Always remember why you became a Muslim. Don’t embrace or follow Islam for any one person or any group. If you did so, then seek Allah’s Help to change your intention. If you do not do so, you will find that people are flawed and unreliable. Give up hoping for great benefit from them otherwise you will become jaded and your spirit will wane. Live and submit to Allah for Allah’s Pleasure and His reward. Mix with people and benefit them and learn from their experiences, but know that any help that comes your way by them is truly from Allah, so thank Allah and then thank them, but do not depend on anyone, ever.

 

Nearly all of us enter Islam after learning something about it from a Muslim acquaintance. If not that, then after accepting Islam, we learn more from a Muslim friend that acts like a mentor for us. But imagine for a moment that this associate—who could be a close friend, or even a spouse or fiancé, what if they disappeared from the face of the earth and there was no one close or far from you—in comfort level—that you could cling to for learning more about Islam or practicing it altogether? This could be one way that Allah tests your faith. That is to see if you continue worshiping Him and thanking Him after having shown you the Path. Something similar happened in the beginning of Islam’s history, when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ passed away. Most of his companions were befuddled, unsure of how and what to say about this or continue. Even Umar ibn al-Khattaab, brandishing his sword, said in so many words “whoever says Muhammad has died I will strike his neck; Muhammad has gone away like Moses went away to be with his Lord for forty days and he will return and punish those who doubted!” So he wanted to set up a governorship as if the Prophet ﷺ was traveling. But it was Abu Bakr, the Prophet’s closest companion ever since he first received revelation, who saw that the Prophet ﷺ was indeed deceased, and announced it to the Muslims. He said, “Whoever worshiped Muhammad, Muhammad is dead; whoever worships Allah, then Allah is the All-Living, above the Heavens, and never dies,” and he recited the aayah meaning,

 

“And Muhammad is no more than a Messenger, and indeed Messengers have passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you then turn back on your heels (as disbelievers)? And he who turns back on his heels, not the least harm will he do to Allah; and Allah will give reward to those who are grateful.” [3:144]

 

Some of those present had followed the Prophet for twenty years, others for a decade, and still others for a year or only a few months. But after that, no longer could they return to the Prophet for guidance, comfort and advice; but Allah would not have taken his soul if he did not complete his mission and convey every last bit of the Message that Allah desired of him. And the Muslims received an important reminder: fulfilling the testimony of faith—bearing witness that none has the right to be worshiped accept Allah, and that Muhammad is His Messenger—must go on because Allah did not want us to worship Him with our hearts overly attached to any of the creation, not even the messenger himself. So how about who is less than the messenger?

 

The point is, never give up with Islam or doubt in Allah’s desire of good for you just because some of those whom you admired and began to associate Islam with disappeared, let you down or committed sins unbefitting or even lost their faith. It’s not uncommon for ethnic Muslims to spontaneously disappear for days, weeks, or months at a time, to visit their relatives overseas who may be sick or getting married, etc. Do not let them be your only connection to Islam and the Muslims. Also, even Muslim mentors may not know or realize how long they should be following up with you and how durable or fragile your faith is beneath the surface. Like other important relationships, communication is vital. If you realize you’re being tested by the absence of some Muslim who meant a lot to you, you have to ask Allah at that moment for guidance, strength and tawfeeq (success from Allah) to find and stay firm upon the Straight Path; and ask yourself what the best thing is you can do at that moment. Most likely, it is to pray. This is just as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ would do if any matter bothered him, he would immediately turn to salaah. After that, you can look to what information you have or what trustworthy knowledgeable contacts are available to you and try to continue your life as before. So if you worshiped Allah, continue worshiping Him through Islam, but if you worshiped a personality, then know that humans are prone to disappointment and will never live forever.

 

In summary,

1 – The inspirations for guidance may come from different directions and people, but it is all a part of Allah’s Plan.

2 – Allah may test our gratitude for His Guidance by removing some of those initial helpers, for us to prove that we really desire closeness to Allah Alone.

3 – No one is perfect, but Allah is the Ever-Living Sustainer of all beings, Granter of guidance and happiness.