
As Muslims, when we look at the clouds of misery casting their shadows around us in terms of hunger, wars, killings, persecution, and the many injustices being committed and reported daily, it raises many questions.
What did we do to deserve this? Where are we heading? And what can we do to prevent this free fall?
As we ponder and assess whether we have lived up to our responsibilities in terms of following Allah’s word – the Quran – and what the prophet (s) instructed us, the answers can become quite obvious. We live in times when many of us have put Quran and the Sunnah (prophet’s traditions) on the backburner. The Quran has been left to rest on our bookshelves and electronic devices and barely makes it to our hearts. The sunnah is something that rarely shows in our behaviors and lives.

Dua to seek Allah’s forgiveness and pleasure
We seem to be living during times, which was accurately portrayed by the famous scholar, ibn Al-Qayyim many centuries ago as follows. He said:
The earth trembles, the heavens have darkened, evil has appeared on land and on sea because of the injustices of the wicked, and evil doers. Blessings have disappeared, good deeds are less, and life has become corrupted because of the wickedness of the wrong-doers. The morning light and the night’s darkness shed tears, because of the awful deeds that are committed. Honorable writers among the angels and others from among them have complained to their Lord because of the prevalence of misdeeds and the supremacy of atrocities.
Why have we reached such a state? Here is what he had to say further to explain this phenomenon:
When the Glorious Quran, and the Sunnah are abandoned, because it is thought that they are insufficient, and when human opinions, analogy, discretion, and the words of (other so called) scholars are sought, people’s natures are corrupted, their hearts become dark, their understandings become confused, and their minds become distorted.
Specifically, he mentions that we have reached this state because of the following:
- Inclination has replaced wisdom.
- Vain desires have replaced reason.
- Going astray has replaced guidance.
- The wrong has replaced the good.
- Ignorance has replaced knowledge.
- Hypocrisy has replaced devotion.
- The unlawful has replaced the lawful.
- Lying has substituted truthfulness.
- Flattery has substituted (sincere) advice,
- and injustice has replaced justice.
If you see the superiority of such evils, and their slogans are set up where their armies are invading, surely the bottom of the earth would be much more desirable than its surface, the peaks of mountains would be more preferable than the plains, and accompanying beasts would be better than accompanying people.
Dua to save oneself from bad manners and character
What can we learn from such a situation?
Here are some of the points that he mentions that we can start doing to start digging out of the hole that we may have created ourselves. This applies to all of us as an Ummah and also as individuals when some may find themselves as lost and unhappy.
1. Repentance to Avoid Further Afflictions
Ibn Al-Qayyim states that:
By Allah! This is a warning of approaching torment, and forthcoming afflictions, so you have no resort except sincere repentance as long as repentance is still available.
Let’s, therefore, not wait until there is no escape, as Allah says,
which means, “And those who do wrong will come to know by what overturning they will be overturned.” (Quran: Ash-Shu’ara, 26:227)
2. Buy Success Through Good Deeds
As a lesson, he recommends:
Buy success for yourself today (by doing good deeds), for the market still exists, and the price is affordable, and goods are low-priced, and do not wait until the market and the goods are inaccessible, as Allah says,
which means, “(And remember) the Day when He (Allah) will gather you (all) on the Day of gathering – that will be the Day of mutual loss and gain.” (Quran, Surah At-Taghabun, 64:9)
3. Avoid the Situation When Many Will Be Sorry
For those, who take Allah’s message lightly, they will be sorry one day for the opportunity they had but missed instead. As Allah states about those people:
which means, “when the Zalim (wrong-doer, oppressor, etc.) will bite at his hands (with remorse), he will say: “Oh! Would that I had taken a path with the Messenger.” (Quran: Al-Furqan, 25:27)

4. Get Back to the Message of Quran
Before we complain to Allah about our plight, let’s pick the Quran from the shelves and get it in the depth our hearts. Let’s study the noble life of the prophet (s) who was sent as a mercy for the entire humanity, and fashion our lives according to his teachings. Once we do that, we can expect a change in our lives – both at a personal level and overall. Allah says in the Quran:

The verse means, “Say: Obey Allah and the messenger…” Quran (Surah Aal-e-Imran:32) (Surah Aal-e-Imran Facts)
— End
Reference: AL-FAWA’ID: A Collection of Wise Sayings – By ibn Al-Qayyim
Universal words for the emancipation of the humanity.
We should hold fast to Allah’s rope and obey Allah and His messenger.
Alhamdu lil Laah.This is very true and touchy.May Allah Guide us onto the right path.
Jazaa’akum Laah khair iqrasense
May Allah make us not among those that will bites their finger. Ameen
Following Allah’s Qur’an and Sunnah of our beloved prophet Mohammad Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam enables all human beings to lead a good, happy and prosperous life in this world and in hereafter
Jazaa’akum Laah khair iqrasense
Alhamdu lil Laah.This is very true and touchy.May Allah Guide us onto the right path.
A very good article to read and understand. May Almighty Allah bless the writer with the best of all blessings.ameen
It’s true that this world is becoming more and more corrupted
and the above article will help everyone who cares to reflect and try to bring necessary changes in our way of living.
Jazakaallah khair IQRA SENSE this is all the truth of what is happening nowadays, may Allah guide us.
Jazakallah Khairan. May Allah (SWT) guide us n give us the understanding of the Qur’an and Sunnah , ameen.
Asalaam aleikum. Jazakallah for a self searching topic.
A good reminder for all of us. May Allah guide us all, Ameen. JazakAllah.
You have awakened me and many like myself jazakallah. May Allah guide us to the right path, aamiin yaa allah
subhan Allah … v.nice
My Allah guides us and protect us and gave us knowledge wisdom and understanding in this world and in the hereafter Ameen very touching.
This is true and the article comes when it’s needed the most, May Allah help us and guild us aright.
Mashallah very good article may the path of Allah become easy
Blessings from Allah come individually and not as groups of people.
We are each held accountable for our own actions in this world.
Our blessings are received individually as rewards for these actions that Allah approves of.
Yes….it seems that mankind has forgotten about Allah and His prophets and their message of mercy for us. But…..Allah has not forgotten about us.
Make each prayer like it will be your last, because one day…it will be.
Allah knows best.
Allamdullah my heart sunk with these words and my eyes get teary from the remembrance of Allah my creator and sustaner and our beloved prophet may Allah have mercy upon all believers and guide us on the straight part ameen.
Assalaamu alikum dear brothers and sisters in Islam.
May Allah SWT shower His mercy on Ibn Al Qayyim.
Truly, he has diagnosed the situation correctly.
Subhanallaah,what a great reminder,may we all go back to the Qur’an and Sunnah of our nabi salawatu wa salaam because it is only there that we will find glory and honor.
Jazakumullahu khairan. Continue the good work. “…reminder benefits the faithful “.
The best advice is found in this message. The Holy Quran is the Best Guide and the Sacred Book has no substitute. Jazak Allah
A salamoalikom, May Allah give rewards in good for the one who provides such a beneficial article. It is true that pondering and reflecting on the meaning of glorious Quran and the sunnah of prophet Muhammad S.a.w give us the peace and calmness and answers of our worries in these hard times the Muslim ummah is facing in the world. May Allah have mercy on all of us and guide us to the straight path Ameen.