sometimes things get so difficult that I feel that I have no hope of
carrying on.
Praise be to Allaah.
You have done well by realizing that the Islamiclife is the best life
that a person could live. This is a great truth which few people
understand, let alone become convincedof. Allaah has stated that in
more than one place in his Book.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Whoever works righteousness — whether male or female — while he (or
she) is a true believer (of Islamic Monotheism) verily, to him We will
give a good life (in this world with respect, contentment and lawful
provision), and We shall pay them certainly a reward in proportion to
the best ofwhat they used to do (i.e. Paradise in the Hereafter)"
[al-Nahl 16:97]
And Allaah has stated that whoever turns away from faith in Allaah and
remembranceof Him exposes himself to a life of hardship and misery, as
He says (interpretation of the meaning):
"But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in
this Qur'aan nor acts on its teachings) verily, for him is a life of
hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection."
125. He will say: 'O my Lord! Why have you raised me up blind, while I
had sight (before).'
126. (Allaah) will say: 'Like this: Our Ayaat (proofs, evidences,
verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) came unto you, but you
disregarded them (i.e. you left them, did not think deeply in them,
and you turned away from them), and so this Day, you will be neglected
(in the Hell‑fire, away from Allaah's Mercy).'
127. And thus do We requite him who transgresses beyond bounds [i.e.
commits the great sins and disobeys his Lord (Allaah) and believes not
in His Messengers, and His revealed Books, like this Qur'aan], and
believes not in the Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, lessons, signs,
revelations, etc.) of his Lord; and the torment ofthe Hereafter is far
moresevere and more lasting"
[Ta-Ha 20:124-127]
Once you have understood this, and it has become deeply rooted in your
heart andyou are at peace with it, then you will know that Allaah has
not created this universe, with the earth and the heavens, the seas
and the rivers, the mountains and plains, the oases and thedeserts,
except for your sake, O poor, weak creature. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning): "He it is Who created for you all
that is on earth"
[al-Baqarah 2:29]
Then you will realize that the great purpose for which you exist in
this world is to worship your Lord and Creator, Who has created all
things well:
"And I (Allaah) created not the jinn and mankind except that they
should worship Me (Alone)"
[al-Dhaariyaat 51:56 – interpretation of the meaning]
He has only created life and death in order to test His slaves in
their performance of this dutyof worship:
"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"
[al-Mulk 67:2 – interpretation of the meaning]
Then Allaah honoured His slaves and promised those who do good in this
world that in the Hereafter theirs will be Paradise as vast as the
heavens and the earth, in which is that which no eye has ever seen, no
ear has ever heard, nor has it ever entered the mind of man. By the
same token, He has warned those who do evil and neglect His rights
over them that theirs will be a blazing Fire, in which they will
neither live nor die, in which He has created all kinds of punishments
and torments, hearing ofwhich would turn a child's hair white, let
alone seeing them and suffering them. We ask Allaah to keep us and you
safe from that… ameen.
Once you know this withcertainty, then you will know that succeeding
inthis test is a serious matter which can only be achieved with a
measure of effort and hardship which requires patience and
forbearance. But this is hardship which passes swiftly and difficulty
which soon comes to an end, because it is followed by eternal rest and
happiness. So what is an hour of hardship and a moment of pain when
compared to that eternal delight. We ask Allaah to bless us and you
with His grace and Paradise…ameen.
You should also note – may Allaah guide you – that the more religious
commitment becomes something strange and the fewer people there are
who truly adhere to it – as is the situation nowadays – the more
difficult it becomes to remain steadfast. It is hard to be different
from the vast majority ofpeople. Hence Allaah in His wisdom increases
thereward of the sincere believers who remain steadfast in adhering to
the truth, those who give precedence to pleasing Him over everything
else and sacrifice that which is most precious to them for the sake of
achievingthat. In Saheeh Muslim (145) it is narrated that Abu Hurayrah
(may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messengerof Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "Islam started as something
strange and will go backto being something strange as it began. So
glad tidings to the strangers."
In Sunan al-Tirmidhi (3058) it is narrated from Abu Tha'labah
al-Khushani (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of
Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: "After you
there will come daysduring which being patient will be like holding on
to a live coal.The one who strives during those days will have a
reward like that of fifty men who strive as you do." According to
another report: It was said: "O Messenger of Allaah, the reward of
fifty men like them or like us?" He said: "No, the reward of fifty men
like you." Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh al-Targheeb
wa'l-Tarheeb, 3172
These ahaadeeth and others indicate that at the end of time, there
will be many evil and corrupt people, and few who are good and
righteous and fear Allaah. That is because there will be so much
fitnah (temptation and tribulation) and becausesin and temptation will
be so widespread that adhering to Islam will become something strange
and may even become something strange among the Muslims themselves.
These ahaadeeth also indicate that adherence to Islam is not
somethingeasy, rather it is like holding on to a live coal.What will
help a person to do that, after guidance from Allaah, is being patient
in adhering to this path until he meets his Lord not being negligent
or heedless, so he will meeta Lord Who is pleased with him and not
angry with him, and will give him a great and much-multiplied
reward.If a person truly understands this, he will regard as
insignificant whatever he encounters for the sake of that which is
waiting for him with his Lord, by the willand grace of Allaah.
What we have said applies if you feel that things are too difficult
for you and you fear that your patience is weak and that you are
slipping and not remaining steadfast.
However, if you are feeling that you have no hope of spreading this
Islamic life that you live among those who are around you, and
bringing them back to Islam as you are obliged to do, because of the
opposition and resistance that you encounter, you should know that
every step that you take in that direction is a victory andan act of
charity. A good word is a charity, and you do not know when a word
that you have spoken may take effect in the heart of the one who hears
it and be of some benefit to him, even if that is after sometime. So
you should not give up hope that it will do some good one day.
"And when a communityamong them said: "Why do you preach to a people
whom Allaah is about to destroy or to punish with a severe torment?"
(The preachers) said: "In order to be free from guilt before your Lord
(Allaah), and perhaps they may fear Allaah"
[al-A'raaf 7:164]
Beware of letting despair enter your heart.Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning):
"Certainly no one despairs of Allaah's Mercy, except the peoplewho disbelieve"
[Yoosuf 12:87]
Beware of despair for it is misguidance:
"And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?"
[al-Hijr 15:56]
Remember that your efforts will never be lost,so long as you remain
onthe right path. The pointwhere your life ends, this is your
destination:
"He who emigrates (from his home) in the Cause of Allaah, will find on
earth many dwelling places and plenty to live by. And whosoever leaves
his home as an emigrant unto Allaah and His Messenger, and death
overtakes him, his reward is then surely, incumbent upon Allaah. And
Allaah is Ever Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful"
[al-Nisa' 4:100]
Then will come the turn of those who come after you, to take the flag
from you and continue the rest of the journey. How many of this ummah
are still left: "Allaah will continue to plant new people in this
religion and use them in His obedience." Narratedby Ibn Maajah and
classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Sunan Ibn Maajah, 1/5.
Be certain of the promise of Allaah to this ummah of support and help:
"And indeed We have written in Az‑Zaboor [i.e. all the revealed Holy
Books the Tawraat (Torah), the Injeel (Gospel), the Psalms, the
Qur'aan] after (We have already written in) Al‑Lawh Al‑Mahfooz
(theBook that is in the heaven with Allaah) that My righteous slaves
shall inherit the land (i.e. the land of Paradise)"
[al-Anbiya' 21:105]
"This matter (i.e., Islam) will reach as far as the day and night
reach, andAllaah will not leave any house of mud or hair butHe will
bring this religion into it … and Allaah will bring glory toIslam and
humiliation to kufr." Narrated by Ahmad and classed as saheeh by
al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, 32.
I urge you to remain steadfast in your religious commitment and not to
turn away from it despite the manyfitnahs and temptations and the many
obstacles. Remember that the goodend will be for those who fear Allaah
(the pious).
You should strive to find all means that will help you to remain
steadfast in adhering to the religion of Allaah. On thiswebsite you
will find an essay which describes ways and means of remaining
steadfast in Islam. I advise you to read it and study it.
In conclusion I would like to leave you with these great verses from
the Book of Allaah whichHe revealed to His slave Muhammad (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) to be a healing for the
believers'hearts and a remedy for their ills. Read them and ponder
them, and if you can look up the commentary on them in one of the
books of Tafseer such as the Tafseer of Shaykh 'Abd al-Rahmaan ibn
Sa'di or Tafseer Ibn Katheer (mayAllaah have mercy on him) then that
will be good.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Or think you that you will enter Paradise without such (trials) as
came to those who passed away before you? They were afflicted with
severe poverty and ailments and were so shaken that even the Messenger
and those who believed along withhim said, 'When (will come) the Help
of Allaah?' Yes! Certainly, the Help of Allaah is near!"
[al-Baqarah 2:214]
"Alif‑Laam‑Meem.
[These letters are one of the miracles of the Qur'aan, and none but
Allaah (Alone) knows their meanings.]
2. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: "We
believe," and will not be tested.
3. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allaah will
certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will
certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars,
(although Allaah knows all that before putting them to test)"
[al-'Ankaboot 29:1-3]
"And for those who believe (in the Oneness of Allaah and the other
articles of Faith) and do righteous good deeds, surely, We shall make
them enter with (in the entrance of) the righteous (in Paradise).
10. Of mankind are somewho say: 'We believe in Allaah.' But if they
are made to suffer for the sake of Allaah, they consider the trial of
mankind as Allaah's punishment; and if victory comes from your Lord,
(the hypocrites) will say: 'Verily, we were with you (helping you).'
Is not Allaah Best Aware of what is in the breasts of the 'Aalameen
(mankind and jinn)"
[al-'Ankaboot 29:9-10]
"And among mankind is he who worships Allaah as it were upon the
edge(i.e. in doubt): if good befalls him, he is contenttherewith; but
if a trial befalls him he turns backon his face (i.e. reverts to
disbelief after embracing Islam). He loses both this world and the
Hereafter. That is the evident loss"
[al-Hajj 22:11]
"Verily, those who say: 'Our Lord is Allaah (Alone),' and then they
stand firm, on them the angels will descend (at the time of their
death) (saying): 'Fear not, nor grieve! But receive the glad tidings
of Paradise which you have been promised!'"
[Fussilat 41:30]
"Verily, those who say: 'Our Lord is (only) Allaah,' and thereafter
stand firm (on the Islamic Faith of Monotheism), on them shall be no
fear, nor shallthey grieve.
14. Such shall be the dwellers of Paradise, abiding therein (forever)
a reward for what they used to do"
[al-Ahqaaf 46:13-14]
And there are other verses which encourage us to remain steadfast
inour religious commitment and describe what Allaah haspromised to the
sincere believers. The Book of Allaah is filled with verses which
state this and explain it in the most eloquent manner. So I advise you
to read and ponder the Qur'aan. By Allaah's Leave you will find in it
the best help in remaining patient and not despairing or finding the
way too long. For this world will quickly come to an end, then each
person will find that which he has sent on ahead with his Lord; it is
good, all well and good, but if it is bad then the outcome will bebad:
"On the Day when every person will be confronted with all the good he
has done, and all the evil he has done, he will wish that there were a
great distance between him and his evil. And Allaah warns you against
Himself (His punishment) and Allaah is full of kindness to
(His)slaves"
[Aal 'Imraan 3:30]
I ask Allaah to open yourheart to goodness and to make you steadfast
in adhering to the truth until You meet Him. May he divert all evil
away from you, for He is All-Hearing, Ever Near. And Allaah knows
best.
May Allaah send blessings and peace upon His slave and Prophet
Muhammad andupon his family and companions.
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