FRIDAY REMINDER (4): WE CAN'T ALL BE ON THE SAME LEVEL

By

Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

One of the biggest tribulation we are facing within the fold of Sunnah in Yorubaland today, is the belief and thought that everyone must be on the same level of adherence. The truth is one, yet we can't be equal in adherring to the truth. We can't all be on the same level of piety and steadfastness. Some people would always be better than some people. That is why aljannah is not of the same level. The most important thing is for us not to give up on one another. We must keep working on ourselves and try to get better from time to time. Perfection belongs to Allaah, we can only keep trying our best. If you find yourself striving high, thank Allaah and don't be arrogant upon that favour. Don't shut doors over people who might not be as steadfast as you are. Allaah alone knows His true and obedient servant. 

However, this is not a call to compromise with the truth. This doesn't mean that we should close doors of refutations. But all refutations should be done with the best of manners and wisdom. Corrections should be devoid of insults, mockery and all kinds of labels that we may not be able to defend on the Last Day. Refutations shouldn't be rendered in a destructive manner. A deep reflection on the hadith of Al-muflis (the Bankrupt) as reported by Abu Hurayrah رضي الله عنه is enough to guide us in this regard. Sometimes, you may think you are right and just in your assessment of a fellow Muslim, preacher, but by Allaah, you may be wrong. And when a seed of hatred is planted through poor manner of approach, it is always difficult to uproot.

Even the Companions رضي الله عنهم are not equal in faith and steadfastness. They were greater and better than one another. This is from the Sunnah of Allaah. We can't all be the same in steadfastness. Abubakr رضي الله عنهم is the best of them all, then 'Umar, then Uthman, then 'Ali رضي الله عنهم and others with whom they were promised aljannah (Talhah, Zubair, Abdulrahman, Sa'd, Sa'eed, Abu 'Ubaidah). After them, we have the People of Badr, People of Bai'ah Ridwaan among the Muhaajireen...and so on. May Allaah be pleased with them all. They ranked higher than one another. Yet they loved one another and didn't give up on people of lower status among them. They used to carry one another along. They all, irrepective of their degree of steadfastness participated actively in the building of Islaam. Their collective efforts and the love between them is recognized and applauded when Allaah said:

(مُحَمَّدٌ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ۚ وَالَّذِينَ مَعَهُ أَشِدَّاءُ عَلَى الْكُفَّارِ رُحَمَاءُ بَيْنَهُمْ ۖ تَرَاهُمْ رُكَّعًا سُجَّدًا يَبْتَغُونَ فَضْلًا مِنَ اللَّهِ وَرِضْوَانًا ۖ سِيمَاهُمْ فِي وُجُوهِهِمْ مِنْ أَثَرِ السُّجُود)

[Surat Al-Fath 29]

We have a lot of lessons to learn from the Companions رضي الله عنهم in the way and manner they related with one another. Don't put yourself in the middle of fitnah for further division of the Ummah based on some flimsy excuses. Let us remember that Allaah would ask everyone of us about these matters. We do not have immunity from being questioned by Allaah on the ongoing fitnah. If you think your adherence to the Sunnah has reached a level that you now confer upon yourself the power to declare the guided and the misguided within the fold of Sunnah, you need to have a rethink. No matter how sound and steadfast we think we are upon Sunnah, we all still need Allaah's guidance.

Some people might not be as bold as you are in speaking the truth, that alone does not remove them from the fold of Sunnah. You might be better than some people in Jarh wat Ta'deel and Al walaa wal Baraa', it doesn't mean they are out of the Sunnah just like that. If you think your level of adherence to the Sunnah is now so high to the point of looking down upon other people who are also striving in their own little little way, evaluate yourself, you may not be totally free from the trial of self-amazement, and Allaah's aid is sought!I stumbled on some pieces of advice regarding the reality of salafiyyah and things a serious and sincere salafi must be beware of, attributed to Sheikh Muhammad Umar Saalim Baazmool حفظه الله as follows:

"Treating the mistakes of the people of Sunnah like the mistakes of the people of innovation is not from the methodology of the Salaf, for verily every son of Adam is prone to many mistakes. The methodology of a man is to be looked at and his mistake is dealt with upon that basis. Animosity on account of the mere occurrenceof differing is not from the methodology of the Salaf. They used to differentiate in that regard according to a man’s circumstance and the reality of the issue. Differing along with a pure intention doesn’t ruin the love in any case.
May Allaah guide us aright" [read more here: WHAT IS NOT FROM SALAFIYYAH – Translation of Recent tweets ...
https://loveforthesunnah.wordpress.com]

May Allaah guide us aright.