The Ideological Attack: Obligation in Times of Calamities

Question:What is the obligation upon the Muslim scholars with regard to facing the trials and calamities that have befallen the Islamic world? ^[6]

Answer:There is no doubt that sins, in both statements and actions, as well as being far removed from the correct Islamic beliefs (‘aqîdah), are from the greatest causes of bringing about the various crisis and calamities that have befallen the Muslims. Allâh the Mighty and Majestic said:

“Whatever of good reaches you, it is from Allâh; but whatever of evil befalls you, it is from your ownself.” [Sûrah an-Nis⒠4:79]

Allâh, the Most Perfect, the Most High, also said:

“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. Yet He pardons much.” [Sûrah ash-Shûrâ 42:30]

Indeed Allâh is most forgiving and most merciful to His servants, sending to them clear signs and warnings in order that they may turn back to Him in sincere repentance (tawbah) so that He may forgive them. When a person turns to Allâh and draws closer to Him by an arm’s length, Allâh draws closer to him by two arm’s length. For indeed, Allâh the Exalted loves those of His servants that turn to Him in repentance and is pleased with that, whilst He, the Majestic, the Most High, remains absolutely self-sufficient from His servants; the obedience of the obedient does not benefit Him, and the sins of the sinful do not harm Him. But He is most kind, ever merciful to His servants, and He grants them the ability to do acts of obedience and to leave acts of disobedience. These crises and calamities are none other than a warning to His servants, in that they should turn back to Allâh in repentance and obedience. He makes this known to them by way of trying and testing them, as Allâh the Most High said:

“And certainly We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruit. But give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere; those who, when afflicted with a calamity, say: Indeed to Allâh we belong, and to Him shall we return. They are those for whom there are blessings and forgiveness from their Lord, and His Mercy. It is they who are the guided-ones.” [Sûrah al-Baqarah 2:155-157]

“Evil has appeared on the land and the sea because of what the hands of men have earned. That Allâh may make them taste a part of that which they have done, in order that they may turn back from disobedience.” [Sûrah Rûm 30:41]

“And We shall test you by way of evil and good, and to Us will you return.” [Sûrah al-Anbiyâ 21:35]

“And We tested them with gûd blessings and evil calamities, in order that they may return [to obedience].” [Sûrah al-A’râf 7:168]

And there are many other verses which carry a similar meaning.

So the obligation upon the leaders of the Muslims – the scholars, rulers, and other than them – is to concern themselves with the various afflictions and calamities that occur, to remind and admonish the people, explaining to them what they have fallen into. Also, those in authority, from the scholars and the rulers, should set an example of righteous conduct and should discuss the reasons asto why Allâh is angered and exacts retribution; and they should seek to cure this by repenting to Allâh, seeking His forgiveness and correcting their affairs. The rest of the ummah will then follow them in this, since the guidance of the scholars and the wisdom of the rulers – and both being correct and upright – has a tremendous effect with regards to the fulfillment of responsibilities. The Prophet sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said:

“ “Each of you is a guardian, and is responsible for those whom he is in charge of” [7]

However, when the Muslims become accustomed to sinning and become content with it and if those who wield authority and power do not try to prevent them, then Allâh’s anger will quickly descend upon the ummah. When His anger occurs and His punishment takes place, it covers both the sinful and the obedient; and Allâh’s protection is sought from this. About this Allâh the Most High said:

“And beware of the trial and discord that does not affect in particular only those amongst you who are wrong-doers.” [Sûrah al-Anfâl 8:251]

Likewise, the Prophet sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam said: “When the people see an evil and they do not try to change it, then Allâh will cover them all with humiliation from Himself “ ^[8]

Allâh the Exalted said:

The scholars will be thoroughly questioned in front of Allâh with regards to giving knowledge and guidance to the people and explaining to them what is correct and what is wrong, and also clarifying the beneficial from the harmful.

We ask Allâh that He grants and favors all the Muslims with the ability to be obedient to their Lord, to cling to the guidance of their Prophet Muhammad sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam, that He grants their leaders the ability to fulfil their duties, that He teaches their scholars the ways of guidance so that they may all traverse its path and direct the ummah to it, that He guides those Muslims who are misguided and corrects their affairs. Indeed, He is the Guardian of this, the One having power to do this.

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Footnotes
6 From Majmû’ Fatâwâ wa Maqâlât Mutanawwi’ah (4/134-139).

7 Reported by al-Bukhârî (13/100 – with al-Fath) and Muslim (no.1829) from ‘Umar ibn al-Khattâb radiallâhu ‘anhu

8 Sahîh: Reported by Abû Dâwûd (no.4338), from Abû Bakr as-Siddîq radiallâhu ‘anhu. It was declared to be authentic (sahîh) by the leading hadîth specialist (muhaddith) of this age, Shaykh Muhammad NâsirudDîn al-Albânî, in Sahîhul-Jâmi’ (no.1974)

9 Shaykh Muhammad Amîn ash-Shanqîtî, rahimahullâh, said in his valuable Qur’ânic commentary, Adw⠑ul-Bayân (3/72-73): “Allâh the Exalted explains in this noble verse that He never changes the blessings and well-being of a people unless they change themselves by turning away from the obedience of Allâh, the Mighty and Majestic. So the meaning [of the verse] is, that the blessings which a nation receives will not be removed from them unless they change what they are upon with regards to obedience and righteous action. This meaning has been explained at another place; such as His saying:

“Indeed, Allâh will not change the condition of a people until they change themselves.” [Sûrah ar-Ra’d 13:11] [9 ](please read this footnote)

“This is because Allâh will never change the favour which He has bestowed upon a people until they change themselves.” [Sûrah al-Anfâl 8:53]

And His saying:

“And whatever of misfortunes befalls you, it is because of what your own hands have earned. Yet Allâh pardons much.” [Sûrah ash-Shûrâ 42:30]

So in the noble verse: “until they change themselves,” there is an affirmation that if only some people were to change themselves; as occurred on the day [of the battle] of Uhud, when the archers changed themselves – then because of it, all of them could be struck with a calamity. The Prophet sallallâhu ‘alayhi wa sallam was once asked: Would we be destroyed, even though there are righteous people amongst us? He replied: ‘Yes, when evil becomes widespread.’ And Allâh the Exalted knows best.”

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