By Shaykh Aḥmad Mūsā Jibrīl حفظه
The Ultimate Victory
Excerpt 5 [The Path of Purification]
Hirāql understood that winning and losing battles is an indication that he's the final Messenger ﷺ, and that he will rule his entire empire.
So if you know the reality of the path, and that it's full of obstacles, you don't waiver, you don't give up. It's no doubt difficult, but you've chosen to follow the pure path of the Muwaḥḥidīn and no one promised this is gonna be a joy ride.
Trials certify your claims. It's either resilience or whimpering. Easily achieved victories don't last or survive. Easily achieved victories are for toddlers to boast or bolster about.
Real victories elevate on the shoulders of the legends. Rest assured, when Allāh سبحانه و تعالى places trials on individuals, the most honourable of those trials, are the ones inflicted due to one's Tawḥīd.
When the person stands firm with ṣabr and patience, Allāh سبحانه و تعالى will not leave him without solace and comfort. Allāh سبحانه و تعالى may bring about a trial, but he always combines it with His Luṭf. ٱللَّهُ لَطِيفٌۢ بِعِبَادِهِۦ . That's why you should never worry about future trials. You never worry about future trials pertaining to personal matters, or trials pertaining to your belief in لا إله إلا الله محمد رسول الله.
Keep your mind focused on Tawḥīd and keep it free of future fears that only exist in 'Ilm al-Ghayb.
When trials come, Allāh سبحانه و تعالى combines them with His Lutf. Particularly for the Muwaḥḥidīn. Why? So that they can handle it.
ٱللَّهُ لَطِيفٌۢ بِعِبَادِهِ
(42:19)
مَآ أَصَابَ مِن مُّصِيبَةٍ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ ٱللَّهِۗ وَمَن يُؤْمِنۢ بِٱللَّهِ يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُۥۚ
(64:11)
يَهْدِ قَلْبَهُۥۚ
When the trial befalls, the Luṭf of Allāh سبحانه و تعالى to His servants, is intertwined with it, for the Muwaḥḥid who accepts the Qadr of Allāh سبحانه و تعالى and is patient.
I'm gonna lose my marriage. I'm gonna lose my job. I can't pay my bills. They're gonna put me on a list. They're gonna watch me. They're gonna harass me at airports, prison. Keep your mind free from future matters that you anticipate, but only exist in the 'Ilm of the Ghayb of Allāh سبحانه و تعالى. Because you're dealing with Allāh, Who doesn't slumber nor sleep. Nor does a leaf drop without Him knowing it. Despair, frustration, giving up, depression, changing courses, they have no room in a Muwaḥḥid's heart. He knows it was written in Allāh سبحانه و تعالى's Book. And he knows Allāh سبحانه و تعالى will deal with it.
إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ فِى كِتَٰبٍۚ إِنَّ ذَٰلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرٌ
(22:70)
He knows that Allāh سبحانه و تعالى allowed it to happen. And that the globe, with all their might and power, and resources, couldn't help nor harm him. The path of the Muwaḥḥidīn flourishes and prospers and becomes stronger, and more refined when it faces challenges. So don't worry about it.
وَلِيُمَحِّصَ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ وَيَمْحَقَ ٱلْكَٰفِرِينَ
(3:141)
Tamhīṣ, then Maḥaq. Allāh سبحانه و تعالى will soothe the heart of a Muwaḥḥid and a Muwaḥḥidah during trials and hardships by a dream they may have, an īmānic spiritual feeling— one doesn't know how it penetrated his heart or where it came from; ultimate comfort and seclusion with Allāh سبحانه و تعالى, Glad tidings and dreams others have of him or them; a verse he or she reads that comforts the heart and brings about a personal meaning and understanding in that verse, that they feel relates to their exact situation.
مع كل محنة منحة. ومن المحن تأتى المنح
Sayings. بين طيّات المِحَن تأتي المِنَح. Sayings. I say, with trials come the grants from Allāh سبحانه و تعالى. That's the positive thinking of every Muwaḥḥid and Muwaḥḥidah who wants to succeed, no matter what befalls them or those who they love for the Sake of Allāh.
'Ā'ishah رضي الله عنها, assuming the worst day that the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ faced was the battle of Uḥd, because of what happened, loss of 70 of his beloved companions and his uncle, she said, have you ever encountered anything more difficult than the day of Uḥd?
The Messenger ﷺ said, your tribe troubled me alot. And the worst trouble was the on the day of al-'Aqabah. I departed overwhelmed with excessive sorrow. I was sad and I proceeded until I reached Qarni Tha'alib.
He woke up in Qarni tha'alib, he lifted his head to Jibrīl عليه السلام telling him, Allāh has heard what your people told you and what you replied to them. And here at your command is the Angel of the mountains, order him what you want. The Angel of mountain says, if you like I can close in the Akhshabayn. I can let the Akhshabayn, the two mountains fall upon them.
And right after that comes even a bigger grant from Allāh سبحانه و تعالى, a journey from Makkah to al-Aqṣā to Sidrat al-Muntaha.
(17:1)
سُبْحَٰنَ ٱلَّذِىٓ أَسْرَىٰ بِعَبْدِهِۦ لَيْلًا مِّنَ ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْحَرَامِ إِلَى ٱلْمَسْجِدِ ٱلْأَقْصَا ٱلَّذِى بَٰرَكْنَا حَوْلَهُۥ لِنُرِيَهُۥ مِنْ ءَايَٰتِنَآۚ
He took His slave on a journey from al-Masjid al-Ḥarām to the farthest Masjid, al-Aqṣā, to show him the mighty signs of Allāh.
إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلسَّمِيعُ ٱلْبَصِيرُ
Pay attention to the end of the verse. The end of the verse is very essential. The All-Hearer, the All-Seer. He heard what you did. He heard and saw what they did. Now comes, and you are patient, now comes a grant beyond your imagination. If the people of the Earth ousted you, then the ones in the Heavens welcome and greet you.
عِندَ سِدْرَةِ ٱلْمُنتَهَىٰ
(53:14)
Every patient believer, everyone who's patient from the believers, and he's firm, will see a good 'āqibah in this Dunyā and Ākhirah. Because Allāh سبحانه و تعالى said: وَبَشِّرِ ٱلصَّٰبِرِينَ. Glad tidings for those who are patient. It's not limited to glad tidings in Dunyā. Nor is it limited to glad tidings in Ākhirah. It's broad in general. Dunyā and Ākhirah.
When you know the reality of the path, you need to grasp on the rope of Allāh سبحانه و تعالى as if your life depends on it.