- Category: CALAMITIES - Trials
- Language: ENGLISH
- Format: PDF
“And fear the Fitnah (affliction and trial) which affects not in particular those of you who do wrong, and know that Allah is Severe in punishment.” [Al-Anfal: 25]
This Ummah is certainly one bestowed with mercy, but it is also one that will be tested again and again with trials and tribulations. The hidden nature of Fitan and the way it develops is indeed intriguing and captivating to the ignorant mind, but its evils and the confusion it causes is clear to every wise one. Tribulations when they
come seize the minds of the masses such that there hardly remains an intelligent, clear-minded person amidst the chaos, and hardly is it the case that a person plunges into a Fitnah and is saved – hardly ever is such a person saved.
‘Basa’ir fil Fitan’ is a recent publication by Shaykh Muhammad Isma’il al-Muqaddam dealing with this topic, and despite its size, I found it to be a profound book filled with numerous points of benefit, wisdom and advice, historical incidents and statements from the Salaf regarding this phenomenon of Fitnah in the Ummah of Muhammad (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam). The best a person can do for him/herself in our current times is become well-acquainted with this subject in order to safeguard themselves and protect their souls from becoming involved with such a delicate yet disastrous matter which has been known to spark from a single word uttered and yet at the same time, bring about the shedding of innocent blood. But what is a Fitnah (tribulation) and what is not? Trials and tribulations can affect a person, his soul, his family, community or the Ummah at large. How do we
recognise it and how should we act or react when faced with the troubles of Fitan?
