Fitnah - An Oft-Used Misused Word

Br. Abdul Aburmaieleh tried to work with all parties to resolve the Noor Saga. But when he expressed the community frustration with Br. Hany Saqr, within hours he was rebuked:
" I do not know how you became all of sudden a Noor community leader and if I do not listen to your suggestions I stand against the community. Your only major role in noor community is your role in this fitnah", Saqr wrote.

Sister Zerqa, on March 31, 2009, posted the first article about Noor Islamic Cultural Center where she listed major flaws in the AIW administration and raised serious concerns about the leadership. As a result she was accused of being a liar, an upset ex-employee, a slanderer, a woman with emotional problems and a fitnah (chaos) creator.

It is an obligation on all Muslims to enjoin what is right and forbid what is wrong. When we abandon that we are no longer the "Khayra Ummaten" (the best of nations).

"Anybody amongst you who notices something evil, should correct it with his own hands, and if he is unable to do so he should prohibit the same with his tongue; if he is unable even to do this, he should at least consider it as bad in his heart; this is the lowest degree of faith" (Prophet Mohammad S.A.W)

But whenever someone speaks up to express a concern about something wrong in our mosques, people attack them. Don't spread fitnah! This response is particularly popular among the leadership.

So what is fitnah exactly and how are we limited in calling for correction from our leaders?

Arabic definition of Fitnah:

Al-Azhari said: “The Arabic word fitnah includes meanings of testing and trial. The root is taken from the phrase fatantu al-fiddah wa’l-dhahab (I tested the quality of the silver and gold), meaning I melted the metals to separate the bad from the good.(Lisaan al-Arab by Ibn Manzoor).

Ibn al-A’raabi summed up the meanings of fitnah when he said: “Fitnah means testing, fitnah means trial, fitnah means wealth, fitnah means children, fitnah means disbelieve, fitnah means differences of opinion among people, fitnah means burning with fire.” (Lisaan al-‘Arab by Ibn Manzoor).

Meanings of the word Fitnah in Qur'an

There are 11 variations on the use of the word in the Quran. The more relevant ones are:

1- Testing and trial
“Do people think that they will be left alone because they say: ‘We believe, and will not be tested [la yuftanoon]” [al-‘Ankaboot 29:2]

2- Blocking the way and turning people away:
“but beware of them lest they turn you [yaftinooka] (O Muhammad) far away from some of that which Allah has sent down to you” [al-Maa’idah 5:49]

3- Persecution (Put to trial) :
“Then, verily, your Lord for those who emigrated after they had been put to trials [futinoo] and thereafter strove hard and fought (for the Cause of Allah) and were patient, verily, your Lord afterward is, Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Nahl 16:110]

4- Falling into sin and hypocrisy:
“(The hypocrites) will call the believers: “Were we not with you?” The believers will reply: “Yes! But you led yourselves into temptations [fatantum anfusakum], you looked forward for our destruction; you doubted (in Faith) and you were deceived by false desires” [al-Hadeed 57:14]

5- Confusing truth with falsehood:
“And those who disbelieve are allies of one another, (and) if you (Muslims) do not do so [i.e. become allies, as one Ummah], there will be Fitnah (truth will be confused with falsehood) and oppression on the earth, and a great mischief and corruption” [al-Anfaal 8:73]

6- Difference among people and lack of agreement:
“and they would have hurried about in your midst (spreading corruption) and sowing sedition among you [yabghoonakum al-fitnah]” [al-Tawbah 9:47] (i.e. they would have stirred up differences amongst you).

This last meaning is generally used to confuse people and sway them away from enjoining what is right and forbidding what is wrong.

"Among them is (many) a man who says: grant me exemption and draw me not into a trial (Wa La taftenny). Have they not fallen into trial (Fitnah) already" (al-Tawba 9:49).

This verse was revealed when a man asked the prophet (S.A.W) to grant him exemption from service in the Tabuk expedition in the direction of Syria on the plea that he could not withstand the charm of Syrian women. The answer is: but you have already fallen into fitnah by refusing to answer the call.

This is running away from a fitnah that did not happen and may or may not happen. But a fitnah has already occurred, as the lack of agreement among people who were called to go to Tabuk. This is exactly the case when we chose to stay on the sidelines by fear of potential fitnah if we speak up.

There are specific rules for enjoining the right and forbidding the wrong, that it be done without falling into some of the other forms of fitnah. To avoid falling into sin and hypocrisy, confusing truth with falsehood, and persecuting others, you should have the intention to please Allah (S.W.T.) and not be looking for your own pride, or for power, or to speak with bad intentions to harm someone else. Speak the truth as you understand it, knowing that you may be corrected by others and knowing that Allah alone knows the real truth. Speak to help fix the problem. Don't just go to friends to talk and smear the reputations of people and institutions for some distorted form of "fun" from mocking, which is a sure form of arrogance. Stay away from slander and spreading rumors, but speaking up to correct error is an obligation.

But there will always be some fitnah, because life is about trial and tests here. We will always have disagreements and need correction from time to time. Paradise is after this life, Inshallah.

As this Noor Saga continues to unfold, have you discharged your duty to Allah (S.W.T)? If at the end, God forbid, something terrible happens to Masjid Al-Noor, then what are you going to respond to Allah when asked, "What have you done to help during this trial?"

"It was a fitnah so I stayed away from it! I didn't want to hurt the feelings of my brothers! I was afraid to be accused of adding fuel to the fire! I did not want to be called fitnah creator. I wanted to be neutral! Madakhalny (none of my business)."

Allah (S.W.T) said: "And fear fitnatan (the trial) which affects not in particular (only) those of you who do wrong: And know that Allah Is Strict in punishment." (al-Anfal 8:25).

So why is it that the punishment extends to those who did not do wrong? It is partly that those who do wrong hurt others. But for many responsible people among them, it is also because they did not discharge their duty to Allah (S.W.T).

But on the other hand, those who discharge their duty to Allah (S.W.T) will be rescued:
"When they disregarded the warnings that had been given to them, we rescued those who forbade evil; but We visited the wrong-doers with a grievous punishment, because they were given to transgression." (al-Araf 7:165).

First Caliphs legacy on this issue

After giving praise and thanks to Allah (SWT), Sayidna Abu Bakr (ra) addressed the Muslims gathered at the Prophet’s mosque right after he became the first caliph and said:

"I have been given the authority over you, and I am not the best of you. If I do well, help me; and if I do wrong, set me right. Sincere regard for truth is loyalty and disregard for truth is treachery".

Sayidna Omar (ra) used to say: "Don't say the opinion that pleases me, but say the opinion that matches the truth."

Huzayfa (ra) visited him one day and found him depressed and crying. "What is wrong with you?" Huzayfa asked him. "I'm afraid if I make a mistake none of you will correct me", Omar replied. Then Huzayfa said, "By Allah if we find you deviating from the truth, we will force you back to it". Then Omar became happy and said, "Thank Allah, He Who gave me friends who will set me right if I do wrong."

Finally

I hope we learn from these formidable examples.

If someone says, "Why do you speak up when no one will listen, or you will only get yourself into trouble?"

"When some of them said: Why do you preach to a people whom Allah will destroy or visit with a terrible punishment?- Said the preachers: To discharge our duty to your Lord and perchance they may fear Him" (al-Araf 7:164)

We need to encourage everyone to speak up, freely, politely within the Islamic manners. We have a new powerful tool of the internet (e-mail, blogs, etc.) and we need to learn to use it responsibly. And we always have the well known format of the community meeting to discuss our issues and give our leaders advice and information needed to guide our community responsibly. We need to learn to work together with disagreements and discussion toward our common goals.