Abdul Rahman Chao

Verily indeed, all praise is due to Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala. We praise Him, we seek His assistance, and we seek His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala from the evil that is within ourselves, and from the evil that results from our actions.

Whomsoever Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala guides, none shall misguide them. And whomsoever Allah allows to be led astray, none shall guide them back to the straight path. I bear witness that there is no God worthy of worship except Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala.

And I bear witness that Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is His servant and messenger. Allah tells us in the Qur'an, O you who believe, be God-conscious, fear Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, as He deserves to be feared, and do not die except as Muslims. O mankind, fear your Lord, be God-conscious, who has created you from one soul, and from it, man, and its mate, and from it, many men and many women.

And fear Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala that by the rights that you ask of one another, and the rights by the wounds that have bore you, verily Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is ever watchful over you. O you who believe, be God-conscious, and fear Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, speak the truth, He will render your deeds righteous, and forgive your sins, and whoever obeys Allah and His messenger, has achieved a great victory. Verily the best speech is the speech of Allah, and the best guidance is the guidance of Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and the worst of affairs is all that is, of innovation for all that is misguidance, and all that leads to hellfire.

The Story of Abu Salama and Umm Salama

Of the many people who embraced Islam at its very beginning, we obviously know of Khadija radhiallahu anha, the wife of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, we also know of Abu Bakr, etc. But there is another two people that embraced Islam at the very onset, when the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam started committing himself to the path of da'wah, the path of inviting people to Islam. And one of these people was by the name of Abdullah bin Abdul Asad al-Makhzumi, and his wife Hind bint Abi Umayya al-Makhzumiya.

They're actually more commonly known by their son, that's why they're known as Abu Salama and Umm Salama. So they were among the first people to embrace Islam. And obviously when the Quraysh found out that they had embraced Islam, they began to punish them, they began to harass them, they began to hurt them, and as you know, the story of the boycott.

And as you know, the suffering and persecution became so much that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam permitted some of the Muslims to move and emigrate to Abyssinia, to Al-Habasha, where they found refuge. And that's where they went, and they found some sense of security, for those who were able to make it out. And then they had heard that with the conversion of Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib, the uncle of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, that Islam had become strong.

So they came back to Mecca, and they were sorely disappointed, because it wasn't like that. In fact the Quraysh, when they found out that Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib had become Muslim, they actually intensified their torture of the Muslims, they intensified their persecution of the Muslims. So they came back disappointed, and they continued to endure and be patient.

Until it was time that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam allowed the Muslims to emigrate and move to Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah. Umm Salama narrates for us a story, where when her and her husband with her children were ready to leave Mecca, and to go to Al-Madinah, her family saw the scene, and they basically kidnapped her and her child, and they basically said to her husband, she is our daughter, you have no right to take her away from us, if you want to go, you can go. So in a split second she was separated from her husband.

Then, when her in-laws saw the scene, they said, oh, your son is from our clan, there's no way we're gonna let you keep them, because he belongs to us. So they tore her son away from her. So within a split second, Umm Salama and Abu Salama and her son, they were split from one another.

So Abu Salama had to go to Al-Madinah by himself. And sometime later, as you know, to keep it simple, she was able to rejoin her husband, and she brought her son with her. They lived in Al-Madinah, there was peace, there was tranquility, until the Prophet ﷺ commanded the believers, and they went in the first battle of Badr.

And in that fateful battle, Abu Salama, her husband, was gravely injured, and as a result, he passed away from his injuries. When that happened, Umm Salama was very depressed, very sad, traumatized, and she was asking herself, what am I going to do? What am I going to do with myself now? Who is going to replace my husband? So then, there is a hadith of the Prophet ﷺ where she narrates, the Prophet ﷺ instructed her, that if some difficulty comes to you, you should say:

Verily, we belong to Allah, and to Allah do we return. And you should also say:

O Allah, reward me in this affliction that has befallen me, and give me something better than it.

(Sahih Muslim, Book 2, Hadith 918)

When you say that du'a, Allah will surely give you something better than that, and indeed that happened. After her husband had passed away sometime later, then the Prophet ﷺ married her, and she said, obviously the Prophet ﷺ is the best. She couldn't have asked anything better.

The Virtue of Patience (Sabr)

Brothers and sisters, the story of Umm Salama رضي الله تعالى عنها really highlights for us a very important trait that is necessary for this time and age. We are living in a time where people are so accustomed to instant gratification. And that is why we are in much need of this beautiful trait, that the ulema have said it is wajib, it is fard, it is obligatory to have this trait, and that is to learn how to be patient in times of difficulty.

In Arabic we know this word as sabr, patience, and it means to have restraint, to exhibit self-control. You can think of it as a coping mechanism, to deal with those things that are outside of your control. Being tested, brothers and sisters, is part and parcel of what it means to be alive.

Allah ﷻ tests people through two ways, either by removing something that they like very very much, or by giving something that they dislike very very much. And as you know, for those of you who have gone to hajj, may Allah ﷻ reward us and give us the ability to do more hajj, ameen. The old saying that people say that when you go for hajj, you will be tested.

All your pet peeves and what you really dislike will get tested. And every person that I know, including myself, that has gone to hajj, they will say to you, for example, they hate people cutting in line. No, trust me, it'll be people cutting in lines. They hate crowds and getting pushed around. Allah will test them in that. Everything that you dislike, it will manifest during hajj.

Allah's Promise to Test Us

So I guess the question is, why does Allah ﷻ or what does Allah ﷻ say in the Qur'an about us? Allah ﷻ promised us that He ﷻ is going to test us. Allah ﷻ says in the Qur'an, Those are the people, if something befalls them, some sort of calamity, what do they say?

Verily we belong to Allah, verily do we return to Allah. And these are the people that demonstrate patience. And then what is the reward?

Allah sends His salawat, His blessings on you, and mercy upon you. Allah also says:

Do people think that they will be left alone to say that they believe and Allah will not test them?

Why Is Patience So Difficult?

So what makes patience so difficult? Why has it been described as bitterness? Why is patience so difficult? So McDonald's was rolling out the Quarter Pounder Burger. So as you know, and maybe some of you shouldn't know, McDonald's usually use their patties out of frozen meat.

And there's a certain time that it takes to cook frozen patty. But when they released the Quarter Pounder Sandwich, the difference was that this patty was not frozen, it was fresh. And we are not here on the mimbar to talk about the meat issue. I refuse. But we are here to talk about what happened when they did that. Because it was fresh meat, it actually took exactly one minute longer to cook this patty.

So what ended up happening was, the people that were in line, they were doing an experiment, and they were getting really anxious. Why is it taking this long? Even though it was only one minute extra to cook this patty. So they were getting very fed up. Instant gratification. So then they later on revealed to the people, Oh, this is a fresh patty, it's not like the frozen one, it takes exactly one minute, it's going to be a better taste, so on and so forth. And when they knew the reason, then they calmed down. They knew the reason why it is being delayed, and they calmed down. So that is the first thing.

A lot of times we are frustrated because we don't know the reason why something is happening. And the second reason is, they did a study on rats. And I know it's not very nice if we talk about a franchise and now we talk about rats. But they did a study on rats, where they basically withheld treats from them. And then they discovered that if the algorithm to give the treat was predictable, and over time the rats knew that there was a 75% chance of success, if they were waiting, for example, their serotonin levels went up, and they were able to cope better. Why? Because they know of a great reward, and that is, if they wait, they're going to get a treat.

And a lot of times we don't want to be patient either because of two things. We don't know why it's happening, and number two, we don't know what's going to come as a result of it. And that's why Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala says in the Qur'an:

Except those people who are patient, and they demonstrate, they do good deeds, there is maghfirah for them, forgiveness, and great reward.

So we might not know why Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala is putting us through difficulty. But we at least know that the chances of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala giving us reward in being patient, is greater than 75%. In fact, it is guaranteed.

Allah says in the Qur'an, Be patient, because Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala does not squander away the reward of the believers. So you at least know one of it, and that is, Allah will indeed reward you.

Why Does Allah Test Us?

So then a very existential question that arises from all of this is, why does Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala test us? Why couldn't Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala make it easy for us? And some of the scholars have remarked on this, and they have said, patience as a quality can never come during a time of ease.

Patience is only developed under immense pressure. Think of it as like the way how diamonds form. You don't create diamonds without pressure. It requires an immense pressure for diamonds to come into existence. And some of the scholars said, that by being patient, you will get clarity on how to conduct yourself. And that's why the Prophet ﷺ said in a beautiful narration, how did he describe patience? In this very long hadith, he says from it:

(Sahih Muslim, Book 2, Hadith 432)

Patience is light. And the word ضياء here is pertaining to sunlight, very bright. It will give you clarity. It will give you an idea of how to respond in the future.

That if you overreact at this moment, you know in the future that there will be bad consequences. And some of the scholars also said, the reason the Prophet ﷺ described patience as ضياء, which is referring to the light from the sun, as opposed to the reflected light that you see on the moon, which is known as نور, it's a very calming light, is that the sun is very sharp and bright, and it can be blinding, and patience is not easy. Patience is blinding. Patience is difficult. Patience requires the best of us.

And additionally, brothers and sisters, Allah wants something good for us. The Prophet ﷺ said:

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Hadith 2396)

If Allah loves something good for His servant, He will test them. The Prophet ﷺ says:

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Hadith 5645)

Whoever Allah wants good for someone, He tests them. And there is this false understanding among many people, where they think that Allah needs us to see us in pain in order to give us the reward, or that Allah is some vengeful God, and that is the furthest from the truth, that could not be any further.

Allah puts us in these difficulties to test us, to see how we respond. So the reward that results from this trial, from this difficulty, is because of how we respond. Whether as the verse says:

We shall indeed test you with what? Something of anxiety, or hunger, loss of life, loss of wealth, and produce, etc., and crops. It's one of these things, brothers and sisters. And so when we read the Qur'an, when Ishaq says that, فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ When he lost his son Joseph, what did he say? He said, patience is beautiful. And I want to clarify, patience is beautiful, what it means is not like, oh, the more I get, you know, it's like good, I like it. It means that patience is beautiful when you accept that you are going to get out of this, Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will reward you and by not complaining.

Finally, brothers and sisters, another reason why Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala tests us, is perhaps Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala wants to take you to the next level, to the next station of righteousness, that your good deeds have clearly not brought you to that level, so Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala tests you in some ways. The Prophet ﷺ said:

(Sunan Abu Dawud, Hadith 3090)

A beautiful hadith. If there is a certain level of iman, of yaqeen that Allah wants you to reach to, sometimes Allah and it's your good deeds have not taken you to that level, how does Allah get you to that level? By testing you in your wealth, in your body, maybe in the form of some disease, may Allah protect us, or maybe something in your family, among your children. And then Allah will enable that person to be patient. And then, until that person reaches that stage of iman and reward that Allah wants him to be at, we ask Allah to give us tawfiq, we ask Allah to give us clarity, and to enable us to be among those who are patient.

أقول قولي هذا وأستغفر الله إن الحمد لله نحمده ونستعينه ونستغفره نعوذ بالله من شرور أنفسنا ومن سيئات أعمالنا من يهديه الله فلا مضل له ومن يضلل فلن تجد له وليا مرشدا أما بعد

The Prophet's Compassion in Teaching Patience

The Prophet ﷺ was one time passing and there were some companions and they noticed that there was a woman who was grieving, visibly upset, by the grave of her son. And so, according to the different narrations, the Prophet ﷺ said to her, اتقِ الله Be God conscious of Allah ﷻ and be patient. And at that moment, she didn't recognize who the Prophet ﷺ. And in some of the narrations, she said to him, إليك عني Get away from me.

Because you do not know what has happened. The Prophet ﷺ did not use that moment to discipline her. How dare you speak to me like this way? Do you not know that three of my children I have buried with my hands? Do you not know that all my sons have died? Do you not know that all three of my daughters have died? He didn't say any of that.

He just removed himself from the situation because he understands, he can empathize. All of the children of the Prophet ﷺ died during his life except for one, Fatima. So what happened? Later on, she realized that it was the Prophet ﷺ and she became so depressed.

She was feeling so anxious that she had offended the Prophet ﷺ. So she went back, she said, Messenger of Allah, I didn't recognize you. I didn't know it was you. The Prophet ﷺ didn't use that moment to shame her and say, well, maybe look closer next time. Or maybe if you weren't crying so much, you would have recognized me. Or maybe if you weren't so emotional. You know what he said? He said, Patience is required when the first strike of calamity comes.

When the calamity first hits you, that's when you have to be patient. Some people, they think that patience is like, after 10 years, oh, I got over it. No, no, no. You just got over it, doesn't mean you were patient. And so that's why the Prophet ﷺ is teaching us in this hadith, that patience begins with number one, not complaining. Not sitting there and complaining and cursing their own fate.

Why is Allah doing this? Why is Allah punishing me? Why is Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala making it difficult? And that's why the scholars have remarked on this, and they have talked about, how do people react in the face of trials and difficulty? And most people react with anger, with rage, questioning, wondering, why are they the ones that have to endure this? The Prophet ﷺ one time visited a woman who was sick. She had the flu, and she had the fever, and then the Prophet ﷺ said, how are you? And then she said, I am afflicted with a fever, and may Allah not bless this fever. Basically she was cursing it.

And then the Prophet ﷺ, he said:

(Sahih Muslim, Book 45, Hadith 7)

Do not curse fever. Why? Because it will remove the sins from you. Just like when you stick iron into the furnace, all of the impurities come out from the metal.

Emotional Stability in Faith

Brothers and sisters, we should not live in a way, where we are constantly teetering between emotions. And when we do that, we won't be able to have the mental fortitude to cope with the things that Allah puts in front of us. Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala tells us of this beautiful verse, and I want you to pay attention to this.

Allah says in the Qur'an, There are some people who worship Allah on the edge. What does that mean? There's no equanimity in their emotions. And if that person is touched by good, he is reassured. But if he is struck by some test or trial, he turns on his face in the other direction, as if he lost the world and the hereafter. For verily, that is the most manifest loss.

Number two, brothers and sisters, is that we can choose to respond to the test of Allah with grace by accepting the decree of Allah. And accepting the decree of Allah does not mean that we just sit there and passively not do anything. Someone oppresses someone, and then we just tell them, be patient. No. We take the necessary steps to remove the harm, and then for whatever else you cannot handle and you cannot fix, you ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to give you that patience.

The Story of the Woman with Epilepsy

Ibn Abbas radiallahu anh, this companion, he was speaking to another companion, and that companion said to him, do you want to see someone from paradise? Do you want to see someone walking on earth, but from paradise? He said, of course. Then he pointed to this one black woman that was walking, and he said, she is from Al-Jannah. And he said, how? He said, this woman went to the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam and she said, messenger of Allah, I suffer from epilepsy. I have fits of seizures, and as a result my body becomes uncovered, and make dua that Allah cure me of it.

The Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam said, I can make dua for you, and you'll be cured of it. But if you are patient, then you will be rewarded with paradise. And when she heard that, she said, I shall be patient. She said, but messenger of Allah, make dua. Make dua that at least I don't become compromised with the uncovering of clothes during these seizures. So the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam made dua for her, so that her clothes don't compromise her dignity.

The Beautiful Perspective of the Believer

Brothers and sisters, tests from Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, you can choose to look at them as something negative, or you can choose to look at it in a positive way. And that is why brothers and sisters, the Prophet sallallahu alaihi wa sallam says, strange is the affair of the believer.

(Sahih Muslim, Book 54, Hadith 40)

Strange is the affair of the believer. All of his affairs are good. If something good happens to them, he is thankful. And if something bad happens to them, they are patient. And so that's why brothers and sisters, the ulema said that iman is one coin. Gratitude on one side, and patience on the other end.

We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to count us among those who are patient. We ask Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala to strengthen our iman, so that when we are tested, we know how to behave correctly and appropriately, accepting the will of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, and seeking His reward.

O Allah, we ask You the best in this world, and the best in the next life, and to protect us from the fire, and establish the prayer.