Islamic Perspectives on Trials and Tribulations
Are you a believer having faith in Allah and the Hereafter? Then prepare yourself for trials and tribulations with knowledge from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, for the believer’s heart and soul will for sure be put to test to check the level of faith and trust he/she has in Allah (swt).
Copyright(c) 2004 Mushfiqur Rahman
For my parents Muhammad Abdul-Khaleq and Rashida Khatun, whose faith, piety and righteousness is my inspiration, my supplication to Allah is what He has taught me in the Qur’an:
“My Lord! Show mercy to them as they nurtured me when I was small.”
Table of Contents
Understanding the Difference Between the Apparent and the Reality
An individual once asked Sayyid Mawdudi about why many people, despite being good and pious, or apparently innocent, suffer severe tribulations in this worldly life. What wrong could a minor child or an
infant, for example, commit so that he or she should have to suffer a fatal disease or even be murdered? Why do we see many good people suffering severe afflictions and calamities that they apparently do not deserve?
Mawdudi asked him to consider a beautiful, well-kept garden and its gardener. The garden has many kinds of plants, each requiring various types of resources and care. It is well kept and healthy since the gardener meticulously takes care of it. He often clears the weeds and unnecessary plants that are harmful for the good plants. He trims branches and leaves to maintain their good health. He waters his garden when needed, or withholds water when that is harmful. It is because of such good care that his garden remains beautiful and healthy.
The weeds or plants that he removes or the leaves and branches that he trims suffer much and complains. Their instincts are reactive to their own physical needs and they have little or no understanding about their
surroundings, let alone the rest of the garden. They complain about their immediate needs and sufferings and do not know what is ultimately good for even themselves, much less the entire garden. Mawdudi then asked him to compare the garden with the universe and the gardener with Allah (swt).
The point was well made. The analogy, however, is simplistic, for Allah’s knowledge and wisdom is infinite compared to the finite knowledge of a gardener, and His domain is infinitely wider and more complex than a garden. In this universe where an infinite number of laws, events, variables and factors are at work, each affecting others in complex ways, it is impossible for us to comprehend the full wisdom and purpose behind what we apparently observe.
Parables are sometimes used in the Qur’an to make a point understood. Often, when intellect fails to comprehend a matter, a simple parable can get it across.
The Qur’an mentions an interesting story about Moses in chapter al-Kahf. In this story, Moses met a person named Khidr[1], whom Allah had given “special knowledge”, at a place where “two rivers meet”[2]. Moses asked him for permission to accompany him in his travel. Khidr replied, “You will surely not be able to bear with me. For how can you patiently bear with something you cannot encompass in your knowledge?” After Moses insisted that he would be patient, Khidr allowed him to come with him on condition that he must not question him about anything unless he himself explains it to him.
They came to a place and found a boat. Khidr damaged the boat by making a hole in it. Moses immediately objected saying, “Have you made a hole in it so as to drown the people in the boat? You have certainly done an awful thing.” Khidr replied, “Did I not tell you that you will not be able to patiently bear with me?” Moses pleaded with him, saying that he forgot the promise.
Moving on, they next came to a place where they met a boy, and Khidr killed him. Utterly shocked, Moses exclaimed, “What! Have you slain an innocent person without his having slain anyone? Surely you have done a horrible thing.” Khidr replied, “Did I not tell you that you will not be able to patiently bear with me?” Moses pleaded again, saying that if he ever questioned him again about anything, then he would be fully justified in discarding him.
Moving further on, they came to a town where they found a wall that was broken and falling apart. Khidr repaired the wall to prevent it from disintegrating. Unable to hold his curiosity, Moses told Khidr that if he
wished, he could have gotten a payment for it. Perhaps he was hoping that Khidr would explain the matter to him without him asking a question.
That final comment made Khidr discard Moses. “This brings me and you to parting of ways”, he said. “Now I shall explain to you the true meaning of things about which you could not remain patient.” About the boat, he explained, it belonged to some poor people who earned their livelihood from the river. Nearby, there was an oppressive king who was seizing all boats by force. He damaged the boat so that the king will ignore it. About the boy, his parents were righteous whereas this boy was growing up to be a violent man who would
have oppressed them. It was hoped that Allah would now provide them with a righteous son. Lastly, about the wall, there was some buried treasure in there for two orphan boys left behind by their righteous father. By fixing the wall and preventing it from falling apart and thus exposing the treasure, he gained time for the boys to grow up and recover their property.
Before leaving, Khidr made his final comment that none of these was done by his own wish, meaning that he was simply executing Allah’s commands.
There is much debate and analysis by Islamic scholars about whether Khidr was a man or a prophet. Sayyid Mawdudi provides an excellent analysis on this subject and argues that Khidr was most likely an angel. For, it is strictly unlawful for a human being – much less a prophet whose task is to teach people laws and order - to kill an innocent person or damage one’s property. Only after one commits a crime and it is proven in a court of law, can he be subject to punishment by the proper authority. On the other hand, angels are taking
people’s lives and causing destructions every moment as they execute Allah’s orders[3].
While no man can see the angels and observe their activities, Allah (swt) privileged Moses to witness the wisdom behind these events so that he can develop an unshakable belief in the works of Allah and His wisdom and realize that what we see on the surface does not always represent the reality. Mawdudi writes: The narration of Moses’ story here is meant to draw both the unbelievers’ and the believers’ attention to an important fact. Those who are concerned with the external aspects of things are liable to draw false conclusions from their observations. This happens because man is not aware of the wisdom underlying the events that take place under God’s dispensation. One frequently witnesses that the wrong-doers prosper whereas the innocent suffer hardships; those who disobey God and commit transgression live in great affluence whereas those who obey God face adversities, and that the wicked enjoy the pleasures of worldly life whereas the virtuous live in misery. Such spectacles are quite common.
Not knowing why such things happen, doubts arise in people’s minds, leading them, on occasion, to have totally false perception of things. Those who consciously disbelieve and are immersed in the perpetration of injustice and oppression are led to conclude that they live in a disordered and chaotic world, a world which has either no sovereign, or if there is any, one who must have become senseless or unjust. Hence, they conclude that people may go about doing what they please, without fearing that they will be called to account. On the other hand, those who believe in God are heart-broken by what they see around them. It also often happens that when such believers are faced with sever tests, their faith is shaken to the core.
It was in order to enable Moses to comprehend the wisdom underlying those events which generally baffle one’s understanding that God slightly lifts the curtain from the reality which governs the working of the world. In this way, Moses was able to appreciate that appearances are quite different from the reality.[4] These two stories above – one a parable and the other a real story – brings out a fact that is central to understanding the Islamic perspectives on trials and tribulations, and that is: trials and tribulations is not an end on itself. It is a temporal event and a part of a process beyond which lies the reality of something good and desirable.
Unlike Moses for whom the curtain was briefly lifted, a believer cannot see that reality immediately with his mortal eyes, but his faith and knowledge makes him fully confident of that reality.
With that understanding borne in mind, we will now discuss some of the aspects of trials and tribulations from an Islamic perspective.
Allah is in Full Control of the Universe and Fully Aware of All Events
Nothing happens in this world except through the leave of Allah (swt). Therefore, a person who has been suffering from distress should know that Allah (swt) is fully aware of all that has happened or been happening to him. It is not a chaotic world where pain and suffering happens at random, nor is it a lawless universe without a ruler and watcher where the strong – be that a person or a nation – can do whatever it wishes to the weak without a consequence. The believer should know that Allah (swt) is aware of
every little details of everything that happens, so much so that not even a leaf falls from a tree without Allah (swt) being aware of it:
He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered) but is
(inscribed) in a Record Clear (to those who can read). (6:59)
No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: that is truly easy for Allah: in order that ye may not despair over matters that pass you by … (57:22-23)
Therefore, the believer should take relief and comfort from the fact that Allah (swt) is fully and intimately aware of his situations. Any harm or injustice that he has been subjected to by anyone, will not go without a
consequence. Or if he is suffering from distress and difficulties, then his suffering is constantly being watched by One who is the Most Kind, the Most Merciful.
Goodness is From Allah, Evil is From Ourselves
A believer must have firm conviction that any good that happens to us comes from Allah (swt) and any calamity that befalls us is the result of our own making: Whatever misfortune happens to you is because of the things your hands have wrought and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness. (42:30)
No affliction great or small afflicts a man but for a sin, but there are more which Allah forgives. (Tirmidhi)
This does not mean that one will suffer, in the form of calamities in this world, the consequences of every sin or mistake he commits. As the Prophet (p) said, Allah (swt) forgives much more sins than the ones from
which one suffers or will suffer in the Hereafter. But the important point to understand is that Allah (swt) does not cause injustice to anyone by putting him or her to undue suffering.
Our own experience and observations often point to this fact. When an individuals sits down and reflects upon his difficulties and makes an objective analysis of the events and actions leading to his situations, he will almost always identify some things he did that he should not have done or he did not that he should have done, which led to that situation. For example, for parents who suffer from their rebellious and disobedient teenaged child, it will be found, almost without exception, that they did not arrange his proper Islamic education and a good environment, and did not give it an enough priority to engage themselves with his upbringing. Indifference or inaction can be as serious as committing a sin or making a bad decision, which can lead to grave consequences. If a man, for another example, lives in an oppressive land where he suffers and cannot practice Islam, then he should be proactive and migrate from that place. Staying passive and continuing to suffer there will be considered acts of injustice that he commits against his own self, which can even lead him to Hell. Allah (swt) says about such persons:
When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls they say: “In what (plight) were ye?” They reply: “Weak and oppressed were we in the earth.” They say: “Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away (from evil)?” Such men will find their abode in Hell - what an evil refuge! (4:97)
Now, a god-fearing and righteous believer who has been afflicted with a terrible calamity or injustice may wonder: “What have I done for which I have to suffer as such?” This is a question that probably comes to
the minds of many believers afflicted with suffering and distress.
First and foremost, let us be reminded about the fundamental lesson learned from the story of Moses above, which is: there is a reality behind the apparent which can be far different, if not the opposite, from what we observe on the surface. How many times, in our human condition, have we suffered an obstacle or calamity which turned out to be a blessing days, months, or years later? Perhaps we then find ourselves a bit ashamed in front of Allah (swt) for not being patient and thus loosing the opportunity of earning Allah’s good
pleasure. Indeed, that is the test from Allah (swt), which some fail, some pass, and a few come out with superb success.
Secondly, even when a righteous believer finds no apparent reason for his calamity, self-scrutiny and objective analysis can point out some mistakes or some incorrect decisions made in the past leading to the situation. If, for example, a righteous and pious person with a very high moral character and conduct marries a person without looking for proper Islamic character and conduct in him or her, and subsequently suffers from a bad marriage and from the actions of that unrighteous spouse, than who else should be blamed other than that pious individual himself/herself? Life is a trust from Allah (swt) which must be utilized to the fullest possible use by every believer and cannot be wasted. Therefore, a righteous believer must be patient until he/she finds a righteous person to marry. Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an: Corrupt women are for corrupt men, and corrupt men for corrupt women; good women are for good men, and good men for good women. (24:26)
It is the Righteous Believers Who are Tested With Calamities
Though calamities may hit a believer as a surprise, the reality is that by virtue of being a believer one is supposed to suffer. If a believer understands the Islamic philosophy that this life is a testing ground, then he should realize that this philosophy will be implemented for him in practice while he lives in this testing ground, and not after he dies. Tests are not just limited to see whether one performs the rituals or not. His belief and commitments to Allah (swt), and his focus in the Hereafter will be fully and thoroughly tested with calamities and afflictions to gauge the depth of his faith in his heart. Achieving Paradise will not be easy. It will come only with unshakable faith and trust in Allah (swt). Allah, may He be glorified, says: Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves. (3:186)
Do men think that they will be left alone on saying “We believe” and that they will not be tested? (29:2)
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. (2:155) Ah! To how many believers these
verses come out as relief and solace! How many hearts of believers, with wild storms and waves in there, have calm down when remembering these verses! Day in and day out, these verses have brought the believers to tranquility and provided them with strength. Their souls then speak out: “Yea, we are tested because we are righteous believers.”
To have that feeling of being a righteous believer is very comforting indeed. Do our eyes not always witness the fact that it is the righteous people who always suffer with pain, loss, and calamities one after another while the unrighteous always seem to prosper?
Trials are a Sign of Love By Allah
One individual once told another one who was going through tribulations that Allah (swt) was displeased with him, and hence his difficulties. This man lacked wisdom, for his comment was offensive to the person who was already distressed. More importantly, his understanding was incorrect from an Islamic perspective. The one who received the comment was a gentleman and also knowledgeable in Islam. Thus, it was not surprising that he decided to digest his remark and refrained from giving a response.
There are people who do maintain that incorrect understanding. Whenever they see a believer who is suffering from some calamity or disease, they think that this is a reflection of Allah (swt)’s wrath on him.
They should remember about the Companions of the Prophet (p) who were severely persecuted or even killed after becoming Muslim, an event that wipes out all past sins. Even the prophets of Allah, the best of all people who ever walked on the face of the earth, were persecuted by their community without exception. Was Joseph not thrown into a well, sold as a slave, and then thrown back into a prison? Did Job not face severest of trials one after another, and was eventually left out by all except his wife? In fact, the Qur’an tells us that many prophets were brutally killed by the unbelievers.
These examples should establish the fact that trials and tribulations are not a sign of Allah’s displeasure on someone. Quite the contrary, it is rather a sign of Allah’s love on someone. The Prophet (p) said: When Allah who is Great and Glorious loves people He afflicts them [with trials]. (Tirmidhi)
Anyone for whom Allah intends good, He makes him suffer from some affliction. (Bukhari)
When Allah intends good for His slave, He punishes him in this world, but when He intends an evil for His slave, He does not hasten to take him to task but calls him to account on the Day of Resurrection. (Tirmidhi)
The punishment in the Hereafter is much severe – in fact unimaginable from our worldly perspective – than any affliction one can face in this world. Therefore, when Allah (swt) loves someone and intends for him or her to go to Paradise, He wipes out his sins and mistakes and rewards him highly by putting him to afflictions in this world.
Allah Never Gives a Trial That is Too Great to Bear
Human beings are created weak (4:28). When a sudden calamity or distress befalls us, we easily become overwhelmed and often cry out, “O Allah! This is too much for me to bear!”
It never is. The believers should know it for fact that Allah (swt) never puts any burden on a soul that is beyond its ability to bear. Perhaps because we often lose sight of this fact that Allah (swt) mentions this in several places in the Qur’an: On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. (2:286)
On no soul do We place a burden greater than it can bear: before Us is a record which clearly shows the truth: they will never be wronged. (23:62)
No burden do We place on any soul but that which it can bear. (6:152)
And those who believe and do good – We do not impose upon any of them a burden beyond his capacity. (7:42) This fundamental truth is actually obvious to a believer who reflects. For, if the point is to test one’s
level of faith and commitment to Allah (swt), then it would be an injustice to put a burden on a soul that it will surely fail, and Allah (swt) never commits injustice against anyone: … nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His servants. (41:46)
Verily Allah will not deal unjustly with man in aught: it is man that wrongs his own soul. (10:44) Therefore, no matter how difficult one’s situation is or how sever his sufferings, he should have absolutely no doubt in his mind he has the ability to deal with the trial. Allah (swt) is Just, and every affliction that He tests his faithful servant with, there is always two viable outcome for him: passing the test with success and thus earning Allah’s good pleasure, or failing it.
The Stronger the Faith, the Harder the Test, and the Greater the Reward
A believer afflicted with a severe calamity should take comfort from the fact that those who have strong faith are given the harder trials. This is established by the Prophet (p). When asked about who suffers the
greatest afflictions, he replied: The prophets, then those who come next to them, then those who come
next to them. A man is afflicted in keeping his religion. If he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if there is weakness in his religion it is made light for him, and it continues like that till he walks on the earth having no sin. (Tirmidhi) Why is it, one may ask, that people who are faithful and righteous should have to suffer?
To get an answer, we should ask ourselves: is there any achievement without an effort or any fruit without labor? The obvious pattern that we see in our human experience is that those who work hard and go through the process of struggle are rewarded with success in this materialistic world. The greatest reward of everything that one can imagine is Paradise. In fact, the bliss and happiness in Paradise is so great that one cannot even imagine it (32:17). How can then one expect that he will achieve this greatest success without him being thoroughly tested to see if he qualifies for it?
One should not think that following the rituals, such as making salat five times a day, is enough test for him. The external rituals that we do and the laws of the shari’a that we observe returns immediate benefit to us as they bring peace and happiness to our families and provide us with a healthy social and moral society in which to live and prosper. Thus, one should not expect that observing Allah’s commandments and reaping these benefits in turn is the only tests. The real test is the test of the heart where faith lives, and that is
tested with affliction and hardship to check if the faith and trust in Allah is firm and well-rooted or is it weak and superficial:
Do men think that they will be left alone on saying “We believe” and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false. (29:2-3) Each believer, therefore, must expect to be tested. The stronger his faith, the harder will be the test, and the greater his reward will be if he remains patient having unshakable faith and trust in Allah (swt). The Prophet
(p) said:
The magnitude of the reward goes along with the magnitude of the affliction. (Tirmidhi) And the believers will continue to go through trials and tribulations in their life until their sins are wiped and they die and meet Allah (swt) free from all sins: The believing man or woman continues to have affliction in person, property and children so that they may finally meet Allah, free from sin. (Tirmidhi)
That is so because Allah (swt), in His Mercy and Generosity, not only rewards one when he is patient through his trials, but also sheds his sins for the pains and sufferings that he or she goes through. No matter how small the trial or how insignificant the discomfort, Allah (swt) will reward him for that and eliminate some sins. Said the Prophet (p): No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn. (Bukhari)
The question one should ask himself is: “What is my reflex when I do get a prick of a thorn, or stumble on the street and hurt my toe, or my computer suddenly crashes making me loose some work? Does some uncomely word slips through the mouth to release anger and frustration, or do I stay in control and remain calm, patient, and thankful to Allah?”[5]
Believers Must Always Be Prepared to Face Trials
The above discussions should make it clear that believers will be tried with calamities, afflictions, and distress, and these trials will continue to occur during their lifetime until they meet their Lord.
That being the reality, a believer should remain mentally prepared to face any calamity or affliction, although he or she should never seek one. If he is not mentally prepared to face any difficulties in life and then suddenly is afflicted with one, then he may not be able to deal with it properly as he should. It is, therefore, wise that a believer solidify himself with knowledge from the Qur’an and the Sunnah regarding how to deal with trials and tribulations and then be prepared to face difficulties of life, but without seeking or hoping for any trial. This will help him remain calm and patient and pass the test when it comes, insha Allah.
Below, we discuss some of the common forms of trials and tribulations:
Sickness
All living creatures will die to pass the inheritance of this world to the next generations, and with the exception of a few cases, death will come through one sickness or another. This is areality that all have to accept. No matter how virtuous one is, he is not exempted form sickens and disease. We know the examples of many Prophets who suffered from sickness, such as Prophet Job who suffered from severe skin disorder for years. Prophet Muhammad (p) himself suffered from sickness. 'Aisha, one of his wives, said: “I never saw anybody suffering so much from sickness as Allah's Apostle.”[6]
For a believer, suffering from sickness is not just a reality but also a philosophy that comes with blessings. He knows that Allah (swt) in His mercy will expiate some of his sins if he remains patient through it. The Prophet (p) said:
No Muslim is afflicted with harm because of sickness or some other inconvenience, but that Allah will remove his sins for him as a tree sheds its leaves. (Bukhari) When afflicted with illness and pain, the believer should remind himself, like Prophet Job did, of all the years when Allah (swt) blessed him with good health. He should remain patient and ask Allah (swt) for his Mercy, and that can earn him Paradise. One day, a woman who was suffering from epilepsy came to the Prophet and asked him to make supplication for her. The Prophet (p) replied, “Do you wish that you may endure it and be rewarded with Paradise, or do you wish that I shall make supplication to Allah to cure you?” She said, “I shall endure it.” This woman later became known as one from the people of Paradise.[7]
In a hadith qudsi, Allah (swt) says: When I affect my slave in his two dear things (i.e., his eyes), and he endures patiently, I shall compensate him for that with Paradise. (Bukhari) When one suffers through a serious disease which brings prolonged physical pain and discomfort or even the prospect of death[8], only he (or she) can feel the full extent of the pain and distress. No one else can possibly come close to appreciating what he goes through physically and mentally. Yet, let him be reminded that it is perhaps through this sickness and suffering that Allah (swt) intends to bless him with Paradise. There cannot be any reward or success greater than that. So let his or her heart continue to beat with zikr (remembrance) of Allah through this suffering, and his face become radiant with His love. Let the visitors who come to see him be blazed with his unshakable faith and spirit. Let him teach others, even through his sickness, faith and trust in Allah!
Aminah Assilmi, a convert to Islam, mentioned about a person who died of cancer. He was only 20 years old, and yet she was dazzled by this young man’s faith and love of Allah in the midst of suffering. She wrote:
Shortly before he died, he told me that Allah was truly Merciful. This man was in unbelievable anguish and was radiating with Allah’s love. He said: “Allah intends that I should enter heaven with a clean book.” His
death experience gave me something to think about. He taught me of Allah’s love and mercy.[9]
Death of Beloved Ones
If one suffers death of someone whom he dearly loved, then he should remember that our children, spouses, parents, friends, and other family members are but trusts from Allah (swt). A wife is a trust to her husband while her husband is a trust to her. A child is a trust to his/her parents while the parents are a trust to the child. As these trusts provide us with comfort and support, Allah (swt) tests us to see how we deal with them and how we take care of these trusts. He reserves the right to take back these trusts, and He does so when the term He sets for a trust expires. The Prophet (p) consoled his daughter when her baby was sick as saying: Whatever Allah takes away or gives, belongs to Him, and everything has a fixed term (in this world). (Bukhari and Muslim) Therefore, one should not show despair or displeasure at Allah (swt) but remain calm and patient even at the death of his or her dearest one.
Imam Muslim narrates a hadith about a female Companion of the Prophet that is a paramount example of patience and faith. To reproduce the hadith briefly, her name was Umm Sulaim. One of her sons was very sick while her husband, Abu Talha, was away in business. The son eventually died, and she told her family members not to tell this to her husband when he returns until she breaks this to him herself. When Abu Talha returned, she presented the supper before him and he ate. She then beautified herself in the best way like she never did before.
After they had intercourse and Abu Talha was satisfied, she told him, “O Abu Talha! If some people borrow something from another family who then ask for that to be returned, should they refuse to give it back?”
He replied, “No”.
“Then”, she said, “hope reward for your son”.
Abu Talha immediately understood that their son was dead.
After burring his son in the morning, he went to the Prophet and told him the matter. The Prophet (p) said, “May Allah bless the night you spent together.” It turned out that she conceived that night. When the child was born, the Prophet (p) blessed him and named him “Abdullah”. Bukhari’s version of the hadith says that Abdullah had nine sons, each of whom memorized the entire Qur’an.
When a mother suffers the death of her child, there is no one in this world who can come close to feeling her grief and sorrow. And yet, this otherwise unknown Companion of the Prophet (p) remained patient with Allah as she correctly understood the philosophy of life and death.
The reward for such patience with Allah (swt) at the death of a beloved one is Paradise. Allah (swt) says in a hadith qudsi: I have no reward other than paradise for a believing slave of mine who remains patient for My sake when I take away his beloved one from among the inhabitants of the world.[10](Bukhari)
Loss of Wealth and Property
In many places in the Qur’an, Allah (swt) uses the phrase “out of what we have given” when He asks the believers to spend in the way of Allah, such as: Those who rehearse the Book of Allah, establish regular Prayer and spend (in Charity) out of what We have provided for them secretly and openly hope for a Commerce that will never fail. (35:29)
Those … who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance. (42:38)
They spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them. (32:16) As Allah (swt) asks the believers to pay zakat and charity, He reminds them that all the wealth and property that they have
actually belongs to Allah (swt) anyway. All righteous believers are cognizant of this simple and obvious truth. For even if we set aside the fact that everything in this universe are created by and therefore belongs to Allah, there is no wealth or property that one can claim that it is the result of his own exclusive effort. In this context, we wrote: If one thinks that his wealth and fortune is a result of his own labor and talent, then that reflects a serious lack of understanding and insight on his or her part. While there is no denial that one
should put efforts towards achieving his goal as Islam requires and as the Prophet (p) himself did, but to think that utilization of one’s talent and exerting his labor alone earned him his wealth is to deny both facts as well as to betray common sense observation.
There are many around us who with greater talents and more efforts fail to “succeed” in life and reach “financial security”. And there are those who within moments loose their vast fortunes, or suddenly become rich, due to market fluctuation, calamity, unforeseen business deals, or otherwise. And finally, there are always these basic questions to ask: Who is the One Who provided him with his talents and abilities? Who has provided him with that particular set of resources that he successfully utilized and which others were not provided with? Who controls the events that occur in our day to day life and Who provided those particular chances and deals that contributed to his fortune?
Wise people know the answers to these questions and, consequently, humble themselves and thank Allah (swt) for His favor.[11] About such people who think that it is because of their talent or enterprise that they had become wealthy, Allah (swt) says: … When We bestow a favor upon him as from Ourselves he says, “This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge (I have)!” Nay, this is but a trial. But most of them understand not. (39:49) Righteous believers, therefore, are always conscious about this true ownership of wealth and property that is at their disposal. Therefore, when a calamity befalls that results in the loss of that property or wealth, they do not break down but remind themselves with this: “This property and wealth belonged to Allah and He has taken it back”.[12]
Suffering Wrong and Injustice
For a believer who has been a victim of wrong or injustice by others, the greatest comfort is that a day will come when he will receive full justice from Allah (swt). No matter how insignificant or how grievous the harm is, the offending parties will be called to account for their actions. No matter to whom an injustice was done,
and no matter how long ago that aggression was committed, the matter will be kept on records until it is addressed. Even if everyone forgets the incident, Allah (swt) will not. For example, the infants who were buried alive during Jahiliyyah (Age of Darkness before Islam) will not be forgotten. Allah (swt) will ask them about what their crime was for which they were buried alive: When the female (infant) buried alive is questioned: for what crime she was killed; when the Scrolls are laid open; when the World on High is unveiled: when the Blazing Fire is kindled to fierce heat; and when the Garden is brought near; (Then) shall each soul know what it has put forward. (81:8-14) In Islam, injustice is not necessarily limited to physical and material harm.
Violating a person’s honor and dignity is also an act of injustice. Therefore, a Muslim should not speak ill of another person or make any negative comment about any individual in his absence regardless of whether that person has done something wrong or not. This is called gibah, which Islam forbids except only in a few cases.[13] A person who has done any injustice against another, be that even a negative comment made about him in his absence, will have to pay back to the victim in the Hereafter out of his own good deeds (unless the victim forgives him before he dies). If he runs out of his good deeds and still owes him, then he must take over equivalent amount of bad deeds from the victim.
The Prophet (p) said: He who has done a wrong affecting his brother’s honor or anything else, must ask his forgiveness for it today before the time (i.e., the Day of Judgment) when he will have neither a dinar nor a dirham. If he has done some good deeds, a portion equal to his wrong doings will be subtracted from them;
but if he has no good deeds, he will be burdened with the evil deeds of the one he had wronged in the same proportion. (Bukhari) This is so far as compensating the victim is concerned. He will still be liable to face punishment from Allah (swt) for committing the act of injustice and thus violating Allah’s commandments, unless both Allah (swt) and the victim forgive him.[14] The believer, therefore, should be patient having full assurance that Allah (swt) watches everything and will deliver justice: We have made some of you as a trial for others: will ye have patience? For Allah is One Who sees (all things). (25:20)
Truly the reward of the Hereafter will be greater if they only realize (this)! (They are) those who persevere in patience and put their trust on their Lord. (16:41-42) That is the ultimate comfort that a believer can have who has been wronged or oppressed by others. For there is a Judge higher than all other judges and an Authority above all other authorities. Unlike the judges in this world, this Judge never makes a mistake. For He is intimately aware of all things that occur and renders justice based on actual facts, and not on the presentation and performance of lawyers.
This discussion points out a theme that is at the core of Islam, namely justice. In fact, Islam is considered to be synonymous with justice (adl). The purpose of the shari`a (Divine Law) is justice and welfare of the people. In this religion, injustice, no matter how small, is completely forbidden. Allah (swt) says in a hadith qudsi: O My servants, I have forbidden injustice for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not commit acts of injustice against one another.
Learning from the Example of Prophet Job
Those afflicted with calamities and distress should remember the story of Prophet Job (Qur’an calls him Aiyub). Ah! What a heart-melting story of pain and suffering, of patience and forbearance, of faith and gratitude, and ultimately of reward and success! Ibn Kathir, a ninth century scholar, mentioned this story in detail in his Qisas al-Anbia (“Stories of the Prophets”). We reproduce the story[15] below with some abridgment since no discussion on trials and tribulations can be considered completed without drawing lessons from this servant of Allah, who was truly a paragon of patience and faith.[16]
Prophet Job (p) was a very wealthy man having many animals, lands, slaves, and children. He was a very patient man and was never arrogant or selfish. He worshipped Allah and was always humble and grateful to him. From his riches, he would help the poor and the needy with food and clothes. He would buy slaves and set them free. When he helped people, he made them feel as if they are favoring him by accepting his gifts. Such a noble person was he that one day the angels were discussing about him and praising him as a model servant of Allah.
Satan overheard their comments and became annoyed. He tried to seduce him with evil thoughts and distract him from prayers and worshipping Allah. But Job was firm in his faith and did not let the whispers of Satan tempt him.
Failing in his attempts to seduce Job, Satan complained to Allah about Job saying that although he was continuously glorifying Allah, he was not doing so out of his sincerity but to satisfy Allah so that his wealth should not be taken away. It was all a show, all out of greed. “If You remove his wealth then You will find that his tongue will no longer mention Your name and his praying will stop.”
Allah told Satan that Job was one of His most sincere devotees, and to prove this to him, Allah allowed him to do whatever he and his helpers wished with Job's wealth. Happy with this authority, Satan gathered his helpers and set about destroying Job's cattle, servants, and farms until he was left with no possessions. He then appeared before Job in the guise of a wise old man and said to him: “All your wealth is lost. Some people say that it is because you gave too much charity and that you are wasting your time with your continuous prayers to Allah. Others say that Allah has bought this upon you in order to please your enemies. If Allah had the capacity to prevent harm, then He would have protected your wealth.” True to his belief, Job replied: “What Allah has taken away from me belongs to Him. I was only its trustee for a while. He gives to whom He wills and withholds from whom He wills.” With these words, Job went to prostration out of his humbleness and gratitude to Allah (swt).
Seeing this, Satan was frustrated. He again complained to Allah: “I have stripped Job of all his possessions, but he still remains grateful to You. However, he is only hiding his disappointments, for he places great store by his many children. The real test of a parent is through his children. You will then see how Job will reject You.” Allah granted Satan authority, but warned him that it would not reduce Job's faith in his Lord nor his patience.
Satan gathered his helpers and shook the foundation of the house in which Job's children were living and sent the building crashing, killing all of them. Then he went to Job disguised as a man who had come to sympathize with him. In a comforting tone he said to Job: “The circumstances under which your children died were sad. Surely, your Lord is not rewarding you properly for all your prayers.” Job, firm in his faith, replied: “Allah sometimes gives and sometimes takes. He is sometimes pleased and sometimes displeased with our deeds. Whether a thing is beneficial or harmful to me, I will remain firm in my belief and remain thankful to my Creator.” He then prostrated again to his Lord.
At this Satan was extremely vexed. He again called on Allah: “O my Lord, Job's wealth is gone, his children are dead, but he is still healthy in body, and as long as he enjoys good health he will continue to worship You in the hope of regaining his wealth and producing more children. Grant me authority over his body so that I may weaken it. He will surely neglect worshipping You and thus become disobedient.” Allah wanted to
teach Satan a lesson that Job was a devoted servant of Him, and so He granted Satan his third request but placed a condition:
“I give you authority over his body but not over his soul, intellect, or heart, for in these places reside the knowledge of Me and My religion.” Armed with this new authority, Satan began to take revenge on Job's body and filled it with disease until it was reduced to mere skin and bone, making him suffer severe pain. But through all the suffering Job remained strong in his faith, patiently bearing all the hardships without complaining. He did not despair, nor did he turn to others for help but remained hopeful of Allah's Mercy. Even close relatives and friends deserted him. Only his kind loving wife stayed with him who remained his sole companion and comforter through many years of his suffering.
In desperation, Satan went to Job's wife in the form of a man, and asked, “Where is your husband?”
She pointed to an almost lifeless form crumpled on the bed and said: “There he is, suspended between life and death.”
Satan reminded her of the days when Job had good health, wealth and children. Suddenly, the painful memory of yeas of hardship overcame her, and she burst into tears. She said to Job: “How long are you going to bear this torture from our Lord? Are we to remain without wealth, children or friends forever? Why don't you call upon Allah to remove this suffering?” Job sighed, and in a soft voice replied, “Satan must have whispered to you and made you dissatisfied. Tell me, how long did I enjoy good health and riches?”
She replied, “For eighty years.”
Then Job asked, “How long am I suffering like this?”
She said, “For seven years.”
Then Job told her, “In that case I am ashamed to call on my Lord to remove the hardship, for I have not suffered longer than the years of good health and plenty. It seems that your faith has weakened and you are
dissatisfied with the fate of Allah. If I ever regain health, I swear I will punish you with a hundred strokes! From this day onward, I forbid myself to eat or drink anything from your hand. Leave me alone and let my Lord do with me as He pleases.”
Crying bitterly and with a heavy heart, she had no choice but to leave him and seek shelter elsewhere. In his helpless state, Job turned to Allah, not to complain but to seek His mercy: Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show Mercy. (21:83) What a man of patience, faith, and
self-respect! Even in this miserable condition, he did not ask Allah to remove his affliction but merely stated that He is the Most Merciful of all who have mercy!
Can there be any trial more difficult and painful then what Job went through one after another? He lost all his wealth and property, all of his children were killed when the roof collapsed, his friends and people left him, and he suffered from a sever skin disorder for years. Yet, he did not complained to Allah nor was he dissatisfied with Him throughout these extremely difficult trials. The result of his patience and faith in Allah was this: he came out of all these trials with superb success. He asked for Allah’s Mercy, and rushing down it came:
So We answered his call, and We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him (that he had lost) and the like thereof along with them - as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all who worship Us. (21:84) Allah (swt) praised him in the Qur’an, saying: Truly We found him full of patience and constancy, how excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn (to Us)! (38:44) And He rewarded him with more than what he had:
And We gave him (back) his people and doubled their number as a Grace from Ourselves and a thing for commemoration for all who have understanding. (38:43) The verse above significantly ends with “for all who have understanding.” Indeed, for people of understanding, there are lessons to be learned from the example of Job, a mortal human being who left behind immortal lessons for patience, forbearance, and faith in Allah (swt) that will continue to inspire believers generations after generations.
Some Practical Guidelines in Dealing With Trials
The above discussions will hopefully help one understand the Islamic philosophy behind trials and tribulations and prepare his or her heart for tests. Below, we describe some practical guidelines, drawn from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, about dealing with trials.
Seek Refuge From Trials
One should not solicit trials from Allah (swt). No matter how pious one might be, he or she should not be proud of having unshakable faith but always remain humble and ask Allah (swt) to guide him and to keep him on the right path. Indeed, if it was not for the mercy and guidance of Allah (swt), he could not have remained a believer and a practicing Muslim. Therefore, he should often ask for forgiveness from Allah for sins and mistakes committed so that He does not take him to task for those mistakes. In the Qur’an, Allah (swt) teaches the believers to make the following supplication:
Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or commit mistakes. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden such as You laid on those gone before us. Our Lord! Lay not on us burdens which we do not have the power to bear. And overlook our faults, and forgive us, and have mercy upon us. (2:286) The Prophet (p), the most pious and faithful of all believers, frequently used to make the following supplication: O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the punishment of the grave; I seek refuge in Thee from the trial of the Antichrist; I seek refuge in Thee from the trial of life and the trial of death; O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from sin and debt. (Muslim) Giving sadaqa (charity) often can prevent calamity for a believer. The Prophet (p) said: Give the sadaqa without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity. (Tirmidhi)
Be Ready For Trials
While a believer should seek refuge in Allah from trials, he should, at the same time, be always ready for trials. His supplications for forgiveness might save him from some trials, but there will still be trials that he will face for sure. Therefore, a believer should always be mentally prepared for afflictions and calamities so that he can pass the tests with success. See above for detailed discussions on this topic.
Always Have Focus on the Hereafter
If one is afflicted with a calamity, he should remember that our life is short and our ultimate destination is the Hereafter. Therefore, he should remain patient, ask Allah (swt) for help, and remember that he will be meeting Him soon: Who say when afflicted with calamity: “To Allah we belong and to Him is our return.” They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah and Mercy and they are the ones that receive guidance. (2:156-157) The Prophet (p) said:
If any Muslim who suffers some calamity says that which Allah has commanded him: “ ‘We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return’: O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me something better in exchange for it”, Allah will give him something better than it in exchange. (Muslim) The Prophet (p) once grabbed Abdullah ibn ‘Umar by his shoulders and said: Be in the world as if you were a stranger or a wayfarer. (Bukhari) When a believer always keeps the Hereafter in focus, he remains calm and in control at whatever calamity he faces. For him, dunya (this world) is not the end of everything, and thus he does not breakdown but stays calm and deals with all crisis with faith and trust in Allah (swt).
Be Patient at the First Stroke
The mettle of a person is proven when he remains calm and in control even at a sudden and unforeseen calamity or difficulty. The Prophet (p) said: Patience is only at the first (stroke) of grief. (Bukhari and Muslim)
When Calamity Befalls, Remember That It Is a Test.
Any affliction that a believer suffers is a test from Allah (swt). If he does not recognize the test, then he may feel despair and thus fail the test. The believer should particularly keep in mind the following verses from the Qur’an that remind that every single believer will be tested: We shall try you until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience; and we shall try your reported (mettle). (47:31)
Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves. (3:186)
Do men think that they will be left alone on saying “We believe” and that they will not be tested? (29:2)
Ask Allah (swt) For Forgiveness
When calamity strikes a believer, he should take all steps necessary to remedy the situation. Having faith and trust in Allah never means inaction or complacency with difficulties. This has been made quite clear in both the Qur’an and the examples of the Prophet (p).
From a spiritual perspective, the very first thing that the believer should do is turn to Allah (swt) for forgiveness. One of the most beautiful and effective supplications that he can make is the supplication made by Prophet Jonah (called Yunus in the Qur’an). When the people of Nineveh rejected the message of Jonah to worship Allah alone, Jonah left the city out of despair, expecting that Allah’s punishment on them was imminent. That was a mistake, for a Prophet can never forsake his mission and leave without the consent of Allah. This was only a mistake in judgment, and not a rebellious action. Nevertheless, for a Prophet or a man of piety, even a minor mistake comes out to be significant in contrast to the faith and piety that Allah has blessed him or her with. Jonah was soon consumed by a whale. It was a dark night, and he was in the dark stomach in the dark bottom of the sea. Stricken with this calamity, Jonah realized his mistake and immediately turned to Allah for forgiveness. He made a supplication that was simple and short. Nevertheless, its words carry so much significance that this small supplication is considered to be the “Mother of all supplications”. From the darkest chamber of the whale’s stomach, he cried out to Allah:
There is no God but You! Glory be to You! I have done wrong. (21:87) This short supplication has three important components. First, Jonah recognized that there is no other authority or power worthy of worship
except Allah. Besides Him, he can turn to no one for help – no king, no judge, and no personal attorney. If there is anyone who is capable of forgiveness and help, that is only Allah, the Supreme Authority of the entire universe. Second, he declared that Allah is above all blames and shortcomings. Allah (swt) is not
to be blamed for his situations, for He never commits a wrong against anyone. He is above and beyond all faults and shortcomings. Lastly, he admitted that he has committed a mistake. This admittance and recognition of one’s own fault is perhaps the most important element in seeking forgiveness. For Jonah, this
admission did not merely come out from his lips but also from the bottom of his heart. This short supplication was so heavy in weight that Allah (swt) turned to him in forgiveness and delivered him from these three layers of darkness.[17]
Sincere admittance of mistakes and repentance, thus, is a necessary condition for supplications to be heard. Allah (swt) is indeed the Most Merciful and He is quick to forgive His slaves.
Ask for Help With Patience and Salat
After faith and trust in Allah, the most import quality that a believer needs during calamity and affliction is patience. Patience is such a virtue that it is frequently mentioned both in the Qur’an and the hadith. Indeed, the Prophet (p) said that it is the best gift that one can receive from Allah: No one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive than patience. (Bukhari and Muslim) In many places in the Qur’an, Allah (swt) asks the believer to seek His help with patience and salat, such as: O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. (2:153)
Seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and prayer. (2:45) One of the best times to offer salat is late night before the time for fajr starts. Called the tahajjud prayer, there are many excellences for this prayer. The believer should try to make as much tahajjud prayer as possible and ask Allah (swt) for help and forgiveness, as this is one the best times to make prayers and supplications: And for part of the night also praise Him, and at the retreat of the stars! (52:49)
And during part of the night (also) celebrate His praises and (so likewise) after the postures of adoration. (50:40)
And part of the night prostrate thyself to Him; and glorify Him a long night through. (76:26) When people and all other creatures around are deep in sleep, it is only the believer who keeps awake and is immersed in
worshipping Allah (swt). In that still silence of the dead of the night, it is, as if, only two are engaged in a private conversation: one who begs for help and mercy, and the Other Who listens to his prayers.
Avoid the Two Pitfalls
Truly man was created very impatient: fretful when evil touches him, and niggardly when good reaches him. (70:19-21) There are two categories of people that a righteous believer should not slip into.
The first kinds are those who desperately seek Allah’s help and forgiveness when in calamity or peril. Then when Allah (swt) delivers them from their calamity, they forget Allah and go back to their usual life of indifference to Allah and the Hereafter. About these people, Allah (swt) says: When trouble touches a man he cries unto Us (in all postures) lying down on his side or sitting or standing. But when We have solved his trouble he passes on his way as if he had never cried to Us for a trouble that touched him! Thus do the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their eyes! (10:12) The second kinds are those who worship Allah and follow his commandments so long as they enjoy a comfortable or trouble-free life. Then when calamities strike them, they break down and become indifferent to Allah and his commandments out of anger and frustration. It is, as if, they deserve a comfortable life in return for their worshipping of Allah (swt). About them, says Allah (swt):
Among men is he who worships Allah, while remaining on the borderline; if any good befalls him, he is satisfied; but if a trial afflicts him, he utterly turns away. He will incur loss both of this world and the Hereafter. That indeed is a clear loss. (21:11) Falling into one these two categories is an utter failure. A true believer is one who always worships Allah (swt) – whether in calamity or in good fortune. When in calamity,
he remains patient and pleased with Allah, and when something good happens to him, he thanks Allah. Thus he always earns rewards and Allah’s good pleasure while he lives in this world. The Prophet (p) said:
How wonderful is the case of a believer! There is good for him in everything, and this is not the case with anyone except a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him. (Muslim)
Keep in Mind the Eventual Success
Verily with every difficulty, there is relief. (94:6) It is a source of great comfort for a believer to know that his or her afflictions will one day come to an end and there will be relief for him. Therefore, he should keep this eventuality in mind and go through his trial with patience, forbearance, and faith in Allah. There will be a day – whether in this world or the Next – when he will come out victorious and successful for passing the test. For a believer in affliction, that is the ultimate success that awaits him. Says Allah (swt): Verily, the Hereafter will be better for thee than the present. (93:4)
Show Kindness to Those Who are Afflicted
If someone is afflicted with a calamity, other believers should often visit or call him or her and inquire about his (or her) welfare. One should never demoralize an afflicted believer by saying that Allah is displeased with him or that he has committed some sin for which he is being punished. Instead, believers should tell him good words that will uplift his spirit. They should tell him about the fact that Allah tests those whom He loves, and that it is the righteous believers who suffer the most in this life so that they can get Paradise in the Hereafter. The believers should sympathize with him and offer their help. The Prophet (p), out of his sympathy for the afflicted, said: If you were to sell fruits to your brother and these are stricken with calamity, it is not permissible for you to get anything from him. (Muslim)
Remember Past Trials and Benefit From Them
A wise person always takes lessons from hardships and afflictions and tries to improve his or her situation. A believer who has come out of an affliction should be self-critical and objectively analyze the possible causes for his affliction, and make corrections accordingly. For example, if he has been involved in a serious road accident while driving and Allah (swt) spared his life, then he should be more careful in driving, follow all traffic laws, and drive defensively. Or if he became seriously sick due to unhealthy eating habits and he recovered, then he should control his diet and do regulars exercise to stay fit and healthy. Most important improvements of all are amending one’s character and conduct and turning to Allah (swt) in obedience.
There is also spiritual benefit in remembering the past trials as that will make the believer always remain conscious of the fact that life is short ith all its vicissitudes and he will soon return to Allah (swt). The Prophet
(p) said that remembering past trials can even earn him reward: If any Muslim man or woman suffers a calamity and keeps it in his memory, even if it happened a long time ago, saying each time it is remembered,
'We belong to Allah and to Him do we return,' Allah, who is Blessed and Exalted will give a fresh reward each time it is said, equivalent to the reward when it happened. (Ahmad) Epilogue: Life is a Testing Ground Islam is submission to the will of Allah. For one who submits, a mere declaration or display of belief will not be taken for success, but his or her heart and soul will for sure be put to test.
Allah (swt) will test him to see whether he follows His commandments or his own desires; whether he lives a righteous and godly life or lives according to what his nafs (self ) dictates; whether the faith he displays is firmly rooted in his heart or is it merely on the surface and thus is knocked off at a slight wind; whether he will continue to have faith and love of Allah when in calamity as he does when in comfort; whether he will continue to remember and worship him if given bounties and comforts of life as he does when he lives a modest life. Allah (swt) will test him to see if his faith, trust, and love of Him is unconditional or is it conditioned with good health and comfortable life free from stress and anxiety.
For a righteous Muslim, this life is a testing ground where he will continue to be tested until he meets Allah (swt). For him, tests will be done right here on earth while he lives, and not after he dies. He knows that as soon as death arrives and he steps into the Next World, his tests are over. There, he only receives the results of his tests, and then enjoys (or suffers) the fruits of his deeds that he committed during a short span of time called Life.
Copyright(c) 2004 Mushfiqur Rahman
For my parents Muhammad Abdul-Khaleq and Rashida Khatun, whose faith, piety and righteousness is my inspiration, my supplication to Allah is what He has taught me in the Qur’an:
“My Lord! Show mercy to them as they nurtured me when I was small.”
Table of Contents
Understanding the Difference Between the Apparent and the Reality
An individual once asked Sayyid Mawdudi about why many people, despite being good and pious, or apparently innocent, suffer severe tribulations in this worldly life. What wrong could a minor child or an
infant, for example, commit so that he or she should have to suffer a fatal disease or even be murdered? Why do we see many good people suffering severe afflictions and calamities that they apparently do not deserve?
Mawdudi asked him to consider a beautiful, well-kept garden and its gardener. The garden has many kinds of plants, each requiring various types of resources and care. It is well kept and healthy since the gardener meticulously takes care of it. He often clears the weeds and unnecessary plants that are harmful for the good plants. He trims branches and leaves to maintain their good health. He waters his garden when needed, or withholds water when that is harmful. It is because of such good care that his garden remains beautiful and healthy.
The weeds or plants that he removes or the leaves and branches that he trims suffer much and complains. Their instincts are reactive to their own physical needs and they have little or no understanding about their
surroundings, let alone the rest of the garden. They complain about their immediate needs and sufferings and do not know what is ultimately good for even themselves, much less the entire garden. Mawdudi then asked him to compare the garden with the universe and the gardener with Allah (swt).
The point was well made. The analogy, however, is simplistic, for Allah’s knowledge and wisdom is infinite compared to the finite knowledge of a gardener, and His domain is infinitely wider and more complex than a garden. In this universe where an infinite number of laws, events, variables and factors are at work, each affecting others in complex ways, it is impossible for us to comprehend the full wisdom and purpose behind what we apparently observe.
Parables are sometimes used in the Qur’an to make a point understood. Often, when intellect fails to comprehend a matter, a simple parable can get it across.
The Qur’an mentions an interesting story about Moses in chapter al-Kahf. In this story, Moses met a person named Khidr[1], whom Allah had given “special knowledge”, at a place where “two rivers meet”[2]. Moses asked him for permission to accompany him in his travel. Khidr replied, “You will surely not be able to bear with me. For how can you patiently bear with something you cannot encompass in your knowledge?” After Moses insisted that he would be patient, Khidr allowed him to come with him on condition that he must not question him about anything unless he himself explains it to him.
They came to a place and found a boat. Khidr damaged the boat by making a hole in it. Moses immediately objected saying, “Have you made a hole in it so as to drown the people in the boat? You have certainly done an awful thing.” Khidr replied, “Did I not tell you that you will not be able to patiently bear with me?” Moses pleaded with him, saying that he forgot the promise.
Moving on, they next came to a place where they met a boy, and Khidr killed him. Utterly shocked, Moses exclaimed, “What! Have you slain an innocent person without his having slain anyone? Surely you have done a horrible thing.” Khidr replied, “Did I not tell you that you will not be able to patiently bear with me?” Moses pleaded again, saying that if he ever questioned him again about anything, then he would be fully justified in discarding him.
Moving further on, they came to a town where they found a wall that was broken and falling apart. Khidr repaired the wall to prevent it from disintegrating. Unable to hold his curiosity, Moses told Khidr that if he
wished, he could have gotten a payment for it. Perhaps he was hoping that Khidr would explain the matter to him without him asking a question.
That final comment made Khidr discard Moses. “This brings me and you to parting of ways”, he said. “Now I shall explain to you the true meaning of things about which you could not remain patient.” About the boat, he explained, it belonged to some poor people who earned their livelihood from the river. Nearby, there was an oppressive king who was seizing all boats by force. He damaged the boat so that the king will ignore it. About the boy, his parents were righteous whereas this boy was growing up to be a violent man who would
have oppressed them. It was hoped that Allah would now provide them with a righteous son. Lastly, about the wall, there was some buried treasure in there for two orphan boys left behind by their righteous father. By fixing the wall and preventing it from falling apart and thus exposing the treasure, he gained time for the boys to grow up and recover their property.
Before leaving, Khidr made his final comment that none of these was done by his own wish, meaning that he was simply executing Allah’s commands.
There is much debate and analysis by Islamic scholars about whether Khidr was a man or a prophet. Sayyid Mawdudi provides an excellent analysis on this subject and argues that Khidr was most likely an angel. For, it is strictly unlawful for a human being – much less a prophet whose task is to teach people laws and order - to kill an innocent person or damage one’s property. Only after one commits a crime and it is proven in a court of law, can he be subject to punishment by the proper authority. On the other hand, angels are taking
people’s lives and causing destructions every moment as they execute Allah’s orders[3].
While no man can see the angels and observe their activities, Allah (swt) privileged Moses to witness the wisdom behind these events so that he can develop an unshakable belief in the works of Allah and His wisdom and realize that what we see on the surface does not always represent the reality. Mawdudi writes: The narration of Moses’ story here is meant to draw both the unbelievers’ and the believers’ attention to an important fact. Those who are concerned with the external aspects of things are liable to draw false conclusions from their observations. This happens because man is not aware of the wisdom underlying the events that take place under God’s dispensation. One frequently witnesses that the wrong-doers prosper whereas the innocent suffer hardships; those who disobey God and commit transgression live in great affluence whereas those who obey God face adversities, and that the wicked enjoy the pleasures of worldly life whereas the virtuous live in misery. Such spectacles are quite common.
Not knowing why such things happen, doubts arise in people’s minds, leading them, on occasion, to have totally false perception of things. Those who consciously disbelieve and are immersed in the perpetration of injustice and oppression are led to conclude that they live in a disordered and chaotic world, a world which has either no sovereign, or if there is any, one who must have become senseless or unjust. Hence, they conclude that people may go about doing what they please, without fearing that they will be called to account. On the other hand, those who believe in God are heart-broken by what they see around them. It also often happens that when such believers are faced with sever tests, their faith is shaken to the core.
It was in order to enable Moses to comprehend the wisdom underlying those events which generally baffle one’s understanding that God slightly lifts the curtain from the reality which governs the working of the world. In this way, Moses was able to appreciate that appearances are quite different from the reality.[4] These two stories above – one a parable and the other a real story – brings out a fact that is central to understanding the Islamic perspectives on trials and tribulations, and that is: trials and tribulations is not an end on itself. It is a temporal event and a part of a process beyond which lies the reality of something good and desirable.
Unlike Moses for whom the curtain was briefly lifted, a believer cannot see that reality immediately with his mortal eyes, but his faith and knowledge makes him fully confident of that reality.
With that understanding borne in mind, we will now discuss some of the aspects of trials and tribulations from an Islamic perspective.
Allah is in Full Control of the Universe and Fully Aware of All Events
Nothing happens in this world except through the leave of Allah (swt). Therefore, a person who has been suffering from distress should know that Allah (swt) is fully aware of all that has happened or been happening to him. It is not a chaotic world where pain and suffering happens at random, nor is it a lawless universe without a ruler and watcher where the strong – be that a person or a nation – can do whatever it wishes to the weak without a consequence. The believer should know that Allah (swt) is aware of
every little details of everything that happens, so much so that not even a leaf falls from a tree without Allah (swt) being aware of it:
He knoweth whatever there is on the earth and in the sea. Not a leaf doth fall but with His knowledge: there is not a grain in the darkness (or depths) of the earth nor anything fresh or dry (green or withered) but is
(inscribed) in a Record Clear (to those who can read). (6:59)
No misfortune can happen on earth or in your souls but is recorded in a decree before We bring it into existence: that is truly easy for Allah: in order that ye may not despair over matters that pass you by … (57:22-23)
Therefore, the believer should take relief and comfort from the fact that Allah (swt) is fully and intimately aware of his situations. Any harm or injustice that he has been subjected to by anyone, will not go without a
consequence. Or if he is suffering from distress and difficulties, then his suffering is constantly being watched by One who is the Most Kind, the Most Merciful.
Goodness is From Allah, Evil is From Ourselves
A believer must have firm conviction that any good that happens to us comes from Allah (swt) and any calamity that befalls us is the result of our own making: Whatever misfortune happens to you is because of the things your hands have wrought and for many (of them) He grants forgiveness. (42:30)
No affliction great or small afflicts a man but for a sin, but there are more which Allah forgives. (Tirmidhi)
This does not mean that one will suffer, in the form of calamities in this world, the consequences of every sin or mistake he commits. As the Prophet (p) said, Allah (swt) forgives much more sins than the ones from
which one suffers or will suffer in the Hereafter. But the important point to understand is that Allah (swt) does not cause injustice to anyone by putting him or her to undue suffering.
Our own experience and observations often point to this fact. When an individuals sits down and reflects upon his difficulties and makes an objective analysis of the events and actions leading to his situations, he will almost always identify some things he did that he should not have done or he did not that he should have done, which led to that situation. For example, for parents who suffer from their rebellious and disobedient teenaged child, it will be found, almost without exception, that they did not arrange his proper Islamic education and a good environment, and did not give it an enough priority to engage themselves with his upbringing. Indifference or inaction can be as serious as committing a sin or making a bad decision, which can lead to grave consequences. If a man, for another example, lives in an oppressive land where he suffers and cannot practice Islam, then he should be proactive and migrate from that place. Staying passive and continuing to suffer there will be considered acts of injustice that he commits against his own self, which can even lead him to Hell. Allah (swt) says about such persons:
When angels take the souls of those who die in sin against their souls they say: “In what (plight) were ye?” They reply: “Weak and oppressed were we in the earth.” They say: “Was not the earth of Allah spacious enough for you to move yourselves away (from evil)?” Such men will find their abode in Hell - what an evil refuge! (4:97)
Now, a god-fearing and righteous believer who has been afflicted with a terrible calamity or injustice may wonder: “What have I done for which I have to suffer as such?” This is a question that probably comes to
the minds of many believers afflicted with suffering and distress.
First and foremost, let us be reminded about the fundamental lesson learned from the story of Moses above, which is: there is a reality behind the apparent which can be far different, if not the opposite, from what we observe on the surface. How many times, in our human condition, have we suffered an obstacle or calamity which turned out to be a blessing days, months, or years later? Perhaps we then find ourselves a bit ashamed in front of Allah (swt) for not being patient and thus loosing the opportunity of earning Allah’s good
pleasure. Indeed, that is the test from Allah (swt), which some fail, some pass, and a few come out with superb success.
Secondly, even when a righteous believer finds no apparent reason for his calamity, self-scrutiny and objective analysis can point out some mistakes or some incorrect decisions made in the past leading to the situation. If, for example, a righteous and pious person with a very high moral character and conduct marries a person without looking for proper Islamic character and conduct in him or her, and subsequently suffers from a bad marriage and from the actions of that unrighteous spouse, than who else should be blamed other than that pious individual himself/herself? Life is a trust from Allah (swt) which must be utilized to the fullest possible use by every believer and cannot be wasted. Therefore, a righteous believer must be patient until he/she finds a righteous person to marry. Allah (swt) says in the Qur’an: Corrupt women are for corrupt men, and corrupt men for corrupt women; good women are for good men, and good men for good women. (24:26)
It is the Righteous Believers Who are Tested With Calamities
Though calamities may hit a believer as a surprise, the reality is that by virtue of being a believer one is supposed to suffer. If a believer understands the Islamic philosophy that this life is a testing ground, then he should realize that this philosophy will be implemented for him in practice while he lives in this testing ground, and not after he dies. Tests are not just limited to see whether one performs the rituals or not. His belief and commitments to Allah (swt), and his focus in the Hereafter will be fully and thoroughly tested with calamities and afflictions to gauge the depth of his faith in his heart. Achieving Paradise will not be easy. It will come only with unshakable faith and trust in Allah (swt). Allah, may He be glorified, says: Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves. (3:186)
Do men think that they will be left alone on saying “We believe” and that they will not be tested? (29:2)
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. (2:155) Ah! To how many believers these
verses come out as relief and solace! How many hearts of believers, with wild storms and waves in there, have calm down when remembering these verses! Day in and day out, these verses have brought the believers to tranquility and provided them with strength. Their souls then speak out: “Yea, we are tested because we are righteous believers.”
To have that feeling of being a righteous believer is very comforting indeed. Do our eyes not always witness the fact that it is the righteous people who always suffer with pain, loss, and calamities one after another while the unrighteous always seem to prosper?
Trials are a Sign of Love By Allah
One individual once told another one who was going through tribulations that Allah (swt) was displeased with him, and hence his difficulties. This man lacked wisdom, for his comment was offensive to the person who was already distressed. More importantly, his understanding was incorrect from an Islamic perspective. The one who received the comment was a gentleman and also knowledgeable in Islam. Thus, it was not surprising that he decided to digest his remark and refrained from giving a response.
There are people who do maintain that incorrect understanding. Whenever they see a believer who is suffering from some calamity or disease, they think that this is a reflection of Allah (swt)’s wrath on him.
They should remember about the Companions of the Prophet (p) who were severely persecuted or even killed after becoming Muslim, an event that wipes out all past sins. Even the prophets of Allah, the best of all people who ever walked on the face of the earth, were persecuted by their community without exception. Was Joseph not thrown into a well, sold as a slave, and then thrown back into a prison? Did Job not face severest of trials one after another, and was eventually left out by all except his wife? In fact, the Qur’an tells us that many prophets were brutally killed by the unbelievers.
These examples should establish the fact that trials and tribulations are not a sign of Allah’s displeasure on someone. Quite the contrary, it is rather a sign of Allah’s love on someone. The Prophet (p) said: When Allah who is Great and Glorious loves people He afflicts them [with trials]. (Tirmidhi)
Anyone for whom Allah intends good, He makes him suffer from some affliction. (Bukhari)
When Allah intends good for His slave, He punishes him in this world, but when He intends an evil for His slave, He does not hasten to take him to task but calls him to account on the Day of Resurrection. (Tirmidhi)
The punishment in the Hereafter is much severe – in fact unimaginable from our worldly perspective – than any affliction one can face in this world. Therefore, when Allah (swt) loves someone and intends for him or her to go to Paradise, He wipes out his sins and mistakes and rewards him highly by putting him to afflictions in this world.
Allah Never Gives a Trial That is Too Great to Bear
Human beings are created weak (4:28). When a sudden calamity or distress befalls us, we easily become overwhelmed and often cry out, “O Allah! This is too much for me to bear!”
It never is. The believers should know it for fact that Allah (swt) never puts any burden on a soul that is beyond its ability to bear. Perhaps because we often lose sight of this fact that Allah (swt) mentions this in several places in the Qur’an: On no soul doth Allah place a burden greater than it can bear. (2:286)
On no soul do We place a burden greater than it can bear: before Us is a record which clearly shows the truth: they will never be wronged. (23:62)
No burden do We place on any soul but that which it can bear. (6:152)
And those who believe and do good – We do not impose upon any of them a burden beyond his capacity. (7:42) This fundamental truth is actually obvious to a believer who reflects. For, if the point is to test one’s
level of faith and commitment to Allah (swt), then it would be an injustice to put a burden on a soul that it will surely fail, and Allah (swt) never commits injustice against anyone: … nor is thy Lord ever unjust (in the least) to His servants. (41:46)
Verily Allah will not deal unjustly with man in aught: it is man that wrongs his own soul. (10:44) Therefore, no matter how difficult one’s situation is or how sever his sufferings, he should have absolutely no doubt in his mind he has the ability to deal with the trial. Allah (swt) is Just, and every affliction that He tests his faithful servant with, there is always two viable outcome for him: passing the test with success and thus earning Allah’s good pleasure, or failing it.
The Stronger the Faith, the Harder the Test, and the Greater the Reward
A believer afflicted with a severe calamity should take comfort from the fact that those who have strong faith are given the harder trials. This is established by the Prophet (p). When asked about who suffers the
greatest afflictions, he replied: The prophets, then those who come next to them, then those who come
next to them. A man is afflicted in keeping his religion. If he is firm in his religion his trial is severe, but if there is weakness in his religion it is made light for him, and it continues like that till he walks on the earth having no sin. (Tirmidhi) Why is it, one may ask, that people who are faithful and righteous should have to suffer?
To get an answer, we should ask ourselves: is there any achievement without an effort or any fruit without labor? The obvious pattern that we see in our human experience is that those who work hard and go through the process of struggle are rewarded with success in this materialistic world. The greatest reward of everything that one can imagine is Paradise. In fact, the bliss and happiness in Paradise is so great that one cannot even imagine it (32:17). How can then one expect that he will achieve this greatest success without him being thoroughly tested to see if he qualifies for it?
One should not think that following the rituals, such as making salat five times a day, is enough test for him. The external rituals that we do and the laws of the shari’a that we observe returns immediate benefit to us as they bring peace and happiness to our families and provide us with a healthy social and moral society in which to live and prosper. Thus, one should not expect that observing Allah’s commandments and reaping these benefits in turn is the only tests. The real test is the test of the heart where faith lives, and that is
tested with affliction and hardship to check if the faith and trust in Allah is firm and well-rooted or is it weak and superficial:
Do men think that they will be left alone on saying “We believe” and that they will not be tested? We did test those before them and Allah will certainly know those who are true from those who are false. (29:2-3) Each believer, therefore, must expect to be tested. The stronger his faith, the harder will be the test, and the greater his reward will be if he remains patient having unshakable faith and trust in Allah (swt). The Prophet
(p) said:
The magnitude of the reward goes along with the magnitude of the affliction. (Tirmidhi) And the believers will continue to go through trials and tribulations in their life until their sins are wiped and they die and meet Allah (swt) free from all sins: The believing man or woman continues to have affliction in person, property and children so that they may finally meet Allah, free from sin. (Tirmidhi)
That is so because Allah (swt), in His Mercy and Generosity, not only rewards one when he is patient through his trials, but also sheds his sins for the pains and sufferings that he or she goes through. No matter how small the trial or how insignificant the discomfort, Allah (swt) will reward him for that and eliminate some sins. Said the Prophet (p): No calamity befalls a Muslim but that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it, even though it were the prick he receives from a thorn. (Bukhari)
The question one should ask himself is: “What is my reflex when I do get a prick of a thorn, or stumble on the street and hurt my toe, or my computer suddenly crashes making me loose some work? Does some uncomely word slips through the mouth to release anger and frustration, or do I stay in control and remain calm, patient, and thankful to Allah?”[5]
Believers Must Always Be Prepared to Face Trials
The above discussions should make it clear that believers will be tried with calamities, afflictions, and distress, and these trials will continue to occur during their lifetime until they meet their Lord.
That being the reality, a believer should remain mentally prepared to face any calamity or affliction, although he or she should never seek one. If he is not mentally prepared to face any difficulties in life and then suddenly is afflicted with one, then he may not be able to deal with it properly as he should. It is, therefore, wise that a believer solidify himself with knowledge from the Qur’an and the Sunnah regarding how to deal with trials and tribulations and then be prepared to face difficulties of life, but without seeking or hoping for any trial. This will help him remain calm and patient and pass the test when it comes, insha Allah.
Below, we discuss some of the common forms of trials and tribulations:
Sickness
All living creatures will die to pass the inheritance of this world to the next generations, and with the exception of a few cases, death will come through one sickness or another. This is areality that all have to accept. No matter how virtuous one is, he is not exempted form sickens and disease. We know the examples of many Prophets who suffered from sickness, such as Prophet Job who suffered from severe skin disorder for years. Prophet Muhammad (p) himself suffered from sickness. 'Aisha, one of his wives, said: “I never saw anybody suffering so much from sickness as Allah's Apostle.”[6]
For a believer, suffering from sickness is not just a reality but also a philosophy that comes with blessings. He knows that Allah (swt) in His mercy will expiate some of his sins if he remains patient through it. The Prophet (p) said:
No Muslim is afflicted with harm because of sickness or some other inconvenience, but that Allah will remove his sins for him as a tree sheds its leaves. (Bukhari) When afflicted with illness and pain, the believer should remind himself, like Prophet Job did, of all the years when Allah (swt) blessed him with good health. He should remain patient and ask Allah (swt) for his Mercy, and that can earn him Paradise. One day, a woman who was suffering from epilepsy came to the Prophet and asked him to make supplication for her. The Prophet (p) replied, “Do you wish that you may endure it and be rewarded with Paradise, or do you wish that I shall make supplication to Allah to cure you?” She said, “I shall endure it.” This woman later became known as one from the people of Paradise.[7]
In a hadith qudsi, Allah (swt) says: When I affect my slave in his two dear things (i.e., his eyes), and he endures patiently, I shall compensate him for that with Paradise. (Bukhari) When one suffers through a serious disease which brings prolonged physical pain and discomfort or even the prospect of death[8], only he (or she) can feel the full extent of the pain and distress. No one else can possibly come close to appreciating what he goes through physically and mentally. Yet, let him be reminded that it is perhaps through this sickness and suffering that Allah (swt) intends to bless him with Paradise. There cannot be any reward or success greater than that. So let his or her heart continue to beat with zikr (remembrance) of Allah through this suffering, and his face become radiant with His love. Let the visitors who come to see him be blazed with his unshakable faith and spirit. Let him teach others, even through his sickness, faith and trust in Allah!
Aminah Assilmi, a convert to Islam, mentioned about a person who died of cancer. He was only 20 years old, and yet she was dazzled by this young man’s faith and love of Allah in the midst of suffering. She wrote:
Shortly before he died, he told me that Allah was truly Merciful. This man was in unbelievable anguish and was radiating with Allah’s love. He said: “Allah intends that I should enter heaven with a clean book.” His
death experience gave me something to think about. He taught me of Allah’s love and mercy.[9]
Death of Beloved Ones
If one suffers death of someone whom he dearly loved, then he should remember that our children, spouses, parents, friends, and other family members are but trusts from Allah (swt). A wife is a trust to her husband while her husband is a trust to her. A child is a trust to his/her parents while the parents are a trust to the child. As these trusts provide us with comfort and support, Allah (swt) tests us to see how we deal with them and how we take care of these trusts. He reserves the right to take back these trusts, and He does so when the term He sets for a trust expires. The Prophet (p) consoled his daughter when her baby was sick as saying: Whatever Allah takes away or gives, belongs to Him, and everything has a fixed term (in this world). (Bukhari and Muslim) Therefore, one should not show despair or displeasure at Allah (swt) but remain calm and patient even at the death of his or her dearest one.
Imam Muslim narrates a hadith about a female Companion of the Prophet that is a paramount example of patience and faith. To reproduce the hadith briefly, her name was Umm Sulaim. One of her sons was very sick while her husband, Abu Talha, was away in business. The son eventually died, and she told her family members not to tell this to her husband when he returns until she breaks this to him herself. When Abu Talha returned, she presented the supper before him and he ate. She then beautified herself in the best way like she never did before.
After they had intercourse and Abu Talha was satisfied, she told him, “O Abu Talha! If some people borrow something from another family who then ask for that to be returned, should they refuse to give it back?”
He replied, “No”.
“Then”, she said, “hope reward for your son”.
Abu Talha immediately understood that their son was dead.
After burring his son in the morning, he went to the Prophet and told him the matter. The Prophet (p) said, “May Allah bless the night you spent together.” It turned out that she conceived that night. When the child was born, the Prophet (p) blessed him and named him “Abdullah”. Bukhari’s version of the hadith says that Abdullah had nine sons, each of whom memorized the entire Qur’an.
When a mother suffers the death of her child, there is no one in this world who can come close to feeling her grief and sorrow. And yet, this otherwise unknown Companion of the Prophet (p) remained patient with Allah as she correctly understood the philosophy of life and death.
The reward for such patience with Allah (swt) at the death of a beloved one is Paradise. Allah (swt) says in a hadith qudsi: I have no reward other than paradise for a believing slave of mine who remains patient for My sake when I take away his beloved one from among the inhabitants of the world.[10](Bukhari)
Loss of Wealth and Property
In many places in the Qur’an, Allah (swt) uses the phrase “out of what we have given” when He asks the believers to spend in the way of Allah, such as: Those who rehearse the Book of Allah, establish regular Prayer and spend (in Charity) out of what We have provided for them secretly and openly hope for a Commerce that will never fail. (35:29)
Those … who spend out of what We bestow on them for Sustenance. (42:38)
They spend (in charity) out of the sustenance which We have bestowed on them. (32:16) As Allah (swt) asks the believers to pay zakat and charity, He reminds them that all the wealth and property that they have
actually belongs to Allah (swt) anyway. All righteous believers are cognizant of this simple and obvious truth. For even if we set aside the fact that everything in this universe are created by and therefore belongs to Allah, there is no wealth or property that one can claim that it is the result of his own exclusive effort. In this context, we wrote: If one thinks that his wealth and fortune is a result of his own labor and talent, then that reflects a serious lack of understanding and insight on his or her part. While there is no denial that one
should put efforts towards achieving his goal as Islam requires and as the Prophet (p) himself did, but to think that utilization of one’s talent and exerting his labor alone earned him his wealth is to deny both facts as well as to betray common sense observation.
There are many around us who with greater talents and more efforts fail to “succeed” in life and reach “financial security”. And there are those who within moments loose their vast fortunes, or suddenly become rich, due to market fluctuation, calamity, unforeseen business deals, or otherwise. And finally, there are always these basic questions to ask: Who is the One Who provided him with his talents and abilities? Who has provided him with that particular set of resources that he successfully utilized and which others were not provided with? Who controls the events that occur in our day to day life and Who provided those particular chances and deals that contributed to his fortune?
Wise people know the answers to these questions and, consequently, humble themselves and thank Allah (swt) for His favor.[11] About such people who think that it is because of their talent or enterprise that they had become wealthy, Allah (swt) says: … When We bestow a favor upon him as from Ourselves he says, “This has been given to me because of a certain knowledge (I have)!” Nay, this is but a trial. But most of them understand not. (39:49) Righteous believers, therefore, are always conscious about this true ownership of wealth and property that is at their disposal. Therefore, when a calamity befalls that results in the loss of that property or wealth, they do not break down but remind themselves with this: “This property and wealth belonged to Allah and He has taken it back”.[12]
Suffering Wrong and Injustice
For a believer who has been a victim of wrong or injustice by others, the greatest comfort is that a day will come when he will receive full justice from Allah (swt). No matter how insignificant or how grievous the harm is, the offending parties will be called to account for their actions. No matter to whom an injustice was done,
and no matter how long ago that aggression was committed, the matter will be kept on records until it is addressed. Even if everyone forgets the incident, Allah (swt) will not. For example, the infants who were buried alive during Jahiliyyah (Age of Darkness before Islam) will not be forgotten. Allah (swt) will ask them about what their crime was for which they were buried alive: When the female (infant) buried alive is questioned: for what crime she was killed; when the Scrolls are laid open; when the World on High is unveiled: when the Blazing Fire is kindled to fierce heat; and when the Garden is brought near; (Then) shall each soul know what it has put forward. (81:8-14) In Islam, injustice is not necessarily limited to physical and material harm.
Violating a person’s honor and dignity is also an act of injustice. Therefore, a Muslim should not speak ill of another person or make any negative comment about any individual in his absence regardless of whether that person has done something wrong or not. This is called gibah, which Islam forbids except only in a few cases.[13] A person who has done any injustice against another, be that even a negative comment made about him in his absence, will have to pay back to the victim in the Hereafter out of his own good deeds (unless the victim forgives him before he dies). If he runs out of his good deeds and still owes him, then he must take over equivalent amount of bad deeds from the victim.
The Prophet (p) said: He who has done a wrong affecting his brother’s honor or anything else, must ask his forgiveness for it today before the time (i.e., the Day of Judgment) when he will have neither a dinar nor a dirham. If he has done some good deeds, a portion equal to his wrong doings will be subtracted from them;
but if he has no good deeds, he will be burdened with the evil deeds of the one he had wronged in the same proportion. (Bukhari) This is so far as compensating the victim is concerned. He will still be liable to face punishment from Allah (swt) for committing the act of injustice and thus violating Allah’s commandments, unless both Allah (swt) and the victim forgive him.[14] The believer, therefore, should be patient having full assurance that Allah (swt) watches everything and will deliver justice: We have made some of you as a trial for others: will ye have patience? For Allah is One Who sees (all things). (25:20)
Truly the reward of the Hereafter will be greater if they only realize (this)! (They are) those who persevere in patience and put their trust on their Lord. (16:41-42) That is the ultimate comfort that a believer can have who has been wronged or oppressed by others. For there is a Judge higher than all other judges and an Authority above all other authorities. Unlike the judges in this world, this Judge never makes a mistake. For He is intimately aware of all things that occur and renders justice based on actual facts, and not on the presentation and performance of lawyers.
This discussion points out a theme that is at the core of Islam, namely justice. In fact, Islam is considered to be synonymous with justice (adl). The purpose of the shari`a (Divine Law) is justice and welfare of the people. In this religion, injustice, no matter how small, is completely forbidden. Allah (swt) says in a hadith qudsi: O My servants, I have forbidden injustice for Myself and have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not commit acts of injustice against one another.
Learning from the Example of Prophet Job
Those afflicted with calamities and distress should remember the story of Prophet Job (Qur’an calls him Aiyub). Ah! What a heart-melting story of pain and suffering, of patience and forbearance, of faith and gratitude, and ultimately of reward and success! Ibn Kathir, a ninth century scholar, mentioned this story in detail in his Qisas al-Anbia (“Stories of the Prophets”). We reproduce the story[15] below with some abridgment since no discussion on trials and tribulations can be considered completed without drawing lessons from this servant of Allah, who was truly a paragon of patience and faith.[16]
Prophet Job (p) was a very wealthy man having many animals, lands, slaves, and children. He was a very patient man and was never arrogant or selfish. He worshipped Allah and was always humble and grateful to him. From his riches, he would help the poor and the needy with food and clothes. He would buy slaves and set them free. When he helped people, he made them feel as if they are favoring him by accepting his gifts. Such a noble person was he that one day the angels were discussing about him and praising him as a model servant of Allah.
Satan overheard their comments and became annoyed. He tried to seduce him with evil thoughts and distract him from prayers and worshipping Allah. But Job was firm in his faith and did not let the whispers of Satan tempt him.
Failing in his attempts to seduce Job, Satan complained to Allah about Job saying that although he was continuously glorifying Allah, he was not doing so out of his sincerity but to satisfy Allah so that his wealth should not be taken away. It was all a show, all out of greed. “If You remove his wealth then You will find that his tongue will no longer mention Your name and his praying will stop.”
Allah told Satan that Job was one of His most sincere devotees, and to prove this to him, Allah allowed him to do whatever he and his helpers wished with Job's wealth. Happy with this authority, Satan gathered his helpers and set about destroying Job's cattle, servants, and farms until he was left with no possessions. He then appeared before Job in the guise of a wise old man and said to him: “All your wealth is lost. Some people say that it is because you gave too much charity and that you are wasting your time with your continuous prayers to Allah. Others say that Allah has bought this upon you in order to please your enemies. If Allah had the capacity to prevent harm, then He would have protected your wealth.” True to his belief, Job replied: “What Allah has taken away from me belongs to Him. I was only its trustee for a while. He gives to whom He wills and withholds from whom He wills.” With these words, Job went to prostration out of his humbleness and gratitude to Allah (swt).
Seeing this, Satan was frustrated. He again complained to Allah: “I have stripped Job of all his possessions, but he still remains grateful to You. However, he is only hiding his disappointments, for he places great store by his many children. The real test of a parent is through his children. You will then see how Job will reject You.” Allah granted Satan authority, but warned him that it would not reduce Job's faith in his Lord nor his patience.
Satan gathered his helpers and shook the foundation of the house in which Job's children were living and sent the building crashing, killing all of them. Then he went to Job disguised as a man who had come to sympathize with him. In a comforting tone he said to Job: “The circumstances under which your children died were sad. Surely, your Lord is not rewarding you properly for all your prayers.” Job, firm in his faith, replied: “Allah sometimes gives and sometimes takes. He is sometimes pleased and sometimes displeased with our deeds. Whether a thing is beneficial or harmful to me, I will remain firm in my belief and remain thankful to my Creator.” He then prostrated again to his Lord.
At this Satan was extremely vexed. He again called on Allah: “O my Lord, Job's wealth is gone, his children are dead, but he is still healthy in body, and as long as he enjoys good health he will continue to worship You in the hope of regaining his wealth and producing more children. Grant me authority over his body so that I may weaken it. He will surely neglect worshipping You and thus become disobedient.” Allah wanted to
teach Satan a lesson that Job was a devoted servant of Him, and so He granted Satan his third request but placed a condition:
“I give you authority over his body but not over his soul, intellect, or heart, for in these places reside the knowledge of Me and My religion.” Armed with this new authority, Satan began to take revenge on Job's body and filled it with disease until it was reduced to mere skin and bone, making him suffer severe pain. But through all the suffering Job remained strong in his faith, patiently bearing all the hardships without complaining. He did not despair, nor did he turn to others for help but remained hopeful of Allah's Mercy. Even close relatives and friends deserted him. Only his kind loving wife stayed with him who remained his sole companion and comforter through many years of his suffering.
In desperation, Satan went to Job's wife in the form of a man, and asked, “Where is your husband?”
She pointed to an almost lifeless form crumpled on the bed and said: “There he is, suspended between life and death.”
Satan reminded her of the days when Job had good health, wealth and children. Suddenly, the painful memory of yeas of hardship overcame her, and she burst into tears. She said to Job: “How long are you going to bear this torture from our Lord? Are we to remain without wealth, children or friends forever? Why don't you call upon Allah to remove this suffering?” Job sighed, and in a soft voice replied, “Satan must have whispered to you and made you dissatisfied. Tell me, how long did I enjoy good health and riches?”
She replied, “For eighty years.”
Then Job asked, “How long am I suffering like this?”
She said, “For seven years.”
Then Job told her, “In that case I am ashamed to call on my Lord to remove the hardship, for I have not suffered longer than the years of good health and plenty. It seems that your faith has weakened and you are
dissatisfied with the fate of Allah. If I ever regain health, I swear I will punish you with a hundred strokes! From this day onward, I forbid myself to eat or drink anything from your hand. Leave me alone and let my Lord do with me as He pleases.”
Crying bitterly and with a heavy heart, she had no choice but to leave him and seek shelter elsewhere. In his helpless state, Job turned to Allah, not to complain but to seek His mercy: Verily, distress has seized me, and You are the Most Merciful of all those who show Mercy. (21:83) What a man of patience, faith, and
self-respect! Even in this miserable condition, he did not ask Allah to remove his affliction but merely stated that He is the Most Merciful of all who have mercy!
Can there be any trial more difficult and painful then what Job went through one after another? He lost all his wealth and property, all of his children were killed when the roof collapsed, his friends and people left him, and he suffered from a sever skin disorder for years. Yet, he did not complained to Allah nor was he dissatisfied with Him throughout these extremely difficult trials. The result of his patience and faith in Allah was this: he came out of all these trials with superb success. He asked for Allah’s Mercy, and rushing down it came:
So We answered his call, and We removed the distress that was on him, and We restored his family to him (that he had lost) and the like thereof along with them - as a mercy from Ourselves and a Reminder for all who worship Us. (21:84) Allah (swt) praised him in the Qur’an, saying: Truly We found him full of patience and constancy, how excellent in Our service! Ever did he turn (to Us)! (38:44) And He rewarded him with more than what he had:
And We gave him (back) his people and doubled their number as a Grace from Ourselves and a thing for commemoration for all who have understanding. (38:43) The verse above significantly ends with “for all who have understanding.” Indeed, for people of understanding, there are lessons to be learned from the example of Job, a mortal human being who left behind immortal lessons for patience, forbearance, and faith in Allah (swt) that will continue to inspire believers generations after generations.
Some Practical Guidelines in Dealing With Trials
The above discussions will hopefully help one understand the Islamic philosophy behind trials and tribulations and prepare his or her heart for tests. Below, we describe some practical guidelines, drawn from the Qur’an and the Sunnah, about dealing with trials.
Seek Refuge From Trials
One should not solicit trials from Allah (swt). No matter how pious one might be, he or she should not be proud of having unshakable faith but always remain humble and ask Allah (swt) to guide him and to keep him on the right path. Indeed, if it was not for the mercy and guidance of Allah (swt), he could not have remained a believer and a practicing Muslim. Therefore, he should often ask for forgiveness from Allah for sins and mistakes committed so that He does not take him to task for those mistakes. In the Qur’an, Allah (swt) teaches the believers to make the following supplication:
Our Lord! Take us not to task if we forget or commit mistakes. Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden such as You laid on those gone before us. Our Lord! Lay not on us burdens which we do not have the power to bear. And overlook our faults, and forgive us, and have mercy upon us. (2:286) The Prophet (p), the most pious and faithful of all believers, frequently used to make the following supplication: O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from the punishment of the grave; I seek refuge in Thee from the trial of the Antichrist; I seek refuge in Thee from the trial of life and the trial of death; O Allah, I seek refuge in Thee from sin and debt. (Muslim) Giving sadaqa (charity) often can prevent calamity for a believer. The Prophet (p) said: Give the sadaqa without delay, for it stands in the way of calamity. (Tirmidhi)
Be Ready For Trials
While a believer should seek refuge in Allah from trials, he should, at the same time, be always ready for trials. His supplications for forgiveness might save him from some trials, but there will still be trials that he will face for sure. Therefore, a believer should always be mentally prepared for afflictions and calamities so that he can pass the tests with success. See above for detailed discussions on this topic.
Always Have Focus on the Hereafter
If one is afflicted with a calamity, he should remember that our life is short and our ultimate destination is the Hereafter. Therefore, he should remain patient, ask Allah (swt) for help, and remember that he will be meeting Him soon: Who say when afflicted with calamity: “To Allah we belong and to Him is our return.” They are those on whom (descend) blessings from Allah and Mercy and they are the ones that receive guidance. (2:156-157) The Prophet (p) said:
If any Muslim who suffers some calamity says that which Allah has commanded him: “ ‘We belong to Allah and to Him shall we return’: O Allah, reward me for my affliction and give me something better in exchange for it”, Allah will give him something better than it in exchange. (Muslim) The Prophet (p) once grabbed Abdullah ibn ‘Umar by his shoulders and said: Be in the world as if you were a stranger or a wayfarer. (Bukhari) When a believer always keeps the Hereafter in focus, he remains calm and in control at whatever calamity he faces. For him, dunya (this world) is not the end of everything, and thus he does not breakdown but stays calm and deals with all crisis with faith and trust in Allah (swt).
Be Patient at the First Stroke
The mettle of a person is proven when he remains calm and in control even at a sudden and unforeseen calamity or difficulty. The Prophet (p) said: Patience is only at the first (stroke) of grief. (Bukhari and Muslim)
When Calamity Befalls, Remember That It Is a Test.
Any affliction that a believer suffers is a test from Allah (swt). If he does not recognize the test, then he may feel despair and thus fail the test. The believer should particularly keep in mind the following verses from the Qur’an that remind that every single believer will be tested: We shall try you until We test those among you who strive their utmost and persevere in patience; and we shall try your reported (mettle). (47:31)
Ye shall certainly be tried and tested in your possessions and in your personal selves. (3:186)
Do men think that they will be left alone on saying “We believe” and that they will not be tested? (29:2)
Ask Allah (swt) For Forgiveness
When calamity strikes a believer, he should take all steps necessary to remedy the situation. Having faith and trust in Allah never means inaction or complacency with difficulties. This has been made quite clear in both the Qur’an and the examples of the Prophet (p).
From a spiritual perspective, the very first thing that the believer should do is turn to Allah (swt) for forgiveness. One of the most beautiful and effective supplications that he can make is the supplication made by Prophet Jonah (called Yunus in the Qur’an). When the people of Nineveh rejected the message of Jonah to worship Allah alone, Jonah left the city out of despair, expecting that Allah’s punishment on them was imminent. That was a mistake, for a Prophet can never forsake his mission and leave without the consent of Allah. This was only a mistake in judgment, and not a rebellious action. Nevertheless, for a Prophet or a man of piety, even a minor mistake comes out to be significant in contrast to the faith and piety that Allah has blessed him or her with. Jonah was soon consumed by a whale. It was a dark night, and he was in the dark stomach in the dark bottom of the sea. Stricken with this calamity, Jonah realized his mistake and immediately turned to Allah for forgiveness. He made a supplication that was simple and short. Nevertheless, its words carry so much significance that this small supplication is considered to be the “Mother of all supplications”. From the darkest chamber of the whale’s stomach, he cried out to Allah:
There is no God but You! Glory be to You! I have done wrong. (21:87) This short supplication has three important components. First, Jonah recognized that there is no other authority or power worthy of worship
except Allah. Besides Him, he can turn to no one for help – no king, no judge, and no personal attorney. If there is anyone who is capable of forgiveness and help, that is only Allah, the Supreme Authority of the entire universe. Second, he declared that Allah is above all blames and shortcomings. Allah (swt) is not
to be blamed for his situations, for He never commits a wrong against anyone. He is above and beyond all faults and shortcomings. Lastly, he admitted that he has committed a mistake. This admittance and recognition of one’s own fault is perhaps the most important element in seeking forgiveness. For Jonah, this
admission did not merely come out from his lips but also from the bottom of his heart. This short supplication was so heavy in weight that Allah (swt) turned to him in forgiveness and delivered him from these three layers of darkness.[17]
Sincere admittance of mistakes and repentance, thus, is a necessary condition for supplications to be heard. Allah (swt) is indeed the Most Merciful and He is quick to forgive His slaves.
Ask for Help With Patience and Salat
After faith and trust in Allah, the most import quality that a believer needs during calamity and affliction is patience. Patience is such a virtue that it is frequently mentioned both in the Qur’an and the hadith. Indeed, the Prophet (p) said that it is the best gift that one can receive from Allah: No one is granted a gift better and more comprehensive than patience. (Bukhari and Muslim) In many places in the Qur’an, Allah (swt) asks the believer to seek His help with patience and salat, such as: O ye who believe! seek help with patient perseverance and prayer: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere. (2:153)
Seek (Allah's) help with patient perseverance and prayer. (2:45) One of the best times to offer salat is late night before the time for fajr starts. Called the tahajjud prayer, there are many excellences for this prayer. The believer should try to make as much tahajjud prayer as possible and ask Allah (swt) for help and forgiveness, as this is one the best times to make prayers and supplications: And for part of the night also praise Him, and at the retreat of the stars! (52:49)
And during part of the night (also) celebrate His praises and (so likewise) after the postures of adoration. (50:40)
And part of the night prostrate thyself to Him; and glorify Him a long night through. (76:26) When people and all other creatures around are deep in sleep, it is only the believer who keeps awake and is immersed in
worshipping Allah (swt). In that still silence of the dead of the night, it is, as if, only two are engaged in a private conversation: one who begs for help and mercy, and the Other Who listens to his prayers.
Avoid the Two Pitfalls
Truly man was created very impatient: fretful when evil touches him, and niggardly when good reaches him. (70:19-21) There are two categories of people that a righteous believer should not slip into.
The first kinds are those who desperately seek Allah’s help and forgiveness when in calamity or peril. Then when Allah (swt) delivers them from their calamity, they forget Allah and go back to their usual life of indifference to Allah and the Hereafter. About these people, Allah (swt) says: When trouble touches a man he cries unto Us (in all postures) lying down on his side or sitting or standing. But when We have solved his trouble he passes on his way as if he had never cried to Us for a trouble that touched him! Thus do the deeds of transgressors seem fair in their eyes! (10:12) The second kinds are those who worship Allah and follow his commandments so long as they enjoy a comfortable or trouble-free life. Then when calamities strike them, they break down and become indifferent to Allah and his commandments out of anger and frustration. It is, as if, they deserve a comfortable life in return for their worshipping of Allah (swt). About them, says Allah (swt):
Among men is he who worships Allah, while remaining on the borderline; if any good befalls him, he is satisfied; but if a trial afflicts him, he utterly turns away. He will incur loss both of this world and the Hereafter. That indeed is a clear loss. (21:11) Falling into one these two categories is an utter failure. A true believer is one who always worships Allah (swt) – whether in calamity or in good fortune. When in calamity,
he remains patient and pleased with Allah, and when something good happens to him, he thanks Allah. Thus he always earns rewards and Allah’s good pleasure while he lives in this world. The Prophet (p) said:
How wonderful is the case of a believer! There is good for him in everything, and this is not the case with anyone except a believer. If prosperity attends him, he expresses gratitude to Allah and that is good for him; and if adversity befalls him, he endures it patiently and that is better for him. (Muslim)
Keep in Mind the Eventual Success
Verily with every difficulty, there is relief. (94:6) It is a source of great comfort for a believer to know that his or her afflictions will one day come to an end and there will be relief for him. Therefore, he should keep this eventuality in mind and go through his trial with patience, forbearance, and faith in Allah. There will be a day – whether in this world or the Next – when he will come out victorious and successful for passing the test. For a believer in affliction, that is the ultimate success that awaits him. Says Allah (swt): Verily, the Hereafter will be better for thee than the present. (93:4)
Show Kindness to Those Who are Afflicted
If someone is afflicted with a calamity, other believers should often visit or call him or her and inquire about his (or her) welfare. One should never demoralize an afflicted believer by saying that Allah is displeased with him or that he has committed some sin for which he is being punished. Instead, believers should tell him good words that will uplift his spirit. They should tell him about the fact that Allah tests those whom He loves, and that it is the righteous believers who suffer the most in this life so that they can get Paradise in the Hereafter. The believers should sympathize with him and offer their help. The Prophet (p), out of his sympathy for the afflicted, said: If you were to sell fruits to your brother and these are stricken with calamity, it is not permissible for you to get anything from him. (Muslim)
Remember Past Trials and Benefit From Them
A wise person always takes lessons from hardships and afflictions and tries to improve his or her situation. A believer who has come out of an affliction should be self-critical and objectively analyze the possible causes for his affliction, and make corrections accordingly. For example, if he has been involved in a serious road accident while driving and Allah (swt) spared his life, then he should be more careful in driving, follow all traffic laws, and drive defensively. Or if he became seriously sick due to unhealthy eating habits and he recovered, then he should control his diet and do regulars exercise to stay fit and healthy. Most important improvements of all are amending one’s character and conduct and turning to Allah (swt) in obedience.
There is also spiritual benefit in remembering the past trials as that will make the believer always remain conscious of the fact that life is short ith all its vicissitudes and he will soon return to Allah (swt). The Prophet
(p) said that remembering past trials can even earn him reward: If any Muslim man or woman suffers a calamity and keeps it in his memory, even if it happened a long time ago, saying each time it is remembered,
'We belong to Allah and to Him do we return,' Allah, who is Blessed and Exalted will give a fresh reward each time it is said, equivalent to the reward when it happened. (Ahmad) Epilogue: Life is a Testing Ground Islam is submission to the will of Allah. For one who submits, a mere declaration or display of belief will not be taken for success, but his or her heart and soul will for sure be put to test.
Allah (swt) will test him to see whether he follows His commandments or his own desires; whether he lives a righteous and godly life or lives according to what his nafs (self ) dictates; whether the faith he displays is firmly rooted in his heart or is it merely on the surface and thus is knocked off at a slight wind; whether he will continue to have faith and love of Allah when in calamity as he does when in comfort; whether he will continue to remember and worship him if given bounties and comforts of life as he does when he lives a modest life. Allah (swt) will test him to see if his faith, trust, and love of Him is unconditional or is it conditioned with good health and comfortable life free from stress and anxiety.
For a righteous Muslim, this life is a testing ground where he will continue to be tested until he meets Allah (swt). For him, tests will be done right here on earth while he lives, and not after he dies. He knows that as soon as death arrives and he steps into the Next World, his tests are over. There, he only receives the results of his tests, and then enjoys (or suffers) the fruits of his deeds that he committed during a short span of time called Life.
Allah Tidak Jauh, Doa Sentiasa Mustajab
7 October, 2007 (08:05) | Mufti Perlis S. S. Dr. Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin
“ANTARA tanda kasih sayang dan rahmat Allah kepada hamba-hamba-Nya adalah Dia tidak mewujudkan sebarang halangan untuk seorang hamba memohon kepada-Nya. Insan diperintahkan berhubung langsung dengan Allah tanpa sebarang ‘broker’ dalam hubungan yang suci itu. Tiada sebarang perantaraan antara Allah dan hamba-hamba-Nya.”
Islam menolak segala unsur keberhalaan yang menjadikan makhluk sebagai tuhan jelmaan menggantikan tuhan yang hakiki. Islam menganggap perbuatan memohon kemakbulan doa dari makhluk adalah syirik. Tidak kira siapa pun makhluk itu. Sama ada dia nabi ataupun wali.
Seorang muslim tidak diizinkan pergi ke kubur mereka dan menyeru: wahai fulan tolonglah saya! Atau: Wahai nabi tolonglah tenteramkan jiwa saya! Atau: Wahai wali sembuhkanlah penyakit saya!
Perbuatan itu adalah syirik. Mukmin hanya meminta doa daripada Allah. Firman Allah: (maksudnya) Dan tiada yang lebih sesat dari orang yang menyeru selain Allah, yang tidak dapat menyahut seruannya sehinggalah ke hari kiamat, sedang mereka (makhluk-makhluk yang mereka sembah itu) tidak dapat menyedari permohonan tersebut. Dan apabila manusia dihimpunkan (untuk dihitung amalan pada hari akhirat), segala yang disembah itu menjadi musuh (kepada orang-orang yang menyembahnya) dan membantah mereka (surah al- Ahqaf: 5-6). Firman Allah: (maksudnya) Allah jua yang memasukkan malam kepada siang dan memasukkan siang kepada malam (silih berganti), dan Dia yang memudahkan peredaran matahari dan bulan; tiap-tiap satu dari keduanya beredar untuk suatu masa yang telah ditetapkan. Yang melakukan semuanya itu ialah Allah Tuhan kamu, bagi-Nyalah kuasa pemerintahan; sedangkan mereka yang kamu sembah selain Allah itu tidak mendengar permohonan kamu, dan kalaulah mereka mendengar pun, mereka tidak dapat memperkenankan pemohonan kamu; dan pada hari kiamat pula mereka mengingkari perbuatan syirik kamu. Dan (ingatlah) tiada yang dapat memberi tahu kepadamu (Wahai Muhammad, akan hakikat yang sebenarnya) seperti yang diberikan Allah Yang Maha mendalam pengetahuan-Nya (surah Fatir: 13-14). Maka perbuatan memohon selain Allah, sama ada menyeru berhala secara terang atau memanggil nama para wali seperti Abdul Qadir al-Jailani atau wali ‘songo’ atau apa sahaja termasuk dalam kerja-kerja syirik yang diharamkan oleh nas- nas al-Quran dan al-sunah.
Nabi s.a.w. begitu menjaga persoalan akidah ini. Daripada Ibn ‘Abbas: “Bahawa seorang lelaki berkata kepada Nabi s.a.w: “Apa yang Allah dan engkau kehendaki.” Maka baginda bersabda kepadanya: Apakah engkau menjadikanku sekutu Allah, bahkan (katakan): apa yang hanya Allah kehendaki. (Riwayat al-Imam Ahmad dinilai sahih oleh Al-Albani, Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Sahihah, 1/266). Bandingkanlah ketegasan Nabi ini dengan ajaran sesetengah guru tarekat atau sufi yang mencetuskan segala unsur keajaiban pada diri mereka agar dikagumi oleh pengikutnya. Akhirnya, mereka seakan Tuhan yang disembah, atau wakil Tuhan yang menentukan penerimaan atau penolakan amalan pengikutnya. Bahkan untung rugi nasib masa depan pengikut pun seakan berada di tangan mereka. Demikian juga, pengikut yang melampau, berlebih-lebihan memuja tokoh agama, akhirnya boleh terjerumus kepada kesyirikan. Terlampau memuja tokoh seperti itulah yang menyebabkan banyak individu dianggap keramat dan suci sehingga dipanggil ‘tok keramat’ lalu mereka seakan dimaksumkan. Kemudian, datang pula orang-orang jahil ke kubur mereka membayar nazar atau meminta hajat mereka ditunaikan. Sehingga apabila saya ke Urumuqi di China, ada satu gua yang kononnya dianggap tempat Ashabul Kahfi yang disebut dalam al-Quran itu. Ramai yang pergi melakukan kesyirikan dengan meminta hajat di situ. Saya beritahu bahawa dalam dunia ini entah berapa banyak gua yang didakwa kononnya tempat Ashabul Kahfi. Ada di Turki, Jordan dan lain-lain. Semuanya dakwaan tanpa bukti. Sama juga kononnya tempat-tempat sejarah nabi yang didakwa oleh sesetengah pihak. Tiada petunjuk yang dapat memastikan ketulenannya. Jika pun benar, mereka bukan tuhan untuk seseorang meminta hajat. Inilah yang terjadi kepada Nabi Isa. Dari seorang nabi yang diutuskan, akhirnya manusia menabalkannya menjadi anak Tuhan. Meminta hajat daripada orang-orang agama atau soleh setelah mereka mati adalah syirik. Islam tidak kenal perkara seperti itu. Islam tulen bebas dari segala unsur kebodohan tidak bertebing itu.
Ada yang cuba membela dengan menyatakan: bukan apa, mereka ini ialah orang yang dekat dengan Allah, kita ini jauh. Maka kita gunakan perantaraan mereka. Macam kita hendak dekat dengan menteri atau raja. Saya kata kepada mereka: Adakah awak menganggap Allah itu sama dengan tabiat raja atau menteri awak? Dakwaan inilah yang disanggah oleh al-Quran sekeras-kerasnya. Firman Allah: (maksudnya) Ingatlah! Hanya untuk Allah agama yang bersih (dari segala rupa syirik). Dan orang-orang musyrik yang mengambil selain dari Allah untuk menjadi pelindung itu berkata: “Kami tidak menyembah mereka (tuhan-tuhan palsu) melainkan untuk mendekatkan kami kepada Allah sehampir-hampirnya”. Sesungguhnya Allah akan menghukum antara mereka tentang apa yang mereka berselisihan padanya. Sesungguhnya Allah tidak memberi hidayah petunjuk kepada orang-orang yang tetap berdusta (mengatakan yang bukan- bukan), lagi sentiasa kufur (dengan melakukan syirik) (al-Zumar:3).
Setelah Allah menceritakan tentang bulan Ramadan dan kewajiban puasa, Allah terus menyebut kemustajaban doa. Ia menunjukkan adanya kaitan yang kuat antara puasa Ramadan dan janji Allah untuk memustajabkan doa hamba-hamba-Nya. Allah berfirman (maksudnya): Dan apabila hamba-hamba-Ku bertanya kepadamu mengenai Aku maka (beritahu kepada mereka): Sesungguhnya Aku (Allah) sentiasa hampir (kepada mereka); Aku perkenankan permohonan orang yang berdoa apabila dia berdoa kepada-Ku. Maka hendaklah mereka menyahut seruan-Ku (dengan mematuhi perintah-Ku), dan hendaklah mereka beriman kepada-Ku supaya mereka mendapat petunjuk (surah al-Baqarah: 186).
Demikian, Allah itu sentiasa hampir dengan kita, mendengar dan memperkenankan doa kita. Sesiapapun boleh sampai kepada-Nya. Tiada pengawal atau orang tengah yang menghalang seorang hamba untuk merintih dan merayu kepada Tuhannya. Siapapun hamba itu. Apa pun bangsanya dan apa pun bahasa doanya. Apa pun sejarah buruk dan baiknya. Tuhan sentiasa sudi mendengar lalu memustajabkan pemohonan mereka dengan cara yang dikehendaki-Nya. Bertambah banyak hajat dan permohonan seorang hamba, bertambah kasih dan dekat Allah kepadanya. Amat berbeza dengan tabiat makhluk yang lemah ini. Walau bagaimana baik pun seseorang dengan kita, namun jika kita terlalu meminta, perasaan jemu dan bosan akan timbul dalam jiwanya. Allah Maha Suci dari demikian. Dia menyuruh kita berdoa dan membanyakkan doa. Ini kerana doa adalah lambang kehambaan diri kepada zat yang Maha Agung. Firman Allah (maksudnya): Dan Tuhan kamu berfirman: Berdoalah kamu kepada-Ku nescaya Aku perkenankan doa permohonan kamu. Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang sombong takbur daripada beribadat (berdoa kepada-Ku) akan masuk neraka jahanam dalam keadaan hina (surah Ghafir: 60). Seseorang kadangkala tidak perasan bahawa apabila dia berdoa kepada Allah sebenarnya dia sedang melakukan ibadah yang besar. Walaupun pada zahirnya kelihatan dia sedang memohon untuk kepentingan diri sendiri, namun hakikatnya dia sedang membuktikan keikhlasan tauhidnya kepada Allah dan ketundukan kepada Tuhan Yang Sebenar. Maka dengan itu Nabi menyatakan: Doa itu adalah ibadah. (Riwayat Abu Daud dan al- Tirmizi, sahih). Jika sepanjang malam seorang hamba berdoa kepada Allah, bererti sepanjang malam dia melakukan ibadah yang besar.
Doa sentiasa diterima oleh Allah. Jika ada yang kelihatan tidak diterima, mungkin ada beberapa faktor yang mengganggu. Mungkin pemohonan itu tidak membawa kebaikan jika dimustajabkan. Allah Maha Mengetahui. Seperti hasrat kita ingin mengahwini seseorang yang kita suka, lalu kita berdoa agar Allah menjadikan dia pasangan kita. Allah lebih mengetahui jika itu tidak baik untuk kita lalu Allah memilih untuk kita pasangan yang lain. Atau Allah memustajabkan doa orang lain yang lebih dikehendaki-Nya. Atau Allah memustajabkan doa calon berkenaan yang inginkan orang lain. Segalanya mungkin. Namun doa tidak sia-sia. Pahala tetap diberikan, kebaikan yang lain pula akan diganti di dunia dan di akhirat. Sabda Nabi: Tiada seorang muslim yang berdoa dengan suatu doa yang tiada dalamnya dosa, atau memutuskan silaturahim melainkan Allah akan memberikan kepadanya salah satu dari tiga perkara: sama ada disegerakan kemakbulan atau disimpan untuk diberikan pada hari akhirat, ataupun dijauhkan keburukan yang sepandan dengannya. (Riwayat Ahmad, al-Bazzar dan Abu Ya‘la dengan sanad yang sahih). Maka, ada doa kita kepada Allah diterima olehnya di dunia. Ada yang tidak diberi disebabkan hikmat yang Allah lebih mengetahuinya, lalu disimpan doa itu di sisi-Nya untuk diberikan pada hari akhirat dengan yang lebih baik dan lebih utama untuk kita. Atau doa itu ditukar dengan kebaikan-kebaikan yang lain seperti diselamatkan kita dari pelbagai bahaya yang sebahagian besarnya tidak pernah diduga. Betapa banyak keberbahayaan yang menimpa orang lain, tetapi kita diselamatkan oleh Allah. Tidak juga kerana permohonan kita dalam perkara tersebut atau kebijaksanaan kita, namun barangkali doa kita dalam perkara yang lain, lalu diberikan gantian keselamatan untuk kita dalam perkara yang tidak diduga. Kadangkala Dia tidak memberikan kepada kita sesuatu permohonan disebabkan rahmat-Nya kepada kita. Barangkali ingin menyelamatkan kita. Dia Maha Mengetahui, jika diberikan, mungkin kita hanyut atau menempuh sesuatu yang merugikan kehidupan di dunia atau akhirat. Kita pun demikian. Bukan bererti apabila seorang bapa tidak tunaikan kehendak anaknya tanda kebencian terhadapnya. Bahkan sebahagian besarnya kerana kasih sayang dek bimbang jika diberikan akan mendatangkan kemudaratan. Maha Suci Allah untuk dibandingkan dengan kita semua, namun yang pasti rahmat-Nya sentiasa melimpah. Jika Dia menangguhkan doa kita, tentu ada hikmah-Nya.
Di samping itu hendaklah kita faham, doa itu bermaksud permohonan. Seorang yang berdoa mestilah bersungguh-sungguh dalam doanya. Maka tidaklah dinamakan berdoa jika tidak faham apa yang kita doa. Sebab itu saya amat hairan dengan sesetengah orang yang berdoa tanpa memahami maksud. Sesetengah mereka menghafal teks Arab kerana hendak menjadi ‘tekong’ doa dalam pelbagai majlis. Malangnya, ada yang tidak faham apa yang dibaca dan yang mengaminkan pun sama. Ada orang merungut, kata mereka, umat Arab di Masjidilharam dan Masjid Nabawi tidak baca doa selepas solat beramai-ramai. Itu menunjukkan mereka tidak kuat pegangan Islam mereka.
Saya katakan: Islam tidak diturun di kampung halaman kita, ia diturunkan di Mekah dan Madinah. Mereka melakukan apa yang menjadi amalan Rasulullah. Lagipun seseorang yang bersolat disuruh berdoa ketika dalam solat dan berwirid selepasnya. Dalam hadis, kita diajar agar berdoa ketika sujud dan selepas membaca tasyahud sebelum salam. Di situlah antara waktu mustajabnya doa. Sabda Nabi: Paling dekat hamba dengan tuhannya adalah ketika sujud, maka banyakkan doa ketika sujud. (Riwayat Muslim). Nabi memberitahu tentang doa selepas tasyahud sebelum memberi salam dalam solat: Berdoalah pasti mustajab, mintalah pasti akan diberikan. (Riwayat al-Nasai, sanadnya sahih).
Bukan bererti orang yang kita tengok tidak mengangkat tangan berdoa kuat beramai-ramai selepas solat itu tidak berdoa. Kita yang barangkali kurang faham sedangkan mungkin mereka berdoa dalam solat melebihi kita. Jika seseorang berdoa selepas memberi salam, tentulah dalam banyak hal, hajat makmum dan imam tidak sama. Maka jangan marah jika kita lihat orang berdoa bersendirian.
Nasihatilah mereka yang membaca doa tanpa faham maksudnya, atau mengaminkan tanpa mengetahui isinya. Lebih menyedihkan, kadangkala doa dibaca dengan nada dan irama yang tidak menggambarkan seorang hamba yang sedang merintih memohon kepada Allah. Sebahagian nada itu, jika seseorang bercakap kepada kita dengan menggunakannya pun kita akan pertikaikan. Layakkah nada seperti itu sebagai doa kepada Allah yang Maha Agung? Benarlah sabda Rasulullah: Berdoalah kamu kepada Allah Taala dalam keadaan kamu yakin akan dimustajabkan. Ketahuilah sesungguhnya Allah tidak menerima doa dari hati yang lalai dan alpa. (Riwayat al-Tirmizi, disahihkan oleh al-Albani). Pelajari kita nas-nas agama tentang doa kerana ianya amat penting bagi kehidupan dunia dan akhirat kita.
“ANTARA tanda kasih sayang dan rahmat Allah kepada hamba-hamba-Nya adalah Dia tidak mewujudkan sebarang halangan untuk seorang hamba memohon kepada-Nya. Insan diperintahkan berhubung langsung dengan Allah tanpa sebarang ‘broker’ dalam hubungan yang suci itu. Tiada sebarang perantaraan antara Allah dan hamba-hamba-Nya.”
Islam menolak segala unsur keberhalaan yang menjadikan makhluk sebagai tuhan jelmaan menggantikan tuhan yang hakiki. Islam menganggap perbuatan memohon kemakbulan doa dari makhluk adalah syirik. Tidak kira siapa pun makhluk itu. Sama ada dia nabi ataupun wali.
Seorang muslim tidak diizinkan pergi ke kubur mereka dan menyeru: wahai fulan tolonglah saya! Atau: Wahai nabi tolonglah tenteramkan jiwa saya! Atau: Wahai wali sembuhkanlah penyakit saya!
Perbuatan itu adalah syirik. Mukmin hanya meminta doa daripada Allah. Firman Allah: (maksudnya) Dan tiada yang lebih sesat dari orang yang menyeru selain Allah, yang tidak dapat menyahut seruannya sehinggalah ke hari kiamat, sedang mereka (makhluk-makhluk yang mereka sembah itu) tidak dapat menyedari permohonan tersebut. Dan apabila manusia dihimpunkan (untuk dihitung amalan pada hari akhirat), segala yang disembah itu menjadi musuh (kepada orang-orang yang menyembahnya) dan membantah mereka (surah al- Ahqaf: 5-6). Firman Allah: (maksudnya) Allah jua yang memasukkan malam kepada siang dan memasukkan siang kepada malam (silih berganti), dan Dia yang memudahkan peredaran matahari dan bulan; tiap-tiap satu dari keduanya beredar untuk suatu masa yang telah ditetapkan. Yang melakukan semuanya itu ialah Allah Tuhan kamu, bagi-Nyalah kuasa pemerintahan; sedangkan mereka yang kamu sembah selain Allah itu tidak mendengar permohonan kamu, dan kalaulah mereka mendengar pun, mereka tidak dapat memperkenankan pemohonan kamu; dan pada hari kiamat pula mereka mengingkari perbuatan syirik kamu. Dan (ingatlah) tiada yang dapat memberi tahu kepadamu (Wahai Muhammad, akan hakikat yang sebenarnya) seperti yang diberikan Allah Yang Maha mendalam pengetahuan-Nya (surah Fatir: 13-14). Maka perbuatan memohon selain Allah, sama ada menyeru berhala secara terang atau memanggil nama para wali seperti Abdul Qadir al-Jailani atau wali ‘songo’ atau apa sahaja termasuk dalam kerja-kerja syirik yang diharamkan oleh nas- nas al-Quran dan al-sunah.
Nabi s.a.w. begitu menjaga persoalan akidah ini. Daripada Ibn ‘Abbas: “Bahawa seorang lelaki berkata kepada Nabi s.a.w: “Apa yang Allah dan engkau kehendaki.” Maka baginda bersabda kepadanya: Apakah engkau menjadikanku sekutu Allah, bahkan (katakan): apa yang hanya Allah kehendaki. (Riwayat al-Imam Ahmad dinilai sahih oleh Al-Albani, Silsilah al-Ahadith al-Sahihah, 1/266). Bandingkanlah ketegasan Nabi ini dengan ajaran sesetengah guru tarekat atau sufi yang mencetuskan segala unsur keajaiban pada diri mereka agar dikagumi oleh pengikutnya. Akhirnya, mereka seakan Tuhan yang disembah, atau wakil Tuhan yang menentukan penerimaan atau penolakan amalan pengikutnya. Bahkan untung rugi nasib masa depan pengikut pun seakan berada di tangan mereka. Demikian juga, pengikut yang melampau, berlebih-lebihan memuja tokoh agama, akhirnya boleh terjerumus kepada kesyirikan. Terlampau memuja tokoh seperti itulah yang menyebabkan banyak individu dianggap keramat dan suci sehingga dipanggil ‘tok keramat’ lalu mereka seakan dimaksumkan. Kemudian, datang pula orang-orang jahil ke kubur mereka membayar nazar atau meminta hajat mereka ditunaikan. Sehingga apabila saya ke Urumuqi di China, ada satu gua yang kononnya dianggap tempat Ashabul Kahfi yang disebut dalam al-Quran itu. Ramai yang pergi melakukan kesyirikan dengan meminta hajat di situ. Saya beritahu bahawa dalam dunia ini entah berapa banyak gua yang didakwa kononnya tempat Ashabul Kahfi. Ada di Turki, Jordan dan lain-lain. Semuanya dakwaan tanpa bukti. Sama juga kononnya tempat-tempat sejarah nabi yang didakwa oleh sesetengah pihak. Tiada petunjuk yang dapat memastikan ketulenannya. Jika pun benar, mereka bukan tuhan untuk seseorang meminta hajat. Inilah yang terjadi kepada Nabi Isa. Dari seorang nabi yang diutuskan, akhirnya manusia menabalkannya menjadi anak Tuhan. Meminta hajat daripada orang-orang agama atau soleh setelah mereka mati adalah syirik. Islam tidak kenal perkara seperti itu. Islam tulen bebas dari segala unsur kebodohan tidak bertebing itu.
Ada yang cuba membela dengan menyatakan: bukan apa, mereka ini ialah orang yang dekat dengan Allah, kita ini jauh. Maka kita gunakan perantaraan mereka. Macam kita hendak dekat dengan menteri atau raja. Saya kata kepada mereka: Adakah awak menganggap Allah itu sama dengan tabiat raja atau menteri awak? Dakwaan inilah yang disanggah oleh al-Quran sekeras-kerasnya. Firman Allah: (maksudnya) Ingatlah! Hanya untuk Allah agama yang bersih (dari segala rupa syirik). Dan orang-orang musyrik yang mengambil selain dari Allah untuk menjadi pelindung itu berkata: “Kami tidak menyembah mereka (tuhan-tuhan palsu) melainkan untuk mendekatkan kami kepada Allah sehampir-hampirnya”. Sesungguhnya Allah akan menghukum antara mereka tentang apa yang mereka berselisihan padanya. Sesungguhnya Allah tidak memberi hidayah petunjuk kepada orang-orang yang tetap berdusta (mengatakan yang bukan- bukan), lagi sentiasa kufur (dengan melakukan syirik) (al-Zumar:3).
Setelah Allah menceritakan tentang bulan Ramadan dan kewajiban puasa, Allah terus menyebut kemustajaban doa. Ia menunjukkan adanya kaitan yang kuat antara puasa Ramadan dan janji Allah untuk memustajabkan doa hamba-hamba-Nya. Allah berfirman (maksudnya): Dan apabila hamba-hamba-Ku bertanya kepadamu mengenai Aku maka (beritahu kepada mereka): Sesungguhnya Aku (Allah) sentiasa hampir (kepada mereka); Aku perkenankan permohonan orang yang berdoa apabila dia berdoa kepada-Ku. Maka hendaklah mereka menyahut seruan-Ku (dengan mematuhi perintah-Ku), dan hendaklah mereka beriman kepada-Ku supaya mereka mendapat petunjuk (surah al-Baqarah: 186).
Demikian, Allah itu sentiasa hampir dengan kita, mendengar dan memperkenankan doa kita. Sesiapapun boleh sampai kepada-Nya. Tiada pengawal atau orang tengah yang menghalang seorang hamba untuk merintih dan merayu kepada Tuhannya. Siapapun hamba itu. Apa pun bangsanya dan apa pun bahasa doanya. Apa pun sejarah buruk dan baiknya. Tuhan sentiasa sudi mendengar lalu memustajabkan pemohonan mereka dengan cara yang dikehendaki-Nya. Bertambah banyak hajat dan permohonan seorang hamba, bertambah kasih dan dekat Allah kepadanya. Amat berbeza dengan tabiat makhluk yang lemah ini. Walau bagaimana baik pun seseorang dengan kita, namun jika kita terlalu meminta, perasaan jemu dan bosan akan timbul dalam jiwanya. Allah Maha Suci dari demikian. Dia menyuruh kita berdoa dan membanyakkan doa. Ini kerana doa adalah lambang kehambaan diri kepada zat yang Maha Agung. Firman Allah (maksudnya): Dan Tuhan kamu berfirman: Berdoalah kamu kepada-Ku nescaya Aku perkenankan doa permohonan kamu. Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang sombong takbur daripada beribadat (berdoa kepada-Ku) akan masuk neraka jahanam dalam keadaan hina (surah Ghafir: 60). Seseorang kadangkala tidak perasan bahawa apabila dia berdoa kepada Allah sebenarnya dia sedang melakukan ibadah yang besar. Walaupun pada zahirnya kelihatan dia sedang memohon untuk kepentingan diri sendiri, namun hakikatnya dia sedang membuktikan keikhlasan tauhidnya kepada Allah dan ketundukan kepada Tuhan Yang Sebenar. Maka dengan itu Nabi menyatakan: Doa itu adalah ibadah. (Riwayat Abu Daud dan al- Tirmizi, sahih). Jika sepanjang malam seorang hamba berdoa kepada Allah, bererti sepanjang malam dia melakukan ibadah yang besar.
Doa sentiasa diterima oleh Allah. Jika ada yang kelihatan tidak diterima, mungkin ada beberapa faktor yang mengganggu. Mungkin pemohonan itu tidak membawa kebaikan jika dimustajabkan. Allah Maha Mengetahui. Seperti hasrat kita ingin mengahwini seseorang yang kita suka, lalu kita berdoa agar Allah menjadikan dia pasangan kita. Allah lebih mengetahui jika itu tidak baik untuk kita lalu Allah memilih untuk kita pasangan yang lain. Atau Allah memustajabkan doa orang lain yang lebih dikehendaki-Nya. Atau Allah memustajabkan doa calon berkenaan yang inginkan orang lain. Segalanya mungkin. Namun doa tidak sia-sia. Pahala tetap diberikan, kebaikan yang lain pula akan diganti di dunia dan di akhirat. Sabda Nabi: Tiada seorang muslim yang berdoa dengan suatu doa yang tiada dalamnya dosa, atau memutuskan silaturahim melainkan Allah akan memberikan kepadanya salah satu dari tiga perkara: sama ada disegerakan kemakbulan atau disimpan untuk diberikan pada hari akhirat, ataupun dijauhkan keburukan yang sepandan dengannya. (Riwayat Ahmad, al-Bazzar dan Abu Ya‘la dengan sanad yang sahih). Maka, ada doa kita kepada Allah diterima olehnya di dunia. Ada yang tidak diberi disebabkan hikmat yang Allah lebih mengetahuinya, lalu disimpan doa itu di sisi-Nya untuk diberikan pada hari akhirat dengan yang lebih baik dan lebih utama untuk kita. Atau doa itu ditukar dengan kebaikan-kebaikan yang lain seperti diselamatkan kita dari pelbagai bahaya yang sebahagian besarnya tidak pernah diduga. Betapa banyak keberbahayaan yang menimpa orang lain, tetapi kita diselamatkan oleh Allah. Tidak juga kerana permohonan kita dalam perkara tersebut atau kebijaksanaan kita, namun barangkali doa kita dalam perkara yang lain, lalu diberikan gantian keselamatan untuk kita dalam perkara yang tidak diduga. Kadangkala Dia tidak memberikan kepada kita sesuatu permohonan disebabkan rahmat-Nya kepada kita. Barangkali ingin menyelamatkan kita. Dia Maha Mengetahui, jika diberikan, mungkin kita hanyut atau menempuh sesuatu yang merugikan kehidupan di dunia atau akhirat. Kita pun demikian. Bukan bererti apabila seorang bapa tidak tunaikan kehendak anaknya tanda kebencian terhadapnya. Bahkan sebahagian besarnya kerana kasih sayang dek bimbang jika diberikan akan mendatangkan kemudaratan. Maha Suci Allah untuk dibandingkan dengan kita semua, namun yang pasti rahmat-Nya sentiasa melimpah. Jika Dia menangguhkan doa kita, tentu ada hikmah-Nya.
Di samping itu hendaklah kita faham, doa itu bermaksud permohonan. Seorang yang berdoa mestilah bersungguh-sungguh dalam doanya. Maka tidaklah dinamakan berdoa jika tidak faham apa yang kita doa. Sebab itu saya amat hairan dengan sesetengah orang yang berdoa tanpa memahami maksud. Sesetengah mereka menghafal teks Arab kerana hendak menjadi ‘tekong’ doa dalam pelbagai majlis. Malangnya, ada yang tidak faham apa yang dibaca dan yang mengaminkan pun sama. Ada orang merungut, kata mereka, umat Arab di Masjidilharam dan Masjid Nabawi tidak baca doa selepas solat beramai-ramai. Itu menunjukkan mereka tidak kuat pegangan Islam mereka.
Saya katakan: Islam tidak diturun di kampung halaman kita, ia diturunkan di Mekah dan Madinah. Mereka melakukan apa yang menjadi amalan Rasulullah. Lagipun seseorang yang bersolat disuruh berdoa ketika dalam solat dan berwirid selepasnya. Dalam hadis, kita diajar agar berdoa ketika sujud dan selepas membaca tasyahud sebelum salam. Di situlah antara waktu mustajabnya doa. Sabda Nabi: Paling dekat hamba dengan tuhannya adalah ketika sujud, maka banyakkan doa ketika sujud. (Riwayat Muslim). Nabi memberitahu tentang doa selepas tasyahud sebelum memberi salam dalam solat: Berdoalah pasti mustajab, mintalah pasti akan diberikan. (Riwayat al-Nasai, sanadnya sahih).
Bukan bererti orang yang kita tengok tidak mengangkat tangan berdoa kuat beramai-ramai selepas solat itu tidak berdoa. Kita yang barangkali kurang faham sedangkan mungkin mereka berdoa dalam solat melebihi kita. Jika seseorang berdoa selepas memberi salam, tentulah dalam banyak hal, hajat makmum dan imam tidak sama. Maka jangan marah jika kita lihat orang berdoa bersendirian.
Nasihatilah mereka yang membaca doa tanpa faham maksudnya, atau mengaminkan tanpa mengetahui isinya. Lebih menyedihkan, kadangkala doa dibaca dengan nada dan irama yang tidak menggambarkan seorang hamba yang sedang merintih memohon kepada Allah. Sebahagian nada itu, jika seseorang bercakap kepada kita dengan menggunakannya pun kita akan pertikaikan. Layakkah nada seperti itu sebagai doa kepada Allah yang Maha Agung? Benarlah sabda Rasulullah: Berdoalah kamu kepada Allah Taala dalam keadaan kamu yakin akan dimustajabkan. Ketahuilah sesungguhnya Allah tidak menerima doa dari hati yang lalai dan alpa. (Riwayat al-Tirmizi, disahihkan oleh al-Albani). Pelajari kita nas-nas agama tentang doa kerana ianya amat penting bagi kehidupan dunia dan akhirat kita.
7 Tipudaya Syaitan ke Atas Umat Islam
Hafiz Firdaus Abdullah
BAB KELIMA: LIMA STRATEGI MELAWAN SYAITAN.
Setelah mempelajari berkenaan syaitan dari pelbagai sudut, kini tiba masanya untuk kita belajar bagaimana untuk melawan syaitan. Caranya tidak susah, hanya lima strategi yang perlu dipelajari dan dilakukan:
1. Ikhlas Dalam Beragama.
2. Takut Kepada Allah.
3. Jangan Ikut syaitan.
4. Berjamaah.
5. Zikir dan Doa.
Strategi # 1: Ikhlas Dalam Beragama.
Apabila iblis berjanji kepada Allah untuk menyesat, mengkafir, memusyrik dan menjadikan umat Islam ahli neraka, iblis dengan sendirinya mengakui bahawa ia tidak dapat melaksanakan janji tersebut kepada satu golongan orang, iaitu mereka yang ikhlas. Perhatikan ayat-ayat berikut:
Iblis berkata: “Wahai Tuhanku! Jika demikian, berilah tempoh kepadaku hingga ke hari mereka dibangkitkan (Hari Kiamat).” Allah berfirman: “Dengan permohonanmu itu, maka sesungguhnya engkau dari golongan yang diberi tempoh. Hingga ke hari - masa yang termaklum.”
Iblis berkata: “Wahai Tuhanku! Kerana Engkau telah menjadikan daku sesat, (maka) demi sesungguhnya aku akan memperindahkan (segala jenis kemungkaran) kepada Adam dan zuriatnya di dunia ini dan aku akan menyesatkan mereka semuanya. Kecuali hamba-hamba-Mu di antara mereka yang ikhlas.”
Al-Hijr 15:36-40
Iblis mengulangi pengecualian ini dalam ketika yang lain: “Kecuali hamba-hamba-Mu di antara mereka yang ikhlas.”
Dalam
dua ayat di atas, syaitan telah membongkarkan rahsianya yang amat penting. Dalam
melaksanakan perjanjian dan permusuhannya kepada umat Islam sehingga Hari Kiamat, syaitan hanya tertahan kepada satu golongan orang. Mereka itu ialah orang-orang yang ikhlas dalam beragama.
Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan ikhlas? Ia adalah melakukan sesuatu semata-mata kerana Allah. Saya yakin para pembaca sekalian sebelum ini telah mengetahui tentang ikhlas dalam solat, ikhlas dalam berpuasa dan ikhlas dalam berzikir. Ia bererti mendirikan solat kerana Allah dan bukannya kerana emak mertua yang datang melawat. Ia bererti berpuasa kerana Allah dan bukannya kerana mengelak dari disindir oleh pelajar-pelajar di kolej. Ia bererti berzikir kerana Allah dan bukannya kerana ingin menunjukkan sifat wara’ kepada rakan-rakan di pejabat.
Ada pun ikhlas yang dikecualikan oleh syaitan, maka ia adalah keikhlasan yang berlaku dalam konteks yang lebih besar. Ia adalah keikhlasan yang melibatkan keseluruhan agama dan bukan sekadar amalan-amalan tertentu di dalam agama. Ertinya, kita beragama, memperjuangkan agama, membela agama dan melakukan kerja agama semuanya kerana Allah.
Pada masa kini keikhlasan kerana agama amat sukar untuk ditemui. Di sana-sini, kita tidak akan menemui orang yang memiliki penghayatan agama melainkan dia melakukannya kerana tuan gurunya, kedudukannya, alirannya atau jamaahnya. Yang dimaksudkan dengan jamaah ialah parti, persatuan, pertubuhan dan organisasi.
Maka dari sini, strategi # 1 untuk melawan syaitan ialah ikhlas dalam beragama. Hendaklah kita merenung kembali tujuan kita beragama. Seandainya ia 100% kerana Allah, maka peliharalah keikhlasan tersebut. Jika belum mencapai 100% kerana Allah, maka perbetulkanlah kerana syaitan akan menyelit masuk dengan segala tipu dayanya dalam kekurangan tersebut.
Strategi # 2: Takut Kepada Allah.
Sekali pun syaitan dan segala ciri dan tipu dayanya kelihatan hebat, ia memiliki satu kelemahan: Ia takut kepada Allah Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala. Kelemahan ini diakuinya sendiri, sebagaimana yang dapat kita lihat pada ayat berikut:
Dan (ingatlah) ketika syaitan memperindahkan kepada mereka amalan (mungkar) mereka serta menghasut mereka dengan berkata: “Pada hari ini tidak ada sesiapa pun dari umat manusia yang
dapat mengalahkan kamu dan sesungguhnya aku adalah pelindung dan penolong kamu.” Maka
apabila kedua-dua pihak (angkatan tentera Islam dan musyrik) masing-masing kelihatan (berhadapan), syaitan berundur ke belakang sambil berkata: “Aku berlepas diri dari kamu, kerana aku dapat melihat apa yang kamu tidak dapat melihatnya; sesungguhnya aku takut kepada Allah dan Allah sangatlah berat azab seksa-Nya.”
Surah Al-Anfal 8:48
Ayat di atas merujuk kepada peristiwa Perang Badar. Sebelum peperangan, syaitan menghasut segelintir umat Islam dengan sikap riya’ dan hebat. Akan tetapi apabila saja pasukan umat Islam berhadapan dengan musuh, syaitan mengundurkan diri sambil berkata: “Aku berlepas diri dari kamu, kerana aku dapat melihat apa yang kamu tidak dapat melihatnya; sesungguhnya aku takut kepada Allah dan Allah sangatlah berat azab seksa-Nya.”
Oleh kerana itu janganlah kita takut kepada syaitan tetapi takutlah kepada Allah:
Sesungguhnya yang demikian itu ialah syaitan yang menakut-nakutkan (kamu terhadap) penolong penolongnya (kaum kafir musyrik). Oleh itu janganlah kamu takut kepada mereka, tetapi takutlah
kepada-Ku, jika betul kamu orang-orang yang beriman.
Surah ‘Ali Imran 3:175
Takut kepada Allah bukanlah bererti menjauhkan diri daripada Allah, tetapi sebaliknya semakin menghampiri-Nya dan semakin meneguhkan keimanan kepada-Nya. Ini dilakukan dengan memuliakan al-Qur’an, menghormati Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam, mengunggulkan wahyu di atas akal, mentaati perintah larangan dalam al-Qur’an dan al-Sunnah, berkeyakinan hanya Allah yang dapat memberi manfaat atau mudarat, bertawakkal kepada Allah dan mencari keredhaan Allah dalam segala pemikiran serta perbuatan.
Sesungguhnya syaitan itu tidak mempunyai sebarang kekuasaan terhadap orang-orang yang beriman dan yang bertawakkal kepada Tuhan mereka. Sesungguhnya kekuasaan syaitan itu hanyalah terhadap orang-orang yang menjadikan ia pemimpin mereka, dan orang-orang yang dengan sebab hasutannya melakukan syirik kepada Allah.
Surah An Nahl 16:99-100
Jika kita takut kepada Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, maka syaitan akan takut dari mengganggu kita. Sebaliknya jika kita tidak takut kepada Allah, maka syaitan juga tidak akan takut dari mengganggu kita.
Sebagai contoh, cara sebenar untuk memagar rumah ialah membaca Basmalah setiap kali memasuki rumah dan ketika hendak menutup pintu. Kemudian hendaklah para penghuni rumah beristiqamah dengan amalan-amalan yang menepati al-Qur’an dan al-Sunnah seperti pergi solat berjamaah, membaca al-Qur’an khasnya surah al-Baqarah dan melayani ahli keluarga dengan baik. Pada waktu yang sama jangan dilakukan perkara-perkara mungkar di dalam rumah. Cara ini akan menakutkan syaitan dari memasuki rumah dan mengganggu para penghuninya.
Contoh lain, jika seorang yang dengki mencabar untuk menyihir anda, jangan takut kepada sihir tetapi takutlah kepada Allah. Sihir adalah kerja syaitan dan ia hanya mampu melakukannya jika anda takut kepadanya. Sebaliknya jika anda takut kepada Allah, syaitan juga takut kepada anda dan tidak akan dapat melakukan sihir tersebut. Diulangi bahawa takut kepada Allah bererti yakin sepenuhnya bahawa hanya Allah yang dapat memberi manfaat atau mudarat. Merujuk kepada perbuatan sihir, ia tidak akan memberi mudarat melainkan dengan izin Allah:
Dalam pada itu ada juga orang-orang mempelajari dari mereka berdua (Harut dan Marut) ilmu sihir yang boleh menceraikan antara seorang suami dengan isterinya, padahal mereka tidak akan dapat sama sekali memberi mudarat (atau membahayakan) dengan sihir itu seseorang pun melainkan dengan izin Allah.
Surah Al Baqarah 2:102
Seandainya sihir tersebut benar-benar berlaku, maka ia bukanlah kerana kekuasaan syaitan tetapi kerana kehendak Allah yang ingin menguji para hamba yang dicintai-Nya. Diulangi hadis Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam:
Sesungguhnya besarnya ganjaran berkadar terus dengan besarnya bala’. Sesungguhnya jika Allah mencintai satu kaum, Dia menurunkan bala’ kepada mereka. Sesiapa yang redha maka Allah redha kepadanya dan sesiapa yang marah maka Allah murka kepadanya.[1]
Strategi # 3: Jangan Mengikuti Syaitan.
Strategi ketiga ialah menahan diri dari mengikuti syaitan. Dalam strategi # 2 telah dikemukakan firman Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala:
Sesungguhnya syaitan itu tidak mempunyai sebarang kekuasaan terhadap orang-orang yang beriman dan yang bertawakkal kepada Tuhan mereka. Sesungguhnya kekuasaan syaitan itu hanyalah terhadap orang-orang yang menjadikan ia pemimpin mereka, dan orang-orang yang dengan sebab hasutannya melakukan syirik kepada Allah.
An Nahl 16:99-100
Dalam ayat yang lain Allah berfirman:
Telah ditetapkan kepada (tiap-tiap) syaitan itu, bahawa sesiapa yang menjadikannya pemimpin, maka sesungguhnya ia akan menyesatkannya dan memberi hidayah kepada azab neraka.
Al Hajj 22:04
Dalam dua ayat di atas, Allah menerangkan bahawa kekuasaan syaitan hanyalah terhadap orang-orang yang menjadikan ia sebagai pemimpin. Dalam erti kata lain, syaitan hanya mampu mengganggu orang-orang yang mengikutinya. Oleh kerana itulah dalam banyak ayat yang lain, Allah melarang kita dari menjadi pengikut syaitan. Ayat-ayat yang dimaksudkan ialah:
Allah berfirman (kepada iblis): “Keluarlah engkau dari Syurga sebagai makhluk yang terhina serta terusir. Sesungguhnya sesiapa di antara mereka (manusia) yang mengikutimu, tetaplah aku akan memenuhi neraka jahanam dengan (golongan) kamu semuanya.
Al A’raaf 7:18
Allah berfirman (kepada iblis): “Sesungguhnya hamba-hamba-Ku, tidaklah ada bagimu sebarang kuasa untuk menyesatkan mereka kecuali sesiapa yang mengikutimu dari orang-orang yang sesat (dengan pilihannya sendiri).”
Al-Hijr 15:42
Allah berfirman (kepada iblis): “Pergilah (lakukanlah apa yang engkau rancangkan)! Kemudian siapa yang mengikutimu di antara mereka (manusia), maka sesungguhnya neraka Jahannamlah balasan kamu semua, sebagai balasan yang cukup.”
Al Isra’ 17:63
Secara terperinci, yang dimaksudkan ialah jangan mengikuti jejak langkah syaitan:
Dan janganlah kamu ikut jejak langkah syaitan; kerana sesungguhnya syaitan itu ialah musuh yang terang nyata bagi kamu. Ia hanya menyuruh kamu melakukan kejahatan dan perkara-perkara yang keji, dan (menyuruh) supaya kamu berkata (dusta) terhadap Allah apa yang kamu tidak ketahui.
Al Baqarah 2:168-169
Dan janganlah kamu menurut jejak langkah syaitan; kerana sesungguhnya syaitan itu musuh bagi kamu yang terang nyata.
Al An’aam 6:142
Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, janganlah kamu menurut jejak langkah syaitan; dan sesiapa yang menurut jejak langkah syaitan, maka sesungguhnya syaitan itu sentiasa menyuruh (pengikut-pengikutnya) melakukan perkara yang keji dan perbuatan yang mungkar.
An Nur 24:21
Apakah jejak langkah syaitan yang Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala melarang kita dari mengikutinya? Ia adalah apa jua yang berkaitan dengan syaitan. Dengan merujuk dari awal buku ini, jejak langkah tersebut dapat diringkaskan sebagai:
Pertama: Jangan bersikap takbur.[2]
Jangan mengikuti jejak langkah syaitan yang takbur terhadap perintah Allah untuk sujud kepada Adam. Takbur ialah sikap ujub, menghina orang lain, mengunggulkan akal di atas wahyu dan mempersoalkan perintah Allah.
Lawan kepada sikap takbur ialah tawadhu’, iaitu rendah diri. Maka setiap kali apabila kita membaca atau mendengar “Firman Allah…” dan “Sabda Rasulullah…”, janganlah takbur. Sebaliknya rendahkanlah diri untuk mentaati dan melaksanakannya sesempurna mungkin. Semua ini dilakukan tanpa mengira siapa yang menyampaikan “Firman Allah…” dan “Sabda Rasulullah…” tersebut atau sama ada “Firman Allah…” dan “Sabda Rasulullah…” tersebut sesuai dengan kehendak kita atau tidak.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala berfirman:
(Yang demikian) kerana Allah hendak menjadikan hasutan syaitan itu sebagai satu fitnah cubaan bagi orang-orang yang ada penyakit (takbur) dalam hati mereka dan yang hatinya keras membatu; dan sesungguhnya mereka yang zalim itu sentiasa berada dalam pertentangan yang jauh dari kebenaran. Dan juga supaya orang-orang yang beroleh ilmu mengetahui bahawa ayat ayat keterangan itu benar dari Tuhanmu lalu mereka beriman kepadanya sehingga tunduk taatlah hati mereka mematuhinya;
dan sesungguhnya Allah sentiasa memimpin orang-orang yang beriman ke jalan yang lurus.
Al Hajj 22:53-54
Sebagai contoh apabila membaca firman Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala:
Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Diwajibkan kamu menjalankan hukuman “Qishash” dalam perkara orang-orang yang mati dibunuh.
Al Baqarah 2:178,
Jangan takbur terhadapnya dengan membuat takwilan: “Itu hukum zaman unta, sekarang zaman kereta kita guna hukum penjara sahaja!”[3] Kemudian apabila mendengar hadis Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam.
Ketahuilah! Sesiapa yang dipimpin oleh seorang pemimpin lalu dia melihat sesuatu kemaksiatan kepada Allah (yang dilakukan oleh pemimpin itu), maka bencilah kemaksiatan kepada Allah tersebut. Akan tetapi jangan menarik ketaatannya (kepada pemimpin itu).[4],
jangan takbur dengan menafikannya seraya berkata: “Pemimpin sekarang tidak menjalankan hukuman Qishash, maka tidak perlu taat setia kepadanya!” Ini kerana berdasarkan hadis di atas dan banyak lain yang seumpama, kita hanya dibolehkan membenci kemaksiatan pemimpin tersebut yang tidak menjalankan hukuman Qishash. Ia tidak bererti kebolehan untuk menarik ketaatan darinya secara keseluruhan.[5]
Kedua: Jangan mengikuti ciri-ciri syaitan.[6]
Hendaklah sedaya mungkin kita menjauhi ciri-ciri syaitan yang telah dikemukakan dalam Bab Ketiga seperti:
1. Jangan menguap.
Jika tidak dapat menahannya, jangan mengeluarkan bunyi ketika menguap.
2. Jangan makan dan minum dengan tangan kiri.
Apa jua perkakas yang digunakan untuk makan, hendaklah menggunakan tangan kanan.
3. Jangan membiarkan makanan tersisa,
sama ada di pinggan atau yang terjatuh.
4. Jangan membazir.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala berfirman, maksudnya: Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang membazir itu adalah saudara-saudara syaitan. Al-Isra’ 17:27
Membazir ialah melakukan perkara secara sia-sia tanpa mengira sama ada sedikit atau banyak
Sebagai contoh, orang yang tidur sehingga lewat pagi telah membazir masanya sekali pun dia memiliki masa lapang pada keseluruhan hari tersebut. Orang yang menghisap rokok telah membazir wang dan kesihatannya sekali pun dia hanya menghisap sebatang dalam seminggu.
Orang yang melakukan pembaziran, dia adalah saudara syaitan. Ada pun alasan-alasan seperti tidur yang lebih pada hujung minggu hanyalah untuk merehatkan badan atau merokok itu menenangkan fikiran, mencegah sifat mengantuk dan meramaikan kawan, ia hanyalah alasan-alasan dari syaitan untuk memperindahkan perkara mungkar (Tipu Daya # 2).
5. Jangan minum secara berdiri.
6.Jangan tidur sepanjang malam sehingga matahari naik.
Hendaklah bangun ketika azan untuk pergi bersolat Subuh berjamaah. Selepas itu disambung terus dengan aktiviti yang bermanfaat sehinggalah waktu siang kerana waktu pagi adalah waktu yang diberkati. Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam pernah berdoa:
Ya Allah! Berkatilah umat aku pada pagi hari.[7]
Setelah itu hendaklah tidur sebentar pada waktu siang kerana Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam berpesan:
Tidurlah pada siang hari kerana sesungguhnya syaitan-syaitan tidak tidur pada siang hari.[8]
Kemudian bangun melakukan aktiviti yang bermanfaat hingga waktu Isya’. Ditegah daripada bersembang-sembang kosong selepas waktu Isya’. Abu Barzah radhiallahu 'anh menerangkan bahawa Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam membenci tidur sebelum waktu Isya’ dan bersembang-sembang selepas waktu
Isya’.[9]
Hendaklah tidur awal agar mudah membuka tiga simpulan syaitan yang menghalang kita dari bangun malam berqiamulail. Bahkan dengan terbukanya tiga simpulan tersebut, kita akan dapat memulakan hari esoknya dengan bersemangat, bermotivasi dan ceria. Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda berkenaan tiga simpulan ini:
Syaitan mengikat di atas kepala seseorang kalian yang tidur dengan tiga simpulan dan menjadikan setiap simpulan pada tempat yang sepatutnya, lalu berkata: “Bagi kamu malam yang panjang, tidurlah!”.
Apabila orang itu bangun dan mengingati Allah, terbukalah satu simpulan. Apabila orang itu berwudhu’, terbukalah satu lagi simpulan. Apabila orang itu bersolat, terbukalah semua simpulan.
Maka pada pagi harinya diri orang tersebut bersemangat lagi ceria. Sedangkan jika tidak (yakni semua simpulan masih terikat kerana tidak bangun malam) maka pada pagi harinya diri orang tersebut malas dan murung.[10]
7. Jangan memasuki rumah, menutup pintu rumah, makan, minum dan menutup bekas makanan serta
minuman melainkan dengan membaca Basmalah.
8. Jangan melakukan sikap-sikap buruk
seperti pemikiran yang sia-sia, melayan bisikan negatif, imaginasi yang buruk, malas, cemburu, marah,
merungut, dengki, riya’, buruk sangka dan lain-lain.
9. Jangan menggunakan khidmat syaitan
seperti berjumpa bomoh meminta ramalan, mencari barang hilang, meminta jampi-jampian dan
menjatuhkan sihir kepada orang lain.
10. Jangan sengaja keluar rumah pada waktu senja.
11. Jangan membazir masa di pasar,
pasaraya, pusat membeli belah, bursa saham dan tempat-tempat lain yang seumpama.
Ketiga: Jangan mengikuti tipu daya syaitan.[11]
(Bab Keempat).
Hendaklah mengkaji secara teliti ketujuh-tujuh tipu daya syaitan dan menyemak sama ada ia memiliki kaitan dengan apa saja yang kita lakukan baik sebelum, semasa dan akan datang. Jika ia memiliki kaitan, segeralah menjauhkan diri darinya dan berilah amaran kepada orang lain.
BAB KELIMA: LIMA STRATEGI MELAWAN SYAITAN.
Setelah mempelajari berkenaan syaitan dari pelbagai sudut, kini tiba masanya untuk kita belajar bagaimana untuk melawan syaitan. Caranya tidak susah, hanya lima strategi yang perlu dipelajari dan dilakukan:
1. Ikhlas Dalam Beragama.
2. Takut Kepada Allah.
3. Jangan Ikut syaitan.
4. Berjamaah.
5. Zikir dan Doa.
Strategi # 1: Ikhlas Dalam Beragama.
Apabila iblis berjanji kepada Allah untuk menyesat, mengkafir, memusyrik dan menjadikan umat Islam ahli neraka, iblis dengan sendirinya mengakui bahawa ia tidak dapat melaksanakan janji tersebut kepada satu golongan orang, iaitu mereka yang ikhlas. Perhatikan ayat-ayat berikut:
Iblis berkata: “Wahai Tuhanku! Jika demikian, berilah tempoh kepadaku hingga ke hari mereka dibangkitkan (Hari Kiamat).” Allah berfirman: “Dengan permohonanmu itu, maka sesungguhnya engkau dari golongan yang diberi tempoh. Hingga ke hari - masa yang termaklum.”
Iblis berkata: “Wahai Tuhanku! Kerana Engkau telah menjadikan daku sesat, (maka) demi sesungguhnya aku akan memperindahkan (segala jenis kemungkaran) kepada Adam dan zuriatnya di dunia ini dan aku akan menyesatkan mereka semuanya. Kecuali hamba-hamba-Mu di antara mereka yang ikhlas.”
Al-Hijr 15:36-40
Iblis mengulangi pengecualian ini dalam ketika yang lain: “Kecuali hamba-hamba-Mu di antara mereka yang ikhlas.”
Dalam
dua ayat di atas, syaitan telah membongkarkan rahsianya yang amat penting. Dalam
melaksanakan perjanjian dan permusuhannya kepada umat Islam sehingga Hari Kiamat, syaitan hanya tertahan kepada satu golongan orang. Mereka itu ialah orang-orang yang ikhlas dalam beragama.
Apakah yang dimaksudkan dengan ikhlas? Ia adalah melakukan sesuatu semata-mata kerana Allah. Saya yakin para pembaca sekalian sebelum ini telah mengetahui tentang ikhlas dalam solat, ikhlas dalam berpuasa dan ikhlas dalam berzikir. Ia bererti mendirikan solat kerana Allah dan bukannya kerana emak mertua yang datang melawat. Ia bererti berpuasa kerana Allah dan bukannya kerana mengelak dari disindir oleh pelajar-pelajar di kolej. Ia bererti berzikir kerana Allah dan bukannya kerana ingin menunjukkan sifat wara’ kepada rakan-rakan di pejabat.
Ada pun ikhlas yang dikecualikan oleh syaitan, maka ia adalah keikhlasan yang berlaku dalam konteks yang lebih besar. Ia adalah keikhlasan yang melibatkan keseluruhan agama dan bukan sekadar amalan-amalan tertentu di dalam agama. Ertinya, kita beragama, memperjuangkan agama, membela agama dan melakukan kerja agama semuanya kerana Allah.
Pada masa kini keikhlasan kerana agama amat sukar untuk ditemui. Di sana-sini, kita tidak akan menemui orang yang memiliki penghayatan agama melainkan dia melakukannya kerana tuan gurunya, kedudukannya, alirannya atau jamaahnya. Yang dimaksudkan dengan jamaah ialah parti, persatuan, pertubuhan dan organisasi.
Maka dari sini, strategi # 1 untuk melawan syaitan ialah ikhlas dalam beragama. Hendaklah kita merenung kembali tujuan kita beragama. Seandainya ia 100% kerana Allah, maka peliharalah keikhlasan tersebut. Jika belum mencapai 100% kerana Allah, maka perbetulkanlah kerana syaitan akan menyelit masuk dengan segala tipu dayanya dalam kekurangan tersebut.
Strategi # 2: Takut Kepada Allah.
Sekali pun syaitan dan segala ciri dan tipu dayanya kelihatan hebat, ia memiliki satu kelemahan: Ia takut kepada Allah Subhanahu wa Ta‘ala. Kelemahan ini diakuinya sendiri, sebagaimana yang dapat kita lihat pada ayat berikut:
Dan (ingatlah) ketika syaitan memperindahkan kepada mereka amalan (mungkar) mereka serta menghasut mereka dengan berkata: “Pada hari ini tidak ada sesiapa pun dari umat manusia yang
dapat mengalahkan kamu dan sesungguhnya aku adalah pelindung dan penolong kamu.” Maka
apabila kedua-dua pihak (angkatan tentera Islam dan musyrik) masing-masing kelihatan (berhadapan), syaitan berundur ke belakang sambil berkata: “Aku berlepas diri dari kamu, kerana aku dapat melihat apa yang kamu tidak dapat melihatnya; sesungguhnya aku takut kepada Allah dan Allah sangatlah berat azab seksa-Nya.”
Surah Al-Anfal 8:48
Ayat di atas merujuk kepada peristiwa Perang Badar. Sebelum peperangan, syaitan menghasut segelintir umat Islam dengan sikap riya’ dan hebat. Akan tetapi apabila saja pasukan umat Islam berhadapan dengan musuh, syaitan mengundurkan diri sambil berkata: “Aku berlepas diri dari kamu, kerana aku dapat melihat apa yang kamu tidak dapat melihatnya; sesungguhnya aku takut kepada Allah dan Allah sangatlah berat azab seksa-Nya.”
Oleh kerana itu janganlah kita takut kepada syaitan tetapi takutlah kepada Allah:
Sesungguhnya yang demikian itu ialah syaitan yang menakut-nakutkan (kamu terhadap) penolong penolongnya (kaum kafir musyrik). Oleh itu janganlah kamu takut kepada mereka, tetapi takutlah
kepada-Ku, jika betul kamu orang-orang yang beriman.
Surah ‘Ali Imran 3:175
Takut kepada Allah bukanlah bererti menjauhkan diri daripada Allah, tetapi sebaliknya semakin menghampiri-Nya dan semakin meneguhkan keimanan kepada-Nya. Ini dilakukan dengan memuliakan al-Qur’an, menghormati Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam, mengunggulkan wahyu di atas akal, mentaati perintah larangan dalam al-Qur’an dan al-Sunnah, berkeyakinan hanya Allah yang dapat memberi manfaat atau mudarat, bertawakkal kepada Allah dan mencari keredhaan Allah dalam segala pemikiran serta perbuatan.
Sesungguhnya syaitan itu tidak mempunyai sebarang kekuasaan terhadap orang-orang yang beriman dan yang bertawakkal kepada Tuhan mereka. Sesungguhnya kekuasaan syaitan itu hanyalah terhadap orang-orang yang menjadikan ia pemimpin mereka, dan orang-orang yang dengan sebab hasutannya melakukan syirik kepada Allah.
Surah An Nahl 16:99-100
Jika kita takut kepada Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala, maka syaitan akan takut dari mengganggu kita. Sebaliknya jika kita tidak takut kepada Allah, maka syaitan juga tidak akan takut dari mengganggu kita.
Sebagai contoh, cara sebenar untuk memagar rumah ialah membaca Basmalah setiap kali memasuki rumah dan ketika hendak menutup pintu. Kemudian hendaklah para penghuni rumah beristiqamah dengan amalan-amalan yang menepati al-Qur’an dan al-Sunnah seperti pergi solat berjamaah, membaca al-Qur’an khasnya surah al-Baqarah dan melayani ahli keluarga dengan baik. Pada waktu yang sama jangan dilakukan perkara-perkara mungkar di dalam rumah. Cara ini akan menakutkan syaitan dari memasuki rumah dan mengganggu para penghuninya.
Contoh lain, jika seorang yang dengki mencabar untuk menyihir anda, jangan takut kepada sihir tetapi takutlah kepada Allah. Sihir adalah kerja syaitan dan ia hanya mampu melakukannya jika anda takut kepadanya. Sebaliknya jika anda takut kepada Allah, syaitan juga takut kepada anda dan tidak akan dapat melakukan sihir tersebut. Diulangi bahawa takut kepada Allah bererti yakin sepenuhnya bahawa hanya Allah yang dapat memberi manfaat atau mudarat. Merujuk kepada perbuatan sihir, ia tidak akan memberi mudarat melainkan dengan izin Allah:
Dalam pada itu ada juga orang-orang mempelajari dari mereka berdua (Harut dan Marut) ilmu sihir yang boleh menceraikan antara seorang suami dengan isterinya, padahal mereka tidak akan dapat sama sekali memberi mudarat (atau membahayakan) dengan sihir itu seseorang pun melainkan dengan izin Allah.
Surah Al Baqarah 2:102
Seandainya sihir tersebut benar-benar berlaku, maka ia bukanlah kerana kekuasaan syaitan tetapi kerana kehendak Allah yang ingin menguji para hamba yang dicintai-Nya. Diulangi hadis Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam:
Sesungguhnya besarnya ganjaran berkadar terus dengan besarnya bala’. Sesungguhnya jika Allah mencintai satu kaum, Dia menurunkan bala’ kepada mereka. Sesiapa yang redha maka Allah redha kepadanya dan sesiapa yang marah maka Allah murka kepadanya.[1]
Strategi # 3: Jangan Mengikuti Syaitan.
Strategi ketiga ialah menahan diri dari mengikuti syaitan. Dalam strategi # 2 telah dikemukakan firman Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala:
Sesungguhnya syaitan itu tidak mempunyai sebarang kekuasaan terhadap orang-orang yang beriman dan yang bertawakkal kepada Tuhan mereka. Sesungguhnya kekuasaan syaitan itu hanyalah terhadap orang-orang yang menjadikan ia pemimpin mereka, dan orang-orang yang dengan sebab hasutannya melakukan syirik kepada Allah.
An Nahl 16:99-100
Dalam ayat yang lain Allah berfirman:
Telah ditetapkan kepada (tiap-tiap) syaitan itu, bahawa sesiapa yang menjadikannya pemimpin, maka sesungguhnya ia akan menyesatkannya dan memberi hidayah kepada azab neraka.
Al Hajj 22:04
Dalam dua ayat di atas, Allah menerangkan bahawa kekuasaan syaitan hanyalah terhadap orang-orang yang menjadikan ia sebagai pemimpin. Dalam erti kata lain, syaitan hanya mampu mengganggu orang-orang yang mengikutinya. Oleh kerana itulah dalam banyak ayat yang lain, Allah melarang kita dari menjadi pengikut syaitan. Ayat-ayat yang dimaksudkan ialah:
Allah berfirman (kepada iblis): “Keluarlah engkau dari Syurga sebagai makhluk yang terhina serta terusir. Sesungguhnya sesiapa di antara mereka (manusia) yang mengikutimu, tetaplah aku akan memenuhi neraka jahanam dengan (golongan) kamu semuanya.
Al A’raaf 7:18
Allah berfirman (kepada iblis): “Sesungguhnya hamba-hamba-Ku, tidaklah ada bagimu sebarang kuasa untuk menyesatkan mereka kecuali sesiapa yang mengikutimu dari orang-orang yang sesat (dengan pilihannya sendiri).”
Al-Hijr 15:42
Allah berfirman (kepada iblis): “Pergilah (lakukanlah apa yang engkau rancangkan)! Kemudian siapa yang mengikutimu di antara mereka (manusia), maka sesungguhnya neraka Jahannamlah balasan kamu semua, sebagai balasan yang cukup.”
Al Isra’ 17:63
Secara terperinci, yang dimaksudkan ialah jangan mengikuti jejak langkah syaitan:
Dan janganlah kamu ikut jejak langkah syaitan; kerana sesungguhnya syaitan itu ialah musuh yang terang nyata bagi kamu. Ia hanya menyuruh kamu melakukan kejahatan dan perkara-perkara yang keji, dan (menyuruh) supaya kamu berkata (dusta) terhadap Allah apa yang kamu tidak ketahui.
Al Baqarah 2:168-169
Dan janganlah kamu menurut jejak langkah syaitan; kerana sesungguhnya syaitan itu musuh bagi kamu yang terang nyata.
Al An’aam 6:142
Wahai orang-orang yang beriman, janganlah kamu menurut jejak langkah syaitan; dan sesiapa yang menurut jejak langkah syaitan, maka sesungguhnya syaitan itu sentiasa menyuruh (pengikut-pengikutnya) melakukan perkara yang keji dan perbuatan yang mungkar.
An Nur 24:21
Apakah jejak langkah syaitan yang Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala melarang kita dari mengikutinya? Ia adalah apa jua yang berkaitan dengan syaitan. Dengan merujuk dari awal buku ini, jejak langkah tersebut dapat diringkaskan sebagai:
Pertama: Jangan bersikap takbur.[2]
Jangan mengikuti jejak langkah syaitan yang takbur terhadap perintah Allah untuk sujud kepada Adam. Takbur ialah sikap ujub, menghina orang lain, mengunggulkan akal di atas wahyu dan mempersoalkan perintah Allah.
Lawan kepada sikap takbur ialah tawadhu’, iaitu rendah diri. Maka setiap kali apabila kita membaca atau mendengar “Firman Allah…” dan “Sabda Rasulullah…”, janganlah takbur. Sebaliknya rendahkanlah diri untuk mentaati dan melaksanakannya sesempurna mungkin. Semua ini dilakukan tanpa mengira siapa yang menyampaikan “Firman Allah…” dan “Sabda Rasulullah…” tersebut atau sama ada “Firman Allah…” dan “Sabda Rasulullah…” tersebut sesuai dengan kehendak kita atau tidak.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala berfirman:
(Yang demikian) kerana Allah hendak menjadikan hasutan syaitan itu sebagai satu fitnah cubaan bagi orang-orang yang ada penyakit (takbur) dalam hati mereka dan yang hatinya keras membatu; dan sesungguhnya mereka yang zalim itu sentiasa berada dalam pertentangan yang jauh dari kebenaran. Dan juga supaya orang-orang yang beroleh ilmu mengetahui bahawa ayat ayat keterangan itu benar dari Tuhanmu lalu mereka beriman kepadanya sehingga tunduk taatlah hati mereka mematuhinya;
dan sesungguhnya Allah sentiasa memimpin orang-orang yang beriman ke jalan yang lurus.
Al Hajj 22:53-54
Sebagai contoh apabila membaca firman Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala:
Wahai orang-orang yang beriman! Diwajibkan kamu menjalankan hukuman “Qishash” dalam perkara orang-orang yang mati dibunuh.
Al Baqarah 2:178,
Jangan takbur terhadapnya dengan membuat takwilan: “Itu hukum zaman unta, sekarang zaman kereta kita guna hukum penjara sahaja!”[3] Kemudian apabila mendengar hadis Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam.
Ketahuilah! Sesiapa yang dipimpin oleh seorang pemimpin lalu dia melihat sesuatu kemaksiatan kepada Allah (yang dilakukan oleh pemimpin itu), maka bencilah kemaksiatan kepada Allah tersebut. Akan tetapi jangan menarik ketaatannya (kepada pemimpin itu).[4],
jangan takbur dengan menafikannya seraya berkata: “Pemimpin sekarang tidak menjalankan hukuman Qishash, maka tidak perlu taat setia kepadanya!” Ini kerana berdasarkan hadis di atas dan banyak lain yang seumpama, kita hanya dibolehkan membenci kemaksiatan pemimpin tersebut yang tidak menjalankan hukuman Qishash. Ia tidak bererti kebolehan untuk menarik ketaatan darinya secara keseluruhan.[5]
Kedua: Jangan mengikuti ciri-ciri syaitan.[6]
Hendaklah sedaya mungkin kita menjauhi ciri-ciri syaitan yang telah dikemukakan dalam Bab Ketiga seperti:
1. Jangan menguap.
Jika tidak dapat menahannya, jangan mengeluarkan bunyi ketika menguap.
2. Jangan makan dan minum dengan tangan kiri.
Apa jua perkakas yang digunakan untuk makan, hendaklah menggunakan tangan kanan.
3. Jangan membiarkan makanan tersisa,
sama ada di pinggan atau yang terjatuh.
4. Jangan membazir.
Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala berfirman, maksudnya: Sesungguhnya orang-orang yang membazir itu adalah saudara-saudara syaitan. Al-Isra’ 17:27
Membazir ialah melakukan perkara secara sia-sia tanpa mengira sama ada sedikit atau banyak
Sebagai contoh, orang yang tidur sehingga lewat pagi telah membazir masanya sekali pun dia memiliki masa lapang pada keseluruhan hari tersebut. Orang yang menghisap rokok telah membazir wang dan kesihatannya sekali pun dia hanya menghisap sebatang dalam seminggu.
Orang yang melakukan pembaziran, dia adalah saudara syaitan. Ada pun alasan-alasan seperti tidur yang lebih pada hujung minggu hanyalah untuk merehatkan badan atau merokok itu menenangkan fikiran, mencegah sifat mengantuk dan meramaikan kawan, ia hanyalah alasan-alasan dari syaitan untuk memperindahkan perkara mungkar (Tipu Daya # 2).
5. Jangan minum secara berdiri.
6.Jangan tidur sepanjang malam sehingga matahari naik.
Hendaklah bangun ketika azan untuk pergi bersolat Subuh berjamaah. Selepas itu disambung terus dengan aktiviti yang bermanfaat sehinggalah waktu siang kerana waktu pagi adalah waktu yang diberkati. Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam pernah berdoa:
Ya Allah! Berkatilah umat aku pada pagi hari.[7]
Setelah itu hendaklah tidur sebentar pada waktu siang kerana Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam berpesan:
Tidurlah pada siang hari kerana sesungguhnya syaitan-syaitan tidak tidur pada siang hari.[8]
Kemudian bangun melakukan aktiviti yang bermanfaat hingga waktu Isya’. Ditegah daripada bersembang-sembang kosong selepas waktu Isya’. Abu Barzah radhiallahu 'anh menerangkan bahawa Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam membenci tidur sebelum waktu Isya’ dan bersembang-sembang selepas waktu
Isya’.[9]
Hendaklah tidur awal agar mudah membuka tiga simpulan syaitan yang menghalang kita dari bangun malam berqiamulail. Bahkan dengan terbukanya tiga simpulan tersebut, kita akan dapat memulakan hari esoknya dengan bersemangat, bermotivasi dan ceria. Rasulullah shallallahu 'alaihi wasallam bersabda berkenaan tiga simpulan ini:
Syaitan mengikat di atas kepala seseorang kalian yang tidur dengan tiga simpulan dan menjadikan setiap simpulan pada tempat yang sepatutnya, lalu berkata: “Bagi kamu malam yang panjang, tidurlah!”.
Apabila orang itu bangun dan mengingati Allah, terbukalah satu simpulan. Apabila orang itu berwudhu’, terbukalah satu lagi simpulan. Apabila orang itu bersolat, terbukalah semua simpulan.
Maka pada pagi harinya diri orang tersebut bersemangat lagi ceria. Sedangkan jika tidak (yakni semua simpulan masih terikat kerana tidak bangun malam) maka pada pagi harinya diri orang tersebut malas dan murung.[10]
7. Jangan memasuki rumah, menutup pintu rumah, makan, minum dan menutup bekas makanan serta
minuman melainkan dengan membaca Basmalah.
8. Jangan melakukan sikap-sikap buruk
seperti pemikiran yang sia-sia, melayan bisikan negatif, imaginasi yang buruk, malas, cemburu, marah,
merungut, dengki, riya’, buruk sangka dan lain-lain.
9. Jangan menggunakan khidmat syaitan
seperti berjumpa bomoh meminta ramalan, mencari barang hilang, meminta jampi-jampian dan
menjatuhkan sihir kepada orang lain.
10. Jangan sengaja keluar rumah pada waktu senja.
11. Jangan membazir masa di pasar,
pasaraya, pusat membeli belah, bursa saham dan tempat-tempat lain yang seumpama.
Ketiga: Jangan mengikuti tipu daya syaitan.[11]
(Bab Keempat).
Hendaklah mengkaji secara teliti ketujuh-tujuh tipu daya syaitan dan menyemak sama ada ia memiliki kaitan dengan apa saja yang kita lakukan baik sebelum, semasa dan akan datang. Jika ia memiliki kaitan, segeralah menjauhkan diri darinya dan berilah amaran kepada orang lain.