Books of Seerah recount that upon his return from his ‘night journey and ascension to the highest heavens (Al-Israa’ wa-l-Mi’raj), the Prophet ﷺ informed the disbelievers of Qur’aish about the experience he had had that night. They did not believe him and rushed to Abu Bakr, hoping that once they told him of this ‘extraordinary’ story, he would desist from following and supporting the Prophet. Abu Bakr simply said to them, “If he has told you this, then he has spoken the truth.”
Also, after the revelation of the verses (which mean) ,
| “The Romans have been defeated in the nearer land (Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Palestine), and they, after their defeat, will soon be victorious, in a few years. “[1] |
The disbelievers rushed to Abu Bakr and said, “Your friend [meaning the Prophet ﷺ claims that the Romans will be defeated.” Abu Bakr said, “He has spoken the truth.” He even made a bet with them that this prophecy would be fulfilled. This was before betting was prohibited by Islam.
This is the certainty with which the Muslim Jama’ah must be equipped. It is certainty concerning what the Almighty has told us and what He has promised,
| “Allah’s promise is the truth, and whose words can be truer than those of Allah? (Of course, none). “[2] |
| “Allah [has made] His promise, and Allah fails not His promise. “[3] |
It is the certainty that whatever the Prophet ﷺ said is the absolute truth. Indeed, this is the certainty that we lack. Certainty that Allah ﷺ defends those who have faith. Certainty that this religion will inevitably prevail. Certainty that there is ease after hardship. Certainty that trials and tribulations precede victory. Certainty that victory will be granted to those truthful and patient servants who strive hard for Allah’s sake, no matter how small their number may be. Certainty that no-one gives or causes himself or anyone else harm, good, life, death or resurrection except Allah ﷺ.
Indeed, there is a big difference between a movement in possession of such absolute certainty and one without it. It is as wide as the gulf between life and death. A movement without certainty is like a body without life. The movement imbued with certainty is a steady, confident movement which stands the test of trials and tribulations.
The faithful and the hypocrites stood shoulder to shoulder in the Battle of the Trench (Al-Khandaq) and together they heard the prophecy of the Prophet ﷺ that the Muslims would conquer the Persian and Roman empires. The hypocrites did not believe this promise, while the faithful were certain that it was true and took it for granted that it would be fulfilled. The hypocrites abandoned the faithful, saying (which means),
| “Allah and His Messenger promised us nothing but delusions!”[4] |
while the faithful stood firm, certain of the promise of Allah and His Messenger, saying (which means),
| “This is what Allah and His Messenger promised us, and Allah and His Messenger spoke the truth. “[5] |
If the Muslim Jama’ah lacks a high degree of certainty, its actions and words will be like those of the hypocrites.
It saddens us deeply to hear the words of those with weak faith and those with diseased hearts spread in the field of the Islamic work and being transmitted by some of those who work for Islam today. This is happening as a result of the lack of certainty that the promise of Allah and His Messenger will be fulfilled. They do not believe that the weak few will prevail, repeating the same words of the hypocrites (which means),
| “Grant me leave (to be exempted from Jihad) and put me not into trial. “[6] |
| “March not forth in the heat. “[7] |
| “Truly, our homes lie open [to the enemy]. “[8] |
| “Our possessions and our families occupied us, so ask forgiveness for us.”[9] |
| “There is no stand [possible] for you [against the enemy attack!], therefore go back. “[10] |
Despite all these discouraging words, the faithful, however, stand firm in faith, certain of Allah’s victory, repeating the believers’ words (which mean),
| “How many a small party has triumphed over a large party by Allah’s command! And Allah is with the steadfast. “[11] |
They also repeat the words of Moses (AS) (which mean),
| “By no means! My Lord is with me! He will direct me aright.[12] |
They also repeat the Hadeeth of the Prophet ﷺ who said,
| “Allah drew the ends of the world near one another for my sake and I have seen its eastern and western ends. The dominion of my Ummah will reach those ends which have been drawn near for me.”[13] |
Indeed, we pin our hope on this small party of truthful believers who, equipped with certainty of Allah’s promise, will turn a deaf ear to those who try their best in an effort to discourage them and sow weakness and fear in their hearts. We are in need of a high degree of certainty, because the Jahili people are stronger in number and weaponry and more fierce. We must believe that Allah is with us, that He is Mightier and more vengeful, that He is omnipotent, that He assists His truthful servants and carries them to victory, makes His faith prevail and defeats all the sects ranged against it. We cannot work for Islam if we do not believe in this, neither can we practise Jihad without moving forward.
| “And We made from among them leaders, giving guidance under Our Command, when they were patient and used to believe in Our signs. “[14] |
1 Surah Ar-Rum (30), Ayat 2-4.
2 Surah An-Nisa (4), Ayah 122.
3 Surah Ar-Rum (30), Ayah 6.
4 Surah Al-Ahzaab (33), Ayah 12.
5 Surah Al-Ahzaab (33), Ayah 22.
6 Surah At-Taubah (9), Ayah 49.
7 Surah At-Taubah (9), Ayah 81.
8 Surah Al-Ahzaab (33), Ayah 13.
9 Surah Al-Fath (48), Ayah 11.
10 Surah Al-Ahzaab (33), Ayah 13.
11 Surah Al-Baqarah (2), Ayah 249.
12 Surah Ash-Shu’ara’ (26), Ayah 62.
13 Muslim.
14 Surah As-Sajdah (32), Ayah 24.
