In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate
Assalaamu alaykum
Dear Friends
I pray that you are well.
It is a recurring theme in the Muslim history that when the Muslims have sincerity towards the religion of Allah, they achieved victory. Allah opened up lands for the Muslims. When the Muslims prospered, they became corrupt and greedy and that led to the downfall.
In times when the Muslims were in hardship--when they were living in poverty and being attacked, the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, predicted to the Companions that in the future Allah will sprout forth blessings of the land, that they would gain great wealth, and this was what he feared for them the most--WEALTH. The companions used to eat the 2 black things -- dates and water. In rare occasions when they have bread, salt and oil, this was a great feast to them and they thank Allah profusely. Look at us now -- meat, fish, poultry, 3+ course and elaborate meals everyday for some people. And what have we become as a society?
Narrated Abu Sa'id Al−Khudri, Allah be pleased with him:
Once the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, sat on a pulpit and we sat around him. Then he said, "The things I am afraid of most for your sake (concerning what will befall you after me) is the pleasures and splendors of the world and its beauties which will be disclosed to you." Somebody said, "O Allah's Apostle! Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet remained silent for a while. It was said to that person, "What is wrong with you? You are talking to the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he is not talking to you." Then we noticed that he was being inspired divinely. Then the Prophet wiped off his sweat and said, "Where is the questioner?" It seemed as if the Prophet liked his question. Then he said, "Good never brings forth evil. Indeed it is like what grows on the banks of a water−stream which either kill or make the animals sick, except if an animal eats its fill the Khadira (a kind of vegetable) and then faces the sun, and then defecates and urinates and grazes again. No doubt this wealth is sweet and green. Blessed is the wealth of a Muslim from which he gives to the poor, the orphans and to needy travelers. (Or the Prophet said something similar to it) No doubt, whoever takes it illegally will be like the one who eats but is never satisfied, and his wealth will be a witness against him on the Day of Resurrection."[Bukhari]
The Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:
The best of my ummah is my generation, then those who follow them, then those who follow them... Then, after them, people will come who will testify only for their own interests, be treacherous, violate their vows, and they will become fat.[Bukhari]
How did the companions become the best of nation? It happened in adversity. The companions went through many trying times. Adversity makes people strong. Fearing Allah and living a life of piety and uprightness result in Allah open great bounty to the land.
The concerns of the Prophet, Allah bless him and grant him peace, came true in Andalus [Muslim Spain]. The great Muslim empire began here. Muslims came to Andalus, prospered and became lazy and fat. So they lose everything. When there is no sense of self sacrifice and well wishing for others everybody fight to take their piece of the pie and self destruct. One of the sunnahs of Allah is Muslims win against all odds, but then when the odds are with them, they lose. Why? Because they were greedy. The sunnah of history is when people become greedy everything fell apart. This is how Muslim empire and all great empires rise and fall.
Indeed, the dunya is the root of all evils. All the matters of this world – wealth, spouses, children, commerce and worldly ambitions – is keeping many people busy in this life, and make them heedless of the Creator and forget about the Hereafter, which is a perfect and infinitely superior residence for them. Some would even sell their dignity and integrity just so they can have a small piece of this dunya. Allah has spoken about these kind of people in the Qur'an.
أُو۟لَـٰٓئِكَ ٱلَّذِينَ ٱشْتَرَوُا۟ ٱلْحَيَوٰةَ ٱلدُّنْيَا بِٱلْـَٔاخِرَةِ ۖ فَلَا يُخَفَّفُ عَنْهُمُ ٱلْعَذَابُ وَلَا هُمْ يُنصَرُونَ ﴿٨٦[Qur'an Al-Baqarah 2:86]
Those are the ones who have bought the life of this world [in exchange] for the Hereafter, so the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be aided. (86)
If we learn our history correctly and learn from the lessons of our history, we won't have the energy to sit back and just go with the flow of our times. Our children are drifting away from Islam because we are too busy trying to fatten them and ourselves. We forget the orphans, the widows, the single mothers and the poor, who are among the most vulnerable people in society, because we are too busy fattening ourselves to notice them. If we don't stop this momentum, we will lose our next generation to this dunya and history will repeat.
Don't forget the purpose of our creation. This world is only a means of attaining the good pleasure of our Creator. Don't expect great things from this flawed life.
وَمَآ أُوتِيتُم مِّن شَىْءٍ فَمَتَـٰعُ ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتُهَا ۚ وَمَا عِندَ ٱللَّـهِ خَيْرٌ وَأَبْقَىٰٓ ۚ أَفَلَا تَعْقِلُونَ ﴿٦٠[Qur'an al-Qasas 28:60]
And whatever thing you [people] have been given - it is [only for] the enjoyment of worldly life and its adornment. And what is with Allah is better and more lasting; so will you not use reason? (60)
May Allah give us the strength and aid us to fight our internal and external enemies. Ameen.
Please don't forget us in your night prayers. Jazakallahu khairan.
And Allah knows best.
Wassalaam
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