Strangers

The Return of the Strangers

We live in a strange time. A time where many have been driven astray from the Deen of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) by the enjoyments of this world. A time where even the wise become confused and puzzled from the contradictions that they see before them. This is the time where the truthful people are belied and the liars are said to speak the truth; the honest people are betrayed and the betrayers become ones who others trust. Indeed this is the time where most hardships and tests befall those who stand with the truth, whereas ease and comfort seem to be what those who practice immorality and injustice receive.

Yet amidst this bizarre world, a group of strangers emerge who are not even recognized by their own families and friends. Pain and suffering comes to them in many shapes and forms and their livelihoods are unjustly taken from them. But they are not strangers in the sights of the angels. Who are those strangers in these scary times?

The prophet Muhammed (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

"Islam started strange and it will become strange once again as it started, so glad tidings to the strangers"

[Sahih Muslim]

When the message of Islam was first revealed to the world, the Kuffar of Makkah responded to it with anger and oppression to those who called for it. They knew that Islam was a challenge to their way of life and they were not willing to accept its message, even though they knew that it was the truth.

What happened with the Prophet Muhammed (sallAllahu 'alayhi wa sallam) and his companions in Makkah was not something new. This is the nature of any new message that comes to challenge an existing way of life. It will always be faced with hardships and pain. It is an attempt to weaken the carriers of the new message. It is an attempt to force them to compromise in their message. But this is not what the prophets and their companions did.

The prophet Muhammed (sallAllahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said:

"A time will come when Leaders will befall you. If you obey them they will lead you astray and if you disobey them they will kill you" The companions asked: "What do you order us to do then?" He responded: "Be like the companions of Isa (‘alayhi al salam) where they were chopped with saws and crucified on wood; for by the One who has my soul in His hand (Allah), death in the cause of Allah is better than a life of disobedience."

This is the expectation of the Dawah carriers, the callers of the Deen of Islam. They know the hardships that they are going to face and it does not slow them down from carrying the message of Islam unaltered and without compromise. They know that they only do this for the sake of Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) alone and no other. Every feeling of pain or torture that they face increases their connection with Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) and makes them more convinced of the truth that they hold and carry to the world.

Muslims are on a mission on this Earth to present the message of Islam as a way of life. We know of the injustices that are taking place around us and the governments that support them. We know that the systems that currently exist in this world are not Islamic and do not serve the interests of the Muslims. Where is the Islamic system that is the beacon of light and justice for this world?

The carriers of this message will be tested in many ways. But a combination of patience and Iman is the only thing that keeps the believers going. We have Iman and trust that the fruit of this face-off between truth and falsehood is definite victory of the truth and its followers. After this journey of patience – this journey of hardships and tests – victory will come as it came to those before us. The prophets and their companions became strong after their initial weakness; they became leaders after being sidelined in society and being the odd ones out.

Allah's promise of victory and our belief in the truth is what the strangers of this time hold on to.

Allah (subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:

"And the Disbelievers said to their Messengers: "Be sure we shall drive you out of our land, or you shall return to our religion." But their Lord inspired (this Message) to them: "Verily We shall cause the wrong-doers to perish! And verily We shall cause you to abide in the land, and succeed them. This (reward) is for those who fear the standing before Me (on the Day of Judgement); this (reward) is for those who fear my threat."

[TMQ Ibrahim: 13-14]