Friday 12/27/2020                              mamdouh.salama@comcast.net

The Divine System: Expect Rejection and Face with Patience

الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره، ونعوذ بالله تعالى من شرور أنفسنا، وأشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمداً عبده ورسوله، اللهم صلِّ وسلم وبارك على سيدنا محمد وعلى آله وأصحابه  ومن تبعه إلى يوم الدين.

In my last talk on the role of the stories in the Quran I mentioned that stories in the Quran serve as very important tool for demonstrating Allah’s system and laws on earth.  They also serve as a tool to help Muslims at younger age to develop their cognitive capacity.

In this talk, I will, inshallah, attempt to identify a key divine law that seems to permeate throughout many of the stories in the Quran.   This divine law is: “Resistance of the truth is natural and the road of the believers is full with barriers and hurdles and success of believers is not measured by achieving materialistic victory but by the demonstration of their persistence and patience”.   Realizing this basic law makes it quite understandable and actually comforting that Islamophobia exists, otherwise we may need to question whether we are truly on the right path. Here, I am defining Islamophobia as hatred of and prejudice towards Muslims and Islam.

True believers whose role on earth is to deliver the truth must expect resistance and harm.  However, this harm no matter how extensive it may appear, it is not major as Allah says:

لَن يَضُرُّوڪُمۡ إِلَّآ أَذً۬ى‌ۖ (١١١)

“They will not harm you except a trifling hurt.” (Al-Imran 3:111)

True believers know that no harm will ever reach them unless Allah has decreed it for them.  Abdullah bin Abbas (عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِي) said that the Prophet (PBUH) said:

عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ بْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُمَا قَالَ: “كُنْت خَلْفَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه و سلم يَوْمًا، فَقَالَ: احْفَظْ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْك، احْفَظْ اللَّهَ تَجِدْهُ تُجَاهَك، إذَا سَأَلْت فَاسْأَلْ اللَّهَ، وَإِذَا اسْتَعَنْت فَاسْتَعِنْ بِاَللَّهِ،  وَاعْلَمْ أَنَّ الْأُمَّةَ لَوْ اجْتَمَعَتْ عَلَى أَنْ يَنْفَعُوك بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَنْفَعُوك إلَّا بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ لَك، وَإِنْ اجْتَمَعُوا عَلَى أَنْ يَضُرُّوك بِشَيْءٍ لَمْ يَضُرُّوك إلَّا بِشَيْءٍ قَدْ كَتَبَهُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْك؛ رُفِعَتْ الْأَقْلَامُ، وَجَفَّتْ الصُّحُفُ” . رَوَاهُ التِّرْمِذِيُّ

“Be mindful of Allah and Allah will protect you. Be mindful of Allah and you will find Him in front of you. If you ask, then ask Allah [alone]; and if you seek help, then seek help from Allah [alone]. And know that if the nation were to gather together to benefit you with anything, they would not benefit you except with what Allah had already prescribed for you. And if they were to gather together to harm you with anything, they would not harm you except with what Allah had already prescribed against you. The pens have been lifted and the pages have dried.”  (whatever we face is already predestined)

In studying the life of all the Prophets in the Quran, we realize the common theme that all of them had been rejected and all of them faced major suffering and resistance.  In fact, all of them were not able to convince many of their communities. This in spite the fact that they were given divine message and were supported by Allah.   When you face ridicule of people who will look down at you and say: are you the one who will guide us to the truth, do not be surprised because the same was said to the Prophet (PBUH) as Allah reported to us:

وَلَمَّا جَآءَهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ قَالُواْ هَـٰذَا سِحۡرٌ۬ وَإِنَّا بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ (٣٠) وَقَالُواْ لَوۡلَا نُزِّلَ هَـٰذَا ٱلۡقُرۡءَانُ عَلَىٰ رَجُلٍ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡقَرۡيَتَيۡنِ عَظِيمٍ (٣١)

“But when the truth came to them, they said, “This is mere magic, and we totally disbelieve in it.” (30) They say, “Why was this Qur’an not revealed on a great man of the two towns?” (Al-Zukhruf 43:30-31) (They are basically saying, couldn’t God found someone better than you to send his message).

We read the story of Prophet Noah who spent 950 years preaching the message of Allah to his people and remained patient against their continuous ridicule and insults. 

وَيَصۡنَعُ ٱلۡفُلۡكَ وَڪُلَّمَا مَرَّ عَلَيۡهِ مَلَأٌ۬ مِّن قَوۡمِهِۦ سَخِرُواْ مِنۡهُ‌ۚ (٣٨)

“And as he was constructing the ship; whenever the chiefs of his people passed by him, they mocked at him.” (Hud 11:38)

Ridicule and insults are common response against the believers, Allah says: 

إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ فَرِيقٌ۬ مِّنۡ عِبَادِى يَقُولُونَ رَبَّنَآ ءَامَنَّا فَٱغۡفِرۡ لَنَا وَٱرۡحَمۡنَا وَأَنتَ خَيۡرُ ٱلرَّٲحِمِينَ (١٠٩) فَٱتَّخَذۡتُمُوهُمۡ سِخۡرِيًّا حَتَّىٰٓ أَنسَوۡكُمۡ ذِكۡرِى وَكُنتُم مِّنۡہُمۡ تَضۡحَكُونَ (١١٠)

“There was indeed a group of My servants who used to say, ‘Our Lord, we believe, so forgive us and have mercy upon us, and You are the Best of all the merciful.’ (109) But you took them for a laughing-stock until they caused you to forget My remembrance, and you used to laugh at them.” (Al-Munenoun 23:109-110)

When we study what happened to the Prophet (PBUH) and his early companions, we realize the amount of suffering and insults they have faced.   So, the human history as reported in the Quran is full with the accounts of insults against the people of Allah because the reality is that most people will remain disbelievers as Allah says:

وَمَآ أَڪۡثَرُ ٱلنَّاسِ وَلَوۡ حَرَصۡتَ بِمُؤۡمِنِينَ (١٠٣)

“Most of the people are not going to believe, no matter how much you try”. (Yusuf 12:103)

None of the ridicule and insults of Muslims and even Islam that sometimes we witness these days should be surprising because Allah gave us enough lessons from history of the ridicule, insults and the rejections that Prophets and their followers faced.   Allah says:

وَكَذَٲلِكَ جَعَلۡنَا لِكُلِّ نَبِىٍّ عَدُوًّ۬ا شَيَـٰطِينَ ٱلۡإِنسِ وَٱلۡجِنِّ يُوحِى بَعۡضُهُمۡ إِلَىٰ بَعۡضٍ۬ زُخۡرُفَ ٱلۡقَوۡلِ غُرُورً۬ا‌ۚ وَلَوۡ شَآءَ رَبُّكَ مَا فَعَلُوهُ‌ۖ فَذَرۡهُمۡ وَمَا يَفۡتَرُونَ (١١٢)

“That is the way, for every prophet, We have set up enemies, devils of mankind and jinn who seduce one another with alluring rhetoric in order to deceive.  Had Allah willed, they would have not done it. So, leave them alone with their false claims;” (Al-Ana’am 6:112)

It will be naïve for us after we learn about all these historical experiences to be surprised or even complain about what we call Islamophobia. If we don’t suffer as a result of being steadfast on Islam, we should question ourselves regarding the extent of the compromises that are making to Allah’s religion. 

The rule of Allah is that Muslims who promote the truth and wanted to remain on the path of Allah will have to face difficulties and this is not because the people who inflict harm on them are rejecting the truth of Islam, they actually are not.  But the important point is that we should be convinced that Islam is the truth because Allah assured us that we are on clear truth and all we need is to put our full trust on Him as He said:

فَتَوَكَّلۡ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ إِنَّكَ عَلَى ٱلۡحَقِّ ٱلۡمُبِينِ (٧٩)

“So put trust in Allah. Surely you are on the clear/plain truth” (Al-Naml 27:97)

Exposing people to the truth and to what is logical and beneficial revelation and they accepting it are completely different. This paradox is a result of the freedom of choice that Allah granted human beings. This why you find a prophet whom Allah sent to his tripe or nation spent years preaching to them and only few accepts and in some case no one accepts. The Prophet (PBUH) reported on something he saw during his trip of ascension (Al-Miarag). He (PBUH) said:  

حدثنا ابن عباس عن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم قال عرضت علي الأمم فرأيت النبي ومعه الرهيط والنبي ومعه الرجل والرجلان والنبي ليس معه أحد

“I saw a prophet coming with few followers and saw a prophet with him only one follower and saw a prophet and no one with him.”

So, you should never be disappointed or discouraged when you invite people to Islam and you face utter rejection.   Allah provided several reasons for such illogical rejection and these include:

First: Sheer injustice and arrogance, Allah says:

وَجَحَدُواْ بِہَا وَٱسۡتَيۡقَنَتۡهَآ أَنفُسُہُمۡ ظُلۡمً۬ا وَعُلُوًّ۬ا‌ۚ (١٤)

“And they denied them out of sheer injustice and arrogance, though their hearts believed them (to be true).” (Al-Naml 27:14)

Second: Fear of loss of their livelihood.  This may actually be the case for many Muslim rulers who know that Islam is the truth but they fight against it in fear of loss of their power, Allah says:

وَقَالُوٓاْ إِن نَّتَّبِعِ ٱلۡهُدَىٰ مَعَكَ نُتَخَطَّفۡ مِنۡ أَرۡضِنَآ‌ۚ (٥٧)

“And they say: If we were to follow the Guidance with you, we will be driven out of our land.” (Al-Qasa 28:57)

Third: Jealousy even though they know that you are following the truth, they will not only resist you but they will also try to force you to deviate from the truth to be like them. Knowing that, your reaction should not be anger and hate but rather forgiveness. Patience and tolerance of their negative behaviors. As Allah says:

وَدَّ ڪَثِيرٌ۬ مِّنۡ أَهۡلِ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبِ لَوۡ يَرُدُّونَكُم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ إِيمَـٰنِكُمۡ كُفَّارًا حَسَدً۬ا مِّنۡ عِندِ أَنفُسِهِم مِّنۢ بَعۡدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمُ ٱلۡحَقُّ‌ۖ فَٱعۡفُواْ وَٱصۡفَحُواْ حَتَّىٰ يَأۡتِىَ ٱللَّهُ بِأَمۡرِهِۦۤ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ عَلَىٰ ڪُلِّ شَىۡءٍ۬ قَدِيرٌ۬ (١٠٩)

“Many among the people of the Book desire to make you disbelievers after your belief, all out of envy on their part, even after the truth has become clear to them. So, forgive and overlook till Allah brings out His command. Certainly, Allah is powerful over everything.” (Al-Baqara 2:109)

Fourth: People have hard time changing form the path of their forefathers even if the path is wrong and this was the excuse of many in the past. 

وَكَذَٲلِكَ مَآ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مِن قَبۡلِكَ فِى قَرۡيَةٍ۬ مِّن نَّذِيرٍ إِلَّا قَالَ مُتۡرَفُوهَآ إِنَّا وَجَدۡنَآ ءَابَآءَنَا عَلَىٰٓ أُمَّةٍ۬ وَإِنَّا عَلَىٰٓ ءَاثَـٰرِهِم مُّقۡتَدُونَ (٢٣) ۞ قَـٰلَ أَوَلَوۡ جِئۡتُكُم بِأَهۡدَىٰ مِمَّا وَجَدتُّمۡ عَلَيۡهِ ءَابَآءَكُمۡ‌ۖ قَالُوٓاْ إِنَّا بِمَآ أُرۡسِلۡتُم بِهِۦ كَـٰفِرُونَ (٢٤)

“That is the way, We did not send a warner to a town before you, but its affluent people said, “We have found our fathers on a certain way, and we are following their footprints.” (23) He said, “Even if I bring to you something better in guidance than that on which you have found your fathers?” They said, “We totally disbelieve in what you are sent with.” (Al-Zukhruf 43:23-24)

Allah informs us from the stories of the Prophets that no matter how much threats He inflicts on the disbelievers to stop hurting the believers, most of them will not heed Allah’s warnings and will renege on their commitment to believe if the harm is removed from them. This should temper our enthusiasm that the Coronavirus will change the people and bring them close to Allah.  Allah reminds us of this reality in the story of the People of Egypt: 

وَلَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا مُوسَىٰ بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ إِلَىٰ فِرۡعَوۡنَ وَمَلَإِيْهِۦ فَقَالَ إِنِّى رَسُولُ رَبِّ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (٤٦) فَلَمَّا جَآءَهُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَآ إِذَا هُم مِّنۡہَا يَضۡحَكُونَ (٤٧) وَمَا نُرِيهِم مِّنۡ ءَايَةٍ إِلَّا هِىَ أَڪۡبَرُ مِنۡ أُخۡتِهَا‌ۖ وَأَخَذۡنَـٰهُم بِٱلۡعَذَابِ لَعَلَّهُمۡ يَرۡجِعُونَ (٤٨) وَقَالُواْ يَـٰٓأَيُّهَ ٱلسَّاحِرُ ٱدۡعُ لَنَا رَبَّكَ بِمَا عَهِدَ عِندَكَ إِنَّنَا لَمُهۡتَدُونَ (٤٩) فَلَمَّا كَشَفۡنَا عَنۡہُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابَ إِذَا هُمۡ يَنكُثُونَ (٥٠)

“We sent Musa with Our signs to Fir’aun (Pharaoh) and his chiefs; so he said, “I am the messenger of the Lord of the worlds.” (46) So, when he came to them with Our signs, they at once started laughing at them. (47) And We did not show them a sign, but it used to be greater than the one that preceded it. And We seized them with punishment, so that they may return. (48) And they said, “O magician, pray for us to your Lord by the covenant He has made with you; we will certainly come to guidance.” (49) Then, once We removed the punishment from them, in no time they broke their promise.” (Al-Zukhruf 43:46-50)

These accounts should make it clear that the rule of Allah in earth is that the believers are not engaged in a dash game where the runner do not expect any barrier in the track but they are engaged in a hurdling completion where the runners expect many barriers along the track.   Muslims should not expect a clear and easy road in front of them but they should be aware that they will be facing many hurdle and obstacles all the way.

When you study the Seerah, you note that the Prophet (PBUH) faced a lot of resistance and was attacked both physically and verbally.  These could have caused anyone who faces such barriers to at least compromise a little.  The thought of compromise may have actually came in the mind of the prophet (PBUH) and thus Allah gave the staunch warning to eliminate any hope of the disbelievers that the Prophet (PBUH) may compromise with them.  Allah says in Surat Al-Isra: 

وَإِن ڪَادُواْ لَيَفۡتِنُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَوۡحَيۡنَآ إِلَيۡكَ لِتَفۡتَرِىَ عَلَيۡنَا غَيۡرَهُ ۥ‌ۖ وَإِذً۬ا لَّٱتَّخَذُوكَ خَلِيلاً۬ (٧٣) وَلَوۡلَآ أَن ثَبَّتۡنَـٰكَ لَقَدۡ كِدتَّ تَرۡڪَنُ إِلَيۡهِمۡ شَيۡـًٔ۬ا قَلِيلاً (٧٤) إِذً۬ا لَّأَذَقۡنَـٰكَ ضِعۡفَ ٱلۡحَيَوٰةِ وَضِعۡفَ ٱلۡمَمَاتِ ثُمَّ لَا تَجِدُ لَكَ عَلَيۡنَا نَصِيرً۬ا (٧٥)

“And they indeed were about to lure you away from what We have revealed (the Qur’ân) unto you, to forge something else against Us, and then they would certainly have taken you as a close friend! (73) And had We not made you firm you would have likely inclined to them a little. (74) In that case, We would have made you taste a double portion (of punishment) in this life and a double portion (of punishment) after death. And then you would not have found anyone to help you against Us”. (Al-Isra 17:73-75).

These verses declaring this severe warning against compromising in the religion should not be interpreted as only relevant to the Prophet (PBUH) but it is for anyone who is committed to deliver the message of Islam.   The religion must be presented in its pure nature without any modification, even minor ones.

Why Muslims compromise in their religion?  Mainly for two reasons:

1. One reason is to avoid the discrimination and harm imposed by others
2. The second reason is trying to make Islam more acceptable to others. We probably see this is being done by some Islamic organizations to avoid being accused of being anti certain groups whose practices are clearly forbidden by Allah.

Muslims who try to compromise to make Islam palatable to others fail to understand the system that Allah clearly identified for us in the Quran thru the stories of many prophets. 

First, the role of those whom Allah selected to deliver His message is not to convert people to believe in Allah.  Their sole role is only to deliver the message and be steadfast in delivering the true message even if no one accepts it.   Getting discouraged and quitting by assuming that those people are hopeless case is a crime in the sight of Allah that deserves punishment.  The punishment of Prophet Yunus  because he abandoned his role as messenger when he faced complete rejection from his people is clear demonstration of this divine law.

وَإِنَّ يُونُسَ لَمِنَ ٱلۡمُرۡسَلِينَ (١٣٩) إِذۡ أَبَقَ إِلَى ٱلۡفُلۡكِ ٱلۡمَشۡحُونِ (١٤٠) فَسَاهَمَ فَكَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡمُدۡحَضِينَ (١٤١) فَٱلۡتَقَمَهُ ٱلۡحُوتُ وَهُوَ مُلِيمٌ۬ (١٤٢)

“And Indeed, Yunus (Jonah) was one of the Messengers (139) When he ran away to  the loaded ship, (140) And he participated in drawing lots and was among the losers; (141) Then the fish swallowed him while he was blameworthy. ” (Al-Saffat 37:139-142)

Second, achieving victory for the believers against their enemies is not part of the deal that Allah made with the believers. The only deal that Allah made with the believers is that if they made sacrifices and demonstrated clear patience against all temptations and difficulties, He will grant them paradise. If victory is achieved, it is a bonus from Allah but it is not part of the deal.  The nature of this agreement is clear in Surat Al-Saffat:

يَـٰٓأَيُّہَا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ هَلۡ أَدُلُّكُمۡ عَلَىٰ تِجَـٰرَةٍ۬ تُنجِيكُم مِّنۡ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ۬ (١٠) تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِۦ وَتُجَـٰهِدُونَ فِى سَبِيلِ ٱللَّهِ بِأَمۡوَٲلِكُمۡ وَأَنفُسِكُمۡ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ خَيۡرٌ۬ لَّكُمۡ إِن كُنتُمۡ تَعۡلَمُونَ (١١) يَغۡفِرۡ لَكُمۡ ذُنُوبَكُمۡ وَيُدۡخِلۡكُمۡ جَنَّـٰتٍ۬ تَجۡرِى مِن تَحۡتِہَا ٱلۡأَنۡہَـٰرُ وَمَسَـٰكِنَ طَيِّبَةً۬ فِى جَنَّـٰتِ عَدۡنٍ۬‌ۚ ذَٲلِكَ ٱلۡفَوۡزُ ٱلۡعَظِيمُ (١٢)

“O You who believe! Shall I tell you to a trade that saves you from a painful punishment? (10) That you believe in Allah and His Messenger, and that you should strive in the cause of Allah with your wealth and your lives, that will be better for you, if you but know! (11) (If you do so) He will forgive you your sins, and admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow, and pleasant dwellings in Gardens of Eden Paradise; that is indeed the supreme success.” (Al-Saffat 61:10-12)

This is the agreement, there is no victory in it, you want great success in the Hereafter, you need to believe and sacrifice with your wealth and life. This is the deal.  But then Allah added, out of his mercy, a bonus that is not part of the main agreement and thus many righteous generations never witnessed this bonus. The bonus which is not part of the deal is:

وَأُخۡرَىٰ تُحِبُّونَہَا‌ۖ نَصۡرٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ وَفَتۡحٌ۬ قَرِيبٌ۬‌ۗ وَبَشِّرِ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (١٣)

And another thing which you love, help from Allah and a victory, near at hand. And give glad tidings to the believers. (Al-Saffat 61:13)

But for this victory to come, the group must demonstrate their absolute belief in Allah in face of all difficulties and this is manifested by their clear patience and commitment to sacrifice their money and life. The criticality of patience is clearly demonstrated in the story of Talut who devised a test to remove from his army anyone who is not patient and willing to face hardships. This is contrary to the general practice of any leader of an army whose goal would be to preserve his forces not to reduce them by putting severe qualification test on them.  Allah presented to us this account:

This story is very important because it shows that Muslims do not gain victory by their numbers.  Islam is not a political party whose goal is the maximize the number of its members.  Tault wanted to have an elite team whose members have demonstrated extremely high level of patience. 

Islam is an elite system that only wants the best to join in. You can think of what Talut was doing is filtering his army to identify the SEALS among them.  As you know the U.S. Navy SEALs are an elite unit that is more exclusive and harder to be admitted to than the U.S. Marines. The US marines has about 250,000 marines, the seals among them are less than 2500 which is less than 1%.  If the 1.4 billion Muslims who are alive today are filtered to the same level, they will be less than 14 million in the whole world.

To summarize, true victory in this life is proportional to our level of patience in facing the barriers that will be placed in front of us and in our ability to resist the temptations of compromise. True Believers never get discouraged or complain about the barriers they face but they rather express their gratitude to Allah for giving them the strength to face these barriers and hardships.  The reward of this is paradise and may be some form of worldly victory but this is secondary. The ability to face difficulties should be the primary objective. If this is the system of Allah for his believers, why should we be complaining about Islamophobia, shouldn’t this be something natural and expected and may even be cherished instead of despised. 

The stories in the Quran and the Seerah of the Prophet (PBUH) inform us of groups who demonstrated ultimate patience but never witnessed materialistic victory.  The story of the believers who were burnt alive in the trench in Surat Al-Buroog (85) is an example.

How about the early Muslims such as Sumiah (سمية), Yasir (ياسر), Mus’ab (مصعب), Hamza (حمزة) and many others who were killed without seeing the victory of Islam.   They made the ultimate sacrifice in the beginning of the road and did not enjoy the materialistic fruits of what they started but they are enjoying the fruits of the deal they made with Allah which is paradise.  

We should not worry about how far we are from the end of the road; all we should care about is being on the road and this is the road of patience and gratitude that leads to paradise.

We pray to Allah to grant us the wisdom and the ability to always be patient in facing all difficulties so we would not make any compromises in our religion.  

DUA