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

The Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said, “Verily ahead of you is the era of patience during which (one’s firm) adherence (to the religion) will be the reward of fifty men”. [1]

Imam Muhammad Ibn Abdil Wahhaab [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: Know, may Allah have mercy upon you, that it is obligatory upon you to have knowledge of the four matters: (i) Knowledge (al – ‘ilm), which is knowledge and awareness of Allah, and knowledge of His Prophet, and knowledge of the religion of Islam with the proofs. (ii) Action upon that. (iii) Calling to that. (iv) Patiently persevering and bearing any harm encountered upon that way. The proof is the saying of Allah [The Most High]:

وَٱلۡعَصۡرِ
إِنَّ ٱلۡإِنسَـٰنَ لَفِى خُسۡرٍ
إِلَّا ٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُواْ وَعَمِلُواْ ٱلصَّـٰلِحَـٰتِ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَتَوَاصَوۡاْ بِٱلصَّبۡرِ

By time, mankind is in loss, except for those who truly believe and worship Allah alone, and do righteous deeds, performing that which is obligatory upon them and avoiding that which they are forbidden and enjoin one another with patient perseverance upon obedience to Allah and in facing harm and trials. [Surah Al ‘Asr]

Ash Shaafi’ee [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “If Allah had sent down to His creation no other proof besides this Surah, it would have been sufficient for them”. [2]

Imam Ibn Qayyim [may Allah have mercy upon him] said: Imam Ash-Shaafi’ee [may Allah have mercy upon him] said, “If all the people pondered upon this Surah, it would have sufficed them”. [3]

Indeed, Allah placed humans in two categories – the loser and the gainer. The gainer is the one who sincerely exhorts himself with Iman and righteous deeds; sincerely exhorts the people by enjoining truth, which incudes teaching the truth and guiding to it; and enjoining patience, which also includes that he himself exercises patience. The Surah comprises of the two sincere exhortations, two characteristics of human perfection and the highest level of two types of strengths, expressed in the shortest, the most concise and clearest wording, the best preamble and the best precision in the suitable place (or subject matter).

As for the two sincere exhortations, they are the person’s sincere exhortation of himself and his brother in Islam by enjoining truth and exercising patience upon the path. As for the two characteristics of human perfection, they are the person’s self-perfection and enabling others to attain self-perfection (by the Will of Allah). As for perfection of the two strengths, the soul has two strengths and they are: the strength of knowledge and sound observation, and these two affairs are perfected through Iman; the strength of sound intent, love (for everything praiseworthy, especially love for Allah) and knowledge, and these affairs are perfected through righteous deeds (i.e. deeds carried out sincerely for the sake of Allah and in conformity with the authentic Sunnah), and this cannot be accomplished except through patience.

Therefore, there are three affairs carried out by the person and then he enjoins them on others- perfection of the strength of knowledge through Iman, perfection of the strength of action through righteous deeds, being consistent upon that with patience and commanding others with it. And by way of these three affairs, he becomes a participant and one attributed to them, teaching and calling to them. This is the absolute gain, and in estimation of whatever he misses of this gain, he incurs some loss the like thereof. And Allah’s Aid is sought and to Him we entrust all affairs! [4]

To be continued…InShaaAllah

[1] Saheeh al-Jaami 2234

[2] Translation of the “Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles” By Shaikh Abu Talhah [may Allah have mercy upon him and his wife]

[3] An Excerpt from Miftaah Daarus Sa’aadah page 61. slightly paraphrased

[4] Al-Kalaam Alaa Mas’alah As-Samaa 404. slightly paraphrased