Trials and Tribulations December 11, 2011
Posted by ummibraheem in 'Umar Al-Ashqar: Paradise and Hell, Companions, Hadith, Islam, The Hereafter.Tags: hereafter series, minor signs of the day of judgment
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Bismillah. This is a continuation of the minor signs of the day of judgement. I actually added two more signs to finish off the previous post. Those two minor signs were: 1) the fire in hijaaz which would light the necks of the camels in Busra, Syria; 2) and the war with the Turks.
On a side note – I discovered this wickedly awesome website for searching hadith: sunnah.com InshaAllah I’ll start using it as my hadith database search since the MSA one seems to be out of order. Another thing that I learned when citing hadith…there is apparently not a universal number system to look up which hadith is being referred to. Reading citations in different books and websites, I found conflicting numbers for the exact same hadith. So I guess it would be wiser to name the chapter it is listed under instead of some number which may or may not mean something 
Trials and Tribulations
Today we will discuss trials and tribulations. This sign is quite a broad point and it is ongoing, meaning it has happened in the past and continues to happen.
Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman narrated: the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) stood up among us and he did not leave out anything that is to happen until the Hour begins, but he told us about it. Those who memorized it, memorized it and those who forgot it, forgot it. These companions of mine know them, and there are some things which slip my mind, but when they happen, I recognize them just as a man remembers the face of a man who has been away from him, but when he sees him, he recognizes.” (Muslim, The Book Pertaining to the Turmoil and Portents of the Last Hour)
The severity of these fitan (tribulations) will vary. Hudhayfah ibn al Yaman reported: By Allah, I have the best knowledge amongst people about every turmoil which is going to appear in the period intervening me and the Last Hour; and it is not for the fact that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) told me something confidentially pertaining to it and he did not tell anybody else about it, but it is because of the fact that I was present in the assembly in which he had been describing the turmoil and he especially made a mention of three turmoils which would not spare anything and amongst these there would be turmoils like storms in the hot season. Some of them would be violent and some of them would be comparatively mild.” Hudhaifa said: “All (who were present) except I have gone (to the next world).” (Muslim, The Book Pertaining to the Turmoil and Portents of the Last Hour)
One of the main reasons why tribulations and calamaties happen is the lack of knowledge and the prevelance of ignorance, abandoning Islam, committing sins and acts of disobedience, and violating sanctities.
The Door
One of the greatest calamities to ever afflict this ummah happened during the time of ‘Uthmaan ibn ‘Affaan, but before we discuss that, we will mention the door between this Ummah and fitnah.
Once ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab said, said, “Who amongst you remembers the statement of Allah’s Apostle regarding the afflictions?” Hudhaifa replied, “I remember what he said exactly.” ‘Umar said. “Tell (us), you are really a daring man!” Hudhaifa said, “Allah’s Apostle said, ‘A man’s afflictions (i.e. wrong deeds) concerning his relation to his family, his property and his neighbors are expiated by his prayers, giving in charity and enjoining what is good and forbidding what is evil.’”
Umar said, “I don’t mean these afflictions, but the afflictions that will be heaving up and down like waves of the sea.” Hudhaifa replied, “O chief of the believers! You need not fear those (afflictions) as there is a closed door between you and them.” ‘Umar asked, “Will that door be opened or broken?” Hudhaifa replied, “No, it will be broken.” ‘Umar said, “Then it is very likely that the door will not be closed again.”
Later on the people asked Hudhaifa, “Did ‘Umar know what that door meant?” He said. “Yes, ‘Umar knew it as everyone knows that there will be night before the tomorrow morning. I narrated to ‘Umar an authentic narration, not lies.” We dared not ask Hudhaifa; therefore we requested Masruq who asked him, “What does the door stand for?” He said, “‘Umar.” (Bukhaari, the book of virtues of the Prophet peace be upon him and his companions)
This meant that ‘Umar would be murdered. During his khilaafah, while he was (more…)
