“They regard their acceptance of Islam as a favour to you. Tell ˹them, O Prophet˺, “Do not regard your Islam as a favour to me. Rather, it is Allah Who has done you a favour by guiding you to the faith, if ˹indeed˺ you are faithful.” (Qur’an 49:17)
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But if you wanna leave, take good care
Hope you have a lot of nice things to wear
But then a lot of nice things turn bad out there
Such are the lyrics of brother Yusuf Islam. Formely Cat Stevens, in his song, Willd World.
We recall when a brother said to man who proclaimed: “I have left Islam.” The brother said to him: “You did not leave Islam, rather Islam left you.” Subhan’Allah.
May Allah cause us to die as Muslims. May Allah grant us a good death.
“O believers! Be mindful of Allah in the way He deserves, and do not die except in submission.” (Qur’an 3:102)
There are many reasons why people choose to leave any faith.
It could come from reasons we could have empathy for.
A) Having overbearing parents. It could be from lack of support from the community (in the case of converts to Islam, or that isolated wife who is being abused). Perhaps the person had genuine doubts about questions and did not find competent or compelling answers to the doubts or questions that vexed him/her.
It could even be that there are those who were born and raised as Muslims and, because they did not get to taste the darkness, they never got an appreciation for the light.
For them insh’Allah they will make their way back to Islam.
It could come for reasons that we would have little empathy for.
B) It could also be that they are resolved not to submit to Allah. That their needs and desires come first before Allah’s decree.
For them if they cannot overcome being slaves to their desires how will they be slaves to Allah?
“Have you seenthe one who has taken their own desires as their god? Will you then be a keeper over them?” (Qur’an 25:43)
Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
I heard Messenger of Allah (saw) saying, “People are like gold and silver; those who were best in Jahiliyyah (Pre-Islamic Period of Ignorance) are best in Islam, if they have religious understanding; and the souls are like recruited soldiers, they get mixed up with those similar with them in qualities and oppose and drift away from those who do not share their qualities”.
Source: (https://sunnah.com/riyadussalihin:371)
Individuals who held high qualities such as honesty, generosity, courage, and leadership during Jahiliyyah are able to redirect these same positive traits toward the service of Islam.
However, one thing that should not cause us to lose faith is when we find out that someone respected in our community left faith and/or they were involved in heinous things. The reason why we feel this affects people is because they were never taught about walayah and bara’ah, their levels and what it actually means.
Dissociation or guardianship is always based upon the outward. Even between husband and wife, seemingly best friends, seemingly worst enemies. Those you shun etc. Whereas the inward reality overrides and superceds the outward.
This is often why works of art, poetry are so precious. It is an outward manifestation of an inward secret. When someone writes poetry or creates art they let the world see what otherwise they would have known.
When a person expresses a doubt they are expressing an inward turmoil. When we see this person who is admired by the community suddenly take a turn for the worst this should not cause turmoil with in us as well. Especially if you are properly taught about Walayah, Bara’ah.
Examples:
Why is the walayah between a husband and wife only dhahir? Dhahir here meaning the outward or the apparent. You would think a relationship like marriage would be based upon the haqiqah, or upon truth and reality. However, it is not.
However, husband and wives can betray each other. They can cheat on one another. They can lie or deceive or do great harm to each other. Some people are also part of arranged marriages where they have to put on a show of contentment.
So in all our dealings with people is always going to be based upon the dhahir (the outward, the apparent).
So looking at the chart above. You could put someone in bara’ah by their outward actions or beliefs. Even hate that person.
However, you could simultaneously love that person based upon their reality. You wouldn’t know it because that will ultimately be revealed by Allah. However, because of your declaration of walayah al-Jumlah you would love them.
So looking at the chart above. You could put someone in wilayah by their outward actions or beliefs. Even love that person.
However, you could simultaneously hate that person based upon their reality. You would’t know it becauseu that will ultimately be revealed by Allah. However, because your declaration of walayah al-bara’ah you would hate them.
We also make du’a that we are among the sincere and the truthful. We make du’a that those who lost thier way make their way back.
What is very intersting and why we absolutely have fallen in love with Allah’s deen is that Allah (swt) himself declares that those who leave Islam is ultimately a win for Islam!
“O believers! Whoever among you abandons their faith, Allah will replace them with others who love Him and are loved by Him. They will be humble with the believers but firm towards the disbelievers, struggling in the Way of Allah; fearing no blame from anyone. This is the favour of Allah. He grants it to whoever He wills. And Allah is All-Bountiful, All-Knowing.” (Qur’an 5:54)
Did you read that dear believers?
Allah (swt) not only replaces those who abandon faith with believers, Allah (swt) declares that many of these new believers are in walayah with Allah! Subhan’Allah. They are wali of Allah.
The other point to take rejoice in is the fact that the verse affirms that there will never be on this Earth except that it will have believers, those who love Allah and are loved by him! Subhan’Allah.
“Here you are—those invited to spend in the cause of Allah—but among you are those who withhold [out of greed]. And whoever withholds only withholds [benefit] from himself; and Allah is the Free of need, while you are the needy. And if you turn away, He will replace you with another people; then they will not be the likes of you,” (Qu’ran, 47:38).
أَفَأَمِنُوا مَكْرَ اللَّهِ ۚ فَلَا يَأْمَنُ مَكْرَ اللَّهِ إِلَّا الْقَوْمُ الْخَاسِرُونَ
“Did they then feel secure against the plan of Allah? None feels secure from the plan of Allah except the people who are the losers.” (Qur’an 7:99).
The people of knowledge have said that a servant should remain in state between fear of Allah and hope (in His mercy)―and that he does not allow himself to be overcome by feeling secure from the plan of Allah.
Likewise, he does not despair of the mercy of Allah―so the servant should always be in between fear and hope. To exaggerate in either fear or hope leads to destruction, whereas Istiqāmah (steadfastness) is to be in between the two.
The Messenger believes in what has been revealed to him from his Lord, and so do the believers. They believe in Allah, His angels, His Books, and His messengers. “We make no distinction between any of His messengers.” And they say, “We hear and obey. Your forgiveness, our Lord! And to You is the final return.” Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford. All good will be for its own benefit, and all evil will be to its own loss. “Our Lord! Do not punish us if we forget or make a mistake. Our Lord! Do not place a burden on us like the one you placed on those before us. Our Lord! Do not burden us with what we cannot bear. Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy on us. You are our ˹only˺ Guardian. So grant us victory over the disbelieving people.” (Qur’an 2:285-286)
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