Month: February 2022

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

It is incumbent upon everyone to realize that death is hovering above us. At any moment, day or night, death can come. Ali (May Allah be pleased with him) expressed in lucid terms the reality of our life:

“The Hereafter is traveling towards us and this life is traveling away from us, so be from the children of the Hereafter and not from the children of this world. For today is action without reckoning (judgment), and tomorrow is reckoning without action.”

From this saying, we can learn how imperative it is for us to improve ourselves, to renew our repentance, and to know that we are dealing with Allah, Who is Most Generous and All-Powerful.

Death does not ask a person for permission prior to arrival, nor does it give one an early warning about its being on its way:

…No person knows what he will earn tomorrow, and no person knows in what land he will die. Verily, Allâh is All­Knower, All­Aware (of things). (Koran 31.34)

Say: “The appointment to you is for a Day, which you cannot put back for an hour (or a moment) nor put forward.” (Koran 34.30)

Ash-Shaykh Ali at-Tantawi related a story that equally illustrates the unexpectedness of death. A bus full of people was moving when the driver suddenly pressed on the brakes. The passengers asked him what was wrong. He said, “I am stopping for this old man who is waving so that he can get on the bus.” They all said in wonder, “We do not see anyone.” He said, “Look at him over there.” They repeated that there was no one to be seen. He said confidently, “Now look, he is coming to get in.” Now the situation was beyond wonder, and they exclaimed, “By Allah, we don’t see anyone.” Then, in an instant, the driver died in his seat.

Thus death came to him in the most bizarre and unexpected of scenarios:

…When their term is reached, neither can they delay it nor can they advance it an hour [or a moment]. (Koran 7.34)

Man is cowardly when he faces danger; his heart begins to thump when the possibility of death arises, and then, without prior warning, he dies at a time when he feels most safe.

(They are) the ones who said about their killed brethren while they themselves sat (at home): “If only they had listened to us, they would not have been killed.” Say: “Avert death from your ownselves, if you speak the truth.” (Koran 3.168)

The strange thing is that we do not think about meeting Allah or about the transient nature of this life.

La Tahzan (Don’t be sad)
By Aaidh ibn Abdullah al-Qarni
Translated by: Faisal ibn Muhammad Shafeeq, 2nd ed. Riyadh 2005
Publisher: International Islamic Publishing House
ISBN Hard Cover: 9960-850-36-6
ISBN Soft Cover: 9960-850-44-7
Page 426

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

They said: “Are you indeed Yûsuf?” He said: “I am Yûsuf (Joseph), and this is my brother. Allâh has indeed been gracious to us… (Koran 12.90)

I want you to pay attention to the following segment of the ayah. If you were to forget everything that we said in the story of Yusuf (peace be upon him) make sure you don’t forget this. Because this is the essence of the story of Yusuf. Keep in mind that this story was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) when? In Makkah. When in Makkah? In the year of sorrow, when Abu Talib passed away, Khadija (may Allah have Mercy on her) passed away and the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) found no one to support him with strength, his uncle Abu Talib. No one to support him financially, his wife Khadija. That was the year of sorrow. It was not only sorrow on the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) because he lost his uncle and he lost his beloved wife but because the dawah (of Islam) was already limited and now additional barriers were being erected in the face of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS). Before that the Messenger of Allah had strength since his uncle was providing him with an umbrella and his wife was comforting him at home. Now the Messenger of Allah has lost these two supporters and the heart of the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) was filled with sadness and sorrow. Those moments that the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) was going through are unbearable. In those moments, the Messenger of Allah is receiving sura Yusuf. In this particular situation sura Yusuf is being revealed because that is what Koran is for

…Thus (it is sent down in parts), that We may strengthen your heart thereby… (Koran 25.32)

So Koran was being revealed on the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) in the appropriate times, for the appropriate situations and to serve the appropriate purpose. So in that specific period of this year of sorrow, Allah reveals to the Messenger of Allah the story of Yusuf. It is the story of someone who went through difficulty, trials, misery, sorrow and sadness but then in the end

…Allâh has indeed been gracious to us… (Koran 12.90)

Why? Allah says in this segment of the ayah the essence of sura Yusuf:

…Verily, he who fears Allâh with obedience to Him (Taqwa – by abstaining from sins and evil deeds, and by performing righteous good deeds), and is patient, then surely, Allâh makes not the reward of the Muhsinûn (good-doers – see V.2:112) to be lost.” (Koran 12.90)

If you have Taqwa and patience eventually you will win even after awhile. If you have taqwa and patience no matter what in the end you will be victorious. And you should have no doubt in that. Saidna Yusuf was victorious in the end, in dounia (this life) and in Ehkira (the Hereafter). It is not only in dounia. In dounia and in Ehkira. But it happened after awhile, it took awhile, it wasn’t swiftly on the same day, it took awhile. Therefore it needs patience. If you do not have patience you will not be able to survive the long road. So Allah is telling the Messenger of Allah (SAWS) that there is a lot struggling, there is a lot of striving but if you have patience and you have Taqwa in Allah, the Exalted, Allah will establish you on the land. There is no victory without patience.

SAWS: May Allah exalt his mention and protect him from imperfection

Source:
Audio lecture “Lives of the Prophets”.
The full audio series may be downloaded here.