Tajdeed

Zaydi Usul: Chapter on Afflictions – by Imam Muhammad b. Yahya (a.s)

‘It is also obligatory for every rational person among the people of Islam, when severe calamities befall themselves or their children, to have good expectations regarding Allāh. Whatever trials and afflictions have come before from Allāh, one should consider them with proper reflection and differentiate their purpose. If a person is obedient to Allāh, fully submitting to His command, abstaining from His prohibitions, and not opposing any of His decrees, then they should know that this affliction is a test from Allāh.

He examines them through it to multiply their reward and recompense, and to magnify their giving and compensation, for Allāh, the Exalted, says: {ʿAlīf, Lam, Meem. Do the people think that they will be left to say, ‘We believe’ and they will not be tried?} (al-Ankabut). Thus, they are tested to manifest the truth of their faith and the soundness of their Islam when faced with hardships and trials.

If the one afflicted is a disobedient servant of Allāh, persisting in committing sins, unafraid of Him, and not submitting to His command, then they should know that the calamities and afflictions befalling them are a punishment and a trial, as a humiliation from Allāh in all aspects. This is just a little of what may come from Him, and it may descend upon them at any time. Therefore, they should hasten to repent and return before their life comes to an end and they are held accountable.’

Reference: ‘A Treatise on the Fundamentals’ (Kitāb al-Uṣūl) – By al-Imām Muḥammad b. Yaḥyā b. al-Qāsim b. ʾIbrāhīm b. Ismail b. ʾIbrāhīm b. al-Ḥasan b. al-Ḥasan b. ʿAlī b. Abi Ṭālib (278 – 310 AH) ~ translated by Muḥammad al-Sharīfī, pp.16-17

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Philosophy/Theology – Is everything pre-ordained by God? The causes of calamity & afflictions and how to deal with them?

Bismillah

It is evident that the most virtuous of people experience the greatest difficulties and hardships, and it is clear that these negativities, evils & hardships manifest the greatest qualities in the human being. How ironic is it that, it is the presence of hardship and evil that expose the greatest strengths of man?

It is also evident that God has not preordained man to reach virtue or vice or choose good and evil. Rather, God Almighty granted man free-will, so they can have the choice to freely choose the path of righteousness or the path of evil.

Three different causes of evil and calamity:

1. If one brings calamity upon one’s self due to sins & desires, then the disobedient, yet responsible individual is obliged to be humble, take responsibility, seek forgiveness and proximity from God and then change his actions to reach virtue. It is they who have caused evil, so they to know this fact and forbid themselves from committing blasphemy by accusing God, His Decree and pre-ordained destiny.

• 2. If one brings calamity upon one’s self due to ignorance, error and mistake, then again one needs to humble themselves, accept it, embrace the reality of life and then recognise that God Almighty created the creation with weaknesses and limitations, which means that man is not supposed to, nor can be perfect. On the contrary, only God is deserving of perfection glory and greatness! Instead, the human being is obliged to learn, take heed from one’s faults and then grow from it by getting closer to God. It is not God who obliged you to make that mistake, but it is God who created you with those weaknesses and limitations and every individual has different strengths and weaknesses and they are tested accordingly. Through these various problems of life, man is tested, and the test allows one to recognise the truth and ally with God in love obedience & submission.

• 3. And if calamity befalls the human being without the individual sinning or making any mistakes, then one should embrace it, but be even more grateful for it finding them. This is because they have not caused the hardship or evil and they have no control or accountability over it. Instead, God Almighty created a universe with such a system that permits such evils, mistakes and wrongdoings to occur and to befall upon the human being. Once again, this system is ordained to create opportunities to test mankind with the correct attitude and actions. Thus, evil and calamities exist to allow human beings to manifest obedience or disobedience, demonstrate gratitude or ingratitude, show humility or arrogance & reach vice or virtue. Despite the outcomes of victory or loss, the ultimate aim is to be humble and get closer to God.

To conclude, the predecessors and greatest role-models for Muslims in general and the Zaydis in particular are the prophets, the messengers and the Imams of guidance (Ahlulbayt). Just look at how Prophet Moses (a.s.) resisted against the powerful Pharaoh despite the difficulty! Remember how hardship and failures got him closer to God. Remember how the last messenger, Prophet Muhammad (saws) resisted against his arrogant, rebellious and tyrannical tribe members (the Quraysh) to embody and establish truth and justice.

For a whole decade, the Prophet Muhammad (sawa) and his companions endured hardship and suffering, but they were resilient, patient and grateful. However, this was not a passive patience, it was an active one, which ultimate led them to have dominion over their enemies. Also, remember Jesus (a.s) and John the Baptist (a.s), how they were steadfast against wrongdoing. Even though they did not attain worldly success, they were amongst the most successful. They were close to God and they upheld the truth regardless of what befell them. O believers remember Husayn b. Ali (a.s.), the grandson of the last messenger who struggled against the tyrant of his time until the very end, he did not prioritise success in this temporary worldly life. Instead, he maintained the importance of truth, justice, honour and virtue until he and his companions met their Lord. Did it end? Never! Husayn’s grandson, Zayd b. Ali (a.s.)  revived what his grandfather started, he courageously maintained virtue against the company of evil until he met his Lord. And the battle of truth against falsehood, justice versus tyranny continued until this very day and it will last until the Judgement Day. All praise to the Lord of the universes for giving the human being such an opportunity

• By Abul Hasan al-Gabikani al-Shadi al-Shaddadi al-Hadhabani -al-Kurdi