In The Name of Allaah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
أَتَىٰٓ أَمۡرُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِلُوهُۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَهُ ۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ
يُنَزِّلُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةَ بِٱلرُّوحِ مِنۡ أَمۡرِهِۦ عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِۦۤ أَنۡ أَنذِرُوٓاْ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۟ فَٱتَّقُونِ
The Event [i.e. the day of judgement] ordained by Allaah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it. Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate as partners with Him. He sends down the angels with inspiration of His Command to whom of His slaves He pleases (saying): “Warn mankind that Laa ilaaha illaa Ana [none has the right to be worshipped but I], so fear Me. [Surah An-Nahl. Aayaat 1-2]
Allaah declared that what He has promised [i.e. the day of judgement] is close and that it will certainly occur, saying: [أَتَىٰٓ أَمۡرُ ٱللَّهِ فَلَا تَسۡتَعۡجِلُوهُۚ سُبۡحَـٰنَهُ ۥ – The Event ordained by Allah will come to pass, so seek not to hasten it]- Meaning, indeed, it is coming and what is going to occur is close. [سُبۡحَـٰنَهُ ۥ وَتَعَـٰلَىٰ عَمَّا يُشۡرِكُونَ – Glorified and Exalted be He above all that they associate as partners with Him] -Meaning, such as ascribing a partner to Him, offspring, a wife, a co-equal and other things ascribed to Him by the polytheists, which is not befitting His majesty or negates His Perfection.
And after freeing Himself from that which His enemies attribute to Him, He mentioned the revelation sent down to His Prophets, which must be followed in regards to the Perfect Attributes that should be attributed to Him, saying: [يُنَزِّلُ ٱلۡمَلَـٰٓٮِٕكَةَ بِٱلرُّوحِ مِنۡ أَمۡرِهِ – He (Allaah) sends down the angels with inspiration of His Command] -Meaning, the revelation by way of which the souls are given life [i.e. Eemaan]; [عَلَىٰ مَن يَشَآءُ مِنۡ عِبَادِهِ – to whom of His slaves He pleases] – Meaning, those whom He knows are righteous to carry His Message.
The essence and focal point of the call of all the Messengers is that they: [أَنۡ أَنذِرُوٓاْ أَنَّهُ ۥ لَآ إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّآ أَنَا۟ فَٱتَّقُونِ – Warn mankind that Laa ilaaha illaa Ana (none has the right to be worshipped but I (Allaah)], so fear Me] – Meaning, to have knowledge and awareness of Allaah [The Exalted], singling Him out in His Mighty Attributes- which are Attributes of Perfection that makes Him the Only One Worthy of being a Deity, singling Him out in worship and not to ascribe a partner to Him- is the affair based on which He revealed His Books, commanded the call to it in all the laws He revealed [to the previous Prophets and Messengers], urged and commanded that one strives against those who wage war against it and oppose it [i.e. first and foremost defend it with knowledge and sound proofs, and when necessary through Jihaad- to repel aggression – under the authority of a legitimate ruler who has an army and the apparatus of government].[Ref 1]
Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [rahimahullaah] said, “When the polytheists belied the Qur’aan and strove their utmost to nullify it through every means – alongside the fact that they were challenged to bring something similar to it, or ten chapters or even one chapter, this showed the people of sound understanding that they were unable to oppose it despite their strenuous efforts and the powerful means they employed; however, had they followed instead of opposing and seeking to nullify it, their inability to oppose it – which established the proofs [against them] – would not have been manifested. When the magicians opposed Moosaa [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him], Allaah nullified that which they presented and this was from that which Allaah manifested the truth of that which Moosaa [alayhis salaam] brought. And this is one of the distinctions between the signs of the Prophets and their proofs that are referred to as ‘True Miracles’, as opposed to that which is made to resemble them from the paranormal deeds of the magicians and the actions of the devils. That is because there are a number of distinctions between these two affairs, as Allaah stated:
هَلۡ أُنَبِّئُكُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ
تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ۬
Shall I inform you (O people!) upon whom the Shayatin (devils) descend? They descend on every lying (one who tells lies), sinful person. [Surah As-Shu’araa. Aayaat 221-222]
And from these distinguishing signs is that which Allaah has clarified in the verses that present a challenge to the opposers and the signs given to the Prophets [peace and blessings of Allaah be upon them], which can neither be opposed by anything let alone being greater than them; nor is it possible for anyone to nullify them, as opposed to the paranormal deeds of the magicians and the devils, for indeed it is possible to confront them with what is similar and stronger, and it is possible to nullify them.
Likewise, when all the enemies of the Prophets amongst the criminals – the devils amongst humankind and Jinn, who inspire one another with adorned speech by way of deception – manifest their proofs to prove the validity of their religions which are in opposition to the religion of the Messengers; deceive through what they fabricate of narrations and that which is presented as truth to be believed, then this becomes a means of manifesting the sound beliefs which Allaah has promised to give the upper hand over all other religions through clarification, clear proofs and evidences, and then through the sword, the hand and weaponry [i.e. when necessary to repel aggression under the authority and banner of a Muslim ruler with the apparatus of government, but neither based upon the path of the terrorists nor the insurgents, nor based on the path of the Shiites of Iran – state sponsors of terrorism via their proxies]. Must read:
https://www.abukhadeejah.com/islamic-condemnation-of-extremism-terrorism-ebook-presentation/
http://www.shia.bs/articles/ehexeoc-uncovering-the-hidden-realities-of-hizbollah-part-5.cfm
Allaah [The Exalted] said: [لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِۖ وَأَنزَلۡنَا ٱلۡحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأۡسٌ۬ شَدِيدٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۥ وَرُسُلَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ۬ – Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. And We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power (in matters of war), as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion), and His Messengers in the unseen. Verily, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty]. [Surah Al-Hadeed. Aayah 25]
Therefore, by way of that which Allaah establishes of clear signs and evidences, the real truth is given superiority over falsehood – that which is useful is given superiority over frivolity, guidance is given superiority over misguidance, truthfulness is given superiority over that which is impossible to established its truthfulness, the path to sound conduct and behaviour is given superiority over deviation, sound uprightness is given superiority over corruption, and correctness is given superiority over error. This is a trial for men through which the wicked are distinguished from the good people. Allaah [The Exalted] said: [مَّا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنتُمۡ عَلَيۡهِ حَتَّىٰ يَمِيزَ ٱلۡخَبِيثَ مِنَ ٱلطَّيِّبِ – Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good]. [Surah Aal Imraan. Aayah 179]
Allaah [The Exalted] said:
الٓمٓ
أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتۡرَكُوٓاْ أَن يَقُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا يُفۡتَنُونَ
وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡۖ فَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِينَ
أَمۡ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَسۡبِقُونَاۚ سَآءَ مَا يَحۡكُمُونَ
Alif-Laam-Meem. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars, (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test). Or those who do evil deeds think that they can outstrip Us (i.e. escape Our Punishment)? Evil is that which they judge! [Surah Al-Ankabut. Aayaat 1-4]
Fitna [Trial] is a test, just as Allaah stated that Moosaa [alayhis salaam] said: [إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّا فِتۡنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِہَا مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَہۡدِى مَن تَشَآءُ – It is only Your Trial by which You lead astray whom You will, and keep guided whom You will]. [Surah Al-A’raaf. Aayah 155] – Meaning, your trial and test by way of which those who oppose the Messengers are misguided and those who follow them are guided. Trial for a human being is like when gold is exposed to the bellows because it separates its good parts from its impurities; so truth is like pure gold and whenever it is put to trial [i.e. placed in the bellows], its quality increases. As for falsehood, it is like something adulterated and shrouded in mist, and whenever put to the test, its corruption manifests. So, whenever an observer examines the religion of truth [i.e. Islam] and whenever the arguer argues on its behalf, its proofs manifests, certainty is strengthened, the Eemaan of the believers is increased and its light shines in hearts of humankind and Jinn. As for when an arguer argues on behalf of false religion and seeks to establish its crooked structure, Allaah establishes those who fling the truth against the falsehood, so it destroys it; and it becomes manifest that the proponent of that false religion is an idiot, a liar, lost, dim-witted and unstable; corruption and repugnance is manifested from such a religion – the corrupt creed of incarnation, the corrupt creed that the creation are in union with the Creator, contradiction, heresy, disbelief, misguidance, ignorance, absurdity, as well as that which becomes manifest to all men in general that the proponents of false religions are the most misguided, and to the extent that corruption is manifested from such a religion of that which was unknown to the majority of men”. [Ref 2]
Ref 1: An Excerpt from Tafseer As-Sadi. Slightly paraphrased
Ref 2: An Excerpt from Al-Jawaabus Saheeh Liman Baddala Deen Al-Maseeh. 1/20-23. Slightly paraphrased]
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