran
11:38]
Likewise, Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham) demolished the idols of his
people, invited his father to Islam, confronted his people and debated
An-Namrood (Nimrod), who dominated the world in his time. He also left
Haajar (Hagar) and Ismaa'eel (Ishmael), may Allaah exalt their
mention, in a desolate place, even set about slaughtering his son in
order to obey the order of Allaah The Almighty, traveled the world,
strove in His cause not fearing any earthly power and openly declared
that he set out to his Lord and His guidance. Allaah The Almighty
describes him, Saying (what means): {Indeed, Abraham was a
[comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to Allaah, inclining toward
truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allaah. [He
was] grateful for His favors. Allaah chose him and guided him to a
straight path.} [Quran 16:120-121]
Similarly, Prophet Moosaa (Moses) challenged Pharaoh who claimed
Lordship and Divinity; he even defied the magicians who were said to
number seventy thousand. Thus, the young woman in Madyan, where he had
set out to, said about him (what means): {O my father, hire him;
surely the most charitable [man] you [can hire is the [one who is]
powerful [and] trustworthy.} [Quran 28:26] The strength of Prophet
Moosaa was evident in his preaching to the Children ofIsrael, patience
with them and invitation of them to adhere firmly to the religion of
Allaah The Almighty, Who quotes him, Saying (what means): {Seek help
through Allaah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allaah. He
causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best]
outcome is for the righteous.} [Quran 7:128] It also manifested in the
manner in which he honored the symbols ofAllaah The Almighty, as well
as when he dropped the Tablets andseized his brother by his hair,
pulling him toward him.
Anyone who reads the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad will, too,find
faith-related strength perfectly highlighted in his Da'wah and
endurance of the harms that his people inflicted onhim and his noble
Companions . Nonetheless, his response was: "If they put the sun in my
right hand and the moon in my left, in order to [make me] abandon this
[mission], I would not do so until Allaah makes it reign supreme or I
perish in its defense."
The disbelievers first made generous offers to him so that hewould
renounce the Da'wah, but he remained persistent. They then
collaborated to kill him, but Allaah The Almighty saved him. He had to
emigrate from the most lovable city to his Lord and to himself, and
yet, he never forsook striving for Him in Makkah or Madeenah.
Not only was he endowed with strength in faith, but also physical
prowess. He was always resolute, even in the heat of battle, so much
so that the courageous among the Companions would even seekrefuge with
him. On the day of the campaign of Hunayn, when Muslims were in the
throes of what seemed like defeat, he continued to declare, "I am the
Prophet, [that is] no lie; I am the son of 'Abdul-Muttalib" until his
Companions gathered aroundhim. He triumphed over Rukaanah, one of the
Arabs famous for his strength, in wrestling, thrice.
The Mother of the Believers, Khadeejah would provide Muhammad with
food, when he would seclude himself to worship Allaah The Almighty in
the cave of Hiraa' for many consecutive nights. This happened before
his Bi'thah (commissioning as a Prophet); indeed, who can do this now?
The righteous predecessors
If we examine the circumstances of the righteous predecessors, we will
also observe their truthful obedience, with power and determination,
and without any change or alteration.
The righteous man mentioned in the Chapter Yaaseen, for
instance,witnessed the death of the messengers, yet, he came from the
farthest end of the city in an attempt to revive the faith and
addressed the people, saying (what means): {O my people, follow the
messengers. Follow those who do not ask of you [any] payment, and they
are [rightly] guided.} [Quran 36:20-21]Was he not afraid of being
harmed or killed? Why did he not take [the safety of] his home and
family into consideration? The truth is that he entrusted his affairs
to Allaah The Almighty, convinced that He would not fail His allies
who strictly follow his Sharee'ah in good and bad times.When they took
him and killed him, he advised them then as he would in his lifetime;
Allaah The Almighty quotes him, Saying (what means): {I wish my people
could know. Of how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the
honored.} [Quran 36:26-27] However, they were worthless in the sight
of Allaah The Almighty as He continues to Say (what means): {And We
did not send down upon his people after him any soldiers from the
heaven, nor would We have done so. It was not but one shout,
andimmediately they were extinguished. How regretful for the servants.
There did not come to them any messenger except that they used to
ridicule him.} [Quran 36:28-30]
Unwavering faith and profound conviction were the main factors behind
the attitude [and actions] of those known as the Companions of the
Cave, the lone believer in the family of Pharaoh and those thrown in a
ditch because of their faith, as well as the infant 'Abdullaah, among
them.
How else would we interpret the case of Sumayyah, her husband Yaasir
and their son 'Ammaar ? They were tortured in the cause of Allaah The
Almighty and yet, they firmly adhered to His obedience. In the same
way, the disbelievers would put Bilaal under the burning sun with his
back loaded with rocks. Despite that, he would intone: "[Allaah
is]One, [Allaah is] One." A lady known as Umm Tameem would also heat
pieces of iron until they turned red and place them on hishead until
he writhed in pain.
Tortured people on earth are many; some of them have been imprisoned,
killed or banished, while others' heads were even sawed off and yet
others cut withcombs of iron separating their flesh and bones.
However, all thisdoes not cause the strong ones to renounce their
religion.
The Prophet too, suffered many hardships, as none on earth was harmed
like him at thetime. But, he neither faltered nor submitted and would
rather say, "Sufficient for us is Allaah, and Heis the best Disposer
of affairs."
Indeed, this is a call to Muslims torespond to [this attitude of] the
Messenger of Allaah and follow him. We must not believe in a part of
the Quran and disbelieve in its other sections, for anyone who does so
will be subjected to the severest of punishments; and, as Allaah The
Almighty Says (what means): {Your Lord is not unaware of what you do.}
[Quran 28:93]
Let us beware of the traits of hypocrites, who worship Allaah The
Almighty only in times of welfare, as He Says (what means): {And of
the people is he who worships Allaah on an edge. If he is touched by
good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on
his face [to the other direction]. He has lost [this] world and the
Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss.} [Quran 22:11] He also
cautions, Saying (what means): {Those whotake disbelievers as allies
instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor [through
power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allaah entirely.} [Quran4:139]
Tomorrow, when the Day of Judgment will arrive and anything that was
concealed will be exposed, the hypocrites will be shown their deeds,
which Allaah describes, Saying (what means): {Their deeds are like a
mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he
comes to it, he finds it isnothing but finds Allaah before Him, and He
will pay him in full his due; and Allaah is Swift in account.} [Quran
24:39]
Thus, we will not be excused for our [feebleness that is apparent in
our] amending and replacing the Sharee'ah of Allaah, when even
Prophets, may Allaah exalt their mention, would say (what means): {It
is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is
revealed to me.} [Quran 10:15]
We must not take concessions or coercion as pretexts. Life is of
little worth and Paradise is a precious commodity; that is why the
noble free people prefer theirdemise to humiliation. Indeed, death in
the cause of obeying Allaah is far better than a life of defiance.
Regarding the destruction of our enemies, it lies in their boasting of
their power, as Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {As for 'Aad,
they were arrogant upon the earth without right andsaid, 'Who is
greater than us in strength?' Did they not consider that Allaah Who
created them is greater than them in strength? But they were rejecting
Our signs.} [Quran 41:15]
Hence, though our bodies may become frail, our faith and conviction
must not. O servants of Allaah The Almighty! Abide by His religion
with strength and steadfastness, for anyone who retreats, does so only
to the detriment of him/herself. Allaah The Almighty Says (what
means): {And if you turn away, He will replace you with another
people; then they will not be the likes of you.} [Quran 47:38] - -
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