Sheik Muhammed Salih Al-Munajjid
19 December 2008
(Page 2 of 2)
1. What was the source of the Companions' steadfastness in Makkah, at the time of their persecution?
2. How could Bilaal, Khabbaab, Mas'ab, the family of Yaasir and other dispossessed Muslims stand firm? How could even the greatest of the Sahaabah stand firm when they were boycotted by others?
3. Is it possible that they could have stood firm without extensive training under the supervision of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), which had honed and refined their personalities?
4. Take, for example, the Sahaabi Khabbaab ibn al-Arat (may Allaah be pleased with him), whose owner used to heat an iron skewer until it was red-hot, then place it on his bare back where it would burn until it was extinguished by the fat of his back flowing over it. What made him able to bear all that with patience and perseverance?
5. And think of Bilaal beneath the rock on the burning sands, and Sumayyah in chains and fetters...
6. Look at the Madani period: we may ask, who was it who stood firm with the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) at Hunayn when most of the Muslims fled? Was it the new converts who had become Muslim at the Conquest of Makkah, and who had not yet received sufficient training at the hands of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), most of whom had gone out only in search of booty? No... most of those who stood firm were the crème de la crème of the believers, who had already received that great training.
If they had not received such training, do you think they would have stood firm?
Having confidence in the road you are following
No doubt the more confident the Muslim is of the path he is following, the more steadfast he will be in adhering to it. There are many ways of achieving this, including the following:
1. Feeling that the way which you are following is not something new that started in this century, but that it is an ancient and venerable way which the Prophets, speakers of truth, scholars, martyrs and righteous people have followed before you. This will reduce your feelings of loneliness and replace your alienation with a sense of comfort, and your sadness will turn to joy because you will feel that all these people are your brothers in this way and methodology.
2. Feeling that you are among the chosen. Allaah says (interpretation of the meanings):
"...Praise and thanks be to Allaah, and peace be on His slaves whom He has chosen (for His Message)! ..." [al-Naml 27:59]
"Then We gave the Book (the Qur'aan) for inheritance to such of Our slaves as We chose..." [Faatir 35:32]
"Thus will your Lord choose you and teach you the interpretation of dreams (and other things)..." [Yoosuf 12:6]
Just as Allaah has chosen the Prophets, so the righteous have a share in this being chosen, which is that they have inherited the knowledge of the Prophets.
3. How would you feel if Allaah had created you inanimate, or a dumb beast, or an atheist kaafir, or one who calls to bid'ah, or an immoral wrongdoer, or a Muslim who does not call others to Islam, or one who calls to a way that is filled with error?
4. Do you not see that this feeling of having been chosen by Allaah and been made one of those who call to the way of Ahl al-Sunnah wa'l-Jamaa'ah is one of the factors which will keep you steadfast in your methodology and in this path?
Calling others to Allaah (da'wah)
The soul that is not active will stagnate. One of the most important fields in which one can be active is the field of da'wah, calling others to Allaah. This is the work of the Prophets, work which will save you from punishment, realize your potential and enable you to achieve great things. "Now then, for that (reason), call (them to the Faith), and stand steadfast as you are commanded..." [al-Shoora 42:15 - interpretation of the meaning]. It is not true to say that someone is neither making progress nor slipping back (for if you are not making progress, you are therefore falling back - no one is static). If a person is not occupied in acts of worship and obedience, he will be busy with sin and disobedience, and faith can wax and wane (it does not remain constant).
Calling to the correct methodology - by devoting time to it, making mental and physical efforts, and speaking out, so that da'wah becomes the main concern of the Muslim - will block the Shaytaan's efforts to tempt him and lead him astray.
In addition to that, being challenged by obstacles and stubborn people on the journey of da'wah will make the da'iyah stronger in faith.
Besides bringing a great reward, da'wah is also a means of being steadfast in one's faith and protecting oneself from backsliding, because the one who is attacking does not need to defend himself, and Allaah is with the da'iyahs, making them stand firm. The da'iyah is like a doctor fighting illness with his experience and knowledge: by fighting the illness in others he will be the least likely to suffer it himself.
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