When the promise of Allah (swt) and His Messenger (pbuh) is perceived as delusion, as was the case of the hypocrites and those with sickness in their hearts mentioned in Surat Al Ahzab – “And ˹remember˺ when the hypocrites and those with sickness in their hearts said, “Allah and His Messenger have promised us nothing but delusion!” (33:12) – it really reflects a cruel blindness in the hearts. It is a blindness that corrupted the insight and prevented it from receiving the light of guidance. The cause of this blindness is the worry about the self, thinking one might fail, might die, might lose everything. Entrapped by fear and worry, the heart develops layers and layers of veils, obstructing any light of guidance from reaching it. The result is belying Allah and His Messenger, saying that their promise is a delusion! Such an attitude makes a person a prisoner of the present, fearing the hidden unknown of the future. He/she runs in all directions seeking to guarantee safety and security! “So you see those in whose hearts is disease hastening into [association with] them (non believers), saying, 'We are afraid a misfortune may strike us.' But perhaps Allah will bring conquest or a decision from Him, and they will become, over what they have been concealing within themselves, regretful” (5:52).
In order to make the present a liberating force, one has to harness the past as a source of inspiration and develop the power of passing down the legacy of the divine guidance. In this context, the believer has to act as a role model, emulating the footsteps of the righteous predecessors, observing faith with the driving spirit of passing down the legacy – sound, authentic and recalibrated to embrace the reality of the environment.
Two aspects are required to construct the driving power of passing down the legacy: the strength of adhering to the divine commands – fulfilling them in both spirit and form, and the strength of the certainty in Allah's promise.
The key to the strength of adherence lies in true Tadayun (practice of the religion), which begins with understanding the religion. This involves a necessary comprehension of religious texts, followed by an understanding of how to apply these texts to real-life situations, which can only be achieved through a precise understanding of reality. The process of applying these teachings requires a comprehensive plan that fully encompasses the context of reality.
These are the stages of true Tadayun, which lead to adherence to God's commands in a way that fulfills the objectives of the text. Actual achievement is to be guided by a mindset rooted in the spirit of Ihsan (excellence), thereby transforming the present into a force that unlocks potential within the framework of divine decree and God’s will. The unlocking of potential is, in fact, unlocking the fulfillment of the promise of Allah (swt), which requires as a condition the investing of one’s full capacity of striving with sincerity and perseverance. It is only then that the help of Allah (swt) would be near. “Do you think you will be admitted into Paradise without being tested like those before you? They were afflicted with suffering and adversity and were so ˹violently˺ shaken that ˹even˺ the Messenger and the believers with him cried out, 'When will Allah’s help come?' Indeed, Allah’s help is near” (2:214).
Then comes the certainty in God's promise, which steadies the heart, bringing down tranquility and reassurance into it. This certainty breathes life into the soul, thereby strengthening resolve, reinforcing determination, and enhancing the power of patience.
A close look at the life of the Prophet (pbuh) reveals that this aspect of the power of passing down the legacy – with its components of striving at one’s maximum capacity and the power of the certainty in the promise of Allah – is part of his teaching (pbuh). The following Hadith depicts clearly this aspect:
“The Messenger of Allah (pbuh), instructed us to dig the trench. During the excavation, we encountered a boulder that the pickaxes could not break. We complained about it to the Messenger of Allah (pbuh). He came, took the pickaxe, and said, 'In the name of Allah,' then struck the boulder, breaking a third of it. He said, 'Allahu Akbar (Allah is Greatest)! I have been given the keys to Syria. By Allah, I can see its red palaces from this place.' He then said, 'In the name of Allah,' and struck it again, breaking another third. He said, 'Allahu Akbar! I have been given the keys to Persia. By Allah, I can see the white palace of Syria from this place.' He then said, 'In the name of Allah,' and struck it a third time, breaking the rest of the boulder. He said, 'Allahu Akbar! I have been given the keys to Yemen. By Allah, I can see the gates of Sana'a from this place'" (Narrated by Ahmad).
Unlike those with sickness in their hearts who perceived Allah’s promise as delusion, the believers, despite the hardship and pain they were experiencing, perceived Allah’s promise with certitude, which then increased their faith and strengthened their endurance. “When the believers saw the enemy alliance, they said, 'This is what Allah and His Messenger had promised us. The promise of Allah and His Messenger has come true.' And this only increased them in faith and submission” (33:22).
The certainty of the promise stems from the certainty of faith, which was manifested in complete obedience. In the Hadith above one can see the obedience along the path of excellence, manifested in the utmost struggle and sacrifice. Amidst the height of hardship, the Prophet (pbuh) promised his companions the palaces of Syria, Persia, and Yemen. This is the power of passing down the legacy and how it was manifested in the life of the Prophet (pbuh): to be an example of obedience and a source of reassurance in people’s hearts, by conveying with an assured heart the glad tidings of Allah’s promise.
“So be patient, for the promise of Allah certainly is true. And let those who lack certainty not cause you to be unsteady” (30:60).
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