1 00:00:00,240 --> 00:00:08,800 A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah. 2 00:00:08,800 --> 00:00:11,800 The causes that lead one into tribulations (fitan). 3 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:19,730 Imam Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, has sufficiently spared us the task of listing the causes of tribulations and falling into them. 4 00:00:19,730 --> 00:00:25,730 He categorized them into two major causes, under which many sub-branches fall. 5 00:00:25,730 --> 00:00:29,730 These two causes are: doubts (shubuhat) and desires (shahawat). 6 00:00:29,730 --> 00:00:32,729 He, may Allah have mercy upon him, says: 7 00:00:32,729 --> 00:00:34,729 Tribulation is of two types: 8 00:00:34,729 --> 00:00:38,729 The tribulation of doubts, which is the greater of the two. 9 00:00:38,729 --> 00:00:40,729 And the tribulation of desires. 10 00:00:40,729 --> 00:00:44,729 A person may be afflicted by both, or by one of them individually. 11 00:00:44,729 --> 00:00:49,729 The tribulation of doubts stems from weak insight and a lack of knowledge. 12 00:00:49,729 --> 00:00:54,729 Especially when accompanied by a corrupt intention and the pursuit of whims. 13 00:00:54,729 --> 00:00:58,729 That is where the greatest tribulation and the gravest calamity lie. 14 00:00:58,729 --> 00:01:01,729 You may say whatever you wish regarding the misguidance of one with a corrupt intention, 15 00:01:01,729 --> 00:01:04,730 whose judgment is governed by his whims rather than guidance, 16 00:01:04,730 --> 00:01:10,730 coupled with his weak insight and lack of knowledge regarding what Allah sent His Messenger with. 17 00:01:10,730 --> 00:01:13,730 He is among those of whom Allah the Almighty said: 18 00:01:13,730 --> 00:01:19,730 “They are but names which ye have named, ye and your fathers, for which Allah hath revealed no warrant. They follow but a guess and that which (they) themselves desire. And now the guidance from their Lord hath come unto them.” (53:23) 19 00:01:19,730 --> 00:01:23,730 The ultimate end of this tribulation is disbelief and hypocrisy. 20 00:01:23,730 --> 00:01:27,730 It is the tribulation of the hypocrites and the people of innovation (bid'ah), 21 00:01:27,730 --> 00:01:30,730 according to the varying degrees of their innovations. 22 00:01:30,730 --> 00:01:33,730 For all of them only innovated out of the tribulation of doubts, 23 00:01:33,730 --> 00:01:39,730 in which truth became obscured for them by falsehood, and guidance by misguidance. 24 00:01:39,730 --> 00:01:44,790 Nothing saves one from this tribulation except the sincere following of the Messenger, 25 00:01:44,790 --> 00:01:47,790 and making him the judge in both the minor and major aspects of the religion, 26 00:01:47,790 --> 00:01:51,790 its outward and inward dimensions, its creeds and its deeds, 27 00:01:51,790 --> 00:01:54,790 its realities and its laws. 28 00:01:54,790 --> 00:01:58,819 This tribulation arises sometimes from a corrupt understanding, 29 00:01:58,819 --> 00:02:01,819 sometimes from a false report, 30 00:02:01,819 --> 00:02:06,819 sometimes from a confirmed truth that remained hidden from a person so he did not attain it, 31 00:02:06,819 --> 00:02:10,819 and sometimes from a corrupt objective that one follows. 32 00:02:10,819 --> 00:02:15,819 Thus, it is a blindness in insight and a corruption in will. 33 00:02:15,819 --> 00:02:18,180 The second type of tribulation: 34 00:02:18,180 --> 00:02:20,180 The tribulation of desires. 35 00:02:20,180 --> 00:02:23,180 This is the tribulation whose cause is whim (hawa), 36 00:02:23,180 --> 00:02:27,180 not ignorance of the truth or confusion regarding it. 37 00:02:27,180 --> 00:02:31,180 Rather, the one afflicted by this tribulation has knowledge of the truth, 38 00:02:31,180 --> 00:02:34,180 but he turns away from it and prefers something else, 39 00:02:34,180 --> 00:02:37,180 from what his heart craves and his soul desires. 40 00:02:37,180 --> 00:02:42,240 The root of every tribulation is placing personal opinion before the Shari'ah, 41 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,240 and whim before reason. 42 00:02:44,240 --> 00:02:47,240 The former is the root of the tribulation of doubts, 43 00:02:47,240 --> 00:02:50,240 and the latter is the root of the tribulation of desires. 44 00:02:51,370 --> 00:02:55,370 It has been narrated in a mursal hadith—which some scholars have deemed weak, 45 00:02:55,370 --> 00:02:57,370 yet its meaning is correct— 46 00:02:57,370 --> 00:03:00,370 that Allah loves the critical eye 47 00:03:00,370 --> 00:03:02,370 when doubts arise, 48 00:03:02,370 --> 00:03:04,370 and He loves the sound intellect 49 00:03:04,370 --> 00:03:06,370 when desires descend. 50 00:03:06,370 --> 00:03:09,370 Therefore, the root of all tribulations 51 00:03:09,370 --> 00:03:11,370 is either a doubt or a desire. 52 00:03:11,370 --> 00:03:16,370 If tribulations coincide with a lack of knowledge and ignorance of the truth, 53 00:03:16,370 --> 00:03:18,370 or a doubt based on a corrupt interpretation, 54 00:03:18,370 --> 00:03:22,370 the person falls into tribulation because of the doubt. 55 00:03:22,370 --> 00:03:25,370 And if it coincides with the person having knowledge of the truth, 56 00:03:25,370 --> 00:03:28,370 but his patience against desires is weak, 57 00:03:28,370 --> 00:03:32,370 he falls into tribulation because of desire, not doubt. 58 00:03:32,370 --> 00:03:35,689 The third type of cause for tribulations: 59 00:03:35,689 --> 00:03:38,689 It is a mixture of doubt and desire. 60 00:03:38,689 --> 00:03:43,689 Meaning, the one who falls into tribulation does not admit that his patience is weak, 61 00:03:43,689 --> 00:03:45,689 or that his whim has overcome him. 62 00:03:45,689 --> 00:03:47,689 Rather, he attempts, with great effort, 63 00:03:47,689 --> 00:03:51,689 to justify his whim with a religious doubt, 64 00:03:51,689 --> 00:03:54,689 using it to justify his falling into what he has fallen into. 65 00:03:54,689 --> 00:03:58,719 That is, he does not admit his error or his whim, 66 00:03:58,719 --> 00:04:01,719 but rather claims he is upon the truth through his doubt, 67 00:04:01,719 --> 00:04:05,719 whether through a corrupt interpretation or a weak piece of evidence. 68 00:04:05,719 --> 00:04:09,719 There are other secondary causes for falling into tribulations, 69 00:04:09,719 --> 00:04:11,719 among them are haste and impulsiveness, 70 00:04:11,719 --> 00:04:14,719 neglecting the prayer for guidance (istikhara) and consultation (shura), 71 00:04:14,719 --> 00:04:18,720 sitting with the people of this world, the immoral, and the innovators, 72 00:04:18,720 --> 00:04:21,720 reading their books and articles, 73 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,720 becoming preoccupied with this world and relying upon it, 74 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:27,720 and preferring it over the Hereafter. 75 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:31,420 The causes of salvation from tribulations: 76 00:04:31,420 --> 00:04:37,100 By knowing the aforementioned causes of falling into tribulations, 77 00:04:37,100 --> 00:04:40,100 the causes of protection from them become clear to us. 78 00:04:40,100 --> 00:04:42,100 The most important of them: 79 00:04:42,100 --> 00:04:43,100 First: 80 00:04:43,100 --> 00:04:45,100 Asking Allah the Almighty 81 00:04:45,100 --> 00:04:47,100 for steadfastness upon the truth, 82 00:04:47,100 --> 00:04:49,100 and seeking refuge in Him from tribulations, 83 00:04:49,100 --> 00:04:51,100 both the apparent and the hidden. 84 00:04:51,100 --> 00:04:53,100 As in the transmitted supplication: 85 00:04:53,100 --> 00:04:56,100 "O Allah, I seek refuge in You from tribulations, 86 00:04:56,100 --> 00:04:59,100 both the apparent and the hidden." 87 00:04:59,100 --> 00:05:01,100 For there is no savior from tribulations 88 00:05:01,100 --> 00:05:04,100 except by the aid and success granted by Allah, 89 00:05:04,100 --> 00:05:07,100 and His protecting His servant from them. 90 00:05:07,100 --> 00:05:10,100 Among the things that ensure Allah the Almighty’s response 91 00:05:10,100 --> 00:05:12,100 to the one who calls upon Him and seeks refuge in Him 92 00:05:12,100 --> 00:05:17,100 is Allah’s knowledge of the sincerity of His servant in his request and supplication. 93 00:05:17,100 --> 00:05:20,100 And among the signs of the sincerity of the supplication and the request 94 00:05:20,100 --> 00:05:24,100 is that one takes the other means that protect against tribulations. 95 00:05:24,100 --> 00:05:26,290 Second: 96 00:05:26,290 --> 00:05:29,290 Removing the tribulation of doubts through religious knowledge, 97 00:05:29,290 --> 00:05:32,290 and the correct understanding of Allah the Almighty, 98 00:05:32,290 --> 00:05:36,290 and of His rulings, which stems from the Book of Allah the Almighty 99 00:05:36,290 --> 00:05:39,290 and the Sunnah of His Messenger, peace be upon him. 100 00:05:39,290 --> 00:05:43,290 Regarding this, Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, says: 101 00:05:43,290 --> 00:05:46,290 "Soundness of understanding and goodness of intention 102 00:05:46,290 --> 00:05:50,290 are among the greatest blessings Allah has bestowed upon His servant. 103 00:05:50,290 --> 00:05:56,290 Indeed, no servant has been given a gift after Islam better or more magnificent than these two. 104 00:05:56,290 --> 00:06:00,290 Rather, they are the pillars of Islam, and it stands upon them. 105 00:06:00,290 --> 00:06:05,290 Soundness of understanding is a light that Allah casts into the heart of the servant, 106 00:06:05,290 --> 00:06:08,290 by which he distinguishes between the correct and the corrupt, 107 00:06:08,290 --> 00:06:10,290 the truth and the falsehood, 108 00:06:10,290 --> 00:06:12,290 guidance and misguidance, 109 00:06:12,290 --> 00:06:14,290 and error and right conduct. 110 00:06:14,290 --> 00:06:16,290 It is supported by goodness of intention, 111 00:06:16,290 --> 00:06:18,290 the pursuit of truth, 112 00:06:18,290 --> 00:06:21,290 and fearing the Lord in private and in public." 113 00:06:21,290 --> 00:06:26,290 Neither the mufti nor the judge can issue a fatwa or judge with the truth 114 00:06:26,290 --> 00:06:28,290 except through two types of understanding: 115 00:06:28,290 --> 00:06:32,290 The first is understanding the reality and having fiqh regarding it. 116 00:06:32,290 --> 00:06:36,290 The second type is understanding what is required in that reality, 117 00:06:36,290 --> 00:06:40,290 which is understanding the ruling of Allah that He has decreed in His Book 118 00:06:40,290 --> 00:06:45,290 or upon the tongue of His Messenger, peace be upon him, regarding this reality. 119 00:06:45,290 --> 00:06:49,290 Then, one applies the one to the other. 120 00:06:49,290 --> 00:06:50,509 Third: 121 00:06:50,509 --> 00:06:54,509 Treating the tribulation of desires through fear of Allah the Almighty, 122 00:06:54,509 --> 00:06:57,509 and preferring what He has in the Hereafter, 123 00:06:57,509 --> 00:07:00,509 for that is better and more lasting. 124 00:07:00,509 --> 00:07:03,509 And conditioning the soul to patience and piety. 125 00:07:03,509 --> 00:07:08,509 “Assuredly ye will be tried in your property and in your persons, and ye will hear much wrong from those who were given the Scripture before you, and from the idolaters. But if ye persevere and ward off (evil), then that is of the steadfast heart of things.” (3:186) 126 00:07:08,509 --> 00:07:15,509 Because this tribulation may afflict one who has knowledge of Allah the Almighty and His rulings, 127 00:07:15,509 --> 00:07:19,509 but it comes to him through the door of whim and weak piety, 128 00:07:19,509 --> 00:07:22,509 and was not due to a lack of knowledge of the truth, 129 00:07:22,509 --> 00:07:25,509 but rather from a lack of piety and patience, 130 00:07:25,509 --> 00:07:28,509 and preferring this world over the truth. 131 00:07:28,509 --> 00:07:29,670 Fourth: 132 00:07:29,670 --> 00:07:32,670 Since one of the causes of falling into tribulations 133 00:07:32,670 --> 00:07:35,670 is haste and impulsiveness, 134 00:07:35,670 --> 00:07:40,670 the remedy for that is deliberation, gentleness, forbearance, and patience. 135 00:07:40,670 --> 00:07:41,769 Fifth: 136 00:07:41,769 --> 00:07:44,769 Seeking the guidance of Allah the Almighty (istikhara), 137 00:07:44,769 --> 00:07:49,769 and consulting those who are trusted for their knowledge, religion, and awareness of reality. 138 00:07:49,769 --> 00:07:50,860 Sixth: 139 00:07:50,860 --> 00:07:55,860 Striving to unite the word and rejecting division and disagreement, 140 00:07:55,860 --> 00:08:02,860 except for those whom it is necessary to dissociate from, such as the people of disbelief, hypocrisy, and grave innovations. 141 00:08:02,860 --> 00:08:04,019 Seventh: 142 00:08:04,019 --> 00:08:07,019 Adhering to piety, sitting with the righteous, 143 00:08:07,019 --> 00:08:11,019 performing many supererogatory acts of worship and acts of drawing near to Allah, 144 00:08:11,019 --> 00:08:14,019 and frequently remembering Allah the Almighty. 145 00:08:14,019 --> 00:08:15,180 Eighth: 146 00:08:15,180 --> 00:08:18,180 Enjoining good and forbidding evil, 147 00:08:18,180 --> 00:08:22,180 intensifying the call to Allah the Almighty, 148 00:08:22,180 --> 00:08:27,180 and striving against the disbelievers and hypocrites with the tongue, wealth, and the sword. 149 00:08:27,180 --> 00:08:32,179 And isolation when fighting occurs between the Muslims themselves. 150 00:08:32,179 --> 00:08:33,379 Ninth: 151 00:08:33,379 --> 00:08:37,379 Asceticism in this world and caution against its tribulation, 152 00:08:37,379 --> 00:08:40,379 for it is a tribulation for every person who is tempted. 153 00:08:40,379 --> 00:08:41,379 Tenth: 154 00:08:41,379 --> 00:08:44,379 Withdrawing from tribulations and their people, 155 00:08:44,379 --> 00:08:49,379 and not participating in them with tongue, pen, or sword. 156 00:08:49,379 --> 00:08:54,379 Isolation is neither absolutely praiseworthy nor absolutely blameworthy, 157 00:08:54,379 --> 00:08:58,379 but it varies from one person to another, 158 00:08:58,379 --> 00:09:01,379 and from one place and situation to another. 159 00:09:01,379 --> 00:09:07,379 One must look at the harms and benefits that result from it and weigh them against each other. 160 00:09:07,379 --> 00:09:13,379 The principle is that if mixing involves cooperation in righteousness and piety, 161 00:09:13,379 --> 00:09:15,379 then it is commanded. 162 00:09:15,379 --> 00:09:19,379 But if it involves cooperation in sin and transgression, 163 00:09:19,379 --> 00:09:21,379 then it is forbidden. 164 00:09:21,379 --> 00:09:24,379 And isolation becomes mandatory in that case.