The Solution To All Our Problems
Reading Time: 2 minutes
Imaam Ahmad (Rahimahullah) relates on the authority of Jubair ibn Nufair (Rahimahullah) that on the occasion of the Muslim conquest of Persia, he saw the noble Sahaabi Abud-Dardaa (Radhiyallahu ‘Anhu) sitting by himself, in tears. When Jubair (Rahimahullah) asked him how it was that he could cry on such a blessed day on which Allah Ta’ala had bestowed honour and glory to Islam and the Muslims, he replied, “It is a shame, Jubair, that you don’t understand. When a people neglect the commands of Allah Ta’ala, how wretched and insignificant they become. Look at these people! What majesty was theirs until, when confronted with the commands of Allah Ta’ala, they neglected them. Now you see them humbled and abased.”
What was it that caused numerous disasters, oppression and ruin upon the Ummah? If it wasn’t disobedience that caused the appearance of these calamities then what did?
The following verse sums up neatly the cause of our distress:
وما كان الله ليظلمهم ولكن كانوا انفسهم يظلمون
‘Nor would Allah ever treat them unjustly but they dealth unjustly with themselves.’
(Surah Ar Room: Verse 9)
What is the solution? We have to identify with the temperament of Sayyiduna Aadam (‘Alayhis Salaam) wherein he said:
ربنا ظلمنا انفسنا وان لم تغفرلنا وترحمنا لنكونن من الخسرين
‘Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, surely we shall be among the losers.’
(Surah Al A’raaf: Verse 23)
Maalik ibn Dinaar (Rahimahullah) relates that he had read in a book of wisdom that Allah Ta’ala said: “I am Allah, the King of Kings. Their hearts are in My hands. Therefore, who would obey Me, I shall cause the kings of the earth to honour him; and who would disobey Me, I shall arrange for that one to be punished at their hands. Waste not your time in cursing the kings of the earth, but turn to Me in repentance. I will see that they treat you decently.”
Source: Deeds & Their Retribution by Hazrat Moulana Ashraf Ali Thaanwi (Rahimahullah)
