Sittings in Ramadhan with Shaikh ibn Utheimeen (Day 20)

مجالس شهر رمضان
Day Twenty:
Reasons for the Real Victory
Muhammad bin Saleh Al-Uthaymeen

My Brothers: Allah has helped the believers in many situations, in Badr, al-Ahzab, al-Fath, Hunayn, and others. He helped them as a fulfillment of his pledge, “And it is incumbent upon Us to help the believers.” And He helped them because they stood for the religion, which is superior to all the religions, so whoever sticks to this deen then he is superior over all other nations.

“He it is who has sent forth His Apostle with the [task of spreading] guidance and the religion of truth, to the end that He may cause it to prevail over all [false] religion however hateful this may be to those who ascribe divinity to aught beside God.”

Allah helped them because they prepared themselves both physically and spiritually. So they stood firm when they confronted the enemy, following this guidance and enjoying his support, “Be not, then, faint of heart, and grieve not: for you are bound to rise high if you are [truly] believers. If misfortune touches you, [know that] similar misfortune has touched [other] people as well; for it is by turns that We apportion unto men such days [of fortune and misfortune]: and [this] to the end that God might mark out those who have attained to faith, and choose from among you such as [with their lives] bear witness to the truth – since God does not love evildoers.”

So they went forward steadfastly, making every kind of preparation, as Allah says, “And if thou couldst but see [how it will be] when He causes those who are bent on denying the truth to die: the angels will strike their faces: and their backs, and [will say]: ‘Taste suffering through fire’.”

Both the inward power and the outward military power, and Allah helped them because they helped his religion, “And Allah will help those who help him.” All power and might that opposes him will become weak and humiliated, as He says, “To Allah belongs the end of the affairs.”

The Enormous Reward for Fasting

Talha ibn ‘Ubaydallah (radhiallahu `anhu) reported that two men came to the Prophet (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) who had accepted Islam at the same time. One of them used to partake in Jihad more-so than the other, and so (one day) he fought in a battle and was martyred therein. The other remained behind him for another year, and then he passed away.

Talha said, “I saw in my dream that I was at the door of Paradise when behold, I was with both of them (the two men). Someone came out of Paradise and allowed the man who passed away later to enter first. Then he came out again and allowed the martyred one to enter. Then he returned and said to me, ‘Go back, for your time has not come yet.’”

Talha woke up and began to inform others about this and they were all surprised. This reached the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) and when they informed him of it, he (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘What are you surprised about?’

They said, ‘O Messenger of Allah! Out of them both, this one strove harder (in Jihad) then he was martyred but this other one was entered into Paradise before him.’

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘Did he not remain behind him for one year?’

They said, ‘Yes (he did).’

He said, ‘Did he not reach Ramadan, fast and pray with such and such number of prostrations in the year?’

They said, ‘Yes.’

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam) said, ‘So the difference between them is greater than what is between the heavens and the earth.’

[Ibn Majah (2/345-346); and al-Silsilah al-Saheehah]