Don't Ever Give Up!

by Abu Uwais (rahimahullaah)  

Questioner: It seems like the person who encourages the good is the person whom the people attack. Just as an example, I went to an event and it was in a gymnasium, and the brother prayed (made the salat) in his shoes. And the people (non-Salafees) verbally attacked him as he tried to explain the Sunnah. And they said, "You Salafees are arrogant." And they began to attack the brother. He used to be a person who would always encourage the people with the Sunnah, especially those things that a lot of people don't do. And now, he doesn't do that...What words of advice and encouragement would you give him in order for him to continue to do what he was doing?

Abu Uwais (rahimahullaah) answered:

"Bismillaah Al-Hamdulillaah. The Messenger (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: Those who receive the most ibtilah (examination or tests or fitnah) are the Prophets then those most like them then those most like them. And the Da'ee (caller) has to realize that he's going to go through these types of things, whoever he is, whoever she is, and whatever amount of 'ilm or knowledge that they call to, they have to expect [this harm]. This is what we [discussed] in Usool Ath-Thalaatha, being patient upon the harms that come [while giving da'wah]. So he should not have given up.

Shaikh Ibn Baaz (rahimahullaah) used to always say, 'Don't give up.' 'Don't give up.' Always be patient, being resilient, striving; never give up for the end result is for the Muttaqeen (the righteous, those who love Allaah, those who have taqwa). For those who believe, Allaah Tabaarak wa Ta'aala will support them, no matter what difficulty they go through.

Look at [the example of] the Prophet when he injured his hand, his finger. He said:Are you nothing but a finger that has been injured and bloodied, and you met in the Path of Allaah what you were meant to meet.

And this is how we should look at things. If you're going to call to the Qur`an and the Sunnah and the Deen of Allaah, Tabaarak wa Ta'aala, we should expect [harms].

If everybody (is showering us with, or placing in front of us) rose petals and opening their arms, then something is wrong with our da'wah. The Da'wah is something that the people are against, at least in the beginning of the matter.  

There's (going to be) roughness from them, some turning away. And then you try and try and be patient, and you plant seeds, and basically they are nourished and then they grow, and they come to fruition. So this is how he should have looked at it.

He should never have given up.

And [for] that revival of the Sunnah, he will get a great reward. As a matter of fact, if he sticks to the Deen in the times of fitnah (harj) it's like making Hijrah to the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam). If he makes 'ibaadah (worship) in the times of Fitnah [that's] like making Hijrah to the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam).[1]  

And if he holds onto the Deen of Allaah like hot coals, he will get the reward of 50 sahaaba (companions).[2]  

There are a lot of bushra (glad tidings) for giving da'wah. He shouldn't look at his situation right now [their objection], but he should think of the future and what would happen bi-idhnillaah Ta'aala.

And the success will be for the believer. No doubt about that!"  

Notes:  

[1] The Messenger of Allaah (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: Worship performed during time of harj is like making hijra to me (the Prophet).

Shaikh Saalih as-Sindee (hafidhahullaah) said: "The one who worships during harj(times when killing, fitna, and fear is widespread, and those who obey Allaah are few, and those who disobey Allaah are many) his reward is like the one who made hijrah to the Prophet (salallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) - a reward that only some of the companions (the Muhajjirun) received."  

[2] The Prophet (sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam) said: 'Ahead of you there lie days of patience, during which being patient will be like grasping a hot coal. The one who does good deeds then will have a reward like that of fifty men who do such deeds.' They said: O Messenger of Allaah, the reward of fifty of them? He said: 'The reward of fifty of you.' (Narrated by Abu Dawood (4341); at-Tirmidhi (3085), who said it is a hasan hadeeth. It was classed as 'saheeh' by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah [494])

In some reports of the hadeeth, it reads: "They are the ones who will revive my Sunnah and teach it to the people