IT IS NOT VALID SABR
(By Maulana Imran Admani of Kenya)
“I am doing Sabr”, the safe haven, incorrectly used by oppressors and cowards.
Undoubtedly, patience holds great rewards. To have patience is no easy feat. However, the word patience is used incorrectly in many situations. We have to understand that patience is not always applicable. Let us understand this with an example.
Wudhu is a good act of ibaadah. It’s rewarding if done with the correct intention. However, if a person sits and does wudhu for hours, it will be unlawful and sinful wasting water and time. Similarly, Nafl Salaah is rewarding. But at the wrong time will be sinful, e.g. at the time of sunrise, zawwaal and sunset. From this we understand that Sabr, if used in the wrong situation, can also go from being a good deed to being wrong and sometimes sinful. But the word “sabr” is so widely accepted as a good action, that people believe it is permissible to be applicable in all situations.
This is the very reason why people are using it to get away with oppression. People in positions of authority are using it to turn a blind eye to all the injustices, corruption and even misguidance and incorrect Islamic teachings that are going on all around us.
This is why we see that people who are using Islam to misguide people, who are informing people of incorrect laws, who are using sinful methods to try and give dawah, who are changing the lessons learnt from Qur’an, when questioned about their methods and are requested to justify their actions according to Shariah, they respond with silence. Instead of trying to explain their haraam concocted methodologies, they resort to playing the victim and cry tears of emotion, blaming their accusers as haters and jealous people. They decide to remain stay silent equating it with sabr. Where will they run from Allah’s judgment and questioning on the day of Qiyamah?
We don’t need to look far to find such people. Look all around us and we will find them. These fake scholars’ methods are openly exposed, and they are being questioned about it by many scholars, yet they remain silent thinking they are adopting sabr in face of hardships. This infectious, cowardly method is perpetrated by even some so-called senior Ulama who advertise themselves as being Shaikhs (experts) in Hadith, Tafseer, etc.
What is even worse, are those people, who are sitting on the side-line, in a position of authority. Despite having the ability to speak up, they are silent. They also claim that they are adopting sabr. In reality it is another name for cowardice. It does not end there. When these preachers are consulted by people who wish to speak out, they push them also towards imaginary sabr. They prevent others from proclaiming the truth.
Let us understand this with an example. If today someone attacked your parents, in your presence, would you sit and watch and say: ‘I shall adopt sabr.’? Or would you try and stop it and maybe even punish those who are attacking your parents?
Then why is it that when these fake preachers and other non-muslim ideologists attack Islam, attack the religion revealed to our beloved nabi Muhammed Sallallahu alahi wasallam, attack that which we hold dear, and yet we are able to sit silently on the side-lines? Even when we have the authority, ability and influence to speak out? How does that make any sense? How can anyone justify adopting sabr at this juncture? How can the love in our hearts for Allah and Nabi sallallahu alayhi wasallam enable us not to speak?
Let us end with the following hadith:
“Whosoever of you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand; and if he is not able to do so, then [let him change it] with his tongue; and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart — and that is the weakest of faith.” (Muslim)
May Allah give us all the ability and courage to do what is correct and may he enable us to adopt sabr only when it is permissible and needed. Ameen
19 Zul Qa’dah 1444 – 9 June 2023