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

The Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said: “Hasten in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) because there will be trials (temptation) which would be like a part of the night. (During it) a man would be a Muslim in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening or he would be a believer in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning, and would sell his religion for worldly goods”. [1]

Al-Allaamah Saalih Al-Fawzaan said: He wakes up in the morning as a believer with Iman but by the end of the evening, he deviates and becomes a disbeliever, or a believer in the evening and a disbeliever in the morning. What is the cause? “Sells his religion for some worldly goods”. This is evidence that the materialistic world is one of the temptations, – the adornments of the worldly life and the things such as food, drinks, transportation, mansions, castles, status, etc -thus a person abandons their religion of Islam. A person may be so consumed by their desires and love for material possessions that they abandon their religion of Islam. Allah has warned us about the allure and deception of the worldly life. Instead, we should only take what is necessary from this life to fulfill our obligations to Allah. As for just going along and forgetting about the Hereafter, this itself is destruction. [2]

Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi stated: Yes, a man may embrace truth and then vanish from sight, only to reappear as a disbeliever or a misguided innovator in religious matters! This is nothing short of humiliation! He used to claim that he is upon goodness, a possessor of knowledge, and adherence to the truth, but then he succumbs to disbelief – either major or minor. This is a disgrace, and we seek Allah’s protection. How many individuals have been brought low and exposed through a trial (temptation)? You become aware of them, their deceitful assertions are laid bare, and their true reality is revealed to you. [3]

Al-Allaamah Rabee Bin Haadi al-Mad’khali [may Allah preserve him] stated: Numerous Fitan [trials and temptations] have taken place, including the Fitna of the khawaarij, the Rawaafid, and acts of killing. There have been instances of deviation and misguidance in various aspects such as politics, creed, methodology, and similar areas. A significant number of individuals who were meant to be destroyed ultimately faced destruction, and the person whom Allah safeguarded and rescued was (enabled) to follow the correct methodology. Hence, in every Fitna, it is crucial for the (scholars of Ahlus Sunnah and the sincere students) to openly declare the truth and elucidate it for the people. They must clearly differentiate between guidance and misguidance, between truth and falsehood, how to protect themselves from these trials, the path through which they will be saved from entering into trials, and other affairs (through which) Allah guides this group when facing every Fitna. [4]

The Shaikh also said: A believer always fears that his situation will change. It has been reported from Aa’isha and Anas [may Allah pleased with them] that the Messenger [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] often (supplicated), “يَا مُقَلِّبَ الْقُلُوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبِى عَلَى دِينِكَ – O turner of the hearts (Allaah)! Keep my heart firm upon your religion”. I [i.e. Aa’isha or Anas] asked, “O Allaah’s Messenger! We believe in you and what has been revealed to you, so do you fear for us?” He said, “Yes, indeed the hearts are between two fingers among the fingers of Allaah and He turns them how He pleases”. By Allaah! This is (true) understanding – that a person does not feel safe about himself, for indeed Satan flows through the human being like blood. Therefore, a person should guard his heart, intellect, and deeds ardently more than he guards his wealth and honour. Whoever is given authority to look after his affairs is obligated to guard his heart before everything else. [رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ – Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower]. [ Surah Aal Imraan’ Aayah 8] [5]

The Shaikh also stated: I warn my brothers against the Fitan and that they turn to Allah to keep them steadfast upon the Religion. They should supplicate a lot (just as Allah taught the believers that they say):

[رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً ۚ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ – Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us, and grant us mercy from You. Truly, You are the Bestower]. [Surah Aal Imraan’ Aayah 8]

They should make this tremendous supplication often and the supplication which Allah’s Messenger used to make often. Anas said that Allah’s Messenger used to say a lot, “O Turner of the hearts! Keep my heart firm upon your religion”. The companions said, “O Allaah’s Messenger! Do you fear for us?” He said, “Yes, indeed the hearts are between two fingers from the fingers of Allah, and He turns them however He wills”. [6]

We ask Allah:
اللَّهُمَّ بِعِلْمِكَ الْغَيْبَ وَقُدْرَتِكَ عَلَى الْخَلْقِ أَحْيِنِي مَا عَلِمْتَ الْحَيَاةَ خَيْراً لِي وَتَوَفَّنِي إِذَا عَلِمْتَ الْوَفَاةَ خَيْراً لِي، اللَّهُمَّ إِنِّي أَسْأَلُكَ خَشْيَتَكَ فِي الْغَيْبِ وَالشَّهَادَةِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ كَلِمَةَ الْحَقِّ فِي الرِّضَا وَالْغَضَبِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الْقَصْدَ فِي الْغِنَى وَالْفَقْرِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ نَعِيماً لَا يَنْفَذُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ قُرَّةَ عَيْنٍ لَا تَنْقَطِعُ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ الرِّضِا بَعْدَ الْقَضَاءِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ بَرْدَ الْعَيْشِ بَعْدَ الْمَوْتِ، وَأَسْأَلُكَ لَذَّةَ النَّظَرِ إِلَى وَجْهِكَ وَالشَّوْقَ إِلَى لِقَائِكَ فِي غَيْرِ ضَرَّاءَ مُضِرَّةٍ وَلَا فِتْنَةٍ مُضِلَّةٍ، اللَّهُمَّ زَيِّنَّا بِزِينَةِ الْإِيمَانِ
وَاجْعَلْنَا هُدَاةً مُهْتَدِينَ

O Allah! By Your Knowledge of the unseen and by Your Power over creation, let me live if life is good for me, and let me die if death is good for me; O Allah! I ask You to grant me (the blessing of having) fear of You in private and public, and I ask You (to make me utter) a statement of truth in times of contentment and anger, and I ask You for moderation when in a state of wealth and poverty, and I ask you for blessings that never ceases, and I ask You for the coolness of my eye that never ends, and I ask You (to make me pleased) after (Your) decree; and I ask You for a life of (ease, comfort, tranquillity, etc) after death; I ask You for the delight of looking at Your Face (i.e. in the Hereafter) and yearning to meet You without any harm and misleading trials (coming upon me). O Allah! Adorn us with the adornment of Iman, and make us (from those who are) guided and guiding (others). [7]

اللَّهُمَّ أَصْلِحْ لِي دِينِي الَّذِي هُوَ عِصْمَةُ أَمْرِي
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي دُنْيَايَ الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَاشِي
وَأَصْلِحْ لِي آخِرَتِي الَّتِي فِيهَا مَعَادِي
وَاجْعَلِ الْحَيَاةَ زِيَادَةً لِي فِي كُلِّ خَيْرٍ
وَاجْعَلِ الْمَوْتَ رَاحَةً لِي مِنْ كُلِّ شَرٍّ

O Allah! Rectify my religion for me, which is the safeguard of my affairs; rectify my worldly [affairs], wherein is my livelihood; and rectify my Afterlife to which is my return, and make life for me [as a means of] increase in every good and make death for me as a rest from every evil. [8]

[1] Sahih Muslim 118

[2] An Excerpt from Sharh Kitaab Al-Fitan Wal-Hawaadith Lil-Imaam Muhammad Bin Abdillaah Wahhaab. pages 11-12

[3] An Excerpt from ‘Adh-Dharee’ah Ilaa Bayaan Maqaasid Kitaab Ash-Sharee’ah – 1/200-202

[4] An Excerpt from ‘Adh-Dharee’ah Ilaa Bayaan Maqaasid Kitaab Ash-Sharee’ah – 1/200-202]

[5] An Excerpt from Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm’ pages 75-76

[6] An Excerpt from Marhaban Yaa Taalibal Ilm. Pages 204-205

[7]https://salaficentre.com/2021/01/01/o-allaah-let-me-live-if-life-is-good-for-me-and-let-me-die-if-death-is-good-for-me/

[8]https://salaficentre.com/2020/12/29/o-allaah-rectify-my-religion-for-me-which-the-safeguard-of-my-affairs-a-tremendous-supplication/