Navigating Tests & Trials - Shaykh Mustafa Abu Rayyan

Khutbah Opening

All praise is due to Allah. We praise Him, seek His help, and seek His forgiveness. And we seek refuge in Allah from the evil of our souls and from the evil of our deeds.

Whomsoever Allah guides, none can misguide, and whosoever is misguided, none can guide him. And I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone, with no partner. And I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant, His Messenger, purest of heart from His creation, and His friend.

Allah sent him to the people as a bearer of glad tidings and a warner. And he conveyed the message, fulfilled the trust, and advised the nation. And he left us on the white pilgrimage — its night is like its day; nothing escapes it but destruction. And peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and upon his family and his companions, and whoever is guided by his guidance, holds to his sunnah, and calls with his call to the Day of Recompense.

O you who have believed, fear Allah as He should be feared, and do not die except as Muslims.

O you people, fear your Lord, Who created you from a single soul. And He created from it its wife, and He spread from them many men and women. And fear Allah with whom you ask for help and mercy. Verily, Allah is ever watching over you.

O you who have believed, fear Allah and say the right words. He will correct your deeds and forgive you your sins. And whoever obeys Allah and His Messenger has certainly attained a great triumph.

My beloved ones in Allah and in Islam, I advise you and myself to fear Allah and do good. For Allah is with those who fear Him and those who do good.

My brothers and sisters, I start by praising Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala, Who is indeed worthy and deserving of our constant praise and gratitude. And I send blessings and salutations upon our Messenger Muhammad, salawatullahi wa salamuhu alayh.

The Reality of Trials in Our Times

My brothers and sisters, there is no doubt in my mind that many of us who are seeing the news, following what's happening in the world, and what's happening to innocent people — Muslims and non-Muslims alike, but particularly in the lands of the believers — it is something that brings a lot of pain and worry. And that worry is a sign of faith and iman. It comes from a place of love for those who we share لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله with.

I'd like to think that most of you are aware that Masjid al-Aqsa — the third holiest, blessed site in Islam, where the Prophet ﷺ performed the Mi'raj from and the Isra', the night journey — that salah has not been established there for the fifth week running now. Masjid al-Aqsa.

And if you weren't aware, part of me is not surprised because we are bombarded with so much news and so many events that are happening. And life does go on. And sometimes you become desensitized.

How many more times are you going to hear that the hospital has been bombed, that people have died, that the country has been invaded? And you feel a sense of hopelessness and you think to yourself, well, what am I supposed to do? And this is a natural feeling to have.

Trials and Tribulations Are Part of Life

I want to share with you — number one, my brothers and sisters — trials and tribulations are part of life. Allah says:

Do the people think that they will say "we believe" and they will be left alone without being tested? No — Allah will test you.

And those tests that Allah will test you with will sometimes be very personal. Imagine a parent losing a child, or someone being diagnosed with an illness that they cannot recover from. This would be a personal, individual test.

But similarly, the ummah will be tested. They will go through many trials like they have done before. And what does Allah say? That Allah will test us with war, with famine, with fear. All of these, my brothers and sisters, will happen.

How Should We Respond?

So what should the response be? Number one, my brothers and sisters, Allah is testing — what?

To see how you react to those tests. How do you react to your personal test? And there are two things that you must always either be involved in — if not both — regardless of whatever Allah is testing you with:

الصَّبْرُ وَالشُّكْرُ — To be patient in the face of difficulty, and to be grateful in the absence of difficulty and in the presence of ease. Gratitude — shukr — and sabr. We need to do that as individuals and as an ummah.

Deceptive Years and the Importance of Verification

We should not be swept away by the waves of fitan. The Prophet ﷺ described that upon the ummah will fall سَنَوَاتٌ خَدَّاعَةٌ — deceptive years — where the truthful one is told that he is a liar, and the liar is believed.

(Sunan Ibn Majah, Hadith 4036)

Today we live in that time where you can barely believe what you see on the news. The first time you see something, the question is: is it AI or not? You can't trust what's happening. You can't trust the people that are speaking.

And this is the time where you have to be careful. Don't be among those that share lies or unverified information. Nor be among those whose emotions are being stirred based on something that has not been verified.

Understand that Allah's plan is at play. Regardless of what happens in this world, Allah's plan is happening. Because everything revolves around the will of Rabbul 'Alameen, the Lord of the worlds. And what He wishes and wills is what is going to happen. And sometimes it will be difficult and sometimes it will be easy. And this is important to understand as a believer.

The Importance of Du'a

Similarly, my brothers and sisters, it is important to be informed about what's happening in the world to your fellow believers. Why is it important to be informed? So that it ruins your day and you're just sad all day and worried, and you're distracted from your personal obligations and responsibilities? No. But so that you can make du'a for those that need your du'a.

And I ask you genuinely — how often in the day do you raise your hands to make du'a for those that are in need, for those that are struggling? How often do you mention them: Ya Allah, aid them and protect them? Because Allah sees you and He sees me. We say "make du'a" as lip service. But du'a is the greatest weapon. Have we been utilizing it?

May Allah bring about aid and victory for all that are being oppressed. Make du'a. Make du'a often. For steadfastness, for ease, for safety, for security.

Gratitude for Safety and Security

Similarly, express gratitude to Allah for the safety and security He has blessed you with. Do you think that you are better or more beloved to Allah than a family that lives in Gaza, or in Tehran, or anywhere right now that is facing fire and doom? Do you think that you have a special license, that you are better? No. But Allah chose to give you safety and test you with that safety and security. And Allah chose to test them with war and these challenges.

And just like they are meant to have sabr and hold firm to their deen, you are meant to express shukr and hold firm to your deen. And just like that, things can switch. Just like that, things can switch.

So be grateful to Allah for the safety and the aman that you have. Be grateful for it and ask Allah to extend it and to protect you from these fitan.

Anti-Muslim Sentiment: Not Something New

Similarly, my brothers and sisters, another thing that we have to keep in mind is that with everything that is happening, no doubt many of us are experiencing an extreme increase in anti-Muslim sentiment. People are talking about Muslims in ways that when you hear them, you're like — who are they describing? It's definitely not the believers. And there is hatred being stirred by certain groups and individuals to make the Muslim ummah look like people that want to harm and abuse. This is not new.

What do you think Quraysh were doing about Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Sahaba? They would go out of Makkah and speak to the people coming into Makkah and they would say, "Don't listen to that man. He is crazy. He is this. He is that. He will harm you." And they would create propaganda against Rasulullah ﷺ.

Let's go even further back. What did they say about Prophet Nuh ﷺ? When Prophet Nuh was giving da'wah — one man against a whole nation, calling them to لا إله إلا الله — what did he get from them? Abuse, insults, and mockery. And when others would ask about him, they would say:

"He wants to express dominance over you. He wants to assert that he is better than you." They never mentioned that he was calling to tawheed and to righteousness and to all the blessings of لا إله إلا الله. But rather they said: "Nuh wants to take over — therefore we have to harm him, insult him, and mock him."

What did Fir'aun say about Musa and Harun? What did they want?

The greatest aggressor and the greatest tyrant was saying that Musa and Harun — they want to take over. And what do you hear today? "Muslims are here to do what? To take over." No, we're not. We're here to spread لا إله إلا الله and to teach it to those that want to listen. And alhamdulillah, we're here to live in peace.

What does assalamu alaykum mean? Peace be upon you. What is this deen about? It's peace. That's what this message is about. It's about being dutiful to your parents so they don't rot in a care home where you don't care for them or speak to them. It's about knowing how your neighbors are, regardless of their faith. It's about cleansing the streets and the roads from that which is harmful. It is about meeting others with smiles. It's about being the greatest contributors to charity — which the Muslims are, here in the UK, the greatest contributors to charity. It's about honesty, integrity. It's about going against oppression, not standing for it. This is what Islam is. And this is what it always was.

And more importantly, and most importantly, it's about tawheed. Let's all come together and worship one God. لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله. But the naysayers and those that are against it will try and paint a picture that is not real. Just like Fir'aun painted a picture about Musa and Harun. Just like the people of Nuh painted a picture about Nuh. This will always happen.

The Strategy: Let Your Character Speak

So what's the strategy? What do we do? We continue doing what we have been doing. Which is what? Be peaceful. Which is what? Be upon Islam. And let the deen and your character shine through, and people will see what Islam is about.

Here in this masjid, I've been here for many years now. Every other week people are coming in, accepting the shahada. Every other week they're coming in, accepting the shahada. It's spreading. No one is dragging them in — they're coming willingly. Why? And often they will say: "There was a co-worker of mine who was Muslim who presented Islam to me." "My neighbor." "I met someone." People like you, just living your lives as honest, true Muslims, is having the impact that this deen would have and should have.

So my brothers and sisters, as much as we look and see difficulties all around us, there is also a lot of khair. And understand that the One who puts the plans in motion, the One who puts you through trials, is also Ar-Rahman Ar-Rahim — the Most Merciful and the Most Kind. And as much difficulty as there is, ease will follow. But what is upon us? Personal righteousness. Stay upon the deen.

Allah mentions in Surah Al-Baqarah:

Many of the Ahlul Kitab would wish that you would turn away from your faith and become disbelievers. In that same ayah, what does Allah mention as a solution?

Allah mentions to pardon and to overlook. And also following up, Allah says:

Establish the prayer and continue giving charity. In other words, regardless of what the external circumstances are, be upon your deen. Don't let that affect you. Regardless of whether you are in war or in peace, be upon your deen. Regardless of what's happening. And that is how things will turn back to righteousness and goodness — not just for individuals, but as communities and as a nation.

Second Part of the Khutbah: Practical Advice on Consuming News and Events

My brothers and sisters, I'd like to give also a few points of advice as it relates to when you consume content, news, and world events — and how they affect you and what you should do.

Number one, don't let it be a case where you're just scrolling, watching, worrying, and then you don't end up doing anything tangible. Like I mentioned — what's the greatest way to help your brothers and sisters? You actually make du'a for them. And then you look for other ways that you can support or help anyone that is in need, individuals or otherwise.

Another thing is that there are two extremes. There's one extreme where you are very apathetic — you say, "Whatever, there's nothing I can do anyway," and you completely ignore. How can you ignore when you're hurting? The Prophet ﷺ described the Muslim ummah as one body.

If one part is hurting, the whole night you're up in fever and in pain. You have to feel that pain — and then you express it through du'a and through whatever means of support.

The other extreme is that it consumes you — to the point where all you're doing the whole day is debating and analyzing and reading. And when was the last time you opened a mushaf? Or you came to the masjid? Or you learned your deen? Or you spent time with your family? Or you've done many of the things that are your own personal obligations — because your righteousness starts with you first. So don't let it become something that consumes you and distracts you.

Avoiding Extremes in Judgment

Another point is that these debates are constantly over — who has the right view on this matter? And you also go into extremes where you don't mourn the innocent because of what they believe, where you don't feel saddened by their deaths and their destruction because they happen to be not upon the sunnah. This is incorrect. Or you have the opposite, where you completely disregard your own usool and foundations and beliefs and put them to the side because someone is being oppressed.

Islam is all about the middle path and balance. Never disregard your usool and your foundations and your beliefs. The Qur'an, the sunnah, belief in Allah alone — only Allah is worthy of worship. We respect and love all of the companions and we will never, ever, ever allow anyone to say anything bad about one Sahabi. That being said, we are also able to empathize and look at those who are being harmed and oppressed, and make du'a for them like we make du'a for anyone else.

The Lesson of Surah Al-'Asr

And finally, my brothers and sisters, I leave with you the advice Allah gave us in one of the greatest chapters in the Qur'an — Surah Al-'Asr:

Indeed, mankind is in loss — except those who have faith. Hold on to your faith. Hold on to your deen. Hold on to لا إله إلا الله. And make sure your children hold on to it as well, because it is getting increasingly difficult to do so.

And they do righteous actions. Ramadan just finished — go from strength to strength. And Dhul Hijjah is approaching, and Hajj is approaching. Continue your personal ibadah, your personal development, your personal knowledge. Continue worshipping Allah.

And they recommend and call each other towards the truth — always. Give da'wah. Remind. Teach. Forbid evil. Enjoin good.

And they recommend each other patience. At these difficult times — whether you are going through a personal trial with your health, with your wealth, with your family — or you see the ummah going through trials of war and instability and famine and all of these things — remember: sabr is your key to Jannah. And remember, Allah loves those who are patient.

Closing Du'a