An Islamic Approach to deal with abuse and hardship

By Junaid Ahmad – Dec 08, 2023

A look at the current affairs of Muslims reveals that Muslims across the globe are struggling with adversity. They struggle to define their roles in societies they are in the minority. They are targeted and inflicted with adversities because they believe in oneness of God. The enemies of Islam have been playing a constant well-planned game to inflict the calamities and catastrophe upon Muslim Ummah. Many Muslims countries are crippled by war. Conflicts are being created deliberately to create tension and uncertainty among people to expel Muslims from their lands. Muslims are being driven out of their homes in Palestine.? As per United Nations, at least 1.6 million Palestinians have been internally displaced, with a majority of them staying at UN-run schools. Others are staying with host families or in hospitals. There are an estimated 3.5 million Rohingya dispersed worldwide. People in Gaza are humiliated, abused, and literally killed at the hand of Israel who has engaged in war with unarmed Palestinians. Human rights are blatantly violated. Hospitals are being targeted and deprived of all their resources. There is hardly any place to take shelter. The entire world is maintaining a deafening silence. Public voices are being suppressed. Human rights agencies constantly urging to stop this genocide act, but their call literally fails to receive any attention. The enemies of Islam are testing the patience of Muslims. They are using all the means to create and maintain the narrative in favor of their acts.

The question is, in this turbulent time, when innocent Muslim children, women, elderly people are being killed indiscriminately and powerful countries failed to take actions to stop this act of atrocities and while the entire Muslim countries seem to be clueless and unable to take any action except merely the issuance of statements of condemnation, what would be the right course of action on the part of those who are enduring and witnessing their loves ones being killed.

In this article, I intend to shed light on why hardship and abuse is inflicted on Muslims and what is the Islamic way to deal with such adversity.

We Muslims believe in the inevitability of death for every soul and the subsequent rewards on the Day of Resurrection. We understand that true success lies in avoiding the fires of hell and entering paradise. We regard the pleasures of this worldly life as nothing more than a deceptive enjoyment. The Muslim community in their early days stood resolutely on the solid foundation of these beliefs and walked steadfastly along the righteous path. This unyielding foundation and straight path remain accessible to advocates of the faith in every generation. The adversaries of this faith persist unchanged, plotting to undermine it across successive generations.

As a Muslim, it is vital for us to understand that true success will never be achieved without enduring trials and tribulations. If this principle is not understood correctly, it will inevitably lead to frustration and disappointment. Allah says, “Do people think that they will be left alone because they say, ‘We believe’, and that they will not be tested? And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make fit] known [the truth of] those who are true, ?and will certainly make [it] known [the falsehood of] those who are liars [although Allah knows all that before putting them to test].” [Surah Al-‘Ankabut (29), Ayah 2-3.] ?

The methods of trial may vary over time, but the principle remains the same: “You shall most certainly be tried in your possessions and in your persons; and you shall hear much hurting abuse from those who were given revelations before you and from those who set up partners with God. But if you persevere and continue to fear God -that is indeed a matter requiring strong resolve. (Quran 3:186)

There is a clear message in this verse to the believers that they will certainly undergo tests and trials. When faced with trials, they need to preserve and remain steadfast. This is essential to prove their love and sincerity towards Allah and to be worthy of His rewards.

The surah illustrates various examples employed by people of earlier religions and idolaters and their propaganda aimed to cast doubt and confusion about the core tenets of Islam and its followers, including their leadership. These examples are continuously updated, incorporating new methods and forms with the advent of communication technologies. All these efforts are directed against Islam, its principles of faith, and the Muslim community along with its leadership. Consequently, the principle elucidated by God to the initial Muslim community, highlighting their path and the nature of their adversary, remains perpetually relevant.

What Muslims in Palestine in Gaza is demonstrating now in terms of determined resistance and strong resolve and their readiness to sacrifice everything, their possessions, family members including women, children and infants and showing patience enduring all these atrocities and pain is none but their firm conviction that the way to heaven is filled with sacrifice and hardship. The Palestinian Muslims conviction to bear the pains and trials without complaining seems to be derived by Prophet (SAW) saying, “Indeed amazing are the affairs of a believer for there is good in every affair of his and this is not the case with anyone else except in the case of a believer for if he has an occasion to feel delight, he thanks 13 of 15 (God), thus there is a good for him in it, and if he gets into trouble and shows resignation (and endures it patiently), there is a good for him in it.”[Sahih Muslim 2999]?

The plight of Palestinian Muslims is heart-wrenching. At this trying time when they are fighting teeth and fail for their survival, the leaders of Muslim countries seem to be clueless about what to do. They seem to have lost both their voice and utility. They seem to be unaware of game plan of fascist forces who is very desperate to inflict on Palestinians the catastrophe befell the Muslims in Spain.

Our brothers in Palestine are being tested and tried. They are enduring all the hardship while holding onto faith and ideology withstanding trials without losing the fear of God. The greater the hardships they endure and the more sacrifices they make for their faith, the more they cherish its value. That is indeed a matter requiring strong resolve.

Let us pray for our dear fellow Muslims in Palestine and other places where they are striving that Almighty bless them with courage and conviction to remain steadfast and firm in their belief. They ought to be reminded to preserve patience and believe that the truth will ultimately prevail, and that falsehood will fail in the conflict of good and evil.

Let us remind ourselves and all our fellow Muslims of the great reward to remain steadfast and sincere to Allah at times of hardship and tribulation. Almighty says, “When disaster strikes them, they say, “Indeed we belong to Allah, and indeed to Him we will return. Those are the ones upon whom are blessings from their Lord and mercy, and it is those who are the rightly guided.” (Al Baqra-156-7)

As believers we are required to remain obedient and sincere to our creator, sustainer, and decider of affairs, in every situation, when we are blessed with bounties as well as when we are plagued with calamities.

The Almighty says in Ar-Room “And when adversity touches the people, they call upon their Lord, turning in repentance to Him. Then when He lets them taste mercy from Him, at once a party of them associate others with their Lord.” [Room-33]

“And when We let the people taste mercy, they rejoice therein, but if evil afflicts them for what their hands have put forth, immediately they despair.” [Room-36]

A troubling question comes across every Muslim’s mind is, why Muslims in almost every corner of the world are experiencing hardship and abuse? Why they are so valueless, and despite being in numerous in number and huge in wealth and yet they are so vulnerable to abuse?

The answer to this question lies in the Prophetic saying,

“The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite others to share their dish. Someone asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time? He replied: No, you will be numerous at that time: but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and last enervation into your hearts. Someone asked: What is wahn (enervation). Messenger of Allah (?): He replied: Love of the world and dislike of death.” [Sunan Abi Dawud 4297] graded ‘sahih’ by Al-Albani.

The Prophet’s prediction in the above narration is amazingly true. We are in 1.9 billion but humiliated, starving, deprived and without any unity.

As an Ummah, we are in dire need of returning to Allah with sincerity and humility. Failing to return to Allah and rather continuing in disobedience to Him even when the calamities befall upon Ummah, will ultimately invite the punishment of Almighty.

“When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not believe with humility? But their hearts became hardened, and Shaitan (Satan) made fair-seeming to them that which they used to do.” [Al Anam-43]

It is high time for us to introspect ourselves, our relationship with Allah. It is the duty of every Muslim to work on his spiritual growth to prepare himself to face the trials and remain firm.

Returning to Allah and paying close attention to our deeds in times of tribulation is of great importance.

Ma’qil ibn Yasar narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Worshipping at times of tribulation and confusion is like migrating to join me.” [Narrated by Muslim, 2948]

Al-Nawawi while commenting on the above hadith said: “The reason why worship at such times is of such great virtue is that people become negligent about worship and are distracted from it, and no one focuses on worship except a few.” {Islam QA}

It incumbent upon us as Ummah to wake up and rise to the challenge and make up for areas where we fall short and return to Allah in humble. “Verily, We sent (Messengers) to many nations before you (O Muhammad). And We seized them with extreme poverty (or loss in wealth) and loss in health (with calamities) so that they might humble themselves (believe with humility). [al-An’am 6:42]

Al-Sa’di (may Allah have mercy on him) commented on the above hadith saying: (This means) We sent (Messengers) to the nations who came before you, and they disbelieved in Our Messengers and rejected Our signs. So We seized them with poverty, sickness, calamities and disasters as a mercy from Us to them, so that they might humble themselves before us and turn to Us at times of hardship. {Islam QA}

It is also time for us to stand with our brothers in Palestine and other places who are suffering and enduring pain and need care and assistance. The reward to help those afflicted by calamity is certainly great. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “The likeness of the believers in their mutual love, mercy and compassion is that of the body; when one part of it suffers, the rest of the body joins it in staying awake and suffering fever.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, 6011; Muslim, 2586.

It is also important to understand that what is happening was destined to happen. And in every event, there is an opportunity to seize.? Islam demands sacrifices. Our Palestinians brother and siters are laying down their lives for the noble cause of Islam. They are true martyrs.? Their sacrifices will yield the result. We already started to see that many people are curious to know the secret behind the firm commitment and resolve of Palestinians. What is driving them to sacrifice their lives without regret. And it is when the proponents of a particular faith endure trials that opponents begin to recognize its inherent goodness. Observing followers steadfastly standing by it despite the hardships they face for its sake, opponents may then be inclined to collectively embrace that faith themselves.

Conclusion

What Palestinians are receiving at the hands of Israel since 7th October, is an act of genocide. The courage, patience and firm conviction being displayed by Palestinians is worth applauding. Their resistance serves a fine example that a content believer never gets scared of the might and power of enemies. He seeks guidance from the divine book, Quran. “And those who disbelieved said to their messengers, “We will surely drive you out of our land, or you must return to our religion.” So their Lord inspired to them, “We will surely destroy the wrongdoers.” [Ibrahim-13]

O brave Palestinians! grieve not. Your sacrifices will never go in vain. The glad tiding is for those who remain steadfast. The Almighty says, “Indeed, those who have said, “Our Lord is Allah” and then remained on a right course – the angels will descend upon them, [saying], “Do not fear and do not grieve but receive good tidings of Paradise, which you were promised.” [Fussilat-30]

You are martyrs. Your reward is paradise. “And never think of those who have been killed in the cause of Allah as dead. Rather, they are alive with their Lord, receiving provision.” [Surah Al Imran 169]