Worship at Times of Fitnah
Shaykh ‘Abdul-Kareem al-Khudayr[1]
Muslim and Tirmithi reported the hadeeth of Ma’qil bin Yasaar on the prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam said, ‘Worship in [times of] harj is like migrating to me.’
An-Nawawi said in the explanation of Muslim, about his saying, ‘Worship in [times of] harj is like migrating to me’, the intent of harj here is trials and the upheaval of the people’s affairs. And the reason behind the great reward of worship at this time is that the people will be unmindful of it, be too busy for it and will not devote themselves to it except for [certain] individuals.
This is correct. Events have passed us by that have been severe in some of the Muslim lands – wars and mass killings. This is trials, harj and killing. You would find that many of the Muslims busy themselves with these trials – following them day and night through all means – those read, listened to and watched. Their minds are occupied with them and they are distracted from the worship of Allaah.
Who from the masses – even the students of knowledge – would say, ‘I see the people preoccupied with these matters so I’m going to busy myself with reciting the Qu’raan’? ‘Instead of busying myself with reading the newspapers, that many people spend a long time over, I’ll recite the Qur’aan.’ ‘Instead of busying myself with audio and visual news media, I’ll pray for the amount of time people are listening and watching.’ None will hasten towards these actions except an individual who has been granted success.
‘Worship in harj is like migration to me’. None give themselves to it except some individuals. Who from the people in recent times, when most were engrossed in the rising and declining of the [financial] markets, busied themselves with worship of their lord?
In Ikmaal al-Mu’lim by al-Qaadi Iyyaad, his saying, ‘Worship in [times of] harj is like migrating to me.’ i.e. in the eruption of trials and tribulations and the upheavals of the affairs of the people, so could be understood to mean towards the end of time, about which the hadeeth ‘…and there will be much harj [killing]’ warned, or could be understood to be general for every trial and the excellence of worship of Allaah in these times stands.
As for it being specific to the end of time, the hadeeth does not prove this, as this excellence is tied to the presence of harj, killing and fitnah. So whenever the like of this, to which this [additional] virtue [of worship] is dependent, is found, the virtue is affirmed. So whenever an individual finds fitnah, they should leave and hasten to the worship of their lord. This is if they cannot have an impact upon this fitnah – in removing or reducing it. If they did have this ability, it would be better for them to act upon it than to perform acts of worship for themselves – as the people of knowledge have often asserted that transitive acts of worship are better than those that are not.
Al-Qurtubi says in al-Mufhim, his saying, ‘Worship in [times of] harj is like migrating to me’ it has preceded that harj is upheaval and confusion, and the intent behind it is trials [fittan], killing and the disarray of the people. So the one who adheres to worship at this time and cuts off from the people, has the reward of the one who migrates to the prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. They have the reward of the one who migrates to the prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam because they are like the migrant who migrates with their religion from those who prevent them. At the time of the prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, those who migrated to him fled to him with their religion from their people, who would try to prevent them and take them away from his religion. So, just as this is the case with the one who sought protection in the prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, the one who cuts off from the people and takes to worship has escaped with their religion from the people and sought protection in worship of their lord. In actuality, they have made hijrah to their lord and fled from his creation.
There is no doubt that the escape from these trials is in holding onto the Book of Allaah and the Sunnah of His prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam by worshiping Allaah upon a light from Allaah – not upon ignorance and innovation. Some hear of the virtues of worship and then perform some acts in all aspects of worship and after all this, their deeds would be like specs of dust because they worship Allaah in a way other than that which He intended – without following the guidance of His prophet sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.
Ibn al-Qayyim states in his Nooniyyah:
Chapter: The Good which Allaah has Prepared for those who Adhere to His Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger sall Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam when the Era is Corrupted
This, and the reward of those who adhere to the Sunnah of the chosen one,
When the people of the era are corrupt
Is a great reward that none can reckon,
Save the One who gives it to the people
For Abu Dawood reported in a sunan of his,
And it was also reported by Ahmad ash-Shaybaani,
A report that they will have the reward of fifty people,
From those who accompanied Ahmad – the best of al- Rahmaan,
Its chain is hasan and it has a root,
In Muslim, so understand it well.
That worship at times of haraj is migration,
In truth to me and that is with a clear proof.
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