Dealing With Tribulations:
Lessons From Saidina Khabbab Ibnu Al Aratt & Saidina Mus’ab Ibnu Umair
by Ustaz Mohammad Hafiz Kusairi
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Dealing With Tribulations:
“Do men imagine that they will be left (at ease) because they say, We believe, and will not be tested with affliction? Lo! We tested those who were before you. Thus Allah knoweth those who are sincere, and knoweth those who feign.”
Tribulations are an inherent aspect of life. They manifest themselves in various forms and the magnitude of their impact varies from one individual to another. Allah mentions in the Qur’an: “And surely We shall try you with something of fear and hunger, and loss of wealth and lives and crops; but give glad tidings to the steadfast.” (Surah Al Baqarah Verse 155)
He also mentions: “Allah does not impose upon any soul a duty but to the extent of its ability.” (Surah Al Baqarah Verse 286)
But for the Muslim, the inevitable nature of tribulations has a pertinent dimension to it. That it is not just a measure of their faith but also the distinguishing factor between those of real faith and otherwise.
It is mentioned in Surah Al Ankabut verses 2 and 3: “Do men imagine that they will be left (at ease) because they say, We believe, and will not be tested with affliction? Lo! We tested those who were before you. Thus Allah knoweth those who are sincere, and knoweth those who feign.”
We are living in a time where tribulations have manifested themselves in various forms and at increasingly frequent rates. As I am typing this article, Singapore is in its extended phase of the circuit breaker. While medical personnel struggle to deal with the nature of the Corona virus, researchers are scampering against time to find the cure to this unprecedented ailment. With it also comes economic paralysis and increasingly anxious and depressed societies. In the midst of a global society increasingly plagued by materialism and self-entitlement, the Muslim therefore seeks counsel from the Prophetic past. Rasulullah (ﷺ) mentioned in a hadith:
"The best people are those of my generation, and then those who will come after them, and then those who will come after them, and then after them.”
In this article, we shall look at the lessons that we can derive from Saidina Khabbab ibnu Al Aratt and Saidina Mus’ab Bin Umair’s resolve in dealing with tribulations. We hope not to just survive tribulations, but we hope to emerge from them better and eventually better those around us. That was what they achieved for themselves and generations of Muslims till today.
Lesson 1: Face Tribulations With Humility
Saidina Khabbab was a renowned blacksmith in Makkah and was owned by Ummu Ammar. Upon his conversion to Islam, he was subjected to numerous forms of torture such as being laid in a metal armour under the Arabian sun, dragged across the coarse sands of the desert and also being beaten with metal from the furnace. It was understandable that one day he approached Rasulullah (ﷺ) to seek his intercession. However, it was through this request that Saidina Khabbab was given a timely reminder by our beloved Prophet on the importance of remaining steadfast in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. This was shown beautifully in the following hadith which Saidina Ka’ab himself reported:
We complained to the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) regarding the persecution inflicted upon us by the disbelievers while he was lying in the shade of the Ka'bah, using the pillow as his cloak. We said: "Why do you not pray for our victory?"
He replied, "There was before you, a man who would be captured and held in a pit dug for him in the ground and he would be sawed in half (starting) from his head. And his flesh would be torn from his bones with an iron comb. But despite this, he would not leave his Faith. By Allah, Allah will bring this matter to its completion until a rider will travel from San'a' to Hadramout fearing none but Allah and the (threat of the) wolf upon his sheep, but you are in (excessive) hurry".
One of our contemporary tendencies is to ironically, hail our tribulations as being the most distinctively challenging and impactful as compared to that faced by others. In doing so, we create a sense of entitlement in multiple forms: additional concessions, privileges or even additional understanding from those around us. While we acknowledge that the magnitude of a tribulation brings about significant impacts, Rasulullah (ﷺ) has highlighted the importance of using tribulations to train ourselves the value of patience, acceptance and perseverance. Rasululah (ﷺ) prayed to Allah after the rejection he faced in Taif with the following words:
"O Allah! To You, I complain of my weakness, my limited resources and the humiliation I (have been subjected) to by men. O Most Merciful towards those who are merciful. O Lord of the weak and my Lord. To whom have you entrusted me? To a distant person who treats me with hostility? Or to an enemy to whom You have granted authority over my affair? For so long as You are not angry with me, I do not care. Your favour is of a greater relief to me. I seek refuge in the light of Your Face by which all darkness is dispelled and (through which) every affair of this world and the hereafter is set right; lest Your anger or Your displeasure descends upon me. I seek Your pleasure until You are pleased. There is no power and no strength except by You."
Lesson 2: Do Not Let Adversity Hinder Our Performance of Good
Saidina Mus’ab bin Umair was born into a privileged family and enjoyed the luxuries only accessible to the upper echelons of the Makkan society. Upon his acceptance of Islam, his life took a drastic turn as seen by the following hadith:
Indeed, Musab bin 'Umair died without leaving anything behind but a garment.
Despite the persecution he faced such as the initial persecution by his family, in particular his mother and the instant change in his living conditions, these did not stop Mus’ab from selflessly serving the religious cause. This was most evident when he was sent by Rasulullah (ﷺ) to Madinah to call its population to Islam. Through his wisdom and patience, he was able to convert most of Madinah to Islam, smartly starting with the notables amongst the Madinan community to Islam. These included those who were initially resistant to him such as Saidina Usaid Bin Hudhair and Saidina Saad Bin Muadz.
In fact, this seemed to be the trademark feature of the Companions: it was as though the greater the diversity they personally experienced, the greater their compassion for the society. This was also highlighted in the Battle of Yarmuk where despite being fatally wounded and in need of water to quench their thirst, Saidina Ayyash Bin Rabi’ah, Saidina Ikrimah Bin Abu Jahal and Al Harith Bin Hisyam all died without having even a sip as they each insisted that the others were more deserving of a drink.
This lesson is an extension of the one above. The preoccupation with one’s own tribulations can lead to the tendency to exaggerate the extent of the challenge one is facing and at the same time also undermine the adversities faced by others. An excellent Muslim is able to address his or her challenges with acceptance and objectivity while at the same time striving to ease the burdens faced by the others. Allah mentions in Surah Al Hashr verse 9:
“And (it is also for) those who, before them, had homes (in Al-Madinah) and had adopted the Faith, love those who emigrate to them, and have no jealousy in their breasts for that which they have been given, and give them (emigrants from Makkah) preference over themselves even though they were in need of that. And whosoever is saved from his own covetousness, such are they who will be the successful.”
Such was the selflessness of the Companions that often, they didn’t live to enjoy the rewards of their steadfastness against tribulations; but leaving instead the fruits of their labour to be enjoyed by generations to come. This was mentioned by Saidina Khabbab himself:
“We emigrated with Rasulullah (ﷺ) seeking Allah’s pleasure and hoping for His rewards. Some of us died without experiencing any of the above. Among them was Mus'ab bin 'Umair (May Allah be pleased with him), who was killed in the battle of Uhud. He left only a small portion of colored wool. When we tried covering his head with it, his feet were exposed, and when we covered his feet with it, his head was exposed. As such, Rasulullah (ﷺ) told us to cover his head and to put some Idhkhir (i.e., fragrant grass) over his feet. Others among us enjoyed prosperity and are enjoying them in this world.”
Lesson 3: Seek The Ultimate Reward of Overcoming Tribulations
"O ye my servants who believe! Fear your Lord, good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is Allah's earth! those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!"
Tribulations is an inseparable aspect part of our life. It doesn’t just manifest itself in different forms but it also comes with no respite. Rasulullah (ﷺ) had to undergo the painful sequence of being boycotted by his own community, the loss of his pillars of support in the form of Abu Thalib and Saidatina Khadijah binti Khuwailid and the rejection of the people of Thaif. Even in his time in Madinah, the sadness of losing his most beloved uncle Saidina Hamzah bin Abdul Muttalib and 70 companions in the battle of Uhud was followed by the martyrdom of 80 companions at Raji’ and Bir Maunah in the hands of hostile and treacherous tribes.
As such, the rewards for patience in the face of tribulations is immense. This is mentioned in Surah Zumar verse 10:
Say: "O ye my servants who believe! Fear your Lord, good is (the reward) for those who do good in this world. Spacious is Allah's earth! those who patiently persevere will truly receive a reward without measure!"
In Surah Ra’d verse 13, those who have remained patient in the face of tribulations on Earth will be received with a special greeting:
"Peace unto you for that ye persevered in patience! Now how excellent is the final home!"
Conclusion
In dealing with tribulations, we might not even see their consummation in our lifetime. It thus becomes pertinent for us to acknowledge that tribulations are meant to nurture the best qualities in us: that it strengthens, not weakens. Having such a firm understanding of the realities governing tribulation will thus not chain us to our own preoccupations with our challenges, but also to seek ways to addressing both our own tribulations and that of others. At the very least, we would not behave like the sole suffering soul walking Allah’s vast earth. In doing so, we hope to leave a legacy that will continue to empower and elevate generations to come in the face of tribulations, regardless of the forms they take.
Among the believers are men who have been true to their covenant with Allah; of them some have fulfilled their obligations (i.e. have been martyred); and some of them are still waiting, but they have never changed [i.e. they never proved treacherous to their covenant which they concluded with Allah] in the least. That Allah may reward the men of truth for their truth (i.e. for their patience at the accomplishment of that which they covenanted with Allah), and punish the hypocrites, if He wills, or accept their repentance by turning to them (in Mercy). Verily, Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
(Surah Al Ahzab Verses 23 and 24)