Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {Alif, Laam, Meem. Do the people think that they will be left to say, “We believe” and they will not be tried? But We have certainly tried those before them, and Allah will surely make evident those who are truthful, and He will surely make evident the liars. Or do those who do evil deeds think they can outrun Us? Evil is what they judge. Whoever should hope for the meeting with Allah - indeed, the term decreed by Allah is coming. And He is The Hearing, The Knowing. And whoever strives only strives for [the benefit of] himself. Indeed, Allah is free from need of the worlds.} [Quran 29:1-6]

To be tried is to be tested with afflictions or admiration of something or someone, since what may seem good could be evil from the inside, and vice versa. This causes confusion and perplexity.

The disbelievers and the believers are both tested and no one is saved except those who are kept firm by Allah The Exalted.

Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And fear a trial which will not strike those who have wronged among you exclusively, and know that Allah is severe in penalty.} [Quran 8:25]

It was narrated on the authority of ‘Aa’ishah, may Allah be pleased with her, that she said, “I said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! When Allah afflicts the people of earth, who have righteous people among them, with His suppression, will the righteous people perish as the evil people perish?’ He said: ‘O ‘Aa’ishah! When Allah The Almighty afflicts the people who deserve to be afflicted, though righteous people live among them, the righteous people will be afflicted along with them, and they will be resurrected according to their intentions [and deeds].’” [Saheeh]

Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We will surely test you until We make evident those who strive among you [for the cause of Allah] and the patient, and We will test your affairs.} [Quran 47:31]

Trial and affliction can only exist in the presence of two opposites, such as Tawheed (Islamic monotheism) and Shirk (polytheism), gratitude and ingratitude, compliance with the Sunnah (tradition) and innovation in religion, orders and prohibitions, good and evil, and riches and poverty. Allah The Almighty Says (what means): {And We did not grant to any man before you eternity [on earth]; so if you die - would they be eternal? Every soul will taste death. And We test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you will be returned.} [Quran 21:34-35]

Out of His grace, Allah The Almighty Informed our Messenger Muhammad of many afflictions and trials that would afflict his Ummah (nation). Thus, the Messenger of Allah told us about them, warned us against their causes and showed us the way out of them. In a Hadeeth (narration) on the authority of Abu Hurayrah, may Allah be pleased with him, he said that the Messenger of Allah said: “Hasten to do good deeds before tribulations come like patches of dark night, when a man will wake up as a believer and by evening he will be a disbeliever, or in the evening he will be a believer and by morning he will be a disbeliever, selling his religion for a little of worldly gains.” [Muslim]

In a Hadeeth on the authority of Umm Salamah, may Allah be pleased with her, she said that the Messenger of Allah said: “Subhaan Allah! How many afflictions have been sent down tonight! How many treasures Allah has sent down! Wake the ladies (wives of the Prophet ) of these rooms (for prayers). Perhaps, a dressed woman in this world will be naked in the Hereafter.” [Ahmad and Al-Bukhari]

Women are peers to men and have an important role to play in society as caretakers in their homes who are responsible for those under their care. The more righteous their families are, the more righteous the society is and vice versa. Hence, women have been entrusted with a great responsibility. This responsibility grows in the face of an overwhelming danger that comprises waves of intellectual invasion, tools of Westernization, and methods of corruption, misguidance and deception.

Hence, women should double their efforts to fulfill their duties and be saved from temptations. The following are the most important duties:

• Knowing the causes of Fitnah (trial) so as to avoid them

The most important of these causes include:

a- Abandoning reference in judgment to the Divine Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation), and following desires instead. The Ummah has been afflicted with this. After the Companions and their two successive generations passed away, the Ummah was struck with disunity and this resulted in the development of injustice, grudges, envy, jealousy, vanity, disunity, disputes, weakness and humiliation. This reached the extent that Muslims attacked their fellow Muslims, and blood was shed, lives were taken, sanctities were violated, wealth was pillaged and homelands were lost.

It was narrated on the authority of Abu Moosa, may Allah be pleased with him, that the Messenger of Allah said: “Just before the advent of the Hour there will be much killing. It will not be (Muslims) killing the disbelievers, but (Muslims) killing each other, such that a man would meet his brother and kill him. Rational people and scholars of that time would die and will be succeeded by dust-worth people (worthless people), many of whom think that they are worthy, while they are worthless.” [Saheeh]

b- Keenness on acquiring worldly sciences and neglecting knowledge of the Sharee‘ah (Islamic legislation). Many people think of Sharee‘ah knowledge as insignificant and seek it only at the end. This has created a state of confusion and produced many people who invite others to the doors of Hell, because of neglecting the Divine guidance that was communicated by our Messenger Muhammad .

Duties of Muslim Women During Times of Fitnah - II