A man from among the Khawārij once came to ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib and asked, “Why is it that the people rebelled against you but never rebelled against Abū Bakr or ʿUmar?” ʿAlī replied, “The men who stood with Abū Bakr and ʿUmar were people like me, whereas the men who stand with me are people like you.” In other words, when the populace becomes unjust, rulers are imposed upon them who mirror their own state.

For that reason Anas said, “Be patient.” Patience is an obligation; every distress has its relief. Do not imagine that matters are resolved with effortless ease. Evil may descend suddenly and strike with force, but it will never prevail over good forever. Our duty, therefore, is to persevere and handle affairs with wisdom—neither surrendering nor acting recklessly, but approaching matters with prudence, patience, and deliberation. Allah, the Exalted, says: “O you who believe, be steadfast, outdo others in steadfastness, remain stationed, and fear Allah so that you may prosper” (Āl ʿImrān 3:200). If you seek success, these are its causes and its paths—four things: “be steadfast, outdo others in steadfastness, remain stationed, and fear Allah so that you may prosper.”

Anas ibn Mālik then said, “No era comes upon the people without the one after it being worse, until you meet your Lord. I heard this from your Prophet Muḥammad.” That is, the Messenger of Allah said, “No time comes upon the people but that which follows it is worse than it.” Worse, that is, in matters of religion; and this decline is not absolute or universal—some aspects may worsen while others improve.

Even so, the more people sink into luxury and the more worldly doors are opened to them, the more doors of evil open upon them. It is luxuriant ease that ruins a person, for when someone becomes preoccupied with pampering his body he neglects the refinement of his heart, and he ends up