In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
“And many a town (population) revolted against the command of its Lord and His Messengers; and we called it to a severe account (i.e. torment in this worldly life), and we shall punish it with a horrible torment (in Hell in the Hereafter). * So it tasted the evil result of its affair (disbelief and sin), and the consequence of its affair (disbelief and sin) was loss (destruction in this life and an eternal punishment in the Hereafter).* Allah has prepared for them a severe torment. So fear Allah and keep your duty to Him, O men of understanding who have believed! Allah has indeed sent down to you a reminder (this Qur’an)” At-Talaq 65:8-10.
“And how many a generation we have destroyed before them who were stronger in power than they. And (when our torment came), they ran for a refuge in the land! Could they find any place of refuge (for them to save themselves from destruction)? * Verily, therein is indeed a reminder for him who has a heart or gives ear while he is heedful” Qaf 50:36-37.
“And Allah puts forward the example of a township, that dwelt secure and well-content: its provision coming to it in abundance from every place, but it (i.e. its people) denied the favours of Allah (with ungratefulness). So Allah made it taste extreme of hunger (famine) and fear (insecurity), because of that (evil, i.e. denying Prophet Muhammad (saw) which they (its people) used to do. *And verily, there had come to them a messenger (Muhammad saw) from among themselves, but they denied him, so the torment overtook them while they were Zalimun (Polytheists, Unjusts and wrong-doers/sinners).” An-Nahl 16:112-113.
My respected people! It is essential to know that sins, injustices of any kind and acts of disobedience are very harmful. Their harmful effects upon the heart are akin to the harmful effects of poison upon the body, though the effects vary in their levels and intensities. So is there any evil, calamity, tribulation or harm in this world or in the Hereafter except that it is due to sins and disobedience?
– So what was it that expelled the two parents [i.e. Adam and Eve] from paradise; the home of delight, bliss, splendor and joy; to the home of pain, sorrow and misfortune?
– What was it that expelled iblees [i.e. Satan] from the heavenly realms, causing him to be rejected and cursed; transforming him inwardly and outwardly, so that his form became ugly and hideous – his inner form more hideous than his outer -replacing his nearness with remoteness, mercy with curse, his beauty with ugliness, from being in paradise to being in the blazing fire, from having faith to being an unbeliever, from having the patronage and friendship of Allah, the praiseworthy, Guardian, to being the greatest enemy and opponent, from glorifying and praising Him to committing acts of unbelief, shirk, lies, deception and shamelessness, from being adorned with faith to being clothed in the garment of unbelief, sinfulness and disobedience, causing him to reach the deepest depths of despicability, plunging down in the sight of Allah as far as it is possible to plunge; causing the anger of Allah the exalted to be upon him, making him an outcast – despised and humiliated – so that he became a leader for every sinner, Unjust and criminal, becoming pleased with leadership for himself, after having reached the station of worship and nobility? O Allah, we seek refuge in you from opposing your command and falling into what you have forbidden.
– What was it that caused the people of the earth to drown, to the extent that the water rose above even the mountain tops? What was it that caused the violent winds to overcome the people of ‘Aad, such that it flung them down dead upon the face of the earth – as if they were lopped-off palm trunks – and it destroyed whatever dwellings and crops it came across, thus making them an example for nations until the day of Resurrection?
– What was it that caused the piercing shrieks to be set loose upon the Thamood people, such that their hearts were severed within their very bodies by which they all perished?
– What was it that caused the town of the homosexuals to be raised up and turned upside down, such that they were all destroyed? Then stones from the sky pelted down upon them so that they suffered a combined punishment, the like of which was not given to any other nation! And for their brothers will be like; and it is not far off from the transgressors!
– What was it that caused the clouds of punishment to overcome the people of Shu’ayb, such that when these clouds were above their heads it rained scorching fire upon them?
– What was it that caused the Pharaoh and his people to be drowned in the ocean, and caused their souls to be transported to the Hellfire, so their bodies drowned and their souls burned?
– What was it that caused Qaaroon, his dwelling, wealth and family to sink down into the earth?
– What was it that caused the destruction of those generations after Noah, and how they were afflicted with various punishments that caused their annihilation?
– What was it that caused the destruction of the companions of Yaa Seen, with the clamorous shout, which destroyed them?
– What caused there to be sent against the children of Israa’eel enemies of great strength and might, plundering their homes, killing their men, enslaving their women and children, burning their dwellings, seizing their wealth, and then returning again a second time, destroying what was rebuilt after their first onslaught?
– What was it that caused the various types of punishments to be set loose upon the children of Israa’eel? Killing them, enslaving the, destroying their land and at times causing them to be oppressed by kings, whilst at another time causing them to be transformed into apes and swines – and finally the Lord took an oath that:
“He would certainly keep on sending against them, until the day of Resurrection, those who will inflict them with a humiliating torment.” [Surah al-A’raaf 7:167]
Imam Ahmad said: al-Waleed ibn Muslim related to us; that Safwaan ibn A’mr related to us; that ‘Abdurrahman ibn Jubayr ibn Nufayr related; from his father, who said; “When Cyprus was conquered and its people were dispersed and they started weeping to each other, I saw Abud-Dardaa sitting alone and weeping. So I said to him: O Abud-Dardaa! What makes you weep on this day that Allah has granted strength and honor to Islam and its people? So he said: Woe be on to you O Jubayr! How insignificant the creation becomes to Allah when they turn away from His command. In front of us is a nation who were evidently powerful and who had dominion, yet they abandoned Allah’s command, so look what has become of them.” [Reported by Imam Ahmad in az-Zuhd (1/86), with an authentic (saheeh) chain of narration; as stated by Shaykh Alee Hasan al-Halabee in his verification of the book of Imam Ibnil Qayyim al-Jawziyya Ad-Daa’u Wad-da-waa’.
‘Alee ibn al-ja’d said: Shu’bah ibn ‘Amr ibn Murrah informed us; I heard Abdul-Bukhtaree say: I was informed by someone who heard the Prophet (saw) saying: “The people will not perish, until they have no excuse left for themselves.” [Reported by Ahmad (4/260) and Abu Dawood (no. 4347) with an authentic chain of narration]
Imam Ahmad repots in his Musnad, from the hadeeth of Umm Salamah, who said: I heard Allah’s Messenger (saw) saying: “When acts of disobedience become widespread in my ummah, then Allah may send punishment upon them all from Himself”. So I said: O Allah’s Messenger! Even if there are righteous people amongst them that day? So he replied: “Indeed!” so I said: How will these be? He replied: “they will be afflicted with what afflicts the people, and then they will move on to the forgiveness of Allah and His good pleasure.” [Reported by Ahmad (6/304) and one of its narrators is Layth ibn Abee Sulaym who is weak. However the hadeeth is established due to further supporting narrations. Consult Silsilatul-Ahadesus-Saheehah (no. 1372) of Shaykh al-Albaanee].
And my Brothers and Sisters know that Allah swt was the creator of all that exists, including peace, security and insecurity, and all calamities. So if we are obeying him, he will send down peace to prevail among us, and if otherwise, he will send insecurity and calamites to dwell among us (we seek protection of Allah from that) until and unless we go back to Him and repent.
Allah swt said:
“….And we have made some of you as a trial for others; will you have patience? And your Lord is ever All-seer (of everything)”. Al-Furqan 25:20.
Therefore, we have to change our characters and behaviours, and pray/supplicate seriously to Allah (swt) so that He sends His own mercy to us and take away the insecurity/calamities that had bedeviled us in Nigeria.
“And your Lord said: “Invoke me, [i.e. believe in my Oneness (Islamic monotheism) and ask me for anything] I will respond to your (invocation). Verily, those who scorn my worship [i.e. do not invoke me, and do not believe in my Oneness (Islamic monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in Humiliation!” Ghafir 40:60
“And when my slaves ask you (O Muhammad (saw)) concerning me, then (answer them), I am indeed near (to them by knowledge). I respond to the invocations of the supplicant when he calls on me (without any mediator or intercessor). So let them obey me and believe in me, so that they may be led aright.” Al-Bakarah 2:186.
Narrated Abu Hurairah (R.A): Allah’s messenger (saw) said,
“Allah said, ‘I will declare war against him who shows hostility to a pious worshipper of mine. And the most beloved things with which my slave comes nearer to me, is what I have enjoined upon him; and my slave keeps on coming closer to me through performing Nawaafil till I love him. Then I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he ask me I will give him, and if he asks my protection (Refuge), I will protect him; (i.e. give him my Refuge) and I do not hesitate to do anything as I hesitate to take the soul of the believer, for he hates death, and I hate to disappoint him.” (Sahih Al-Bukhari).
Sufyan bin Uyaynah Rahimahullah has said:
“What the slave hates is better than what he likes, because what he detests incites him to pray, and what he loves, distracts him from supplicating.”
May Allah (swt) forgive us all, Amin.
Wassalamu Alaikum
Warahmatullahi ta’ala wa
Bara ka tuhu.
Yours in Islam,
Imam Murtada Muhammad Gusau
(Abuu Mus’ab), Okene, Kogi State.
14-05-2014
08038289761.