The Hard Times On Muslim Ummah
And if Allah had willed, He could have taken vengeance upon them [Himself], but [He ordered armed struggle] to test some of you by means of others. And those who are killed in the cause of Allah – never will He waste their deeds. Quran 47:4
Condition of Ummah will worsen
Narrated Humaid: I heard Muawiya bin Abi Sufyan delivering a sermon. He said, “I heard the Prophet saying, “If Allah wants to do a favor to somebody, He bestows on him, the gift of understanding the Quran and Sunna. I am but a distributor, and Allah is the Giver. The state of this nation will remain good till the Hour is established, or till Allah’s Order comes.”
[Bukhari Volume 9, Book 92, Number 415]
Various indications has been made By Prophet Muhamamd PBUH about the advent of hard time on his people.
This can be categorized into
1- Killings among Muslims
2- Enemies of Islam uniting against Muslims
3- Because of Love of World
1- The Killings Among Muslims
Thauban reported that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Allah drew the ends of the world near one another for my sake. And I have seen its eastern and western ends. And the dominion of my Ummah would reach those ends which have been drawn near me and I have been granted the red and the white treasure and I begged my
Lord for my Ummah that it should not be destroyed because of famine, nor be dominated by an enemy who is not amongst them to take their lives and destroy them root and branch, and my Lord said: Muhammad, whenever I make a decision, there is none to change it.
Well, I grant you for your Ummah that it would not be destroyed by famine and it would not be dominated by an enemy who would not be amongst it and would take their lives and destroy them root and branch even if all the people from the different parts of the world join hands together (for this purpose), but it would be from amongst them, viz. your Ummah, that some people would kill the others or imprison the others.
[Muslim Book 041, Number 6904]
‘Amir b. Sa’d reported on the authority of his father that one day Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) came from a high, land. He passed by the mosque of Banu Mu’awiya, went in and observed two rak’ahs there and we also observed prayer along with him and he made a long supplication to his Lord. He then came to us and said: I asked my Lord three things and He has granted me two but has withheld one.
I begged my Lord that my Ummah should not be destroyed because of famine and He granted me this. And I begged my Lord that my Ummah should not be destroyed by drowning (by deluge) and He granted me this. And I begged my Lord that there should be no bloodshed among the people of my Ummah but He did not grant it.
[Muslim Book 041, Number 6906]
This Hadith explains that prior to the Last Hour the Muslims will get involve in killing each other either encouraged by third party or for their own benefits. When Holy Prophet PBUH supplicated to Allah he asked three things from Allah among which two Allah accepted but one He denied. For years Muslims have fought each other for power, money and to save their own interest even by harming his fellow Muslims.
This Hadith is a reminder to the Ummah that as the Hour approach near the Ummah will involve in bloodshed. Many battles have been fought between Muslims such as Battle of Camel, Karbala, Siffin, etc all resulting in death of thousands of Muslims worsening the state of Ummah
2- Enemies of Islam uniting against Muslims and Al Wahn
Narrated Thawban: The Prophet said: The people will soon summon one another to attack you as people when eating invite others to share their dish. Someone asked: Will that be because of our small numbers at that time? He replied: No, you will be numerous at that time:
but you will be scum and rubbish like that carried down by a torrent, and Allah will take fear of you from the breasts of your enemy and last enervation into your hearts. Someone asked: What is wahn (enervation). Messenger of Allah: He replied: Love of the world and dislike of death.
[Sunan Abu Dawud Book 38, Hadith 4284]
The Hadith predicts about a time where the enemies of Islam will join hands and will call each other to attack Muslims as people invite each other to share a dish. This will not occur because of extinct population of Muslims but the increase of love of the world and dislike of death where as the Muslims will be In great numbers that time but Allah will take fear of Muslims out of the breasts of our enemies.
“When is the victory and the support of Allah?..” (Al-Baqarah 2:214)
Difficulties help attach the believers to Allah in a comprehensive way.
This statement was made by a group of believers and their messenger when they were touched by difficulty and they were shaken on their path to Allah. Allah said to His Messenger, to the believers, and to all humanity that the path to Allah is full of these tough times:
” Or do you think that you would enter the garden while yet the state of those who have passed away before you has not come upon you; distress and affliction befell them and they were shaken violently, so that the Messenger and those who believed with him said: When will the help of Allah come? Now surely the help of Allah is near” (Al-Baqarah 2:214)
“Indeed with the difficulty there is an ease. Indeed with the difficulty there is an ease.”
(Al-Inshirah 5-6)
