Safeguarding Faith in Times of Turbulence

Looking at the world around, one would strongly think that we are living the turbulence of the tribulations of the end of times, that the Prophet (pbuh) has described. Like in this Hadith narrated on the authority of Abu Huraira, in which the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence, which would be like a part of the dark night. During (that stormy period) a man would be a believer in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening, or he would be a believer in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning, and would sell his faith for worldly goods.” Knowing whether the time we are living in is the one insinuated in the Hadith or not might not be of a great importance, as long as we grasp the profound meaning of the Hadith, which revolves around the safeguarding of one’s faith. With no doubt, the time we are living in is a time of great tribulations, a time of overspread immorality, loss of trust, and the toppling upside down of virtues and values. The following Hadith describes the scope of such a reality. The Prophet (pbuh) said: “There will come to the people years of treachery, when the liar will be regarded as honest, and the honest man will be regarded as a liar; the traitor will be regarded as faithful, and the faithful will be regarded as a traitor; and the Ruwaibidah will decide matters." It was said: "Who are the Ruwaibidah?" He replied: "Vile and base men who control the affairs of the people."

Thinking about the first Hadith cited above, one would wonder how a person can change his/her state of faith in a short while? Becoming an unbeliever in the evening, when one was believer in the morning? The changing of the state of belief can, in fact, be reflected in a variety of situations, fluctuating from changing from belief to complete disbelief, to changing from full trust and confidence in the faith to doubt and confusion. The latter way of changing should be of a high concern to every sincere believer, because losing trust and falling into the pit of doubt is indeed a short bridge toward disbelief.

In fact, one of the imminent effects of tribulations is to weaken the Iman (faith). And once the latter curves into a declining trend, confusion arises and doubt spreads, causing one to slide gradually toward the edge of losing the faith. The closer one is to this edge, the faster his/her heart changes from trust to distrust, from belief to disbelief.

Therefore, the absence of an adequate preparedness to face tribulations while living in an environment marked by the pervasiveness of the secular creed - the creed which confines the vision of the truth within the realm of science only - opens the door to ideas of agnosticism, skepticism, atheism, etc., to invade one’s mind and change one’s perception and vision of existence, and per consequence, one’s creed.

Like the one believing he/she is a believer, living a safe and peaceful life, when struck by a tribulation, it disrupts his/her peace and inflicts upon him/her hardships. Iman is the only weapon that can help, but it has succumbed for a time already to the decline, and is unable at this moment to assure the firmness of the heart. Suffocation then overtakes this person and despair consumes him/her. He/she then cries out: "My Lord has humiliated me!!!" (89:16)

No one truly can guarantee to him/herself the firmness of the heart when a hard tribulation hits. For this reason, the sincere believer must work on acquiring the appropriate tools to have Allah’s (swt) help be there to save him/her from the disgrace of disbelief. Take the example of the mother of Musa (pbuh). Losing her precious baby was a very hard trial, and had it not been for Allah's (swt) help to put firmness in her heart, she would not have been able to safeguard her belief. “But there came to be a void in the heart of the mother of Moses. She was going almost to disclose his (case), had We not strengthened her heart (with faith), so that she might remain a (firm) believer” (28:10).

We understand from the example of the mother of Musa (pbuh), that the appropriate tool is not to work on developing a power in the heart able to stand against the strike of calamities. That is not possible, because humans are by nature weak, “... and humankind was created weak” (4:28). The adequate way is to work on maintaining a close connection with Allah (swt), for when a calamity befalls, Allah will be there to help you. Reflect on the following Ayah: “Who listens to the (soul) distressed when it calls on Him, and Who relieves its suffering, and makes you (mankind) inheritors of the earth? (Can there be another) god besides Allah? Little it is that you heed!” (27:62)

Taking into consideration the time in which we live, where should one’s focus then be directed, in order to find the guidance to the path of firmness of the heart in times of difficulty?

Most people in today’s world, because of the proliferation of the means of communication, mainly social media platforms, direct completely their focus toward praising the self, boosting the ego and safeguarding the self esteem. We are living indeed a time where the ego is the one worshipped! Therefore, the believer should direct his/her focus toward safeguarding the self esteem, not in the way of the worship of the self, but by being a free servant of Allah (swt). It starts first by freeing the self esteem from being influenced by the fluctuation of situations in one’s life. One might be very skilled, yet unable to find a job, or well mannered and cannot find a spouse, or a happy couple who cannot have a child, or hard working person who cannot achieve his/her dreams, etc. None of these situations reduces one’s importance in the sight of Allah (swt). Therefore, they cannot be then the manipulator of the self esteem. If one just holds fast to Allah (swt), he/she believes that nothing befalls him/her, but by the leave of Allah. Seek Allah’s bounties, supplicate for peace to dwell in the heart. Trust in Allah’s promise. He/she will come then, after a short while, to understand that bliss never was meant to be found in the things related to the worldly life. It has been and will be always attached to the everlasting element in the life of the person, the only thing that lasts, which is the connection with Allah. One’s self esteem must then be measured though one’s connection with Allah (swt). Everything else is in the hand of Allah. Therefore, one should always say, “Sufficient for me is Allah and He is the best disposer of my affairs.” Certainly, this path will guide one to the safeguarding of the faith. “And those who strive in Our (cause), We will certainly guide them to our Paths, for verily Allah is with those who do right” (29:69).