Seeking Allaah's refuge from the Fitan

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

It is reported that `Abdullaah Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه said:

❝One should not say: “I seek Allaah’s refuge from the Fitan”, as there is no one except that he will be tested and put to trials. Rather, if one has to seek refuge then he should say: “I seek Allaah’s refuge from falling into dilemma or going astray because of the Fitan.”

He then recited:

﴿إِنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ﴾

{Your wealth and your children are only a Fitnah} [Surah al-Taghaabun (64): 15]❞

Ibn Rajab said: “He (Ibn Mas`ood) was indicating that one does not seek Allaah’s refuge from wealth and children, even though they are a Fitnah, (but rather from the dilemma that arises because of them.)”

[Ibn Rajab in الجامع المنتخب (1/104) and al-Tabaraanee in Mu`jam al-Kabeer (8931). Al-Haithamee said in Majma` al-Zawaaid (11959), “it is reported by al-Tabaraanee and its chain is broken in.”]

NOTE: The purpose of this post is to indicate that the Fitnah is not always bitter. At times it can be sweet and tempting, as Allaah تعالى said:

﴿وَنَبْلُوكُم بِالشَّرِّ وَالْخَيْرِ فِتْنَةً ۖ وَإِلَيْنَا تُرْجَعُونَ﴾

{And We shall test you with EVIL and with GOOD as trial; and to Us you will be returned.} [Surah al-Anbiyaa’ (21): 35]

And the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said: ❝The (Hell) Fire is surrounded by all kinds of desires and passions, while Paradise is surrounded by all kinds of disliked undesirable things.❞ [Saheehain]

The one who comes out safe from it will be successful, and the one who does not will be left confused, or misled or destroyed, as the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence which would be like a part of the dark night. During (that stormy period) a man would be a Believer in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening or he would be a Believer in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning, and would sell his faith for worldly goods.❞ [Saheeh Muslim (169)]

Contrary to the statement of Ibn Mas`ood, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم instructed to say:

نَعُوذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الْفِتَنِ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ

We seek Allaah’s refuge from the Fitan, both visible and invisible.

[Saheeh Muslim]