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Hasten towards good deeds; for there will be trials which would be like a part of a dark night- [Shaikh Rabee Gives Us An Important Reminder]

In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy

Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [may Allaah preserve him] said:

Abu Hurairah (radiyallaahu-anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallam) said: “Hasten towards (performance of) good deeds; (for) there will be trials which would be like a part of a dark night, wherein (i.e. during these trials) a man wakes up as a believer and becomes a disbeliever by night; or he begins the night as a believer and wakes up as a disbeliever, and a man would sell his religion for a (portion) of the worldly life (i.e. the worldly goods).”  [Saheeh Muslim Kitaab Al-Imaan number: 118]

Shaikh Rabee Bin Haadi [may Allaah preserve him] said:

The author [i.e. Imaam Al-Aajurree] pointed out that a lot of fitan [trials] have occurred–a people were humiliated during it and also [others] were destroyed, such as the likes of Abu Muslim Al-Khurasaanee and [during] the fitna of Ibnul Raawandee.

 Many fitan have occurred and from them, the fitna of the khawaarij, the Rawaafid and killing. Deviation and misguidance have occured –either fighting and trials [related] to politics or trials [related] to creed, methodology and what is similar to it.  Many people who were to be destroyed were destroyed  and the one whom Allaah protected was saved and made to adhere to the true methodology.

Indeed, all praises and thanks be to Allaah, many [people] were saved due to the clarity and establishment of this methodology [of the Salaf], just as the Messenger [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallaam] promised that “There will not cease to be a group from my Ummah manifest and upon the truth –neither being harmed by those who forsake them nor by those who oppose them until the hour is established.”

So Allaah’s proof has been established against the people from the time the Muhammad [sallal-laahu-alayhi-wasallaam] was sent until the establishment of the hour.

A time will not come except that His [i.e. Allaah’s] proofs are established.  [These proofs will be] established by the inheritors of the prophets [i.e. the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah], the people of sound knowledge, the ‘Taa-ifatul Mansoorah [i.e. victorious group] that adheres to the truth and will not depart from it until the establishment of the hour. Allaah’s proof has been established against [the people] and through them [i.e. the inheritors of the prophets, the people of sound knowledge, the victorious group] Allaah saves many people, and all the praises and thanks be to Allaah.

So during every trial, they [i.e. the scholars of Ahlus Sunnah] must openly proclaim the truth and clarify this truth for the people. They should distinguish for them [the difference] between guidance and misguidance; between truth and falsehood; the manner in which the people will be safeguarded from these trials; the path through which they will be saved from entering into fitan and other affairs [by way of which] Allaah [The Blessed and Most High] guides this [victorious] group when [they] face every fitna.

And indeed the author reiterated this hadeeth: ‘’A man will wake up in the morning as a Muslim and by evening he becomes a disbeliever.” He [i.e. the author] said that a people will be humiliated; Yes! A man may be upon truth, and then you do not see him thereafter except that he has become a disbeliever! Or a misguided innovator! This is nothing else but humiliation! He used to claim that he was upon good, a possessor of knowledge and upon the truth, but then he falls into disbelief–either Kufr Akbar or kufr Asghar. This is ignominy and Allaah’s Protection is sought.

How many people have been humiliated and exposed by a trial! [Suddenly] you come to know of them and their false claims are unveiled, and their reality is clarified for you.


Source: الذريعة إلى بيان مقاصد كتاب الشريعة للإمام المحدث أبي بكر محمد بن الحسين الآجري

1/200-202. Abridged and slightly paraphrased

advice, ibaadah, knowledge, protection, scholars, shaikh rabee, softening the hearts, worship