WEBVTT 00:00:02.060 --> 00:00:08.589 The dawn breeze. 00:00:08.589 --> 00:00:15.500 The successful graduates of the College of Adversity. 00:00:15.500 --> 00:00:17.500 There, in the corridors of pain, 00:00:17.500 --> 00:00:24.500 a great number of people wait in various departments of the College of Adversity, 00:00:24.500 --> 00:00:26.789 spending their bitter time, 00:00:26.789 --> 00:00:31.789 awaiting graduation and the receipt of their certificate of achievement. 00:00:31.789 --> 00:00:37.210 Some people graduate having failed in various ways. 00:00:37.210 --> 00:00:42.299 One may fail in the subjects of contentment with Allah and His decree, 00:00:42.299 --> 00:00:46.460 leaving in a state of resentment and agitation, 00:00:46.460 --> 00:00:52.500 perhaps even carrying with him accusations against the justice and wisdom of Allah in His decree, 00:00:52.500 --> 00:00:56.500 departing having lost both this world and the Hereafter. 00:00:56.500 --> 00:01:00.619 Another may fail in the subjects of patience during hardships, 00:01:00.619 --> 00:01:03.619 leaving with pain as his constant companion, 00:01:03.619 --> 00:01:08.620 becoming impatient and losing the reward for his affliction 00:01:08.620 --> 00:01:10.620 and the elevation in the sight of his Lord. 00:01:10.620 --> 00:01:16.329 Yet there is another category, contrary to the former, 00:01:16.329 --> 00:01:20.329 they are the successful ones in that academic institution, 00:01:20.329 --> 00:01:25.420 those who endured the hardship of standing firm in the face of adversity, 00:01:25.420 --> 00:01:31.420 and struggled against their own selves to remain patient through the bitterness of their training during that period, 00:01:31.420 --> 00:01:37.620 until they graduated with a certificate that brings them happiness in their worldly life and their Hereafter. 00:01:37.620 --> 00:01:41.870 So what are the successes with which they graduated? 00:01:41.870 --> 00:01:46.290 As for the Hereafter, it is the attainment of the pleasure of Allah, 00:01:46.290 --> 00:01:52.290 and salvation from His Fire, if they die upon faith and patience regarding that with which they were tested. 00:01:52.290 --> 00:01:58.450 As for this world, they graduated with the success of spiritual purity, 00:01:58.450 --> 00:02:02.450 after trials had buffeted them and they had buffeted trials, 00:02:02.450 --> 00:02:05.450 and they had squeezed and been squeezed by them, 00:02:05.450 --> 00:02:10.449 until they emerged purified of the impurities of weakness and frailty, 00:02:10.449 --> 00:02:12.449 and of doubt and agitation. 00:02:12.449 --> 00:02:18.639 The dross was removed from them in the fire of adversities, which they faced with steadfastness, 00:02:18.639 --> 00:02:21.639 so they became refined gold. 00:02:21.639 --> 00:02:24.990 Ibn al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy on him, said: 00:02:24.990 --> 00:02:33.990 "The point is that the wisdom of Allah, Glorified be He, necessitated that He must test souls and try them, 00:02:33.990 --> 00:02:37.990 so that through the test, their good may be distinguished from their evil, 00:02:37.990 --> 00:02:42.990 and those fit for His guardianship and honor may be distinguished from those who are not. 00:02:42.990 --> 00:02:49.990 And to refine the souls that are fit for Him, and to purify them in the furnace of testing, 00:02:49.990 --> 00:02:53.990 just like gold that cannot be purified or cleansed of its dross 00:02:53.990 --> 00:02:55.990 except through testing. 00:02:55.990 --> 00:03:00.020 For the soul is, in its origin, ignorant and unjust, 00:03:00.020 --> 00:03:03.020 and it has acquired, through ignorance and injustice, such filth 00:03:03.020 --> 00:03:07.020 that requires smelting and refining to be removed. 00:03:07.020 --> 00:03:10.060 If it is removed in this world, [it is well], 00:03:10.060 --> 00:03:13.180 otherwise, it will be in the furnace of Hell." 00:03:13.180 --> 00:03:16.180 So when the servant is refined and purified, 00:03:16.180 --> 00:03:19.659 he is permitted to enter Paradise. 00:03:19.659 --> 00:03:21.659 In the Battle of Uhud, 00:03:21.659 --> 00:03:25.699 which involved such wounds as it did, 00:03:25.699 --> 00:03:27.699 it became a laboratory 00:03:27.699 --> 00:03:31.759 through which the believers were distinguished from the hypocrites. 00:03:31.759 --> 00:03:33.949 Allah the Exalted says: 00:03:33.949 --> 00:03:41.949 “If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Allah loveth not wrong-doers.” (3:140) 00:03:41.949 --> 00:03:46.949 “If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Allah loveth not wrong-doers.” (3:140) 00:03:46.949 --> 00:03:54.949 “If ye have received a blow, the (disbelieving) people have received a blow the like thereof. These are (only) the vicissitudes which We cause to follow one another for mankind, to the end that Allah may know those who believe and may choose witnesses from among you; and Allah loveth not wrong-doers.” (3:140) 00:03:54.949 --> 00:03:58.949 "And He may take martyrs from among you," 00:03:58.949 --> 00:04:02.949 "And Allah does not like the wrongdoers." 00:04:02.949 --> 00:04:07.949 “And that Allah may prove those who believe, and may blight the disbelievers.” (3:141) 00:04:07.949 --> 00:04:12.370 "And He may destroy the disbelievers." 00:04:12.370 --> 00:04:14.590 Allah the Exalted says: 00:04:14.590 --> 00:04:20.589 “It is not (the purpose) of Allah to leave you in your present state till He shall separate the wicked from the good. And it is not (the purpose of) Allah to let you know the Unseen. But Allah chooseth of His messengers whom He will, (to receive knowledge thereof). So believe in Allah and His messengers. If ye believe and ward off (evil), yours will be a vast reward.” (3:179) 00:04:20.589 --> 00:04:24.589 “It is not (the purpose) of Allah to leave you in your present state till He shall separate the wicked from the good. And it is not (the purpose of) Allah to let you know the Unseen. But Allah chooseth of His messengers whom He will, (to receive knowledge thereof). So believe in Allah and His messengers. If ye believe and ward off (evil), yours will be a vast reward.” (3:179) 00:04:24.589 --> 00:04:30.009 The successful ones graduated from the College of Adversity with the success of 00:04:30.009 --> 00:04:36.199 fortitude and endurance in facing the hardships of life. 00:04:36.199 --> 00:04:42.199 They developed an immunity that protects them from the painful shocks of the future, 00:04:42.199 --> 00:04:44.259 as the poet says, 00:04:44.259 --> 00:04:48.259 even if he erred in attributing evil to time: 00:04:48.259 --> 00:04:51.810 "Time pelted me with calamities until 00:04:51.810 --> 00:04:55.810 my heart was encased in a shield of arrows. 00:04:55.810 --> 00:04:58.810 And whenever arrows struck me, 00:04:58.810 --> 00:05:02.810 the arrowheads would shatter against other arrowheads. 00:05:02.810 --> 00:05:06.810 So here I am, unconcerned by disasters, 00:05:06.810 --> 00:05:09.810 because I never sought to be unconcerned." 00:05:09.810 --> 00:05:15.129 The successful ones graduated from the College of Adversity with the success of 00:05:15.129 --> 00:05:18.129 the sweetness of supplication before Allah. 00:05:18.129 --> 00:05:24.319 For that pleasure in intimate conversation with Allah and calling upon Him, which pain gave birth to, 00:05:24.319 --> 00:05:29.319 had a great effect in calming their souls and reassuring them, 00:05:29.319 --> 00:05:32.319 and in attaining what they sought. 00:05:32.319 --> 00:05:34.319 Thus, upon graduation, they realized 00:05:34.319 --> 00:05:40.480 that what they disliked was the path to reaching what they loved. 00:05:40.480 --> 00:05:42.480 Ibn 'Uyaynah said: 00:05:42.480 --> 00:05:46.540 "What the servant dislikes is better for him than what he loves, 00:05:46.540 --> 00:05:50.540 because what he dislikes stirs him to supplication, 00:05:50.540 --> 00:05:53.540 while what he loves distracts him from it." 00:05:53.540 --> 00:05:56.670 And Ibrahim al-Taymi said: 00:05:56.670 --> 00:05:59.670 "If there were no good for us in what we dislike, 00:05:59.670 --> 00:06:04.019 there would be no good for us in what we love." 00:06:04.019 --> 00:06:08.019 The successful ones graduated from the College of Adversity with the success of 00:06:08.019 --> 00:06:10.019 mercy for those in affliction, 00:06:10.019 --> 00:06:13.019 and compassion for the prisoners of hardship. 00:06:13.019 --> 00:06:18.019 They became softer in heart and more tender in spirit toward them. 00:06:18.019 --> 00:06:20.019 So whenever they saw them, 00:06:20.019 --> 00:06:23.019 they hastened to their aid, remembering: 00:06:23.019 --> 00:06:26.019 “O ye who believe! When ye go forth (to fight) in the way of Allah, be careful to discriminate, and say not unto one who offereth you peace: "Thou art not a believer," seeking the chance profits of this life (so that ye may despoil him). With Allah are plenteous spoils. Even thus (as he now is) were ye before; but Allah hath since then been gracious unto you. Therefore take care to discriminate. Allah is ever Informed of what ye do.” (4:94) 00:06:26.019 --> 00:06:29.019 "Allah has been gracious to you." 00:06:29.019 --> 00:06:32.149 And no one performs such a favor 00:06:32.149 --> 00:06:35.180 except those of abundant gratitude. 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:38.180 As al-Bukhari narrated in his Sahih, 00:06:38.180 --> 00:06:42.220 from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, who said: 00:06:42.220 --> 00:06:45.220 "Three people among the Children of Israel— 00:06:45.220 --> 00:06:48.220 a leper, a bald man, and a blind man— 00:06:48.220 --> 00:06:52.220 Allah, the Almighty and Majestic, wanted to test them..." 00:06:52.220 --> 00:06:54.220 [He continued] until the hadith says: 00:06:54.220 --> 00:06:57.220 "And he came to the blind man in his [former] appearance and said: 00:06:57.220 --> 00:07:00.220 'A poor man and a wayfarer, 00:07:00.220 --> 00:07:03.220 and my means have been cut off in my journey, 00:07:03.220 --> 00:07:07.220 so there is no way for me today except through Allah, then you. 00:07:07.220 --> 00:07:10.310 I ask you by the One who restored your sight, 00:07:10.310 --> 00:07:14.310 for a sheep to help me on my journey.' 00:07:14.310 --> 00:07:15.379 He replied: 00:07:15.379 --> 00:07:19.379 'I was blind and Allah restored my sight, 00:07:19.379 --> 00:07:22.379 and I was poor and He made me rich, 00:07:22.379 --> 00:07:24.379 so take whatever you wish. 00:07:24.379 --> 00:07:27.379 For by Allah, I will not burden you today with anything 00:07:27.379 --> 00:07:29.470 you take for the sake of Allah.' 00:07:29.470 --> 00:07:32.470 He said: 'Keep your wealth, 00:07:32.470 --> 00:07:34.470 for you have only been tested. 00:07:34.470 --> 00:07:39.759 Allah is pleased with you and is displeased with your two companions.'" 00:07:39.759 --> 00:07:43.759 The successful ones graduated from the College of Adversity with the success of 00:07:43.759 --> 00:07:47.819 knowing people for who they truly are. 00:07:47.819 --> 00:07:51.819 They recognized the one who was sincere in his love for them from the liar, 00:07:51.819 --> 00:07:54.889 and the enemy from the friend, 00:07:54.889 --> 00:07:58.889 because days of ease do not distinguish the true nature of people. 00:07:58.889 --> 00:08:01.889 So when the winds of adversity blew, 00:08:01.889 --> 00:08:04.889 they overturned the pots of the liars, 00:08:04.889 --> 00:08:07.889 who dismantled their tents and departed, 00:08:07.889 --> 00:08:12.889 leaving you under the storms of adversity to struggle alone, 00:08:12.889 --> 00:08:16.980 except for the loyal ones among relatives and strangers, 00:08:16.980 --> 00:08:21.050 who stood with you under the gusting wind. 00:08:21.050 --> 00:08:23.050 So when the adversity passed, 00:08:23.050 --> 00:08:26.500 you knew the true mettle of people. 00:08:26.500 --> 00:08:28.529 The poet said: 00:08:28.529 --> 00:08:31.529 "If time has been harsh to me, 00:08:31.529 --> 00:08:35.529 with types of grief that choked my throat, 00:08:35.529 --> 00:08:38.529 it has done me a favor, for 00:08:38.529 --> 00:08:42.750 through it, I knew my enemy from my friend." 00:08:42.750 --> 00:08:45.820 And another said, expressing the same meaning: 00:08:45.820 --> 00:08:48.820 "May Allah reward adversities with every good, 00:08:48.820 --> 00:08:51.820 even if they choke me with my own breath. 00:08:51.820 --> 00:08:55.820 My gratitude to them is not praise, but 00:08:55.820 --> 00:08:58.820 through them, I knew my enemy from my friend."