Invincible! The Amazing Case of the Believer

By: Mansour Abdul-Hakeem

Abu Suhayb ibn Sinaan narrated that the Prophet said: “How amazing is the case of the believer; there is good for him in everything, and this characteristic is exclusively for him alone. If he experiences something pleasant, he is thankful, and that is good for him; and if he comes across some diversity, he is patient, and that is good for him.” [Muslim]

Success is a trait that is generally lacking in the Muslim community. A Muslim is frequently caught between two traps while attempting to traverse a path exceedingly narrow. On one side, an individual is afflicted with calamities, and hence becomes spiteful. On the other side, a Muslim is trialed with all sorts of worldly temptations, and easily loses sight of the bigger picture. Yet in this hadith, the Prophet gives a simple formula, which solves this problem and provides the believer with comfort and assurance.

“How amazing is the case of the believer; there is good for him in everything, and this characteristic is exclusively for him alone…”

The peculiarity of this statement from the Prophet is that it can only possibly work for a believing Muslim. Only the believer has absolute certainty in Allah, His most perfect Names and Attributes, and the life of the Hereafter. Conversely, Allah describes the disbelievers by saying:

“They follow nothing but conjecture; they do nothing but lie.” [Surat al-An’aam 6:116]

It is amazing how often the disbelievers criticised the Muslims for being backward and uncivilised; but how often is the light shed on how Muslims suffer. A Muslim does not slit his wrists or jump out of a building when things get really tough. A Muslim knows that there is good in everything.

“If he experiences something pleasant, he is thankful, and that is good for him…”

Of the two tasks the Prophet sets here (patience or thankfulness), this is perhaps the more difficult of the two when, oftentimes, a Muslim who attains some worldly gain and then attributes his success to his own abilities, or to luck, just forgets altogether the One who bestowed it upon him. That is the catch to any form of triumph. Indeed Allah says that:

“Most men are not thankful.” [Surat Yusuf 12:38]

Recognising that it is Allah who has blessed us with all these things is a cause for an increase, whereas forgetting Allah will not stop any gain, but it will result in a recompense in the Hereafter, as Allah says:

“If you are thankful I will add more (favors) unto you; but if you show ingratitude truly My punishment is terrible indeed.” [Surat Ibrahim 14:7]

This is why scholars have pointed out that a rich and thankful slave is preferable to a poor and patient slave, and this is supported by an incident when some Companions came to the Prophet , complaining:

“O Messenger of Allah, the affluent have made off with the rewards. They pray like we pray, fast like we fast and they also give charity from their extra wealth.” [Muslim]

In addition, Companions of the highest status such as Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman were all wealthy. Yet they knew where to spend their money, and who to thank for it.

“And if he comes across some diversity, he is patient, and that is good for him.”

“Companions of the highest status such as Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman were all wealthy. Yet they knew where to spend their money, and who to thank for it..”

Patience is another trait that is sadly lacking among us. Yet consider the Seerah of the Prophet : There was hardly a time during his illustrious life that this essential quality was not apparent. For thirteen years the Prophet remained at Makkah, calmly bearing the vilest of emotional and physical abuse. Once, it was all too much for some of the companions, and they approached the Prophet while he was sitting in the shade of the Kaa’ba, asking him to pray to Allah to quicken their victory. The Prophet did not oblige them, but instead told them (and subsequently us):

“From among those who have preceded you, a man would be caught and held in a pit dug for him in the earth and he would be sawn in two by a saw placed over his head, or his flesh would be combed away from his bones with iron combs, but none of this would tear him away from his faith. Allah will surely help Islam complete its mission, till a rider will proceed from San’aa’ to Hadhramaut, fearing nothing save Allah and the wolf eating his sheep. But you are in too much of a hurry.” [Bukhari]

So what are our feeble daily inconveniences compared to the sufferings of these exceptional individuals —those who sacrificed their lives wholly for the sake of Allah, Most High. Muslims in this generation are in need of achieving this goal. Once an individual realises that this life is transient, that the Hereafter is eternal, that Allah is the sole Being who provides and sustains, and that to Him is our ultimate return, there is nothing that can possibly concern a Muslim except the pursuit of Allah’s pleasure. Once a Muslim is both thankful and patient, he becomes…invincible!

thanks to Nida`ul Islam for this article