The Current State of the Muslim World

Bismillaahi aktubu,

It has become apparent in our time that the Ummah is

suffering from afflictions, which have caused it to lose its
balance. These afflictions are:

THE STATE OF WEAKNESS: This state has been described to us, and we
have been warned about it clearly and explicitly, leaving no excuse for
ignorance. Tsauban (Radhiyallaahu ‘anhu), one of the Prophet’s
(Shalallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) servants, stated that the Prophet (saws) said:
“Soon the nations will call one another against you, just as people call
one another to eat from a platter of food.”

A man asked: “Will this be because we will be few in number, O Messenger

of Allaah?” He (Shalallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) replied: “No, you will be
large in number, but you will be Ghuthaa’a like the froth scum on the
surface of a body of water, and Allaah will remove from the hearts of
your enemies their fear of you and shall place in your hearts Wahn.”
Those present asked: “What is Wahn, O Messenger of Allaah?” He replied:
“The love for this worldly life, and hatred of death.” [Shahih Hadits due
to a multitude of routes of narration in the Sunan of Abu Daawuud
(4297)]

The following hadeeth clearly explains this condition of wahn:

FIRST: Our enemies, the hosts of Ibliis and his servants, have tried to
hinder the progress of the ummah and take from its territories when they see
that Wahn has set in and inflicted us. Ever since the dawn of Islaam until
today, the kuffaar and musyrikiin from amongst the People of the Book have
continued in their endeavour against the Muslims. They have always sought
out ways to render our people weak. They have even attempted this in the
very city that was established and fostered by the Prophet (saws). This is
clearly illustrated in the story of “The Three that were left behind” (see
Soorah al-Tawbah: 118). Ka’b bin Maalik (ra) said:

“As I was walking in the market place of Madinah, I saw a farmer who
was a part of a trading caravan from Syaam selling some of the
foodstuffs that he had brought with him. He was asking as to where he
could find me and was then directed to me. He then handed to me a
letter from the (Christian) king of Ghasaan. Being literate, I began
reading it. It said: “To proceed: We have received news that your friend
(Muhammad (Shahih)) has spurned you. Allaah does not wish for you to
remain in a land of disgrace. Come to us and we shall take care of you.”
[Agreed upon: 4 Imam of Ashabus Sunan]

O Muslim, ponder and reflect upon how the people of disbelief, those
encircling the territory of the Muslims, receive news of what is occurring
within our lands. They sit in wait, seeking an opportunity to unleash their
assault. This can be clearly shown in the following examples as well.

SECOND: The nations of disbelief call one another and gather in alliances
in the pursuit of destroying Islaam and that which it calls to, its adherents
and their lands. You can see this vividly in the Crusades and the First World
War. In the First World War, one of the main objectives was the dismantling
of the Khilaafah. To implement their goals of destruction, the nations of
disbelief organized themselves first into an association, then into a larger
general body, becoming increasingly organized until they established a New
World Order.

THIRD: Verily, the lands of the Muslims are the source of many of the
earth’s natural resources. Therefore, the nations of disbelief wish to strip us
of our lands and control these resources. As such, we see that the Messenger
of Allaah (Shalallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) described them as if they call one
another to a feast. Each of them seeks a large share of the regale.

FOURTH: The nations of disbelief partake in the bounties of

our lands, without any fear of complaint or reprisal. These
assets are then taken away either ‘peacefully’ or by force.

FIFTH: The nations of disbelief shall see our lands as being

soldiers and scattered pieces of land. This is expressed in
the hadeeth of the Messenger of Allaah (Shalallaahu ‘alaihi
wa Sallam) that is reported by ‘Abdullaah bin Hawaalah
(Radhiyallaahu ‘anhu), who said that the Prophet of Allaah
(Shalallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) said: “You shall be
regiments and soldiers. A regiment in Shaam (Syria),
a regiment in ‘Iraaq, a regiment in Yemen.” I asked:
‘Choose for me which I should join?’ He (saws) said: “Go to
Shaam. Surely, Allaah ‘Azza wa Jall has guaranteed
the protection of Shaam and its people.” Rabii’ah, one
of the sub-narrators, states that he heard Abu Idris Al-
Khiwalaani report this Hadits and then say: “What Allaah
vows to protect none can destroy.” [Shahih]

This clearly portrays the present situation of the Islamic

world. It consists of countries having no control over
anything: whether their own internal affairs or those
external to them. They gain their freedom, protection and
strength from the nations of disbelief.

SIXTH: The nations of disbelief are no longer concerned by,

let alone in fear of, the Muslims. The fear that was once
present in their hearts is no longer present. The terror that
previously caused the hearts of the nations of disbelief to
shake and tremble is no longer of any significance – if
present at all.

Allaah says in the Qur’aan: “We shall cast terror into the hearts of those
who disbelieve, because they joined others in worship with Allaah, for
which He had sent no authority.” [Surah Aali-'Imraan: 151]

The Messenger of Allaah (Shalallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) says: “I have been

given victory due to the fear our enemies have of us, which precedes us
the distance of one month’s travel.” [Al-Bukhaari (vol. 1, pg. 436 - Fath)
and Muslim (#521) from the hadits of Jaabir ibn 'Abdullaah]

This is a specific attribute assigned only to this ummah. This is established

in the hadeeth of Tsauban (Radhiyallaahu ‘anhu): “And Allaah will remove
from the hearts of your enemies their fear of you.”

SEVENTH: Another important issue is that the ummah is

not strengthened by its numbers or by its weapons. The
strength of the ummah is in its ‘aqidah and with those who
uphold tauhid. Have we not heard the Messenger of Allaah
(Shalallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) say:”Verily, you will be many
in number” And do we compass the following lesson that will
remain relevant in every time, when Allaah said: “And on
the Day of Hunain, when you rejoiced at your great
number, but it availed you naught.” [Surah At-
Tawbah: 25]

EIGHTH: The ummah is not paid any heed to, as the

Prophet of Allaah (Shalallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) said: “You
will be Ghuthaa’a, like the froth scum on the surface
of a body of water.”

The proofs and signs that we have just mentioned are significant for the
following reasons:

1. The body of water completely controls the Ghuthaa’a that is upon its
surface. Such is the state of the Ummah in these days. It flows along with
the nations of disbelief, completely under their influence and control.

2. The Ghuthaa’a contains things that are of no importance to mankind. Such

is the state of the Ummah today. The Ummah has abandoned the actions that
have always ensured its prosperity, especially enjoining the good and
forbidding the evil.

3. The Ghuthaa’a passes and leaves no trace. Allaah will always bring forth
the good from the evil and raise a people of righteousness whom will be a
source of inspiration and goodness to mankind.

4. The Ghuthaa’a will constantly carry impurities. Such are the false
ideologies that have crept into the philosophies of many Muslims as a result
of foreign religious indoctrination.

5. Since the Ghuthaa’a is under the complete control of the current, it is not
known to where it is being carried. The Ummah may not be aware of the
plans that have been made for it by its enemies, yet it follows the call of any
and all individuals, without assessing the worth of that call.

NINTH: The Ummah in this day and age has made this worldly life its
primary pursuit and objective. For this reason they have become afraid of
death and what it will bring. They love this worldly life they are immersed
in, completely forgetting the importance of preparing for the Hereafter. This
was one of the things that the Messenger of Allaah (Shalallaahu ‘alaihi wa
Sallam) feared for his Ummah.
‘Abdullaah bin ‘Amr bin al-’Aash (Radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) narrated that the
Prophet (Shalallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam) said: “If you conquer Persia and
Rome, what type of people will you be?” ‘Abdur-Rahmaan bin ‘Auf
replied: “We will say as Allaah has ordered us.” He (saws) replied: “Or
other than that. You will compete against one another, then you will
envy one another, then you will plot against one another, and then you
will hate one another. Following this you will go to the impoverished
Muhaajirin and cause them to oppose one another.” [Shahih Muslim:
2962]

For this reason we see that when Persia was conquered,

‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (Radhiyallaahu ‘anhu) began to weep
and said: “No people were given this except that they
began to fight one another.”

TENTH: It must be made known that the nations of disbelief will never
destroy the Ummah. Even if they were to all come together in that pursuit. In
another Hadits narrated by Tsauban Radhiyallaahu ‘anhu), we see that the
Messenger of Allaah Shalallaahu ‘alaihi wa Sallam said: “Allaah
compressed for me the whole of the earth allowing me to see its east and its
west. My ummah shall surely spread throughout the world. I have been
given the two treasures, the red and white (gold and silver, the treasures of
the Persians and Romans).

I asked my Rabb not to destroy my Ummah with drought. I

also asked that He not send an enemy against them from
other than their own selves, nor one that will take away
their unity and strength. My Rabb said: ‘O Muhammad!
When I decree an order it cannot be rejected. I have
granted you your request on behalf of your Ummah,
that they not be in a state of drought. I will not send
upon them an enemy from outside them who will take
away their unity and strength – even if all the nations
came against them. This state (of security) will
remain – until they (themselves) begin to destroy one
another, and to curse one another.’” [Shahih Muslim:
2889]
The Current State of the Muslim World
By Shaykh Salim bin ‘Id Al-Hilali