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» How to Handle Crises - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
How to Handle Crises - By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
How
to Handle Crises
By Shaykh Ashraf Salah
Dear Muslims:
In these days we
are afflicted by different kinds of
trials and tribulations that subject people’s thoughts and conduct to changes;
trials that come one after the other; waves of trials in these days do not only
overwhelm people, but overwhelm them along with their thoughts and beliefs.
These crises affect our children, honour and lives. They are crises in which awful
things are portrayed as beautiful and beautiful things are portrayed as
unpleasant. These are crises in which falsehood is adorned and promoted and an
attempt is made to wipe out the truth and make it frightening. Crises that seek
to destroy and cause disturbances. These crises are being spread through many
means that include destructive ideologies, misleading precepts and false
propaganda.
Allah (SWT) threatens Muslims with trials
if they turn away from the religion of their Lord and His laws when He (SWT)
says, “And let those who oppose the Messenger’s (Muhammad’s) commandments
beware lest some trials befall them or a painful torment be inflicted upon
them.” (An-Noor 24: 63). The trial in
this verse includes all kinds of punishments like killing, disasters and
disease. It is a general trial that when
it occurs leaves none behind.
The Messenger of
Allah (PBUH) said, “Hasten to carry out righteous deeds before there come
trials in which man will wake up in the morning as a believer and will enter
into the evening as an unbeliever and he will enter into the evening as a
believer and wake up in the morning as an unbeliever.” (Muslim).
Crises usually
have its greatest effect on those who are weak in faith and those who
follow their
lusts. For crises find in this kind of people no resistance. Hudhayfah (RAA)
said:
“The crisis will
not affect you as long as you know your religion. The crisis is only when you
cannot distinguish between truth and falsehood.”
Dear Muslims:
The Prophet (PBUH)
said: “Safety of your ummah lies in its first generation. Its later generations
will be afflicted with calamities and things you will find repulsive. Trials
will follow one another successively until later ones will make the former seem
insignificant until the believer will say at the advent of each trial: ‘This is
the one that is going to destroy me.’ So let whosoever wants to be saved from
Hell and made to enter Paradise die while he
is believing in Allah and the Last Day and let him do to people what he would
like them to do to him.” (Muslim).
It is imperative
on Muslims to know that whatever crises and tribulation that affect the Muslims
are the results of their deeds. Allah (SWT) says, “(What is the matter with
you?) When a single disaster smites you,
although you smote (your enemies) with one twice as great, you say: "From
where does this come to us? Say (to them), "It is from yourselves (because
of your evil deeds)." (Aal `Imran 3:165).
Being obedient to
Allah (SWT) in all aspects of life is a necessity for all the Muslims and it is
only by adhering to Allah (SWT) that they can achieve the glory in this world
and happiness in the Hereafter. This is the only guarantee against trials and
afflictions. Conversely, lack of obedience to Allah (SWT) is the major cause of
crises and evils that is widespread among Muslims.
Dear Brothers And Sisters In Islam:
Trials are grave
in consequences for they leave nothing undestroyed. However, the gravest kind
of all trials is the one that affects one’s religion; in which one is misled
and becomes confused. Trials in religion lead some people to abject despair,
make Satan play with their sense of reasoning, lead some to whimsical thoughts
and blind others from seeing the truth. Trials are a way in which Allah (SWT)
has decreed for His slaves great wisdom among which is to test the Muslims and
distinguish between the faithful ones and the liars; between the sincere ones
and the opportunists. It is by trials that realities become known and insincere
ones are exposed.
Dear Muslims:
The Messenger of
Allah (PBUH) has informed us about a crisis in matters of religion and worldly
affairs. As for the crisis in matters of religion, it is anything that blocks
the way to belief in Allah, abiding by His commandments and following the
guidance of His Messenger like false and destructive creeds, corrupt behaviour
and blocking the way to remembrance of Allah and carrying out religious
obligations. As for the trial in worldly affairs, it is killings, fear and
usurpation of people’s properties. Muslims in general, should do all they can
to keep away from places of fitnah and its causes. Allah says, “And fear the
Fitnah (affliction and trial) which affects not in particular (only) those of
you who do wrong.” (Al-Anfal 8:25).
The Messenger of
Allah (PBUH) said, “There will be afflictions (in the near future) during which
a sitting person will be better than a standing one, and the standing one will
be better than the walking one, and the walking one will be better than the
running one, and whoever will expose himself to these afflictions, they will
destroy him. So whoever can find a place of protection or refuge from them,
should take shelter in it.”
(Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim).
Dear Brothers And Sisters In Islam:
Muslims should
Hold fast unto Qur’an and Sunnah. Holding fast unto them saves the Muslims from
all evils and corruptions. Allah (SWT)
says, “O you who believe! Obey Allah and obey the Messenger and those of you
(Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst
yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger (peace be upon him), if you
believe in Allah and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for
final determination.” (An-Nisa 4:59).
Ibn Abbaas (RAA)
said, “The Messenger of Allah gave a sermon in the Farewell Pilgrimage in which
he said, “O you people! I am leaving for you something which if you hold to it,
you will never go astray: the Book of
Allah and my Sunnah.” (Maalik). It is said that the religion of Islam is like
Noah’s Ark. Whoever boards it will be saved and whoever stays away from it will
be drowned.
Dear Muslims:
In order to
overcome crises Muslims should also stay with the community of their Ummah and
not divide. Allah (SWT) says, “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope
of Allah (i.e. this Allah), and be not divided among yourselves.” (Aal ‘Imran 3:103).
Also the Messenger
of Allah (PBUH) said: “Allah loves that you do three things and dislikes that
you do three things: He loves that you worship Him alone without associating
anything in worship with Him; that you hold fast together the rope of Allah and
that you do not be disunited. He dislikes for you gossiping, too much questions
and wasting of money.” (Muslim).
We should above
all go back to Allah (SWT) and seek refuge with Him through sincere
supplication for there is no power except with Allah.
May Allah (SWT) remove our hardships, put
an end to all crises, forgive and bless us all (Ameen).
