Sunday, September 28, 2008

Fitna, Trials and Tribulations

bismillâh ir-rahmân ir-rahîm
In the name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

AsSalam Alaikum warahmatullah.

Begin with all praise is due to Allah s.w.t, we seek his help and we ask for His foregiveness. And we seek refuge from Allah s.w.t from the evil of ourselves and for the evil consequence of our evil actions. Whomsoever Allah s.w.t guides, there is none to misguide, and whomsoever Allah s.w.t leaves to fall astray, there is none to guide. And I testify that there is no diety that is worthy of worship accept Allah s.w.t and Muhammad s.a.w is His last and final messenger. After that, the best speech is the book of Allah s.w.t and the best guidance is Muhammad s.a.w. And the worst of all the affairs are the matters that are newly introduced in the religion. Every matter that is newly introduced is an innovation, all of the innovation is misguidance, all of the misguidance is going astray, and all the going astray is in the fire.

I have something in mind that I wish to put into discussion insyaAllah and perhaps I can share with some of the brothers or sisters out there insyaAllahu ta'ala.

Before I begin, what is 'fitna'? I think it is imperative for us to understand or at least get an idea of what it means. Well I am not a linguist or fluent in arabic, just to share a thing or two and perhaps you can share of what you know and insyaAllah we can have a better understanding in this matter insyaAllah. Let us do our best.

Fitna - Masses of people in Malaysia, understaands the word 'fitna' by a slander. Slander in brief is charging falsely or with malicious intent towards another person, group, party, etc. It is also understood as making accusation without any solid evidence. Well it is how I understand 'fitna' as I grew up here in Malaysia. However, Alhamdulillah with the more reading and research that I have made, the meaning of the word 'fitna' expands and in fact it actually carries a very broad implication. 'Trials and tribulations' can also be a 'fitna' as defined from other people from different parts of the world. This word 'fitna' were mentioned on and off in Islam. Therefore it is best to understand the word in arabic for the word is arabic to begin with. Feel free to post in any resources regarding on the definition of the word and share it with us for the benefit of all insyaAllah.

Many muslims in various parts of the world are undergoing a terrible fitna. What do we mean by 'fitna' from this statement? Trials and tribulations, SubhanAllah. What kind of trial? What kind of tribulation? Allahu'alam. Different people undergo different trials, at least we have a common agreement on that insyaAllah. Some may have financial problems, family problems, partner in life conflicts, loss of love one's, and so forth. It is not rocket science to figure out that life is filled with trials and tribulations disregard whether you are a male or female, parents or children, teacher or student, rich or poor, young or old, simply 'fitna' does not discriminate between any of these attributions of ours as a human becoming. Approaching from that view, we are on a common yet unique ground each and everyone of us, SubhanAllah. Often we take routes that benefits us with all our might.

How indeed do we face 'fitna' today? As we all know today, especially in the world of psychology there are indeed loads categories of emotional instability, inconsistency, etc. which brings about depression, stress, anxiety, and even to solitude. Today, alhamdulillah there are experts existing today in this particular field which one may go and consult with them. These experts have studied in a field which not many people would even have interest to dive in due to the job prospect in Malaysia especially. Although I have heard that this field is a field which will bloom in the future, well Allah knows best. There are many classes of people existing in our countries, disregard of where we are. Since that this area of profession professes to be an expert involving our behavior, our emotions, and such. Allow me to bring forward a question, does it cater to all classes of people indiscriminate of races, ethnicity, culture, different background, the rich or the poor, the young or the old, or even those who do not have the understanding of the english language (since this field was introduced by the western people). Not many people understand how important it is to guard our inner us, our soul.

we feed daily and almost all the time with the food which our body requires from the soil. Certainly, we need it to keep the body up and running for our daily lives and no doubt about that. When we are deprived from having the delicious foods that we daily consumed, and when we turn sick, there are clinics available all over. Doctors who have studied for years and plenty of time spent to just serve in the hospital. Also it is one of the most favored profession in the world today.

But what about the soul?

Forget about meeting a psychologist or also known as a shrink. I don't have enough money to just get their consultation. I think my situation is not too serious to meet a shrink. Furthermore my level of english is very low! How am I going to be able to comprehense what the shrink might say to me?! To whom shall I turn to? I cannot go to the normal doctor, i'll end up getting the weird medicines which has nothing to do with what I need!

What is the food to the soul? Are we ignorant about this when it is indeed an important aspect of our lives?

Most of the causes for our psychological instability is due to the lack of this 'food' for the soul. We may take anti-depressant which may put our stress away for awhile, but after it is no longer in effect, it becomes more severe. Or we will dependent to the anti-depressant that we took. Either way, it does not feed the soul.

So to whom indeed do we turn to? And why?

O' Allah! Please don't make us among those who are ingorant, don't leave us astray. Grant us the desire to gain knowledge, guide us to the straight path and show us the light when we are lost in the darkness, Ameen ya Rabb.

It is not my intention to belittle the field of psychology or anything that is associated with it. It is a very good field for one to study, but not everyone is able to gain such knowledge untill it spreads to other languages (which may consumes a considerable amount of time) and untill it reaches to every classes of people that exists in the world today, indiscriminating races, color, etc.

Allah knows best.

This is just to remind my self.

Wassalamu'alaikum wa rahmatulLah

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