Benefits of believers’ trials

 

Why does Allaah burden the believers who do many acts of worship with sickness and other trials, when the sinners are enjoying all the good things in life?

Praise be to Allaah.
 

 

This question may be asked in two ways, either as an
objection or as a quest for understanding. If it is asked as an objection,
then it is an indication of the questioner’s ignorance. For the wisdom of
Allaah is too great for our minds to comprehend. Allaah says (interpretation
of the meaning): 

“And they ask you (O Muhammad) concerning the Rooh (the
spirit). Say: The Rooh (the spirit) is one of the things, the knowledge of
which is only with my Lord. And of knowledge, you (mankind) have been given
only a little”[al-Isra’ 17:85] 

This spirit is something
which is within us and is the very essence of our lives, but we do not know
it and the philosophers and thinkers are unable to define and describe it.
If we are unable to know anything about this spirit, which is the closest
thing in creation to us, apart from that which has been described in the
Qur’aan and Sunnah, then what do you think about other matters beyond that?
Allaah is Most Wise, Most Great, Most Majestic and Most Powerful, and we
must submit to His will and decree with full submission, because we are
unable to comprehend the ultimate goals of His wisdom. On this basis, the
answer to the question is that we should say: Allaah knows best and He is
Most Wise, Most Powerful and Most Great. 

If the question is asked as a quest for understanding, then
we would tell this questioner: the believer is subjected to tests and
Allaah’s testing him by means of things that may harm or hurt him brings two
great benefits. The first benefit is that Allaah tests this man with regard
to his faith, to see whether his faith is sincere or shaky. The believer
whose faith is sincere will patiently accept the will and decree of Allaah,
and will seek reward from Him. In this case the matter becomes bearable for
him. It was narrated that one of the female worshippers of Allaah suffered a
cut or wound in her finger, but she did not complain about the pain or show
any sign of distress. She was asked about that and she said: The sweetness
of its reward makes me forget the bitterness of bearing it. The believer
seeks reward from Allaah and submits to Him completely. This is one
benefit. 

With regard to the second benefit, Allaah highly praises
those who are patient and says that He is with them and that He will give
them reward without measure. Patience is a high status which can only be
attained by those who are tested with things that they bear patiently. If he
bears them patiently, he attains this high status which brings great reward.
So when Allaah tests the believers with things that hurt them, that is so
that they may attain the status of those who are patient. Hence the
Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who was the
greatest of all people in faith, piety and fear of Allaah, suffered twice
the pain of an ordinary man when he fell sick, and he (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) suffered greatly at the time of death, so
that he might fully attain the status of one who is patient, for he
(peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was the most patient of those
who are patient. Hence the wisdom behind Allaah’s testing of the believer
with such calamities becomes clear. 

With regard to His giving the sinners, evildoers, immoral
people and kaafirs good health and plentiful provision, this is in order to
let them get carried away (with their sin, and then punish them severely
later on). It was narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “This world is a prison for the believer and a
paradise for the kaafir. They are given these good things so that they have
their good things sooner, in this world, and on the Day of Resurrection they
will get what they deserve of punishment. Allaah says (interpretation of the
meaning): 

“On the Day when those who disbelieve (in the Oneness of
Allaah
Islamic Monotheism) will be exposed to the Fire (it will be said): “You
received your good things in the life of the world, and you took your
pleasure therein. Now this Day you shall be recompensed with a torment of
humiliation, because you were arrogant in the land without a right, and
because you used to rebel against Allaah’s Command (disobey Allaah)”

[al-Ahqaaf 46:20] 

The point is that this world is for
the kaafirs to get carried away in, then when they move to the Hereafter and
leave the life of this world in which they found pleasure, they will
encounter torment – we seek refuge with Allaah. The punishment will be so
much harder for them because they will suffer greatly, and because at the
same time they will have lost the delights and luxuries of this world which
they loved so much.  

There is a third benefit which we may add to the first two,
which the believer will get from sickness and problems, for the believer
will move to a realm that is better than this world, for he will move from
something that hurts him and causes him pain to something that will bring
him happiness and joy. So his joy at the delight to which he has come will
be multiplied, because he has attained joy, and the pain and difficulties
that he was facing will have ceased. 

What is the fault of children born in a kaafir environment?

 

People born and raised in different environments and religions naturally develop different temperaments and identities. A person born in a Hindu family becomes a Hindu upon growing up. For him the Hindu religion is perfect. For such a person it is ingrained into his nature from his childhood that he is a Hindu first and last. Supposingly he receives the message of Islam. What are the chances that he will give up his religion, his identity and accept a new one. Isn't it tough for this person to become Muslim as compared to someone born a Muslim. It scares me to think that if I were born into some other faith than Islam where would I be today. So why is it not the law that everyone does have an equal opportunity to experience and accept Islam from the cradle. It this a matter of Allah's will, Sprituality (Hidayah) or Human Psychology. Please respond with references from Quran and hadith.

Praise be to Allaah. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“So set you (O Muhammad) your face towards the religion (of pure
Islamic Monotheism) Haneef (worship none but Allaah Alone). Allaah’s
Fitrah (i.e. Allaah’s Islamic Monotheism) with which He has created
mankind. No change let there be in Khalq‑illaah (i.e. the religion
of Allaah Islamic Monotheism), that is the straight religion,
but most of men know not” [al-Room 30:30] 

It was narrated from Abu
Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah
(peace and blessings of Allaah
be upon him) said: “Every child is born in a state of fitrah (the natural
state of man, i.e., Islam), then his parents make him into a Jew or
a Christian or a Magian.” (Agreed upon).  

The correct view is that what is meant by fitrah is the
religion of Islam, as stated in the hadeeth narrated by Muslim from
the Messenger of Allaah (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him), who said: “Allaah said: ‘I created
My slaves as haneefs (believers in pure monotheism), then the Shaytaan
misled them from their religion; he forbade them what I had permitted
to them and commanded them to associate others with Me for which I had
not sent down any authority.’” What it means when it is said that a
child is born as a Muslim is that he is born inherently ready, when
he reaches the age of discretion, if he is given the choice between
Islam and its opposite, to prefer Islam over its opposite and to choose
Islam as his religion, so long as there is nothing to prevent him from
doing so, such as his whims and desires or tribalism. Following his
desires makes him prefer falsehood so that he may attain some share
of leadership or wealth, and tribalism or racial pride makes him follow
his forefathers or elders, even if they are not following true guidance.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Nay! They say: ‘We found
our fathers following a certain way and religion, and we guide ourselves
by their footsteps’” [al-Zukhruf 43:23]

And Allaah tells us what the followers among the people of Hell will
say (interpretation of the meaning):

“And they will say: ‘Our Lord! Verily, we obeyed our chiefs and
our great ones, and they misled us from the (Right) Way’” [al-Ahzaab
33:67]  

If every child
is born in a state of fitrah, then obviously there will be some who
will be influenced in ways that are in accordance with that fitrah and
will strengthen it, such as those who are born to Muslim parents and
grow up in a Muslim society. And there will be some whose fitrah is
changed, such as those who are born to kaafir parents and group up among
the kuffaar, be they Jews, Christians, Magians or mushrikeen. Undoubtedly
the one who is born in Islam has means of guidance and happiness which
are not available to others who are born and grow up in kaafir societies.
Being given easy access to the means of faith and guidance is a blessing
from Allaah which He gives to whomsoever He wills. It should also be
noted that the person whose fitrah has been changed from Islam will
not be punished for the sins of another; rather he will be punished
if the call of the Messenger (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) reaches him and he does not accept
it out of stubbornness, arrogance or tribalistic pride in the religion
of his forefathers and countrymen, because proof is established against
him when the call of the Messenger reaches him, and in such a case,
if he persists in his kufr then he deserves to be punished. Allaah says
(interpretation of the meaning):

“And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning)”
[al-Israa’ 17:15]  

What you say in your question,
“It scares me to think…”, is correct and is wise, for it is the blessing
of Allaah upon you that you were born in Islam. If you had been born
into another religion, there would have been the fear that you might
remain in that false religion, but when Allaah wills good for His slave,
He makes it easy for him to have the means of guidance which will bring
him from the religion of kufr to the religion of Islam. The entire matter
is up to Allaah. 

But when you say in your question, “So why is it not the
law that…?” this is a false question caused by unawareness of the wisdom
of Allaah and His ways of dealing with His creation. Of course it is
impossible for the same opportunities to be available to all, because
there are so many different human religions, and guidance to Islam happens
when a person chooses to be guided, because Allaah has given man the
ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood, between what is
beneficial and what is harmful, by means of the reason that He has instilled
in him, and the explanations with which He has sent His Messengers.
At the same time, the will of the person is subject to the will of Allaah,
for He is the One Who sends astray whomsoever He wills by His justice
and wisdom, and He guides whomsoever He will by His grace and wisdom. 

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, this (the Qur’aan) is no less than a Reminder to (all)
the ‘Aalameen (mankind and jinn)

To whomsoever among you who wills to walk straight.

And you cannot will unless
(it be) that Allaah wills the Lord of the ‘Aalameen (mankind, jinn and
all that exists)”[al-Takweer 81:27-29] 

Are Muslims fatalists?

 

Are
Muslims fatalists?

Praise be to Allaah. 

Fatalists
are those who think that a person has no choice in what he does and is
compelled to do it, and that his actions are like the actions of a tree
which is moved by the wind. Their opposites are those who think that a
person creates or initiates his own deeds. The Ahl
al-Sunnah wa’l-Jamaa’ah (Sunni Muslims who follow the way
of the Prophet
` (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)) follow a
middle path between these two extremes and believe that man has a free
will but that this will is subject to the Will of Allaah. A person does
not initiate his own deeds, neither is he compelled to do what he does; he
can decide for himself, within the framework of the Will of Allaah. And
Allaah knows best.

Should a woman wish that she was a man?

 

I wanted to ask this that men get to have
many hoors in paradise, why is it not the same for women? Infact they would have to share
one husband with several others( hoors & wives). Is there something else of this sort
that I don't know of. I do know there will be much more in Paradise than just marriage
& there husbands. But still i would like this question to be answered...it has been in
my mind for quite some while.

Praise be to Allaah.

Some of the female Sahaabah wished that they were men so
that they could fight in jihaad for the sake of Allaah. Then Allaah revealed
(interpretation of the meaning):

“And wish not for the things in which Allaah has made some of you
to excel others. For men there is reward for what they have earned, (and likewise) for
women there is reward for what they have earned, and ask Allaah of His Bounty. Surely,
Allaah is Ever All-Knower of everything” [al-Nisaa’ 4:32]

Allaah forbade woman to wish for the things that are the exclusive
preserve of men, for Allaah has given men a certain share of deeds in this world and they
will have a corresponding share of reward in the Hereafter – and the same applies to
women. So ask Allaah, the Most Generous Bestower to give you of His bounty, instead of
indulging in wishful thinking, for Allaah knows best what is suited to His slaves in the
way in which He shares out good things among them.

Is it permissible to ask Allaah to change His decree?

 

How correct is this phrase which some people say in their du’aa’ – “O Allaah, I do not ask You to change Your decree but I do ask for Your help when it comes to pass”?

Praise be to Allaah. 

This du’aa’ is recited by many people, but it is not
an appropriate du’aa’, because it has been prescribed for us to ask
Allaah to change His decree if there is something bad in it.

 Hence Imaam al-Bukhaari (may Allaah have mercy
on him) entitled a chapter in his Saheeh “Whoever seeks refuge with
Allaah from having an evil end to this worldly life and from having
a bad fate, and the aayah (interpretation of the meaning): ‘Say: I seek
refuge with (Allaah) the Lord of the daybreak, from the evil of what
He has created’ [al-Falaq 113:1-2].” Then he quoted the words of the
Prophet (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him): “Seek refuge with Allaah from the difficulties
of severe calamities, from having a bad end and bad fate.” (al-Bukhaari,
7/215, Kitaab al-Qadar).

Is it permissible to say “circumstances willed” or “circumstances dictated”?

 

I read in some stories, literary works and journalistic articles the phrase  “circumstances willed” or “circumstances dictated”, or “fate decreed”. What is the ruling on these phrases?

Praise be to Allaah. 

These are inappropriate phrases, because
circumstances and fate do not have a will.

The great scholar Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen
(may Allaah preserve him) was asked about these phrases, and said:

“ ‘Fate willed’ or ‘circumstances willed/dictated’
are reprehensible phrases, because the Arabic word for circumstances,
zuroof, is the plural
of zarf, which is another
word for time – and time does not have a will. Similarly, fate does
not have a will either.

The One Who does have a will is Allaah. If a person
says ‘the decree of Allaah dictated such and such’, there is nothing
wrong with that. But it is not correct to attribute will to decrees,
because the will does not belong to the description, it belongs to the
One Who is described.” Majmoo’ Fataawa
wa Rasaa’il Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen, 3/131-132

What does Islam say about destiny and fate?

 

how does islam view destiny and fate ?

Praise be to Allaah.

Belief in destiny and fate is one of the basic beliefs
of Islam. It means that Allaah is the Knower of all things and the Creator of all things;
nothing exists outside of His will and decree. He wrote down all things with Him in al-Lawh
al-Mahfooz (the Preserved Tablet), and this was fifty thousand years before He created
the universe. Everything in the universe, every creature and the things it does, is the
creation of Allaah. Whatever He wills happens, and whatever He does not will does not
happen. If something happens to a person, it could not have missed him, and if something
does not happen to him, it could not have happened to him. A person is not forced to obey
or disobey Allaah – he has free will as befits his state, but it is subject to the
will of the Creator. And Allaah knows best..