Strength in religion, determination in practicing it and patience in enduring hardships for its sake constitute an aspect of true mettle. Such is the personality of Prophets, Messengers and those who follow them willingly and sincerely until the Day of Judgment. Some of their other qualities are their strict adherence to the religion of Allah The Almighty and assertion of truth openly in the face of oppressors and tyrants. Indeed, even one person with these abilities is better than masses who fulfill the wishes and demands of the dissolute disbelievers, even if only in words.
This strength in faith yields the love and pleasure of Allah The Almighty. He even ordered His Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, to possess it, such as in the verse (which means): {O Yahya (John), take the Scripture powerfully} [Quran 19:12]; “powerfully” here means ardently, keenly and persistently.
Allah The Almighty also commanded Moosaa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention, Saying (what means): {Take them with power [determination] and order your people to take the best of it.} [Quran 7:145] His instructions to the Children of Israel were similar, when He Said (what means): {Take what We have given you with power [determination].} [Quran 2:63] Mujaahid may Allah have mercy upon him commented, “‘With power’ denotes practicing what it calls for; it also refers to obedience and due diligence.”
The Children of Israel were oppressed by Pharaoh, who claimed Lordship and Divinity. He used to slay their male newborns and let their girls live; he would also employ them in forced labor. Yet, they were not ordered to submit, accept humiliation and adjust to their suffering and painful reality; they could not change faith-related concepts and declare prohibitions as lawful or render what is allowed as impermissible, as some people call for today and others actually do in practice. Instead, the Children of Israel were ordered by the verse (which means): {Take what We have given you with power [determination].} [Quran 2:63]
Unfortunately, the reality of our lives contradicts these meanings, as if we do not heed a lesson, for the affliction, persecution and domination of enemies cannot cease, except when we have unwavering conviction and deep-rooted faith. Verily, this is the only escape from tribulations in life, as there is no refuge from Allah The Almighty except with Him and no protection from His decree except for the mercy He confers on people.
Despite that, we continue to be like an individual seeking shelter from the scorching sun in fire or like dehydrated donkeys about to pass out in the extremely hot weather even though they are carrying water on their backs. We continue to commit sins, contravene the religion of Allah The Almighty, alter the concept of allegiance [to believers] and disassociation [from disbelievers], and modify Islamic rules in our educational system, media and in both public and private spheres of life. All this is done to appease those who oppose Islam. Thus, it only increases us in weakness and them in their transgression. We behave as if we have no way out of this harsh reality and that we cannot pursue the means of real power or possess the ability to restrain our enemies from persisting in their corruption and aberration.
In fact, some of us, when afflicted with a calamity, seek help from creatures, even from these very rivals of ours, as if we were sheep asking foxes to protect us. Even the disbelievers would sincerely supplicate to Allah The Almighty for salvation when they were at sea; then, they used to throw their idols in the sea and ask for help from Him. How could such enemies of Islam guide us while Allah The Almighty has led them astray? Will they raise us to an honorable status while He has humiliated them? Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Here you are loving them but they are not loving you.} [Quran 3:119]
Indeed, power cannot be sought from creatures; even the Muslims of them are still weak. Therefore, how can we seek it from our enemies even as their appearance betrays vehement hatred and their hearts conceal what is even greater?
True strength only transpires when we apply the divine revelation, work for the Hereafter and our hearts rely willingly and lovingly only on Allah The Powerful and the firm Possessor of strength, Who Says (what means):
• {Indeed, it is your Lord Who is the Powerful, the Exalted in might.} [Quran 11:66]
• {And Allah will surely support those who support Him. Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in might.} [Quran 22:40]
• {Allah has written, "I will surely overcome, I and My messengers." Indeed, Allah is Powerful and Exalted in might.} [Quran 58:21]
Allah The Almighty has also ordered us to prepare ourselves against our rivals and pursue the means of power, whether material or psychological, such as when He Says (what means): {And prepare against them whatever you are able of power and of steeds of war by which you may terrify the enemy of Allah and your enemy.} [Quran 8:60] Furthermore, the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) symbolically said: "Indeed, power is archery." [Muslim]
But, the greatest form of power is that of belief and conviction. Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) said: "A strong believer is better and more lovable to Allah than a weak believer; and there is good in each. Seek what gives you benefit [in the Hereafter] and seek help from Allah and do not lose heart..." [Muslim]
The disbelievers may dominate Muslim countries and consequently some of us start to cower in fear, weakening our Ummah (nation) by this attitude and exaggerating the power of the enemy. This is, in fact, the outcome of our weak faith and the effects of Satan on us, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {That is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers.} [Quran 2:175]
Our standards have been reversed so much so that we have become like lions in dealing with the righteous and like ostriches in facing the disbelieving enemies. However, we must be, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah; and those with him are forceful against the disbelievers, merciful among themselves.} [Quran 48:29]
Ibn ‘Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him, recounted that the people who gave the pledge to the Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) at Al-Hudaybiyah were forceful with the disbelievers, like a lion is with his prey. Indeed, this is the characteristic of true believers; they are tough and severe with those who do not believe, and merciful and good with the righteous. When they encounter those who refuse to have faith, they have a surly and angry countenance; and, they wear a smiling and cheerful face for their Muslim brothers, as stated by Ibn Katheer may Allah have mercy upon him.
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) himself, used to be patient in the face of personal harms that afflicted him. However, if the matter was related to Allah The Almighty, he would implement His directives as forcefully as He decreed. Truly, this strength is the best way to deter the disbelievers and those who flout the limits of Allah, and it also helps to achieve security.
Examples of Strength in Faith in the Lives of the Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention
Anyone who reads the books of Sunnah and Seerah (biography), and reviews the stories of the Prophets and Messengers, will find that strength in practicing the religion, facing the disbelievers, as well as in calling others to Allah The Almighty was evident in their lives.
Prophet Nooh (Noah), may Allah exalt his mention, was engaged in Da’wah (propagation to Islam) day and night, in secret and in open; it was said that he even went to their homes to preach to them. However, his people would make him bleed until he would faint; and even then, whenever he would regain consciousness, he would say to them, "Worship Allah, for you have no deity other than Him." For nine hundred and fifty years, he persevered in his Da‘wah and in the end, only a few people had believed in him. Did he lose heart or discontinue his Da‘wah? Never!
In fact, he, may Allah exalt his mention, was ordered to build a ship, which he did on land, knowing well that Allah The Almighty would set it to sail and anchor it. So, whenever some of his people passed by and mocked him, he would simply respond with what is stated in the verse (which means): {If you ridicule us, then we will ridicule you just as you ridicule.} [Quran 11:38]
Likewise, Prophet Ibraheem (Abraham), may Allah exalt his mention, demolished the idols of his people, invited his father to Islam, confronted his people and debated An-Namrood (Nimrod), who dominated the world in his time. He also left Haajar (Hagar) and Ismaa‘eel (Ishmael), may Allah exalt their mention, in a desolate place, even set about slaughtering his son in order to obey the order of Allah The Almighty, traveled the world, strove in His cause not fearing any earthly power and openly declared that he set out to his Lord and His guidance. Allah The Almighty describes him, Saying (what means): {Indeed, Abraham was a [comprehensive] leader, devoutly obedient to Allah, inclining toward truth, and he was not of those who associate others with Allah. [He was] grateful for His favors. Allah chose him and guided him to a straight path.} [Quran 16:120-121]
Similarly, Prophet Moosaa (Moses), may Allah exalt his mention, challenged Pharaoh who claimed Lordship and Divinity; he even defied the magicians who were said to number seventy thousand. Thus, the young woman in Madyan, where he had set out to, said about him (what means): {O my father, hire him; surely the most charitable [man] you [can hire is the [one who is] powerful [and] trustworthy.} [Quran 28:26] The strength of Prophet Moosaa, may Allah exalt his mention, was evident in his preaching to the Children of Israel, patience with them and invitation of them to adhere firmly to the religion of Allah The Almighty, Who quotes him, Saying (what means): {Seek help through Allah and be patient. Indeed, the earth belongs to Allah. He causes to inherit it whom He wills of His servants. And the [best] outcome is for the righteous.} [Quran 7:128] It also manifested in the manner in which he honored the symbols of Allah The Almighty, as well as when he dropped the Tablets and seized his brother by his hair, pulling him toward him.
Anyone who reads the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) will, too, find faith-related strength perfectly highlighted in his Da’wah and endurance of the harms that his people inflicted on him and his noble Companions, may Allah be pleased with them. Nonetheless, his response was: “If they put the sun in my right hand and the moon in my left, in order to [make me] abandon this [mission], I would not do so until Allah makes it reign supreme or I perish in its defense."
The disbelievers first made generous offers to him so that he would renounce the Da‘wah, but he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) remained persistent. They then collaborated to kill him, but Allah The Almighty saved him. He had to emigrate from the most lovable city to his Lord and to himself, and yet, he never forsook striving for Him in Makkah or Madeenah.
Not only was he sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) endowed with strength in faith, but also physical prowess. He was always resolute, even in the heat of battle, so much so that the courageous among the Companions, may Allah be pleased with him, would even seek refuge with him. On the day of the campaign of Hunayn, when Muslims were in the throes of what seemed like defeat, he continued to declare, "I am the Prophet, [that is] no lie; I am the son of ‘Abdul-Muttalib" until his Companions, may Allah be pleased with him, gathered around him. He triumphed over Rukaanah, one of the Arabs famous for his strength, in wrestling, thrice.
The Mother of the Believers, Khadeejah, may Allah be pleased with her, would provide Muhammad sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) with food, when he would seclude himself to worship Allah The Almighty in the cave of Hiraa' for many consecutive nights. This happened before his Bi’thah (commissioning as a Prophet); indeed, who can do this now?
The righteous predecessors
If we examine the circumstances of the righteous predecessors, we will also observe their truthful obedience, with power and determination, and without any change or alteration.
The righteous man mentioned in the Chapter Yaaseen, for instance, witnessed the death of the messengers, yet, he came from the farthest end of the city in an attempt to revive the faith and addressed the people, saying (what means): {O my people, follow the messengers. Follow those who do not ask of you [any] payment, and they are [rightly] guided.} [Quran 36:20-21] Was he not afraid of being harmed or killed? Why did he not take [the safety of] his home and family into consideration? The truth is that he entrusted his affairs to Allah The Almighty, convinced that He would not fail His allies who strictly follow his Sharee’ah in good and bad times. When they took him and killed him, he advised them then as he would in his lifetime; Allah The Almighty quotes him, Saying (what means): {I wish my people could know. Of how my Lord has forgiven me and placed me among the honored.} [Quran 36:26-27] However, they were worthless in the sight of Allah The Almighty as He continues to Say (what means): {And We did not send down upon his people after him any soldiers from the heaven, nor would We have done so. It was not but one shout, and immediately they were extinguished. How regretful for the servants. There did not come to them any messenger except that they used to ridicule him.} [Quran 36:28-30]
Unwavering faith and profound conviction were the main factors behind the attitude [and actions] of those known as the Companions of the Cave, the lone believer in the family of Pharaoh and those thrown in a ditch because of their faith, as well as the infant ‘Abdullaah, among them.
How else would we interpret the case of Sumayyah, her husband Yaasir and their son ‘Ammaar, may Allah be pleased with them? They were tortured in the cause of Allah The Almighty and yet, they firmly adhered to His obedience. In the same way, the disbelievers would put Bilaal, may Allah be pleased with him, under the burning sun with his back loaded with rocks. Despite that, he would intone: "[Allah is] One, [Allah is] One." A lady known as Umm Tameem would also heat pieces of iron until they turned red and place them on his head until he, may Allah be pleased with him, writhed in pain.
Tortured people on earth are many; some of them have been imprisoned, killed or banished, while others’ heads were even sawed off and yet others cut with combs of iron separating their flesh and bones. However, all this does not cause the strong ones to renounce their religion.
The Prophet sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) too, suffered many hardships, as none on earth was harmed like him at the time. But, he neither faltered nor submitted and would rather say, “Sufficient for us is Allah, and He is the best Disposer of affairs.”
Indeed, this is a call to Muslims to respond to [this attitude of] the Messenger of Allah sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam ( may Allah exalt his mention ) and follow him. We must not believe in a part of the Quran and disbelieve in its other sections, for anyone who does so will be subjected to the severest of punishments; and, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Your Lord is not unaware of what you do.} [Quran 28:93]
Let us beware of the traits of hypocrites, who worship Allah The Almighty only in times of welfare, as He Says (what means): {And of the people is he who worships Allah on an edge. If he is touched by good, he is reassured by it; but if he is struck by trial, he turns on his face [to the other direction]. He has lost [this] world and the Hereafter. That is what is the manifest loss.} [Quran 22:11] He also cautions, Saying (what means): {Those who take disbelievers as allies instead of the believers. Do they seek with them honor [through power]? But indeed, honor belongs to Allah entirely.} [Quran 4:139]
Tomorrow, when the Day of Judgment will arrive and anything that was concealed will be exposed, the hypocrites will be shown their deeds, which Allah describes, Saying (what means): {Their deeds are like a mirage in a lowland which a thirsty one thinks is water until, when he comes to it, he finds it is nothing but finds Allah before Him, and He will pay him in full his due; and Allah is Swift in account.} [Quran 24:39]
Thus, we will not be excused for our [feebleness that is apparent in our] amending and replacing the Sharee’ah of Allah, when even Prophets, may Allah exalt their mention, would say (what means): {It is not for me to change it on my own accord. I only follow what is revealed to me.} [Quran 10:15]
We must not take concessions or coercion as pretexts. Life is of little worth and Paradise is a precious commodity; that is why the noble free people prefer their demise to humiliation. Indeed, death in the cause of obeying Allah is far better than a life of defiance.
Regarding the destruction of our enemies, it lies in their boasting of their power, as Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {As for 'Aad, they were arrogant upon the earth without right and said, ‘Who is greater than us in strength?’ Did they not consider that Allah Who created them is greater than them in strength? But they were rejecting Our signs.} [Quran 41:15]
Hence, though our bodies may become frail, our faith and conviction must not. O servants of Allah The Almighty! Abide by His religion with strength and steadfastness, for anyone who retreats, does so only to the detriment of him/herself. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you.} [Quran 47:38]
