Outline
- Introduction
- The Definition of Fitnah
- Elements of Fitnah
- Types of Fitnah
- The Mention of Fitnah in the Qur’an
- The Mention of Fitnah in the Sunnah
- Identifying a Situation of Fitnah
- The Relevant Fitnah for This Series
Bismillah… in the name of Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent
Introduction
Alhamdulillah… infinite thanks and praises are due to the Almighty Allah. Complete peace and blessings are upon our master of all times, Sayyidunā Muhammad, his household, his companions and all those who follow his guided path.
This is Part Two in The Fitnah series of articles. The first part was an introduction with an overview of the series you’re reading. And this comes to create clarity for you, my dear reader, and also set boundaries for the terminology. This will keep all the good readers on the ‘same page’ as we learn the greatest fitnah that has hit the Ummah since 14 centuries ago, and continues to have its effects determining our worldview and life choices today, as Muslims.
The Definition of Fitnah
The term fitnah is an Arabic word (فتنة), which literally means test, trial or calamity. When you look at the various meanings of the word, you understand, that regardless of the usage, it always implies a test to the patience of the son of Adam, and he’s expected to truly pass it with less to no regrets.
Practically, Allah subjects us to fitnah in many ways. He tests us in ourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually. He also tests us with the people around us and vice versa. Yes, the people around you are fitnah for you, and you are fitnah for them. Likewise, He also tests us with His bestowals and the possessions we make out of His bounties.
Elements of Fitnah
In addition to our material possessions and our relationships, knowledge is fitnah and so is ignorance, wealth is fitnah and so is poverty. Women are fitnah for men, and vice versa. Similarly, children are fitnah for parents and vice versa. All these are fitnah because we’re tested with them, just as they’re tested with us, to determine how these elements will keep us close to or away from our Creator. They’re fitnah because they easily determine our real characters; level of humility and extent of arrogance.
When one understands fitnah, he’s no longer surprised, or say; he’s less surprised to see that most, if not all the conflicts in the world revolves around these elements of fitnah.
While fitnah affects people individually, it also affects them collectively at the community and social levels. However, whether at the individual or social level, fitnah mostly starts with two persons, or parties, if you wish. A mastermind on one hand. And a victim on the other.
For instance, when Sayyidah ‘Āishah was subjected to the fitnah of being accused of adultery, she was the direct victim of that fitnah but not the target. The target was the Prophet. However, although the Prophet was a target, there’s a greater target. And that was Islam. So one can imagine how fitnah can be tailored to create great conspiracies. But regardless of the extent it can go, it’s started by one evil mind with one innocent person or victim in mind.
Types of Fitnah
The Prophet referred to the state when Muslims will kill one another as fitnah. He also referred to scenes when the Ummah will undergo division and sectarianism as fitnah. He also referred to the encounter of the Dajjal as fitnah.
The Mention Fitnah in the Qur’an
The word ‘fitnah’ in its Arabic form and derives has appeared in many instances in the Qur’an as well as in the sayings of the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam. They each imply different meaning. However, the different meaning of all combined collectively imply discomfort and undesirability.
In Surah al-‘Ankabūt, Allah refers to fitnah as trial. He says:
أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتْرَكُوٓا۟ أَن يَقُولُوٓا۟ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمْ لَا يُفْتَنُونَ ﴿٢﴾ـ
“Do people think that once they say, “We believe,” they will be left alone and not be put to the test?” (Al-‘Ankabūt, 29:2).
In Surah Al-Burūj, Allah refers to the persecution, that the people of the ditch experienced in the hands of their oppressors as fitnah. He says:
إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ فَتَنُوا۟ ٱلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَٱلْمُؤْمِنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ لَمْ يَتُوبُوا۟ فَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ جَهَنَّمَ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابُ ٱلْحَرِيقِ ﴿١٠﴾ـ
“Those who persecuted the believing men and believing women, and then did not repent, will surely suffer the punishment of Hell, and the torment of burning” (Al-Burūj, 85:10).
In a Surah al-Dhāriyāt, Allah relates and refers to the torment of the Fire (in the Hereafter) as fitnah. He relates what shall be said to those who defied His commands:
ذُوقُوا۟ فِتْنَتَكُمْ هَـٰذَا ٱلَّذِى كُنتُم بِهِۦ تَسْتَعْجِلُونَ ﴿١٤﴾ـ
“Taste your torment. This is what you sought to hasten” (Al-Dhāriyāt, 51:14).
And the worst form of fitnah is when one is subjected to any form of fitnah that tests, not his patience, love, or humility, but his faith and religion. And this is where many of us fail the test. Allah says:
وَٱلْفِتْنَةُ أَشَدُّ مِنَ ٱلْقَتْلِ
“[Religious] persecution is worse than killing.” (Al-Baqarah, 2:191).
In other words, being subjected to fitnah to test your religion is worse than being killed.
The Mention of Fitnah in the Sunnah
There’s a numerous aḥādīth that talk about fitnah. I’m highlighting one here, as it’s more relevant for understanding fitnah, and the rest will be highlighted in the next article, insha Allah.
In a ḥadīth reported by Imām Muslim from the narration of Sayyidunā Abū Hurayrah raḍiya Allāhu ’anhu, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam says:
بَادِرُوا بِالأَعْمَالِ فِتَنًا كَقِطَعِ اللَّيْلِ الْمُظْلِمِ يُصْبِحُ الرَّجُلُ مُؤْمِنًا وَيُمْسِي كَافِرًا أَوْ يُمْسِي مُؤْمِنًا وَيُصْبِحُ كَافِرًا يَبِيعُ دِينَهُ بِعَرَضٍ مِنَ الدُّنْيَا
“Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence (various fitnah) which would be like a part of the dark night. During (that stormy period) 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 faith for worldly goods.”
More of aḥādith on fitnah in the next article that follows this, insha Allah.
Identifying a Situation of Fitnah
Fitnah is generally a form of test. But it’s the test, from which the son of Adam should always seek Allah’s refuge, as much as he can.
One may not be able to identify fitnah at the time of its occurrence. Most of us will only realize it after it had happened, and then he has to deal with the consequences. There again, this why it’s called fitnah.
The Relevant Fitnah for This Series
The meaning of fitnah which is relevant to this series of articles is the fitnah which the Prophet has mentioned that it will happen in and to the Ummah. The fitnah that will see two Muslim parties armed against one another. In fact, the Prophet ṣallā Allāhu ‘alayhi wa sallam mentioned some of his companions who will play roles in the fitnah by their names. The examples of Sayyidunā Ali, ‘Uthman, Al-Zubayr, ‘Āishah, ‘Ammār ibn Yāsir, Al-Ḥasan ibn ‘Ali, and Al-Husayn ibn ‘Ali. He also described groups who will have play their role as well; the likes of the khawārij.
Before we move on, it’s important to note, that this fitnah was meant to happen anyway. And it was meant to impact the Ummah positively and negatively depending on your viewpoint and how you choose to read and see it. In the end, it has everlasting effects on the faith of the Muslim.
The next article of this series will present some of the aḥādīth of the Prophet, ṣallā Allāhu ’alayhi wa sallam, that predicted the fitnah.
Until then, I leave you in Allah’s protection.
Allah knows best.
Allāhu Ḥāfiẓ
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