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While
I was depressed watching the news about Muslims and thinking of the
afflictions that befell them, I heard a voice inside me saying “It is
you who delay Muslims’ victory. You are the principal cause of all the
afflictions that Muslims suffer from.”
I
wondered, “How come this while I am an ordinary person and do not have
any power over my nation? Had I given the Muslims any order or counsel,
they would have never abided by it ...”
The
voice interrupted me: “It is your sins and faults, it is your defying
Allah’s orders, your negligence of duties, and your keenness to run
after temptations that delays victory.”
I
replied, “What did I do so that you blame me for delaying Muslims’
victory?”
The
voice said, “Oh you! By Allah! Should I numerate your faults? It would
take a long a time. For instance, do you observe the Fajr Prayer in
congregation?”
I
answered, “Sometimes I do, and sometimes I miss it …”
The
voice interrupted me again: “See the contradiction! You claim you can
fight against your enemy in Allah’s cause. How can you say so while
you cannot resist yourself in a simple matter that would not cost you
blood or money? You are not able to make yourself stick to observing in
congregation two rak`ahs prescribed by Almighty Allah. You,
likewise, neglect offering the regular sunnah Prayers, and disregard
reciting the Qur’an regularly. You forget saying the morning and
evening adhakr. You do not lower your gaze, nor do you
obey your parents or observe your ties of kinship.”
The
voice continued, “You call for applying Allah’s Law in your country.
How do you call for this, while you do not abide by it yourself or
enjoin your family to do so? You do not observe your duties towards your
family. You do not guide them to the right path or care whether the
money you spend on them is lawful or illicit. You, in fact, fall under
the category that Allah describes in His Book as those who [love
wealth with abounding love]
(Al-Fajr 89:20). All this has entailed Almighty Allah’s punishment on
you …”
I
interrupted, “What does all this have to do with delaying victory?
Would the nation’s victory be delayed only because of the faults of
one among billions of people?”
The
voice replied, “Certainly, yes. There are millions like you in the
Muslim world. All follow the same wrong path, neglecting their duties
and falling into sins, thinking that victory will come because there are
other people in the nation who are righteous. But the bitter truth is
that almost all are the same. Do you not know that when the Companions
of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) would ask Allah for
victory and it did not come at once, they would then realize that there
was someone in the army who had committed a sin? Compare this to the
condition of the nation nowadays when all, old or young, ordinary or
influential, are falling into sins! Is this not enough to bring about
all what Muslims suffer around the globe?”
Tears
began to flow down my face. I had never thought that I, the man who
dearly loves Allah and His Messenger as well as Islam and Muslims, would
ever be a cause to Muslims’ defeat or share in this way in shedding
rivers of innocent Muslim blood in many places in the world!
It
was very easy for me to place the blame on the governments, rulers, and
kings of the Muslim countries in this respect, but to ever think of my
faults and sins as a cause to Muslims’ suffering, this had never
occurred to me. I had not meditated upon Almighty Allah’s words: [Lo!
Allah changeth not the condition of a folk until they (first) change
that which is in their hearts]
(Ar-Ra`d 13:11).
I
addressed the voice: “Any way, I praise Almighty Allah that He gave me
a self-reproaching soul (like you). What counsel do you give me?”
The
voice said, “Take the initiative. Observe your duties, be keen on
performing the prescribed Prayers on time, pay zakah, and beware of
showing ingratitude to your parents. Get closer to Almighty Allah by
offering additional acts of worship. Never lose a chance, even if
little, in this regard. Remember that it is a kind of charity (sadaqah)
to smile upon your fellow Muslims. Do not call for something while your
acts indicate the contrary. For instance, do not call for applying
Shari`ah unless you are a living example of abiding by its teachings at
home and work. Likewise, do not call for jihad while you are not able to
resist your inner weakness. In the same manner, do not blame others for
what you are responsible for. Reform yourself and set a good example for
others wherever you go. If you are used to criticizing others’
behavior, stop it now, for critics are many. After you abide by all
this, you can sincerely ask Allah for help and granting Muslims victory.
Then you will be one of the believers about whom Almighty Allah says [O
ye who believe! If ye help Allah, He will help you and will make your
foothold firm]
(Muhammad 47:7). Bear in mind that every sin you commit and every duty
you neglect would be a proof against you in the case of the innocent
Muslim blood shed in many places in the world.”
Upon
this I lifted my head up towards Heaven in repentance and wiped my tears
saying “O Allah! I ask You for forgiveness.”
I
made up my mind to have a new beginning and I started by offering two rak`ahs
for Allah’s sake in the midst of night. May Allah help me stick to
this path.
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