The Unstoppable Force of Truth

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

Shaikh Al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

When the polytheists rejected the Qur’an and exerted every effort to invalidate it, they were simultaneously challenged to produce a text comparable to it, whether it be ten chapters or even a single chapter. This situation revealed to those with sound judgment that, despite their vigorous attempts and the formidable resources they utilised, they were incapable of countering it. Had they chosen to embrace rather than oppose and attempt to nullify it, their failure to challenge it—which served as evidence—would not have been so apparent.

When the magicians challenged Musa, peace be upon him, Allah rendered their displays ineffective, thereby revealing the truth of Musa’s message. This exemplifies a key difference between the signs of the Prophets, known as True Miracles, and the deceptive acts performed by magicians and devils. Allah has outlined several distinctions between these two phenomena. Allah said:

هَلۡ أُنَبِّئُكُمۡ عَلَىٰ مَن تَنَزَّلُ ٱلشَّيَـٰطِينُ
تَنَزَّلُ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ أَفَّاكٍ أَثِيمٍ۬

Shall I inform you (O people!) upon whom the Shayatin (devils) descend? They descend on every lying (one who tells lies), sinful person. [Al-Shu’ara 221–22]

Among the notable signs is that which Allah has elucidated in the verses that pose a challenge to the adversaries, as well as the signs bestowed upon the Prophets, peace and blessings of Allah be upon them. These signs cannot be contested or surpassed. Furthermore, they cannot be rendered void. In contrast, the paranormal acts of magicians and devils can indeed be met with similar or even more powerful responses, and they can be nullified.

In a similar manner, when the adversaries of the Prophets—both the devils among humanity and the Jinn—who inspire one another with adorned speech through deception to validate their false religions, and create a facade of truth through their fabricated narratives, this, in turn, serves to highlight the authentic beliefs that Allah has guaranteed that they will prevail over all other religions, supported by clear explanations, undeniable evidence, and then through force, whether by hand or weapon. [Footnote a]

Allah, The Most High, said:

لَقَدۡ أَرۡسَلۡنَا رُسُلَنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ وَأَنزَلۡنَا مَعَهُمُ ٱلۡكِتَـٰبَ وَٱلۡمِيزَانَ لِيَقُومَ ٱلنَّاسُ بِٱلۡقِسۡطِ‌ۖ وَأَنزَلۡنَا ٱلۡحَدِيدَ فِيهِ بَأۡسٌ۬ شَدِيدٌ۬ وَمَنَـٰفِعُ لِلنَّاسِ وَلِيَعۡلَمَ ٱللَّهُ مَن يَنصُرُهُ ۥ وَرُسُلَهُ ۥ بِٱلۡغَيۡبِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهُ قَوِىٌّ عَزِيزٌ۬

Indeed We have sent Our Messengers with clear proofs, and revealed with them the Scripture and the Balance (justice) that mankind may keep up justice. And We brought forth iron wherein is mighty power (in matters of war), as well as many benefits for mankind, that Allah may test who it is that will help Him (His religion), and His Messengers in the unseen. Verily, Allah is All-Strong, All-Mighty. [Al-Hadid 25]

Thus, through the clear signs and evidence established by Allah, the truth is given superiority over falsehood; what is beneficial is given superiority over triviality; guidance over misguidance; truthfulness over that which cannot be substantiated; the path of righteousness over deviation; uprightness over corruption; and accuracy over error. This serves as a test for humanity, distinguishing the wicked from the virtuous. Allah, The Most High, said:

مَّا كَانَ ٱللَّهُ لِيَذَرَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ عَلَىٰ مَآ أَنتُمۡ عَلَيۡهِ حَتَّىٰ يَمِيزَ ٱلۡخَبِيثَ مِنَ ٱلطَّيِّبِ

Allah will not leave the believers in the state in which you are now, until He distinguishes the wicked from the good. [Aal Imran 179]

Allah, The Most High, said:

الٓمٓ
أَحَسِبَ ٱلنَّاسُ أَن يُتۡرَكُوٓاْ أَن يَقُولُوٓاْ ءَامَنَّا وَهُمۡ لَا يُفۡتَنُونَ
وَلَقَدۡ فَتَنَّا ٱلَّذِينَ مِن قَبۡلِهِمۡ‌ۖ فَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلَّذِينَ صَدَقُواْ وَلَيَعۡلَمَنَّ ٱلۡكَـٰذِبِينَ
أَمۡ حَسِبَ ٱلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ أَن يَسۡبِقُونَا‌ۚ سَآءَ مَا يَحۡكُمُونَ

Alif-Laam-Meem. Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: “We believe,” and will not be tested. And We indeed tested those who were before them. And Allah will certainly make (it) known (the truth of) those who are true, and will certainly make (it) known (the falsehood of) those who are liars (although Allah knows all that before putting them to test). Or do those who do evil deeds think that they can outstrip Us (i.e. escape Our Punishment)? Evil is that which they judge! [Al-Ankabut 1–4]

Fitna is a test, as Allah stated that Musa, peace be upon him, said:

إِنۡ هِىَ إِلَّا فِتۡنَتُكَ تُضِلُّ بِہَا مَن تَشَآءُ وَتَہۡدِى مَن تَشَآءُ

It is only Your Trial by which You lead astray whom You will, and keep guided whom You will. [Al-A’raf 155]

Meaning, your trial and test through which those who oppose the Messengers are misguided and those who follow them are guided. Trial for a human being is like when gold is exposed to the bellows because it separates its good parts from its impurities. Thus, truth is like pure gold, and whenever it is put to trial, its quality increases.

As for falsehood, it is like something adulterated and shrouded in mist, and whenever put to the test, its corruption manifests. So whenever an observer examines the religion of truth, and whenever the arguer argues on its behalf, its proofs manifest, certainty is strengthened, the Iman of the believers is increased, and its light shines in the hearts of humankind and Jinn. As for when an arguer argues on behalf of false religion and seeks to establish its crooked structure, Allah establishes those who fling the truth against the falsehood. Thus, it destroys it. It becomes manifest that the proponent of that false religion is an idiot, a liar, lost, dim-witted and unstable.

Corruption and repugnance are manifested from such a religion—the corrupt creed of incarnation, the corrupt creed that the creation are in union with the Creator, contradiction, heresy, disbelief, misguidance, ignorance, absurdity, as well as that which becomes manifest to all men in general that the proponents of false religions are the most misguided, and to the extent that corruption is manifested from such a religion regarding that which was unknown to the majority of men. Through this affair, the one who was heedless and in a state of slumber—the one who could neither differentiate between deviation and upright guidance—is awoken and given guidance through sound knowledge and Iman. And prior to that his heart was dead (with misguidance) due to being unaware of those who are well known (for piety, upright guidance etc)—those whom Allah bestows His grace, such as the Prophets, the truthful ones, the martyrs and the righteous. And prior to this, he did not reject the evil of those who earned Allah’s Anger and those who went astray whom Allah rebuked—the Nasaaraa and the Yahud—on account of the following traits:

• They denied the truth that opposes evil desires, turned away from the truth and did not accept it due to pride.

• Harboured envy against the people of truth and transgressed against them.

• Followed the path of deviation, miserliness, cowardice and hard-heartedness.

• Described Allah with the deficiencies of the creation and their shortcomings.

• Willfully denied the Perfect Attributes which Allah described Himself with and which have no likeness to the creation.

• Exaggerated the status of the Prophets and righteous people, and ascribed partners to Allah—the Lord of the entire creation—in worship.

• Believed in Hulul and Ittihad (i.e. that Allah dwells in a particular person and that He is in union with the creation), which makes a created being the creator.

• Abandoned the sound acts of worship that were from the path of the Prophets and Messengers, acting merely based on the desires of the heart—what it relishes and is passionately in love with.

• Refrained from adhering to the knowledge which Allah has revealed in His clear Book, took their elders, scholars and leading worshippers as lords besides Allah by following them in that which they innovated in religion—in opposition to the path of the Prophets—as Allah stated:

ٱتَّخَذُوٓا۟ أَحْبَارَهُمْ وَرُهْبَٰنَهُمْ أَرْبَابًا مِّن دُونِ ٱللَّهِ وَٱلْمَسِيحَ ٱبْنَ مَرْيَمَ

They took their rabbis and their monks to be their lords besides Allah (by obeying them in things which they made lawful or unlawful according to their own desires without being ordered by Allah), and (they also took as their Lord) Messiah, son of Maryam (Mary). [at-Tawbah 31]

And they opposed that which was clearly reasonable and the clear narrations due to what they thought was divine revelation and revelations of the unseen, even though it is whispering of the cursed one [Iblees], until the one upon this path became similar to one about whom Allah stated:

وَقَالُوا۟ لَوْ كُنَّا نَسْمَعُ أَوْ نَعْقِلُ مَا كُنَّا فِىٓ أَصْحَٰبِ ٱلسَّعِيرِ

And they will say (acknowledging that all their excuses have been removed): “If only we had (benefited from these faculties and) been listening (to the warner) or using our intelligence (to take heed), we would not be among the companions of the Blazing Fire.” [Al-Mulk 10]

Allah said:

وَلَقَدۡ ذَرَأۡنَا لِجَهَنَّمَ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنَ ٱلۡجِنِّ وَٱلۡإِنسِ‌ۖ

And surely, We have created many of the jinn and mankind for Hell. [Al-A’raf 179]

And their other innovations in religious matters and misguidance due to which Allah rebuked them—this is from that which Allah has warned this Ummah and made it an admonition for those who have insight. Indeed, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, informed us that these deeds will occur amongst some of the Muslims, even though he also stated:

“There will not cease to be a group amongst my Ummah who will be established upon the truth…” [1]

Footnote a: https://www.abukhadeejah.com/salafi-shaikh-fawzaan-on-jihaad-in-our-times-and-the-guidelines-of-jihaad-according-to-islam/

Imam Ibn Al-Qayyim, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

والحق منصور وممتحن

“The truth is both victorious and tested (or subjected to ordeal).”

Imam Muhammad Ibn Salih al-Uthaymin, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

Meaning: it is not victorious without trial; rather, it must be subjected to ordeal that makes it evident. There is no astonishment in this, for indeed it is the way of Allah- The Mighty and Majestic – so that through this Allah’s party (i.e. His allies) are distinguished from the party that wars against Allah. Had it not been for this, people would have been one single community (upon upright guidance), and Allah’s party would not have been distinguished from those who wage war against Him.

And due to the reason that the truth is both victorious and subjected to ordeal, people become two groups. But whose is the final (praiseworthy) outcome? The final (praiseworthy) outcome is for the people of truth. Allah, The Most High, said:

إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْأَشْهَٰدُ

يَوْمَ لَا يَنفَعُ ٱلظَّٰلِمِينَ مَعْذِرَتُهُمْ وَلَهُمُ ٱللَّعْنَةُ وَلَهُمْ سُوٓءُ ٱلدَّارِ

Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of Resurrection), the Day when their excuses will be of no profit to Zalimun (polytheists, wrong-doers and disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah). Theirs will be the curse, and theirs will be the evil abode (i.e. painful torment in Hell-fire). [Ghafir 51-52]

The final (praiseworthy) outcome is for the people of truth. If it is not attained (or its occurrence is not witnessed) in this world, it has a recompense in Allah’s presence.

The final (praiseworthy) outcome is theirs in all cases- either in this world or in the Hereafter.

إِنَّا لَنَنصُرُ رُسُلَنَا وَٱلَّذِينَ ءَامَنُوا۟ فِى ٱلْحَيَوٰةِ ٱلدُّنْيَا وَيَوْمَ يَقُومُ ٱلْأَشْهَٰدُ

Verily, We will indeed make victorious Our Messengers and those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah Islamic Monotheism) in this world’s life and on the Day when the witnesses will stand forth, (i.e. Day of Resurrection).

Even though I say that victory is not the victory of an individual, but the victory of the path he follows. If it is that Allah has decreed for a person in this worldly life that he will die before witnessing victory- any victory that he may be attain, then indeed, he he will be victorous after that. His methodology will be victorious and established as long as it is the methodology that Allah has prescribed for His servants.

Due to this, we say that the Muslims’ victory after the death of the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, is a victory for the Messenger —is that not the case? Even though it (happened) after his death. What demonstrates this is that when Abu Sufyan informed Heraclius- the Emperor of the Rome – about the call to the truth which the Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, adhere to, what did he say to Abu Sufyan? He said: “If what you say is true, he will reign over what is under my these two feet of mine.” But did the Messenger reign over what is under (Hiraclious) two feet (i.e. his Kingdom)?

The student said: Yes.

The Shaikh said: He (The Messenger) reigned over, but not by his personal self; rather, through his Shariah and methodology. [2]

Footnote a: https://www.abukhadeejah.com/salafi-shaikh-fawzaan-on-jihaad-in-our-times-and-the-guidelines-of-jihaad-according-to-islam/

[1] An Excerpt from Al-Jawab As-Sahih Liman Baddala Deen Al-Masih 1/20–23

[2] https://alathar.net/home/esound/index.php?op=codevi&coid=129382#:~:text=%D9%8A%D9%82%D9%88%D9%84%20%D8%B1%D8%AD%D9%85%D9%87%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87%20%3A%20%22%20%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%82%20%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B5%D9%88%D8%B1,%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%20%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%A6%D9%81%D8%AA%D9%8A%D9%86%20%D9%88%D9%84%D9%83%D9%86%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%89%20%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%20%D8%9F