Keep Calm And Trust The Almighty
By Sulaiman Moola | 2026-01-16T16:02:37.327434+00:00 | Topic: Iman
Keep Calm And Trust The Almighty
Sheikh Sulaiman Moola
Opening
(بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ - bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim)
All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. I pray and send salutations upon the One who was sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and upon his family and his companions, and upon those who were guided by his guidance and followed his Sunnah until the Day of Judgment and beyond.
(أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ الشَّيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ • بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَنِ الرَّحِيمِ - aʿūḏu bi-llāhi mina-š-šayṭāni-r-rajīm • bismi-llāhi-r-raḥmāni-r-raḥīm)
Main Hadith: Preserve Allah
Honourable scholars, respected brothers, elders, mothers and sisters, the Messenger ﷺ addressing the young lad, Abdullah ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما), in a very profound interaction while they were mounted on a common conveyance, he said:
"O young boy, obey and preserve Allah. And Allah will protect you and Allah will preserve you."
How do you obey and preserve Allah? By obliging to the dictates of the Quran and Sunnah, by living a life in accordance with the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ. In return, Allah will protect you.
Allah's Hidden Protection
Ibn Rajab Hanbali writes that often Allah protects a person through a medium and an avenue that he is unaware of. A mother embraces her child, a father shelters his child, a teacher protects his student. Often Allah protects his servant in ways the servant doesn't realize due to limited understanding.
Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud (رضي الله عنه) said: Sometimes a person intends a business venture or seeks a position, toiling and campaigning for it. Allah, out of His divine wisdom, diverts this away. The person complains: "He abandoned me, things backfired."
But Abdullah Ibn Mas'ud says: " وَمَا هُوَ إِلَّا فَضْلُ اللهِ" - that was nothing but the plan of Allah for you. If Allah had allowed it to materialize, it would have been profitable by monetary definition but detrimental by spiritual evaluation.
Many times Allah protects us through avenues we cannot comprehend. Due to our naive nature we might be apprehensive, only to later understand it was the hidden hand of Allah protecting us.
The Story of Maryam's Mother
The mother of Maryam (عليها السلام), the spouse of Imran, prayed that Allah bless her with a child to devote to Masjid al-Aqsa. The norm was that only males were accepted for this mission.
When she conceived, she pledged:
"O my Lord, verily I have pledged what is in my womb dedicated to You." (Quran 3:35)
Pledges Made and Forgotten
In life, we make pledges to Allah casually. Many pledges are made in calm and forgotten in storm.
When performing Hajj on the 10th of Dhul-Hijjah - a busy day with pelting, slaughtering, shaving, and Tawaf al-Ziyarah - Allah interjects to remind us:
"Then let them remove impurities, fulfill their vows, and circumambulate the Ancient House." (Quran 22:29)
Don't forget the commitments you made to your Lord! All your life you said: "The day I go for Hajj, I will change my life." Now engaged in rituals, don't forget those pledges.
Allah says some people make promises:
"When Allah gives wealth, they withhold it and turn away." (Quran 9:76)
Story of Hasan, Hussain, and Ja'far
Hasan, Hussain, and their cousin Ja'far (رضي الله عنهم) were traveling from Medina to Makkah. They lost their belongings and resources, becoming desperate.
They approached an elderly woman who said: "I'm living hand to mouth, but I have a goat. You can milk it."
They drank the milk. She offered: "You can slaughter it if needed." Out of hunger, they did so.
They thanked her, saying: "We're from Quraish, people of high standing. Crisis has gripped us on this journey. After Hajj, please visit us in Medina. We'd love to reciprocate your kindness."
Time Moved On
No person should feel that if in a soft spot, they're anchored there forever. A believer perpetually fears Allah can strike at any moment. A hypocrite feels secure in wealth and health.
"Do they feel secure from Allah's plan? None feel secure except the losing people." (Quran 7:99)
Destiny at the Door
After Hajj, life became challenging for the couple. The husband, upset about the slaughtered goat, complained. Things deteriorated until they came begging to Medina.
وَالْحَسَنُ جَالِسٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ عَلَى بَابٍ دَارِهِ - Sayyidina Hasan (رضي الله عنه) was standing at his door!
Hasan resembled the Prophet ﷺ from head to waist; Hussain from waist down.
Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه gave Hasan and Hussain 5000 dirhams allowance, but his son Abdullah Ibn Umar only 1000. When questioned about discrimination, Umar replied: "It's not you versus them - it's your mother versus their mother. Your mother can't equal the honor of being Muhammad's daughter ﷺ."
Sayyidina Umar's Three Envies
Sayyidina Umar (رضي الله عنه) said: "I'm grateful for Allah's bounties, but I'm green with envy for three things given to Sayyidina Ali:
1. The Battle of Khaybar
When Muslims couldn't penetrate, the Prophet ﷺ said:
(Source Name)
"Tomorrow I'll give the flag to a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him."
Umar said: "مَا تَمَنَّيْتُ الْإِمَارَةَ إِلَّا يَوْمَئِذٍ" - "I never aspired for leadership except that day - not for position but for the accolade."
The Prophet ﷺ asked: "أَيْنَ عَلِيٌّ" - "Where is Ali?"
2. Proximity to the Masjid His house's closeness to the masjid
3. Wedding Fatima وَزَوَّجَهُ فَاطِمَةَ - The privilege of marrying Fatima
The Quality of Happiness for Others
Sayyidina Umar said:
"Nothing defines a jealous man more than his sadness at your happy occasions."
May Allah give us open hearts to be happy for others. If the joy of others is your joy, every day you'll have a reason to be happy.
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud's Night Prayer
Abdullah ibn Mas'ud performed late-night prayer. Abu Bakr, Umar, and the Prophet ﷺ passed by. He was so immersed, oblivious to their presence.
"When you finish, exert yourself and turn to your Lord." (Quran 94:7-8)
As Abdullah supplicated, the Prophet ﷺ said from behind: "آمِينَ آمِينَ آمِينَ" - "Ameen, Ameen, Ameen."
Can there be a greater combination of nobility? Abdullah praying at night, the Prophet ﷺ saying Ameen!
The Race to Share Good News
Sayyidina Umar thought: "Tomorrow I'll rush to congratulate him!" He got up with dedicated agenda - just to be happy for his happiness.
He dashed to Abdullah's door: "Do you know when you were supplicating, the Prophet was saying Ameen?"
Abdullah replied: "I appreciate your sentiments, but Abu Bakr was here earlier and informed me."
" وَاللَّهِ مَا سَبَقْتُ أَبَا بَكْرٍ إِلَى خَيْرٍ قَطُّ إِلَّا سَبَقَنِي إِلَيْهِ"
"I found a niche to potentially excel him - sharing joy before others - but Abu Bakr surpassed me. He's excelled us in everything. May Allah give us clean hearts."
Warning Against Rivalry
Allama Nawawi mentions groups will come : يَجْلِسُونَ حَلْقًا يُبَاهِي بَعْضُهُمْ بَعْضًا - sitting in circles, boasting: "Who's our speaker? Our congregants?"
حَتَّى أَنَّ رَجُلًا يَغْضَبُ عَلَى جَلِيسِهِ أَنْ يَجْلِسَ إِلَى غَيْرِهِ - Getting offended if someone attends another gathering.
أُولَئِكَ لَا تُصْعَدُ أَعْمَالُهُمْ - None of those actions ascend to the heavens.
Generosity of the Sahaba
Luqman Hakeem's Advice
Luqman told his son:
- When someone is kind to you: Never forget it
- When you're kind to someone: Never remember it
When asked for something heavenly on earth, Luqman raised his mother's foot, took sand beneath it, and presented it: "If there's anything heavenly on earth, it's the sand beneath your mother's foot."
Abu Bakr's Pure Intention
Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) liberated weak, frail slaves. His father suggested freeing strong, talented ones who could assist later.
Abu Bakr replied: "When I help someone, I look for people with no remote possibility of reciprocation so I take my full reward from Allah."
Allah revealed:
"His kindness wasn't to offset any favor but driven exclusively to please Allah, and soon Allah will please him." (Quran 92:19-21)
Complete the Ayah
People display: "إِنَّ هَذَا مِن فَضْلِ رَبِّي" - "This is from my Lord's grace" (Quran 27:40)
But complete it: "لِيَبْلُوَنِي أَأَشْكُرُ أَمْ أَكْفُرُ" - "To test me: Am I grateful or ungrateful?"
The Three Sons and the Elderly Woman
Hassan (رضي الله عنه spotted the woman at his door, gave her 1000 goats and 1000 dinars, and sent her to Hussain.
Hussain didn't say "500 from me, 500 from him." No - each has their own grave, their own accountability. He gave 1000 goats and 1000 dinars independently, then sent her to Ja'far.
Ja'far said: "If you'd started with me, I'd have given more than both combined. But I don't want to be insensitive, so take 2000 goats and 2000 dinars."
These were people who honored pledges:
"They honor their vows and fear a Day of widespread evil." (Quran 76:7)
Birth of Maryam (Continued)
The mother of Maryam hoped for a male to devote to Masjid al-Aqsa. When she gave birth, she exclaimed:
"O my Lord, I've given birth to a female. Allah knows what she gave birth to, and the male is not like the female." (Quran 3:36)
"Allah knows what every female carries and what the wombs decrease or increase." (Quran 13:8)
This all-embracing expression encapsulates every fetal development: gender, age, fortune, complexion.
Drawing Lots for Guardianship
Maryam was taken to Masjid al-Aqsa under Zakariya's guardianship (عَلَيْهِ السَّلام - 'alayhis-salaam). They drew lots by dropping pens in water - the pen floating against the current would indicate the chosen guardian.
Our message: When tides are high and challenges overwhelming, hold firm. Allah's plan is perfect.
Arabic Grammar Lesson: Two Eases
"Verily with difficulty is ease. Verily with difficulty is ease."
عُسْرِ appears with alif-laam both times (definite) = same difficulty يُسْرًا appears without alif-laam (indefinite) = two different eases
The problems of believers are one (this world's challenges), but Allah promises dual ease.
The Prophet ﷺ said:
"One difficulty cannot overpower two eases. If in difficulty now, it was preceded by ease and will be followed by ease. Just hang on - Allah will make it easy."
The Story of Urwa ibn al-Zubair
Urwa ibn al-Zubair (رحمه الله - rahimahullah) was born in Umar's khilafat. His father: Zubair ibn al-Awam (رضي الله عنه - radiyallahu 'anhu). His mother: Asma bint Abi Bakr (رضي الله عنها - radiyallahu 'anha) - dhatun nitaqayn, who split her apron to tie the Prophet's food and water during hijra.
He learned from his aunt Aisha (رضي الله عنها - radiyallahu 'anha), becoming among Medina's seven prominent jurists.
His Generosity
Allah blessed him with generosity. He fenced his orchards to protect them. When fruit ripened, he broke the fence and gave open access: "Come, eat, fill your bags - it's free!"
Because of his generosity, Allah blessed his wealth accordingly.
The Double Tragedy
Walid Ibn Abdul Malik summoned him to Damascus. He took his eldest son. Tragically, the king's horse kicked
his son, killing him.
While lowering his son into the grave, Urwa injured his foot so severely it started swelling unbearably. Doctors said: The only way forward is amputation.
He lost his son. Now losing his leg.
Human Nature
When problems double up, we wonder why. But when prosperity doubles up, we never ask why!
Money flows from four directions - we never say "Allah, why me?" But when tough times come...
Sayyidina Ali (رضي الله عنه - radiyallahu 'anhu) lost the Prophet ﷺ, then six months later lost Fatima (رضي الله عنها - radiyallahu 'anha):
"Losing Fatima after Muhammad convinces me: Nobody has ever come here to stay."
Farewell to His Leg
Before amputation, Urwa asked for his leg. He gently stroked it:
"We part ways. I'm happy to say: As long as you were part of my body, I never put my weight on you toward vice even once. You won't give negative testimony against me."
Then he recited:
"My legs never walked toward vice. Neither did my ears hear nor my eyes see anything obscene. If I've been tested, others around me are tested much more."
His Return to Medina
People feared: How do we welcome Urwa? What words comfort a man who went with his son and returns without an organ or son?
He addressed them:
"Don't be saddened. I've made peace with Allah's decision. My Allah gave me four organs - two hands, two legs. He's so kind - He only took one, left three. He gave me four sons - He's so merciful - He only took one, left three. If He has taken, He surely left more. If He has tested, He surely favored more."
The Story of Zaynab bint Jahash
The Prophet ﷺ emerged from three tough years in the valley of Abu Talib. His devoted spouse Khadijah (رضي الله عنها - radiyallahu 'anha) passed away at 65. The final three years of her marriage were spent in sanctions.
Today, which spouse has that patience? When things get tough, marriages break.
He barely exited. It's the 10th year of Prophethood:
- Five days later: Abu Talib passed away (وَكَانَ أَبُو طَالِبٍ يَحُوطُهُ - wa kaana abu Talibin yahootuhu - he protected the Prophet)
- Three days after that: Khadijah (رضي الله عنها - radiyallahu 'anha) passed away
History calls this (عَامُ الْحُزْنِ - 'aamul huzn) - The Year of Anguish, the year of pain. The Prophet's pain reached indescribable levels.
Then Came Mi'raj
Scholars say: The mounting challenges culminated in Mi'raj - Allah took him to the heavens and beyond!
For believers: When things get tough and one tragedy follows another, surely your Mi'raj may not happen, but in mysterious ways Allah's favor will come through unimaginable avenues.
Allah blessed the Prophet ﷺ with Mi'raj after Abu Talib's death, Khadijah's death, and Ta'if's journey.
Allah speaks of Mi'raj's journey in Surah Isra (17:60)
The Story of Zaynab bint Jahash
Zaynab was sister of Abdullah and Himna bint Jahash (رضي الله عنها - radiyallahu 'anha). Her mother was Umayma - daughter of Abdul Muttalib, paternal aunt of the Prophet ﷺ, sister of Hamza (رضي الله عنه - radiyallahu 'anhu)
Her original name was Barrah. The Prophet ﷺ named her Zaynab.
She was very pious, religious, from a noble family - first cousin of the Messenger ﷺ.
Breaking Class Barriers
Arabs had a custom: certain classes were elite, others lower, some substandard. The Messenger ﷺ wanted to demolish this and bring equality.
Islam's teaching: All are equal in Allah's eyes. If anything matters, it's taqwa and piety, not color or creed.
"Don't abandon piety relying on lineage nobility. Islam elevated Salman the Persian and humiliated Abu Lahab."
The Proposal
The Prophet ﷺ decided:
أَرَادَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ أَنْ يُزَوِّجَ ابْنَةَ عَمِّهِ زَيْنَبَ
To marry his cousin Zaynab to his freed slave Zayd - showing that former slaves can marry nobility.
The Prophet ﷺ proposed on Zayd's behalf. She modestly declined: (لَسْتُ بِنَاكِحَتِهِ - lastu binaakihatihi) - "I won't marry him."
The Prophet ﷺ said: (بَلْ فَانْكِحِيهِ - bal fankihī) - "I feel you should."
Revelation came down:
"It's not befitting for believing men or women, when Allah and His Messenger decide a matter, to have any choice."
Zaynab asked: (يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ هَلْ رَضِيتَهُ لِي؟ - yaa rasoolAllahi hal radheetahu lee?) - "Are you happy with Zayd as my husband?"
The Prophet ﷺ: "Precisely why I'm proposing."
She said: (قَدْ رَضِيتُهُ - qad radheetuhu) - "I'm happy. I accept."
The Nikah was performed. Zayd gave 10 dinars dowry, 60 dirhams, a scarf, food, and grain.
Here's the first challenge in Zaynab's life: She was made to wed someone against her wish. She had reservations, but obeyed. But the narrations continue...
The Marriage Was Rocky
شَاءَتْ حِكْمَةُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى أَنْ لَا يَتَوَافَقَا زَيْدٌ وَزَيْنَبُ فِي أَمْرِ النِّكَاحِ
"Allah's wisdom was that this marriage wasn't to hold. It was turbulent and rocky from inception."
وَصَارَتِ الْحَيَاةُ بَيْنَهُمَا لَا تَسْتَطِيعُ الْبَقَاءَ
Life became such it couldn't continue. Compatibility wasn't happening.
The Prophet ﷺ would say: (أَمْسِكْ عَلَيْكَ زَوْجَكَ وَاتَّقِ اللهَ - imsik 'alayka zawjak wa-ttaqi Allah) - "Zaid, try to work it out. She married against her wish to please me."
Allah's Plan
My message: There are challenges. Allah's wisdom is perfect. Allah's plan is perfect. A believer finds his Creator.
Abu Hazim said: "Every tragedy that makes you inch closer to your Creator is really a bounty in disguise. If you found your Creator, what you lost is far less than what you found."
After the Divorce
In Arabic : (إِنَّ الصِّحَّةَ يُسَبَبِ سُقْمٍ كَانَتْ عِبْرَةٌ - inna as-sihhata yusabibu suqmin kaanat 'ibratun) - "Some sicknesses are the cause of cure."
Sometimes you need to get sicker to be hospitalized, to understand the critical nature, to change your life. In disguise, that sickness is actually a cure.
The Prophet kept telling Zaid: "Please hang on, stall it, bear with it." But he realized it wouldn't hold:
"You conceal in yourself what Allah will reveal, and you fear people, but Allah is more worthy of your fear."
In his heart he concealed: If Zaid divorces, the only way to patch this woman's emotions is if I marry her - because she went through so much. That was the precise divine planning.
After the Divorce
Zaid (رضي الله عنه - radiyallahu 'anhu) divorced Zaynab (رضي الله عنها - radiyallahu 'anha). After the waiting period, there was no formal earthly marriage.
The Quran says: When Zaid divorced her, We wedded you to her, O Messenger.
She used to boast to co-wives: "O Aisha, your dad Abu Bakr married you. O Hafsa, your dad Umar married you. My Nikah was solemnized by Allah Himself!"
Why This Entire Cycle?
What was the wisdom?
See how Allah compensates! Whatever your challenges, if you're compensated by becoming the wife of the Messenger ﷺ, it pales every challenge compared to the honor.
Imagine being the spouse of the Prophet ﷺ!
Saudah's Sacrifice
Saudah bint Zam'ah (رضي الله عنها - radiyallahu 'anha) - the Prophet intended to divorce her (narrations aren't explicit why, but they're clear about intention).
She came: "O Nabi of Allah, please don't divorce me."
"I'm of age. I know you're fond of Aisha. I'm giving my day willfully that you could spend with Aisha. I'm forfeiting all my rights, but keep me in your Nikah. So I die as your partner and stand up as your partner on Qiyamah Day."
The Prophet accepted:
فَكَانَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ يَقْسِمُ لِعَائِشَةَ يَوْمَيْنِ يَوْمَهَا وَيَوْمَ سَوْدَةَ
He had a dual day - her allotted day plus Saudah's day.
Imagine how clean her heart! This was her co-wife, like a child to her in age. Saudah was the most elderly of spouses; Aisha the youngest. But she realized the honor: She remains our mother, mother of believers till Qiyamah, standing alongside the Messenger.
Allah Compensated Zaynab
Allah tested Zaynab. She married by the Messenger's dictate against her personal choice. The marriage was rocky. She persevered. It dissolved.
Sometimes you think: "I got married properly, followed procedures, everything was correct - why did this happen?"
Don't ask why. Allah's plan is perfect.
Allah compensated her by bringing her into the Messenger's wedlock.
The Wisdom of Adoption Laws
The Arab Myth
There was a myth: If you adopt someone, they become your biological son.
If your biological son divorces his wife, you cannot marry her (daughter-in-law prohibition).
The Quran's Truth
When it comes to truth, Allah says it as it is. That is Islam's beauty.
The Prophet ﷺ had adopted Zaid, making him his son. Allah revealed: "O Muhammad ﷺ, he's not your son."
"Allah is not shy of the truth."
Today we accommodate, consider sensitivities, worry about offense. But when it comes to truth, Allah pronounces it as is.
Allah said:
"He has not made your adopted sons your [true] sons."
Allah refuted three things:
- Two hearts: The notion that wise men had two hearts
- Adopted sons: They're not your biological sons
- Divorce metaphor: Saying "you're like my mother's back" doesn't make her your mother
The Opening of Surah Mujadila
"None are their mothers except those who gave birth to them."
And the son you adopted is not your son. To practically break this practice, an adopted son is not your son, hence his ex-wife is not your daughter-in-law.
Daughter-in-law prohibition is for your son from your loin:
"And wives of your sons who are from your loins."
Breaking the Practice
To practically dismantle this:
- The Prophet ﷺ adopted Zaid → Allah said he's not your son
- Allah said: "ادْعُوهُمْ لِآبَائِهِمْ" - "Call them by their [biological] fathers" (Quran 33:5)
- Zaid had to marry (becoming "son-in-law")
- Marriage had to dissolve
- Prophet ﷺ married her to show: adopted son's ex-wife is not your daughter-in-law
"So there wouldn't be guilt for believers [marrying] former wives of adopted sons."
Future believers won't have guilt because the Prophet ﷺ did it.
The Beautiful Twist
When Zaid's marriage ended, the Prophet ﷺ told Zaid: "Go to Zaynab and propose on my behalf."
Yesterday, the Prophet ﷺ proposed to Zaynab for Zaid. Now Zaid proposes to his former wife for the Prophet!
This is in all hadith books:
"This shows: No divorce/conflict should prevent desiring good for your former partner."
What a clean society! What rich morals! What pristine values!
You can go back and still desire good. Go to your former wife and say:
"Congratulations Zaynab, Allah's Nabi ﷺ is proposing!"
That is Islam's teaching.
Maqal ibn Yasar )رضي الله عنه( : His sister married Abu Dahdah )رضي الله عنه(. After talaq, the former couple decided to remarry.
Maqal told his sister: "If you marry him back, I'm not your brother. We have no ties. Why go back?"
Allah said: That's not how we deal with situations.
"When you divorce women and they complete their waiting period, don't prevent them from remarrying their [former] husbands if they mutually agree."
If they're happy and want to remarry - just because you said so? No.
The verse was revealed. Maqal )رضي الله عنه( told his sister: "You can remarry Abu Dahdah."
On Tests and Trials
"My Lord is subtle in what He wills."
Often when there's crisis, atheists say: "If you believe, where was your God?"
"Isn't total compassion not testing you?"
Religious and logical reply: No. Why?
"Because we've been created to be tested."
"Without tests/challenges, we wouldn't know who advanced, who stayed behind, who lagged."
"Life and test are twins, paired together."
"He created death and life [to test you]."
Allah Tests But Also Favors
Allah forgives without taunting. Man taunts without forgiving.
When Allah forgives you, Allah won't say: "Yeah, but I forgave you." I cry at this hadith part. Allah knows how much I've cried. Sometimes you've hurt someone - you know how long it takes to get them to forgive.
That's why they say: When your partner makes a mistake, don't rub it in, rub it out.
Allah says (paraphrased): "My servant, if you sin, sin, sin, then decide to repent - I'm going to forgive you. And I won't rave about it. It's a done deal."
Some people forgive, but you'll hear about it for the rest of your life!
Allah tests, and in the test also Allah favors.
Prophet Yusuf )عَلَيْهِ السَّلام
Yusuf was dropped in the well by his brothers. What a challenge!
When he's dropped:
"We revealed to him: 'You will surely inform them of this affair when they perceive not."
Allah tested him, but in the midst of the test, Allah comforted him. Allah gave him wahi in the well's depth: "Yusuf, a time will come - you'll narrate these events to these very brothers, identifying them, and they'll be clueless you're the king."
At the time when he's dropped, Allah tells him: When you'll be sitting on Egypt's throne, your brothers before you.
So Allah did test him. He was dropped down, but Allah also comforted him.
The Story of the Romans and Persians
During the Prophet's time, the Romans fought the Persians. The Romans were People of the Book. Muslims had a sense of allegiance toward them.
The Persians were dominant and victorious. The Romans were defeated.
News filtered into Mecca. Muslims were saddened over the Romans' loss. Meccans said:
"Just as the Romans were defeated by Persians, we'll defeat you too!"
Muslims were in early stages - weak, frail, without structure or resources. The Romans, with whom they had affinity, were defeated.
Allah revealed:
"Alif-Lam-Meem. The Romans have been defeated in the nearest land. But they, after their defeat, will overcome within a few [three to nine] years."
Sayyiduna Abu Bakr )رضي الله عنه( entered a contract with a disbeliever: "In seven years, the defeated army will be victorious!"
The Prophet said: "Don't say seven. Allah used بضع )three to nine). Extend the period to be safe according to the Quran's prophecy." He said three to nine years.
Allah's Perfect Planning
What did I say earlier? Sometimes in life, challenges double only to bring a day where glory will double.
Allah brought victory day where the Romans, defeated, only the Quran can predict a defeated nation's victory at defeat time! When someone's defeated, who can say they'll rise?
At defeat time, the Quran said: "They'll stand up, rise, and overpower their enemy."
But Allah's planning: This victory coincided with the Muslims' victory at Badr!
Dual joy! Dual happiness!
"And that day the believers will rejoice in Allah's victory. He gives victory to whom He wills."
They were joyous over:
- Muslims' victory at Badr
- Romans' victory over their opponent
Khaybar's Conquest
When Khaybar's spoils were collected - rich wealth poured in, handsome assets, great monetary value - the Prophet said:
"I don't know what makes me happier: Khaybar's conquest or Ja'far's arrival!"
Ja'far was sent to Abyssinia/Yemen. His wife: Asma bint Umais )رضي الله عنها(. They had three children: Aoun, Muhammad, and Abdullah. He was separated from the Prophet ﷺ over a decade.
He came into Medina at the same time as Khaybar's conquest!
The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah brought dual joy today: Khaybar's conquest (so anticipated!) and my cousin Ja'far's reunion. I don't know which gives me greater joy!"
Closing Du'a
We ask Allah )سُبْحَانَهُ وَتَعَالَى to grant us ease and wellness. We ask Allah never to test us, but if He has decided to
Specific Supplications
O Allah, we ask You in this time of trial and tribulation:
- Challenges have rocked the planet: turbulence across the globe - internally, socially, politically, financially, morally, spiritually
- Grant us strength, ease, and goodness
For marriages in difficulty:
- Unite the couples, Allah
For those guilty of infidelity:
- Give them ability to abandon sin and vice
For young brothers and sisters of marriageable age:
- Grant them good partners
For those addicted to substance abuse, haram, pornography, or any vice:
- Free them
- Create in our hearts and their hearts the dislike of sin
- Make vice repugnant to us - let us despise, dislike, and abhor it
For those whose parents are alive:
- Give us ability to serve them optimally
- Let us be children who bring smiles of joy
- Let us be those who comfort them
For those whose parents have passed:
- Elevate their abode in Paradise
- Convert their vice into virtue
For wealth:
- Give us wealth through halal sources
"O Allah, give us wealth that doesn't make us arrogant, and health that doesn't make us negligent."
For our youth:
- Protect them
- Guide them
For our leaders:
- Grant us good rulers
- Grant good people
For oppression:
- Put an end to all tyranny and oppression
- Put an end to all killing and massacre
For imprisoned Muslims:
- Create their freedom, liberation, and emancipation
For our death:
- Grant us a noble, blessed, enviable death
- Give us ability to prepare for our death
- Grant us death in the state of iman
"O Allah, take our souls while You are pleased with us."
For this gathering:
- Reward those who invited, facilitated, attended, or intended to come
- Make our assembly a source of goodness
- Unite us in Jannah's gardens as You've united us here today
Final Du'a
Transcribed and corrected from a lecture by Sheikh Sulaiman Moola
Formatted for clarity while preserving the original message, Arabic text, and Quranic references
Key Themes Summary
- Allah's Hidden Protection - We often don't recognize Allah's protection
- Challenges as Blessings - Tests can be disguised favors
- Honor Your Pledges - Don't make casual vows to Allah
- Generosity of the Sahaba - Pure intentions in giving
- Happiness for Others - True believers rejoice in others' joy
- Breaking Class Barriers - Islam's equality transcends lineage
- Patience in Trials - Allah's plan is perfect even when we don't understand
- Two Eases with One Difficulty - Allah's promise in hardship
- Allah Tests But Also Favors - Even in testing, there is divine kindness
- Trust the Divine Plan - Keep calm and trust the Almighty
May Allah accept this effort and make it beneficial for all who read it. Ameen.