In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

Those Who Burn The Qur’an to Anger Believers Are Trapped By Their Own Fear That Islam Cannot Be Stopped From Spreading

Shaikhul Islaam Ibn Taymiyyah [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:

When the polytheists denied the Qur’an and made every effort to invalidate it, along with the fact that they were challenged to present something comparable, ten chapters, or even one chapter, this demonstrated to the people of sound understanding that they were powerless to oppose it despite their arduous efforts and the powerful means they employed (to oppose it); but if they had adhered to it as opposed to resisting and trying to invalidate it, their incapacity to resist it would not have become apparent.

When the magicians opposed Musa (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), Allah nullified what they presented, and it was through this that Allah manifested the truth of what Musa conveyed. This is one of the differences between the signs of the Prophets and their proofs, which are known as “True Miracles”, and that which is made to resemble them from the paranormal acts of the magicians and devilish activities. This is due to the fact that these two affairs differ in a number of ways. Allah said:

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”.

And among these distinguishing signs is that which Allah has made clear in the verses that challenge the opponents and the signs given to the Prophets, which cannot be challenged by anything, much less greater than them; nor is it possible for anybody to nullify them, as opposed to the paranormal deeds of magicians and devils, because it is possible to challenge them with something similar and stronger, and it is possible to nullify them.

Similarly, when all the enemies of the Prophets among the criminals – the devils among men and Jinn, who inspire one another with embellished speech through deception – reveal their proofs to support the legitimacy of their religions, which are opposed to the religion of the Messengers; utilised deceit through the fabrication of narratives and the presentation of what is presented as fact to be believed, then through explanation, manifest evidence, and thereafter through the sword, the hand, and weaponry (see footnote a), this serves as a means for demonstrating the sound beliefs that Allah has promised to give the upper hand over all other religions.

Allah [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]

As a result of what Allah establishes through clear signs and proofs, the wholesome truth is given superiority over falsehood, what is beneficial is given superiority over frivolity, guidance is given superiority over misguidance, truthfulness is given the upper hand over that which cannot be proven to be true, the path to good conduct and behaviour is given the upper hand over deviation, uprightness is given the upper hand over corruption, and accuracy is given superiority over error. This is a test for humankind in which the evil people are differentiated from the good people. Allah [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]

Allah [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 do those who do evil deeds think that they can outstrip Us (i.e. escape Our Punishment)? Evil is that which they judge! ]

Fitna is a test, just as Allaah stated that Musa [peace be upon him] 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”.

In other words, it is your trial and test that causes those who oppose the Messengers to be misguided and those who follow them to be guided. For a human being, a trial is like exposing gold to the bellows, which separates the good parts from the impurities; similarly, truth is like pure gold, and anytime it is exposed to heat, its quality improves. Falsehood, on the other hand, is like something tainted and veiled in mist, and when investigated, its corruption manifests. So, whenever an observer observes the religion of truth (Islam), and whenever an arguer argues on its behalf, its proof manifests, assurance is enhanced, the faith of believers is increased, and its light glows in the hearts of humankind, and Jinn. As for when a person makes an argument in favour of false religion and tries to establish its crooked structure, Allah establishes those who throw the truth against the falsehood, destroying it, and it becomes obvious that the person making the argument is an idiot, a liar, lost, dim-witted, and unstable; contradictions, heresies, disbelief, misguidance, ignorance, and absurdity are manifested from such a religion, along with the fact that it makes clear to all men that adherents 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. [An Excerpt from Al-Jawaab As-Saheeh Liman Baddala Deen Al-Maseeh. Vol 1/121-122. Slightly paraphrased]

Footnote a: Jihaad: https://www.abukhadeejah.com/salafi-shaikh-fawzaan-on-jihaad-in-our-times-and-the-guidelines-of-jihaad-according-to-islam/