"O you who believe! Seek help
with patient Perseverance and Prayer: for Allah is with those who patiently
persevere. And say not of those who are slain in the way of Allah: "They are
dead." Nay, they are living, though you perceive (it) not. Be sure We shall test
you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in goods or lives or the fruits
(of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Who say,
when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we belong, and to Him is our return".
They are those on whom (descend) blessings from their Lord, and Mercy, and it is
they who are the guided ones" [Al-Baqarah: 153-157]
Allah (swt), in these verses, makes clear the following:
1. After Allah (swt) informs us that he has sent to us a Messenger from
ourselves, reading upon us His verses, purifying us from polytheism and teaching
us all what we require regarding the Aqeeda (creed) and Ahkam (laws), and
ordered us to follow them, then ordered us to always remember His name and to
carry the call to Islam, he ordered us seek help with patient perseverance and
prayer.
The expression in this verse suggests that the da'wa (call) to Islam and abiding
by the Shari'a (laws) of Allah (swt) is a heavy responsibility and holds great
difficulties, and it is upon the believer to stand firm throughout all this;
firm, solid and seeking support from two matters clarified by Allah (swt):
patience and prayer.
2. Then He (swt) mentioned several types of trials that befall man during his
carrying of Islam and the da'wa to it. He (swt) also described what he has
prepared for those who are patient, who stand firm upon the truth and, upon
falling into a disaster, they say: "To Allah we belong, and to Him is our
return". Of the trials, which Allah (swt) mentioned and what he has
prepared as a reward for the people who are tested:
a. Dying for the sake of Allah means for a person to be killed while fighting
the enemies of Allah (swt) to raise His (swt) Word, facing the enemy, not with
ones back to them (running away), standing firm in the area where the fighting
is occurring. He is alive with Allah (swt), but the people cannot sense this,
since it is a matter that is beyond the senses of man, but it is a beautiful,
sweet life. "Whoever fought to raise the word of Allah, facing the enemy,
not running away, is (fighting) for the sake of Allah" [Al-Nisaa'i, Ahmed
and Al-Darmi]. "The souls of the Martyrs, with Allah, are inside green
birds, gliding around the rivers of paradise as they please" [Muslim, Al-Tirmidhi,
Ibn Maja, Al-Darmi and Ahmed].
b. The trials with something of fear, hunger, some loss in goods or lives or
fruits (of toil) are trials in all its forms, for any of these befalling a
believer is a tribulation: Fear and lack of security, poverty and hunger, loss
of wealth, loss of lives due to illnesses and death, or loss of fruits due to a
famine. Allah (swt) also mentioned "with something", meaning whether
the trial is great or small, it is a trial, and patience through it earns great
Ajir (rewards). "The Prophet (saw) withdrew after putting a lamp out, and
when he was asked regarding this he said: Whatever hurts a believer is a trial,
and there is Ajir for him in it." [Al-Dir Al Manthoor, Tafseer Al-Baydhawi]
c. Allah (swt) described that when a believer is put through a trial, and he is
patient throughout, reacting to it by saying "To Allah we belong, and to
Him is our return" he is rewarded with great Ajir; "on whom (descend)
blessings from their Lord, and Mercy, and it is they who are the guided
ones". Yes, this is a great reward: The pleasure of Allah (swt), his
blessings and mercy, and not only this, but also for them is much pleasure in
this world too.
It was brought by Muslim regarding Umm Salamah "She said: I heard the
Messenger of Allah (saw) say: There is not one slave (of Allah) who is put
through a trial and says: "Inna lillah wa inna ilayhi raaji'un (to Allah we
belong, and to Him is our return) Oh, Allah, help me through my ordeal and grant
me better than it after." except Allah helped him through his ordeal and
gave him better than it after. She said: So when Abu Salamah (her husband) died,
I said what I was told to say by the Messenger of Allah (saw) and Allah (swt)
granted me better than him…the Prophet of Allah (saw)." [Al-Bukhari,
Muslim, Al-Tirmidhi and Abu Da'ud].
3. Allah (swt) orders us to seek help with patience and prayer in the carrying
of Islam and the call to it, and to remain steadfast to the truth in it. It is
Sahih (authentic) regarding the Messenger of Allah (saw) that if he was worried
about something, he would rush to prayer, for prayer is the believer's solace
where, through it, he meets his Lord (the Most High) and is filled with
tranquillity upon carrying it out. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said "There
are three things, which Allah has made beloved to me: fragrance, women and my
solace has been made in prayer" [Al-Nisaa'i and Ahmed].
For prayer gives the believer strength and energy to be capable of resisting
oppression as well as the oppressors, and a sincere will to remain steadfast
upon the truth. It produces an unrelenting and unweakening, sincere believer.
Allah had even mentioned patience before prayer, emphasizing the importance of
patience, for prayer is the relationship between the slave and his Creator, and
patience is the relationship between the slave and his Creator, himself and
others around him, as it is the measure of steadfastness during calamities,
trials and difficulties.
Here, we must take a moment to look into patience, to remove any misconceptions,
which may be held by some Muslims regarding its reality and its meaning.
Some people believe that if a person was to turn inwards, isolating himself from
others, leaving sin and sinners, while he witnesses sacred matters being
desecrated, and the limits of Allah (swt) disregarded and Jihad abolished, not
taking up a stance towards it, rather he is distanced from it, having abandoned
Al-Nahi 'an Al-Munkar (forbidding all that which is evil); that this would be
considered to be patience.
Or some understand patience to mean avoiding being exposed to pain and avoiding
situations where one might come across the possibility of coming into contact
with the enemies of Allah (swt), thus not daring to say a word of truth, or
undertaking the work to please Allah (swt). Instead he remains silent, sitting
in a corner, calling himself patient.
This is not the patience, for which Allah (swt) has prepared for its people the
gardens of paradise; "Only those who are patient shall receive their reward
in full, without reckoning" [Az-Zumar: 10]. Rather, this is the same
weakness that the Messenger of Allah (saw) sought refuge from when he (saw) said
"I seek refuge in Allah from incapability, laziness, cowardice,
miserliness, worry, misery, being overcome with debt and the strength of
men" [Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
Patience is to carry the truth, to say the truth and to perform the truth,
withstanding all the hurt encountered because of it, for the sake of Allah (swt),
without ever going astray, weakening or softening.
Patience is what Allah (swt) has made equal in status to Taqwa (fear of Allah (swt)),
according to the saying of Allah (swt): "Verily, he who fears Allah with
obedience to Him and is patient, then surely, Allah makes not the reward of the
Muhsineen (those who do the finest deeds) to be lost" [Yusuf: 90].
Patience is what Allah (swt), glory be to He, has compared to the Mujahideen
when He (swt) said, "And many a Prophet fought and along with him (fought)
large bands of learned men (in matters of Deen). But they never lost heart for
that which did befall them in Allah's way, nor did they weaken nor degrade
themselves. And Allah loves those who are patient" [Ale-Imran: 146].
It is patience during trials, and patience towards Qadaa (decreed matters) that
leads to perseverance and being unshakeable, and leads to steadfastness to The
Book, not abandoning it, and not using the excuse of the weight of the burden on
oneself. And it is patience that leads to coming closer to The One whom there is
no escaping from: "But he cried through the darkness (saying): La ilaha
illa Anta (none has the right to be worshipped but You) Glorified and Exalted
are You! Truly, I have been of the wrongdoers" [Al-Anbiya: 87]
It is the patience that strengthens ones determination, and brings the path to
paradise nearer; like the patience of Bilal, Khabab and Aala Yassir to whom the
Messenger (saw) said "Patience Aala Yassir (family of Yassir) for your
appointment to meet is in Paradise" [Al-Mustadrik, Al-Matalib, Al-'Aaliya
and Al-Hilya].
It is the patience of Khabayb and Zayd who said "By Allah, I could never
accept for Muhammad (saw) to be affected by even a tiny scratch, while I am safe
with my family" [Seerat Ibn Hisham].
It is the patience of those who account the oppressors, with no fear of any
repercussions whatsoever. The Messenger of Allah (saw) said
"Verily, by
Allah, you must account the oppressor and descend upon him with the truth,
without exception, and limit him to the truth, strictly, or Allah will strike
your hearts together (make you all alike) and curse you as he cursed Bani Israil"
[Al-Tirmidhi, Abu Da'ud and Ibn Maja].
It is the patience of the pure Al-Ghurr Al-Mayameen (those finest in honour,
courage and high standing), the Companions of Al-Saadiq Al-Ameen (the truthful
and trustworthy one), the Messenger of Allah (saw). It is the patience of the
companions of the Notice (the boycotting of the Muslims in Makkah), the ones who
were separated from the society. It is the patience of the ones who emigrated to
Al-Habashah [Abyssinia] and those who were oppressed just for saying "Allah
is our Lord".
The patience of the Muhajireen and the Ansar, during their fighting the
Polytheists, the Persians and the Romans…the patience of the one who was taken
hostage, Abdullah bin Abi-Huthafah…the patience of the sincere, truthful,
believing Mujahideen.
Patience is to enjoin the Ma'ruf and forbid the Munkar, never weakening before
the harm inflicted in the way of Allah (swt). Patience is to be one of the
soldiers in the army of the Muslims, pressing forth to fight the enemies of
Allah (swt).
Patience is to be a confirmation to the saying of Allah:
"You shall
certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves;
and you shall certainly hear much that will grieve you, from those who received
the Book before you and from the polytheists. But if you persevere patiently,
and guard against evil, then that will be a determining factor in all
affairs." [Ale-Imran: 186] and His (swt) saying:
"And We shall try you
until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience;
and We shall try your reported (determination)." [Muhammad: 31].
And the saying of The Most High:
"Be sure We shall test you with something of fear and hunger, some loss in
goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil), but give glad tidings to those who
patiently persevere. Who say, when afflicted with calamity: "To Allah we
belong, and to Him is our return". They are those on whom (descend)
blessings from their Lord, and Mercy, and it is they who are the guided
ones" [Al-Baqarah: 155-157]
Source: Translated from "Al-Waie" Magazine (Arabic)