Muslim Downfall -- Learn From Our History

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم 

In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful, Most Compassionate 

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam

Learn from our history. 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 the lands for the Muslims. When the Muslims prospered, they became corrupt and greedy and that led to the downfall.

Allah Subhanahu wa Ta'ala says,

وَتُحِبُّونَ ٱلْمَالَ حُبًّا جَمًّا ‎﴿٢٠﴾‏

And you love wealth with immense love.

(Quran, Al Fajr 89:20)

Love of wealth is a natural instincts of humans. That has not been condemned. What is denounced is the excessive love of wealth.

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 two 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! 

Narrated Abu Sa`id Al-Khudri:

Once the Prophet (ﷺ) 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 Messenger (ﷺ)! Can the good bring forth evil?" The Prophet (ﷺ) remained silent for a while. It was said to that person, "What is wrong with you? You are talking to the Prophet (p.b.u.h) while he is not talking to you." Then we noticed that he was being inspired divinely. Then the Prophet (ﷺ) wiped off his sweat and said, "Where is the questioner?" It seemed as if the Prophet (ﷺ) 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."

حَدَّثَنَا مُعَاذُ بْنُ فَضَالَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا هِشَامٌ، عَنْ يَحْيَى، عَنْ هِلاَلِ بْنِ أَبِي مَيْمُونَةَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَطَاءُ بْنُ يَسَارٍ، أَنَّهُ سَمِعَ أَبَا سَعِيدٍ الْخُدْرِيَّ ـ رضى الله عنه ـ يُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم جَلَسَ ذَاتَ يَوْمٍ عَلَى الْمِنْبَرِ وَجَلَسْنَا حَوْلَهُ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنِّي مِمَّا أَخَافُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِي مَا يُفْتَحُ عَلَيْكُمْ مِنْ زَهْرَةِ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتِهَا ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ رَجُلٌ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ أَوَيَأْتِي الْخَيْرُ بِالشَّرِّ فَسَكَتَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقِيلَ لَهُ مَا شَأْنُكَ تُكَلِّمُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَلاَ يُكَلِّمُكَ فَرَأَيْنَا أَنَّهُ يُنْزَلُ عَلَيْهِ‏.‏ قَالَ ـ فَمَسَحَ عَنْهُ الرُّحَضَاءَ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ أَيْنَ السَّائِلُ ‏"‏ وَكَأَنَّهُ حَمِدَهُ‏.‏ فَقَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّهُ لاَ يَأْتِي الْخَيْرُ بِالشَّرِّ، وَإِنَّ مِمَّا يُنْبِتُ الرَّبِيعُ يَقْتُلُ أَوْ يُلِمُّ إِلاَّ آكِلَةَ الْخَضْرَاءِ، أَكَلَتْ حَتَّى إِذَا امْتَدَّتْ خَاصِرَتَاهَا اسْتَقْبَلَتْ عَيْنَ الشَّمْسِ، فَثَلَطَتْ وَبَالَتْ وَرَتَعَتْ، وَإِنَّ هَذَا الْمَالَ خَضِرَةٌ حُلْوَةٌ، فَنِعْمَ صَاحِبُ الْمُسْلِمِ مَا أَعْطَى مِنْهُ الْمِسْكِينَ وَالْيَتِيمَ وَابْنَ السَّبِيلِ ـ أَوْ كَمَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ وَإِنَّهُ مَنْ يَأْخُذُهُ بِغَيْرِ حَقِّهِ كَالَّذِي يَأْكُلُ وَلاَ يَشْبَعُ، وَيَكُونُ شَهِيدًا عَلَيْهِ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ ‏"‏‏.‏

(Bukhari)

https://youtu.be/659f5wuTgzY

https://youtu.be/aQjDeRcBbzo

https://youtu.be/4dEvEFBpVjg

Allahumma salli 'ala Muhammad wa 'ala aalihi wa sahbihi wasallam

And Allah knows best and is Most Wise, and He alone grants success, and to Him is the final return of all. Wassalaam