His Eminence Sheikh Saleh Ibn Muhammad ?l-T?lib ?may Allah protect him? delivered the Friday Khutbah titled “Landmarks for Muslims in Times of Fitnahs.” In the khutbah, he spoke about Fitnahs and how the Muslim is expected to behave in order to sidestep them. Using evidence from the Holy Qur'?n and the Sunnah, the Sheikh demonstrated the magnitude of Fitnahs and the perils of being ensnared therein. He also said that once wrapped in obscurity, the Muslim should resort to the Holy Qur'?n and the Sunnah as well as to experienced scholars. 
 
Praise be to Allah, praise that is followed by pure salutations! He is the source of assistance, for there is none but Him whose support is hoped for in times of distress and disasters. On Him we rely, and sufficient unto us and unto all creatures is Allah! I bear witness that there is no deity worthy of worship save Allah alone with no associate, and I bear witness that Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) is Allah’s Servant and Messenger. May Allah send His Salat (Graces, Honours, Mercy), Peace and Blessing onto him, his family, his offspring ?the most honourable of all offspring? his Companions (?) who were endowed with pure inner souls, and all those who follow their footsteps righteously till the Day of Judgement.
 
Now then,

Do observe Taqwa (fear of Allah) sincerely and hold fast to the non-severable bond of Islam: " O you who believe! Fear Allâh (by doing all that He has ordered and by abstaining from all that He has forbidden) as He should be feared. [Obey Him, be thankful to Him, and remember Him always], and die not except in a state of Islâm [as Muslims (with complete submission to Allâh)." [?l-Imr?n: 102]. In fact, Allah will protect, suffice, gratify, and shelter anyone who observes taqwa.
(The Sheikh cites a line of poetry celebrating taqwa):

Observing taqwa means optimal provisions stored for days ahead,
And Allah has further provisions for him who best observes taqwa.

Servants of Allah!

Abdurrahman Ibn Abd Rab Al-Kaaba narrated: “When I got into the Mosque, I found Abdullah Ibn Amr Ibn Al-Âass sitting in the shade of the Kâaba and people gathered around him. I joined them and sat near him. So, he said, “We were once on a trip with the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam); so we stopped by (some place) on our way. There were those of us who were fixing their tents; others were competing in throwing arrows; and still others were taking their camels and horses out to pasture. Then, the herald of Allah's Messenger (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) suddenly cried: "gather for prayer." So, we gathered in front of the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) who said, “There was no prophet preceding me who was not bound to guide his Ummah (community) to what is best for them, and warn them against what is the worst evil for them. Your present Ummah was destined to experience wellness and stability during its first generations but its later generations will witness afflictions and incidents that you would abhor. Fitnahs will follow in succession; some will seem milder compared to others. Whenever a fitnah befalls a believer, he says, ‘This time, it is going to be fatal.’ But it soon drives away. Then, a further fitnah follows, and again the believer says, ‘This fitnah (will finish me) … this fitnah (will finish me), and so on and so forth.’ Whoever wishes to be removed away from Hellfire and admitted into Paradise should ascertain that when he faces death he shall persist in remaining a believer in Allah and in the Last Day, and that he treats people the way he likes himself to be treated … (until the end of the Hadith).” [Narrated by Imam Muslim]

O believers!

Whenever the dormant tribulations of Fitnahs are resuscitated and the sable nights of ordeals grow unrecognisably obscure, whenever the Ummah experiences phases during which many people are induced into error and Fitnahs grow ferociously blind to the extent that a lot of people become dubious to truth, in such case the Muslim becomes in dire need for landmarks to guide him, for lighthouses to regain orientation and for stars to show him the way. This is mainly because, for any Muslim, the dearest possession is the soundness of his faith. The Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: "A time will come when the best property for a Muslim will be a flock of sheep which he drives to mountain  tops and places of rainfall so as to flee with his religion from Fitnahs." [Narrated by Al-Bukhari]

Fleeing from Fitnahs takes place when resorting to Allah, the Almighty. This is in conformity with Allah’s (?) words: "So flee to Allâh (from His Torment to His Mercy – Islâmic Monotheism)." [Ath-Th?riy?t: 50]. He (?) also says: " Is not Allâh Sufficient for His slave? " [Az-Zumar: 36]

Ibn Al-Qayyim ?may Allah have mercy on his soul? said, “Divine sufficiency is dependent upon the nature of the individual's servitude through worship; the more obedient you are to Allah, the more you will be endowed with divine sufficiency.” This is why the Prophet (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) instructed people to worship Allah in times of Fitnahs. He said, “Worship in times of turmoil equals hijra (migration) to join me.” [Narrated by Imam Muslim]. Therefore, congratulations for the believer who resorts to prayers and worship while others remain busy with forms of tumultuous agitation and eager to hunt for news and track rumours. Congratulations for those who feel secure and tranquil by the remembrance of Allah when souls are anxious and hearts are disturbed.
 
One night, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) suddenly woke up frightened and said, “Glory to Allah! What has Allah revealed from His hidden coffers? What afflictions have befallen His creatures? Who could wake up the occupants of the chambers (he means his wives so that they could perform night prayer). Many a veiled (i.e. enjoying Allah's blessings) woman in the herein will be reduced to nudity (punished for not obeying Allah and being thankful to Him) in the hereafter." [Narrated by Imam Bukhari]. In this Hadith, there is evidence that performing night prayer is one of the major ways of escaping Fitnahs. In fact, before revealing the verses dealing with trial, Allah (?) says: "O you who believe! Seek help in patience and As-Salât (the prayer). Truly! Allâh is with As-Sâbirin (the patient ones, etc.)." [Al-Baqarah: 153]

Worship is full of secrets, among which are the following: it represents the provisions for the wayfarer, the spiritual supplies for the soul, and the light for the heart. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) used to hurry to perform prayer whenever he happened to face some serious matter. He (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) urged believers to perform pious deeds since they protect them from Fitnahs before they take place and save them from them when they do take place. Thus, Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “Proceed to good deeds. There will be Fitnahs as dark as stratified nocturnal obscurity; a believer in the morning swiftly becomes an unbeliever in the evening and a believer in the evening swiftly becomes an unbeliever in the morning. He would sell out his religion in exchange for trivial mundane gains.” [Narrated by Imam Muslim]

Thus, he who is equipped with sufficient taqwa and good deeds will deserve salvation, bearing in mind that according to Allah’s laws governing the universe, Allah never disappoints a servant who seeks refuge with Him. It is said: “Prevent Fitnahs by observing taqwa.” This is confirmed by Allah’s (?) verse: "O you who believe! If you obey and fear Allâh, He will grant you Furqân [(a criterion to judge between right and wrong), or (Makhraj, i.e. making a way for you to get out from every difficulty)]…" [Al-Anf?l: 29]

O Muslims!

Among the forms of resorting to Allah is supplicating and imploring Him. Allah (?) says: "And indeed We seized them with punishment, but they humbled not themselves to their Lord, nor did they invoke (Allâh) with submission to Him." [Al-M?’min?n: 76]. He also says: "When Our Torment reached them, why then did they not believe with humility?" Al-An’?m: 43]

Among the supplications is seeking refuge from Fitnahs; this is affirmed in the Hadîth narrated by Zaid Ibn Thabet (?) that Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) said, “Seek refuge from Fitnahs, both overt and covert.” [Narrated by Imam Muslim]

Servants of Allah!

Among the landmarks guiding the Muslim and providing him with relief is to follow Allah's firm signs as well as His constant sunan (laws governing the affairs of the whole universe). Instances of such firm signs and constant sunan include: verification prior to action, sanctity of human blood, keeping to the Revealed Book and to the Sunnah, anticipating the adverse repercussions of certain human actions, as well as identifying advantageous and disadvantageous courses of action along with classifying them in accordance with the principles of religion rather than personal desires and mundane worldly incentives. Allah (?) says: "O you who believe! Obey Allâh and obey the Messenger (Muhammad SAW), and those of you (Muslims) who are in authority. (And) if you differ in anything amongst yourselves, refer it to Allâh and His Messenger (SAW), if you believe in Allâh and in the Last Day. That is better and more suitable for final determination." [An-Niss?': 59]

From the above, we realise that the truth consists in whatever coincides with Allah’s instructions and His Messenger’s teachings whereas fitnah means whatever runs contrary to both of them. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) says, “There will be a fitnah.” “So, what are we supposed to do”, they asked. He answered, “You then return to your initial state of affairs.” [Reported by Tabarani] 

In the Hadîth narrated by Al-Irb?dh Ibn S?riyah (?), Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) is reported to have said, “I advise you to observe taqwa (fear of Allah) and to show deference and obedience even if your ruler is an Ethiopian slave. Indeed, whoever outlives me will definitely notice much divergence. So, hold fast to my Sunnah and the tradition of the rightly guided caliphs after me. Stick to that and never relinquish your grip/bite on it. Be cautious and make sure not to follow inventions (in religion), for every invented belief or rite is sheer fabrication, and sheer fabrication means misguidance.” [Sound Hadith reported by the authors of Sunan Books].

Allah enjoins probity and forbids corruption. In this regard, one’s judgment may sometimes be right and sometimes wrong. Among Allah's firm signs, there is the sanctity of human blood. Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) says, “Whoever is capable of eliminating any hindrance to his admission into Paradise virtually occasioned by smearing his hands with bloodshed he may have perpetrated should proceed to do so.”

O Servants of Allah!

 In times of Fitnahs, the Muslim is faced with a multiplicity of news and rumours, and thus truth gets confounded with falsehood. This is essentially because of the increased impact of printed and audiovisual media, the spread of electronic websites and data networks, along with the ease of communication, the rapidity of news transmission, the fast dissemination of lies, and people’s audacity to tell lies with no feeling of embarrassment or fear of Allah. Abu Hurairah (?) narrated that Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam) had said, “It is enough evidence to say that somebody is telling lies if he talks about all he hears.” [Narrated by Imam Muslim] 

Omar Ibn Al-Khatt?b (?) said, “Beware of Fitnahs! The work of the tongue in times of fitnah is similar to that of the sword.” Another version goes like this: “There will be a fitnah in which the work of the tongue is more severe and cruel than that of the sword.” [Reported by Imam Ahmed, Abu Dawood, and Ibn Majah]

In reality, proper conduct requires verification and patience, lenience and forgiveness in times of Fitnahs and sudden changes in life conditions, consulting experienced and wise scholars, and avoiding taking decisions alone. A safe person is the one who is spared all such ordeals. Thus, it is not necessary for you to have your own say in every problem or your opinion on every incident. Allah (?) says: "When there comes to them some matter touching (public) safety or fear, they make it known (among the people), if only they had referred it to the Messenger or to those charged with authority among them, the proper investigators would have understood it from them (directly)…" [An-Niss?': 83]

Justice and equity must also be observed. Allah (?) says: "And whenever you give your word (i.e. judge between men or give evidence), say the truth." [Al Anam: 152].  Allah (?) also says: "And let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety." [Al M?edah: 8]

 Contrarily to this, there are people who, in times of Fitnahs, would not hesitate to harm the believers in their honour and dignity. They would hone their tongues and sharpen their pencils in order to humiliate the righteous, stir confusion among common Muslims, forge facts and incite fitnah and disunion, bearing in mind that the most dangerous of all is fitnah in religion. In this context, Allah (?) says: "Verily, those who put into trial the believing men qnd believing women (by torturing and burning them ) and then do not turn in repentance (to Allah0, then they will have the torment of Hell and they will have the punishment of the burning fire."  [Al-Bur?j: 10]

A Muslim must avoid being one of those whom Allah has vilified in the following words: "They follow but a guess and that which they themselves desire, whereas there has surely come to them Guidance from their Lord." [An Najm: 23] and "But they have no Knowledge thereof. They follow but a guess, and verily, guess is no substitute for the truth (28). Therefore, withdraw (O Mohammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wa Sallam  from himwho turns away from Our Reminder(this Qur’an)and desires nothing but the life of this world (29). That is what they could reach of knowledge. Verily, your Lord it is he Who knows best him who goes astray from His Path, and He knows best him whjo receives guidance." [An Najm: 28-30]
 
When in doubt or ambiguity, a believer must seek to avoid confusion. However, once matters are clear, he must side with what is fair and right; rather he must put in the effort towards unveiling the truth. Therefore, he must not thwart the oppressed who are entitled to a certain right under the pretext of avoiding fitnah. To this effect Allah (?) says: "And if two parties or groups among the believers fall to fighting, then make peace between them both. But if one of them outrages against the other, then fight you (all) against the one that which outrages till it complies with the command of Allah. Then if it complies, then make reconciliation between them justly, and be equitable. Verily! Allah loves those who are equitable." [Al Hujur?t: 9] 

May Allah bless you and me by the Qur'?n and Sunnah and benefit us with their verses and wisdom! Having said this, I ask Allah, be He exalted, to forgive me and you!