Salam Alaikum,
When we think of Fitna, we often think of chaos and all that is wicked and evil. And rightly so. That’s precisely what Fitna is. But, there’s another angle to it as well. Fitna is necessary to separate those who truly believe, are steadfast and let nothing move their imaan, from those who just pay lipservice and during the testing moments are found in the league of disbelievers.
Fitnah is much like the purification of metal. Our faith is put under intense heat, then hammered, then put under intense heat and then hammered again to strengthen it. Much like a quality sword. The more our faith is tested and hammered, the stronger it gets. Many fail, the few that survive this scrunity are the best of the ummah. The fitnah should scare us as far as seeking guidance from Allah (swt) is concerned, but we should not hasten to get it over with. It is a necessary part of faith. It is an evaluation, if u will, to measure where we stand in term of the faith and sincerity to Allah (swt) and his messenger (pbuh).
The current times are full of fitnah that surround us and rain down on us everyday, in one form or another. We must hold steadfast to our faith, the harder it gets, the bigger the reward. We should seek refuge from all that is wicked in Allah (swt), and hope for right guidance.
A narration is mentioned that when going got tough, Sahaba (r.a) of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) asked him to make dua to Allah to make it easy, to which Prophet (pbuh) responded by saying something along the lines of ‘Do not hasten! It is a process, it must occur and it takes time. It is necessary’.
We, the mankind are impatient. Today we’re unable to hold our peace and be patient, the same way the Quraish of the era of Jahaliyah were.
Let us remember that everything that happens has a greater purpose behind it. Let us pray for each other and remember Allah (swt) in our times of ease, so that Allah (swt) may remember us in the times of difficulty.
Inspired and narrated from ‘The importance of Afterlife and hereafter’ by Anwar Al Awlaki
khair for a timely reminder. In present age Muslims are being tested in all ways. May Allah (s.w.t) bless us all with all the blessings of this life and hereafter. Ameen.