With all the wondrous things taking place in the world just now, Ustadh Nouman Ali Khan’s reminder during the khutbah last Friday was a perfect reminder. From Surah Ali’Imran (the Family of Imran):
Those to whom hypocrites said, “Indeed, the people have gathered against you, so fear them.” But it [merely] increased them in faith, and they said, “Sufficient for us is Allah , and [He is] the best Disposer of affairs.”
الَّذِينَ قَالَ لَهُمُ النَّاسُ إِنَّ النَّاسَ قَدْ جَمَعُوا لَكُمْ فَاخْشَوْهُمْ فَزَادَهُمْ إِيمَانًا وَقَالُوا حَسْبُنَا اللَّهُ وَنِعْمَ الْوَكِيلُ
So they returned with favor from Allah and bounty, no harm having touched them. And they pursued the pleasure of Allah , and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.
فَانقَلَبُوا بِنِعْمَةٍ مِّنَ اللَّهِ وَفَضْلٍ لَّمْ يَمْسَسْهُمْ سُوءٌ وَاتَّبَعُوا رِضْوَانَ اللَّهِ ۗ وَاللَّهُ ذُو فَضْلٍ عَظِيمٍ
That is only Satan who frightens [you] of his supporters. So fear them not, but fear Me, if you are [indeed] believers.
إِنَّمَا ذَٰلِكُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ يُخَوِّفُ أَوْلِيَاءَهُ فَلَا تَخَافُوهُمْ وَخَافُونِ إِن كُنتُم مُّؤْمِنِينَ
Given the current political climate—on one side jubilation, glee, and emboldened we’re-number-one-ness; on the other, some understandable amount of trepidation—I, for one, have had moments where I felt, well, I think Lou Reed said it best (if you watch/listen, don’t miss the Robert Quine solo in the last minute (in the left channel): it’s sublime, sort of):
Astaghfirullah, and may Allah guide me to fear Him alone. May He guide me to understand and internalize
Say, “Never will we be struck except by what Allah has decreed for us; He is our protector.” And upon Allah let the believers rely.
قُل لَّن يُصِيبَنَا إِلَّا مَا كَتَبَ اللَّهُ لَنَا هُوَ مَوْلَانَا ۚ وَعَلَى اللَّهِ فَلْيَتَوَكَّلِ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ
Allah azza wa jall is the only source of harm or benefit, and He will deliver benefit and harm in any way He sees fit. It’s right and natural to have some trepidation, some curiosity, even, perhaps, a bit of fear about the unknown, about the future: only Allah knows what will happen in the future; we get to wait and see, and pray to Him for forgiveness, guidance, protection, deliverance. He will forgive, guide, protect and deliver us, if He so wills.
