We were the first offenders!

The foremost lesson one learns, and initial conclusion one draws, is that the disbelievers were not quite the first to offend the religion and Words of Allaah The Almighty, and His Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. Rather, it is us Muslims who did so before them. We neglected the rights of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, although Allaah The Almighty commands us to respect and revere him, when He Says (what means): {So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him - it is those who will be the successful.} [Quran 7:157] Among the rights of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, that we must fulfill is to love him, as he said: None of you is a [true] believer unless he loves me more than his [or her] own self, child, parents and all people. Another of his rights is to follow and obey him, as we are instructed by Allaah The Almighty, Who Says (what means): {and obey the Messenger - that you may receive mercy.} [Quran 24:56]

Since we failed in adequately observing those, the recompense of Allaah The Almighty, accordingly, was that we were [indirectly] attacked. We were neglectful of the Seerah (biography) of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, so Allaah The Almighty degraded us; and, he who turns himself into a disgrace finds humiliation palatable. We neglected and abandoned the Quran and did not truly abide by its directives and avoid its prohibitions. Consequently, Allaah The Almighty chastised apathetic believers by making them see the punishment for their slackness and negligence in adhering to the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.

We have also come to witness the evil consequences of forsaking the Quran in terms of teaching and learning it, judging according to it, using it as a means of healing and in Dawah (calling others to Islam), and other matters, as is alluded to when Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And the Messenger has said, "O my Lord, indeed my people have taken this Quran as [a thing] abandoned."} [Quran 25:30]

Thus, the insult came to clarify that it is us who have offended our Quran, the Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and his Sunnah. Hence, it was only a fitting retribution from Allaah The Almighty that we were gravely admonished at the hands of the disbelievers and polytheists, in order for the believers to realize the reality of their attitude in that regard, assess their situation and return to the religion of Allaah The Almighty. Then, He promises them, Saying (what means): {O you who have believed, if you support Allaah, He will support you and plant firmly your feet.} [Quran 47:7] {If Allaah should aid you, no one can overcome you; but if He should forsake you, who is there that can aid you after Him? And upon Allaah let the believers rely.} [Quran 3:160]

Thus, this is the primary issue that we should bear in mind.

However, what does this have to do with the Hijrah (emigration), which we previously mentioned was related to this topic? Allaah The Almighty praises the Muhaajiroon (emigrants), Saying (what means): {Indeed, those who have believed and those who have emigrated and fought in the Cause of Allaah those expect the Mercy of Allaah. And Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful.} [Quran 2:218] Those people left behind their properties, homes, land and children, out of their love for Allaah The Almighty, His Messenger, sallallaahu

alayhi wa sallam, and His Book, in support of His religion and in order to establish His Shareeah and elevate His Word above all else. In contrast, today, the believers are no longer willing to sacrifice their wealth, souls, efforts and time for the sake of their religion. Rather, they save their assets for their desires, pleasures, worldly life and children. They make time for entertainment and whatever preoccupies them with worldly affairs.

Therefore, and this is where the connection lies, when they neglected the Hereafter, turned away from it, became more inclined to this life at the expense of the Hereafter and their meeting with their Lord, they were struck by this crushing punishment. But, when the Muhaajiroon were given the religion of Allaah The Almighty, they gave it precedence over everything else and sacrificed their properties, families and homes for it, which runs opposite to our current weakness and infamy. Moreover, when they carried the religion with the same attitude and held fast to the Book of Allaah The Almighty, He rewarded them by supporting and honoring them, and by firmly establishing their state and defeating their enemies who were world powers and ruled over most of the human race.

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And already had Allaah given you victory at [the battle of] Badr while you were few in number. Then fear Allaah; perhaps you will be grateful.} [Quran 3:123] Here, He particularly stresses the fact to the early Muslims that it did not matter if they were small in number and inferior in terms of equipment and arms. As long as they had faith and confidence in, and relied on, their Lord, preferred to pass on to the next life after death, loved to institute the religion of Allaah The Almighty and raise His flag up high, sacrificing everything for its sake, He would grant them success by virtue of their sincere faith, in spite of their limited forces, subjugation and modest worldly means.

However, when the Muslims and their enemies became the same in terms of immorality, disobedience, negligence and remoteness from Allaah The Almighty, their foes defeated them by means of their weaponry, power, equipment and size. That is why Umar, may Allaah be pleased with him, would say, You are granted victory by virtue of [your commitment to] your religion. If you equal the disbelievers in relation to disobedience, they would crush you with their [large] number and resources. And, indeed, this is the state we have now arrived at.

Due to this possibility, the men and women who migrated [in the early days of Islam] were tested. Allaah The Almighty Said (what means): {O you who have believed, when the believing women come to you as emigrants, examine them. Allaah is most knowing as to their faith.} [Quran 60:10] But, how did the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, test the believing women? He used to ask them to swear by Allaah The Almighty that they did not leave Makkah for Madeenah seeking a change of scene, out of hatred for their husbands or in pursuit of worldly gains. Rather, he ascertained that they did so only because of love for Allaah The Almighty and His Messenger, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam.

When that was truly the case, and it was, Allaah The Almighty exalted, honored and supported them when they defended His religion. He referred to this in the verse where He Says (what means): {If you do not aid the Prophet - Allaah has already aided him when those who disbelieved had driven him out [of Makkah] as one of two, when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, Do not grieve; indeed Allaah is with us.} [Quran 9:40] Indeed, who could defeat us if Allaah The Almighty is on our side? If we replaced Allaah is with us by the human race, jinn, the entire world, the Muslim and

non-Muslim powers are with us, it could not possibly parallel the magnitude of the former statement. The command of Allaah The Almighty is only when He intends for a thing to happen that He Says, "Be," and it is; thus can He also make the whole world a means to support His religion and for us, then, it holds true: Do not grieve; indeed Allaah is with us. Hence, Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {If you do not aid the Prophet - Allaah has already aided him} [Quran 9:40]

However, exactly why did He cite the incident in the cave as an example? He Says (what means): {when they were in the cave and he said to his companion, Do not grieve; indeed Allaah is with us.} [Quran 9:40] This highlights the reality that the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, were the only two in the cave and were completely surrounded by polytheists. Yet, Allaah The Almighty describes this situation as victory achieved when no one else could see it as such. Surely, how could it be a triumph for two persons taking cover in a cave, with the forces of disbelief encircling them, seeking to take them alive or dead? They were so close that if any of the disbelievers had stretched out his hand, he would have caught them; and if any of them had looked past his feet, he would have spotted them, as Abu Bakr, may Allaah be pleased with him, expressed to the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. However, his response was, Do not grieve and not, Do not be afraid, because fear has no way in to his, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, heart. That is so, since he always relied on Allaah The Almighty and was certain of His help, knowing that He would reinforce His religion and His allies, even if they may be two against the various powers of disbelief. For, as long as they adopt true faith and conviction, and are ready to sacrifice their souls, properties and efforts

for the sake of Allaah The Almighty, He would provide His assistance to them; and this would be the case, even if it involved only one staunch supporter.

Yet, Muslims nowadays have abandoned and neglected their religion, the Quran and the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. They stand by and watch Islam [grow or come under attack] without inviting others to it. No one rises from among them to preach with the Quran, study it and propagate it. Hardly anybody emerges to learn and revive the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and teach it to others, as the early Muslims did, which enabled the religion of Islam to spread among people.

Allaah The Almighty calls the attention of believers to their negligence [of this sort] and noncompliance, which may reach the extent of facilitating the disbelievers to subdue them to their current shameful state. Perhaps that is why, and we hark back to the connection with emigration, the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, used to say: The reward of worship performed in times of trials is equal in amount to emigration to me. [At-Tirmithi] In other words, the one who holds fast to the religion of Allaah The Almighty in an age of temptation, particularly in grave days likes these, which are riddled with discord and dispute; and, obeys Allaah The Almighty, fulfills His Commands and adheres to the Sunnah of His Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, beckoning [others] to the same with knowledge, deeds and conduct, and through Dawah, is like a migrant to the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam. He or she would acquire the same degree, status and reward that no one can possibly attain, now that physical emigration to the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, has ceased.

Yet, the door of [spiritual] emigration to Allaah The Almighty and him, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, is still, and will remain, open until the Day of

Resurrection. Muslims can undertake this path by abandoning their sins and acts of disobedience. They can do so, by moving with their properties and souls, leaving behind their homes and children, in support of the religion of Allaah The Almighty, seeking its triumph and defense, and shunning temptation.

Perhaps, this first admonition has now become clear, that what has already come to pass of offenses against elements of our religion, is meant to make us, believers, realize that our negligence in adhering to the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu alayhi wa sallam, and our Quran, has empowered others over us and degraded us immensely. This latter experience is one that true believers hearts cannot tolerate, and if ours do, they could not possibly be Muslim hearts, rather, they would be weak, sick and mean.

Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {Indeed, those who abuse Allaah and His Messenger-Allaah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter and prepared for them a humiliating punishment.} [Quran 33:57] Although we are not detailing glad tidings, which we will cover later, and are within the context of lessons related to emigration that we will next mention the rest of, [we must take note] that this verse is only good news for true believers.