The essential point is that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—warned us about these tribulations, describing them as fragments of a pitch-black night: a person may wake up a believer and by nightfall become a disbeliever—Allah’s refuge is sought. In the span of a single day he turns his back on Islam, leaves the religion; another may retire for the night as a believer yet rise in the morning as a disbeliever. We ask Allah for safety. Why does this happen? Because, as the Prophet said, “he sells his religion for some portion of this world.” Do not think that this worldly portion is limited to money; every enjoyment in this life is a mere commodity—wealth, status, political power, women, or anything else. Everything in this world is nothing but a passing commodity, as the Most High says, “You seek the fleeting gains of this worldly life, but with Allah there are abundant spoils” (Qur’an 4:94). Thus, everything in this life is only a transient commodity.

Those who begin the day as believers and end it as disbelievers—or end the evening as believers and greet the morning as disbelievers—are all people who have traded their religion for some worldly trifle. We ask Allah to protect us and you from such tribulations. My brothers, make it a constant habit to seek refuge with Allah from fitan (trials). How magnificent is the guidance our Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, gave us when he said: “When any of you has completed the final tashahhud, let him seek Allah’s protection from four matters, saying: ‘O Allah, I seek refuge with You from the punishment of Hell, from the punishment of the grave, from the trial of life and death, and from the evil temptation of the False Messiah.’”

We ask Allah to grant us and you firmness of speech both in this worldly life and in the Hereafter.