The Required Virtue in a World of Madness!

It is a principle in the Islamic creed that prior to beseeching Allah (swt) to guide and help in any matter, one needs to put in the maximum effort to concretize it. Invoking Him for a good harvest, requires one to first invest actively and wholeheartedly all efforts of plowing the earth, sowing seeds and using all possible skills, as if the good harvest depends solely upon these efforts. And only then must one turn to Allah in humility, invoking His blessings and help to provide the harvest awaited! “And have you seen that [seed] which you sow? Is it you who makes it grow, or are We the grower? Were it Our Will, We could crumble it to dry pieces, and you would be regretful (or left in wonderment)” (56:63-65).

Likewise, for guidance and perseverance on the path, one needs to strive wholeheartedly to follow the direction and to remain steadfast, so that guidance and perseverance will be then gifted by Allah (swt). Actually, the more steadfast is the striving, the more the path of the guidance is secured from going astray by the will of Allah (swt). Remember that guidance is not limited only to prayer, fasting and feeding the poor. In fact, the heart of guidance is in standing for justice, defending morality, reviving virtues and values, and enjoining good and forbidding evil. Is not the well-being of the universe dependent, according to the Islamic creed, upon the righteousness of mankind?!

Pondering upon such a mission and purpose in life, and looking at the madness in the world today, we realize how big, vital and necessary is the task of striving. In fact, the Prophet (pbuh), when describing a time to come similar to our time, he (pbuh) specified it by the rise of the “Ruwaibidah.” He (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 man will be regarded as a traitor. And the Ruwaibidah will decide matters.” It was said: “Who are the Ruwaibidah?” He answered: “Vile and base men who control the affairs of the people.”

In such a world where values are turned upside down, the sincere believer has to work on one crucial task: the unwavering determination on the path of the truth. Indeed, when praising the truthful believers, those who were true to their covenant and were steadfast with the Prophet (pbuh), in time of ease and in time of great distress, there was the mention of this specific great virtue, the unwavering determination. “Among the Believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah. Of them some have completed their vow (to the extreme), and some (still) wait. But they have never changed (their determination) in the least” (33:23).

In such a time as ours, the true believer looks like a complete stranger. But that is exactly what the Prophet (pbuh) said: “Islam began as something strange and will revert to being strange, as it began. So, give glad tidings to the strangers.” These strangers, in order to deserve the glad tidings, cannot be secluded from society or passive and dormant. They have to strive to hold fast to the true values, teach them, convey them, revive them, and thus is the way and the path to wellbeing!

When the Prophet was asked about the identity of these strangers, it was said to him (pbuh): “Who are they?” He (pbuh) responded, “They are those who rectify when the people become corrupted.” In another narration, he (pbuh) said: “Those who rectify themselves [and others] when the people have become corrupt.”

However, the way of striving does not consist of disparate or random actions. It must be planned and inspired from the precious texts of the revelation. A close look at Surat Al Ahzab, in which the virtue of the unwavering determination is mentioned, reveals (in its opening) the actions that can serve to be the foundations of the way of striving. Remember that Surat Al Ahzab evokes the events related to the battle of the Khandaq (the ditch), the battle of tremendous tribulations. Striving was focused then on keeping the trust in Allah’s promise unshakable, the virtue which we are longing for today.

In brief, the foundational actions for striving are: 

- First, fearing Allah (swt) and observing the duties toward Him (swt),

- Second, not obeying the disbelievers and the hypocrites, 

- Third, following the revelation and,

- Fourth, relying upon Allah (swt). 

These four straightforward commands hold, indeed, the key to the power of perseverance and firmness, and to the strong ability of Mujahada (striving). 

“O Prophet, fear Allah and do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites. Indeed, Allah is Ever-Knowing and Wise. And follow that which is revealed to you from your Lord. Indeed, Allah is ever, with what you do, Acquainted. And put your trust in Allah, and enough is Allah as a disposer of affairs” (33:1-3).

These are glimpses of thoughts intending to invite our brothers and sisters to reflect and ponder upon building, in this world of madness, a viable system of striving … helping the “strangers” to deserve the glad tidings sent by the prophet (pbuh).