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Tested By Relatives Because of Her Religious Commitment

Question

I’m asking question on behalf of my friend who needed Islamic advice and I’m not sure what I can give her, islamically
She says that she recently discovered the “sweetness of imaan” and doesn’t want to go back to her old ways but her wiswisa is getting too bad. She told me that she also suffers with anxiety and admitted that her thoughts cause her great distress. Her mother has been making comments towards her that have been hurting her. Even though her mother is very practicing and encourages them to follow the deen. She says that her mother gives her “side ways looks” (I’m not sure what this part means) and made demeaning references (so and so thinks they are pious suddenly) the one that hurt her the most was being called “terrorist” in a fit of rage one day. This shocked me because her mom is a woman of the deen, who even when I saw her told me I should wear jilbab. But I know my friend wouldn’t lie about that either.
The situation confuses me, but my friend admitted she has been backtracking because of it and let the guilt set in

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) is His slave and Messenger.

We advice your friend to keep up what she is doing and not to pay attention to the harm she may experience from others, even if it comes from a close relative. Allah Almighty tests those whom He blesses with piety with such harm, especially at this time when religion has become strange among people. A Hadeeth states: "Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being something strange, so give glad tidings to the ‘strangers’.' It was said: 'Who are the strangers?’ He (the Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention )) replied: 'The strangers are those who have left their tribes (for the sake of Allah).'" [Muslim]

The Hadeeth means that the one who adheres to his religion will feel a sense of not belonging and being abandoned like a stranger. The term "so give glad tidings" meaning, of a good life, or the Paradise will be granted to them, as a result.

In another narration, some asked, "'Who are they O Messenger of Allah?' He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) replied: 'They are those who remain upright when other people become corrupted.'"

The Prophet  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) also informed us that there shall come upon the people a time in which the one who adheres to his religion will be like the one holding onto a burning ember. Abu Daawood and Ibn Maajah reported: "Ahead of you days of patience will come, during which patience will be like grasping a burning ember, and one who does good deeds will have a reward like that of fifty men doing the same deed.” In another narration, people asked: "'O Messenger of Allah, the reward of fifty men from them (their time)?' He  sallallaahu  `alayhi  wa  sallam ( may  Allaah exalt his mention ) said: 'No! Rather the reward of fifty men from you.'"

We reiterate our advice to that woman to be patient in her uprightness and obedience of Allah and to ignore whatever she may hear from the people. She should also ignore the whispers of Satan because they are a means by which Satan tries to avert her from what is good. In these cases, mentioning Allah as much as one can, is the best means to keep Satan and his whispers away.

Allah Knows best.

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