New Year's in Syria and the Test of Blessings

Greetings: Peace be upon you

Introduction: Contrasting Scenes from Syria

Two scenes from Syria, a very good activity for the sisters in spreading the hijab, and a response and enthusiasm from the girls of Syria, may Allah increase them in guidance, faith, and obedience to their Lord.

On the other hand, painful scenes from New Year's celebrations, mixing and dancing in severe heedlessness.

The Distinctiveness of Syria and the Test of Blessing

So, why talk about Syria in particular? Aren't there similar, even worse, scenes in other Muslim countries? Yes, but Syria has the distinctiveness of the close blessing that Allah has bestowed upon it. Also, I know that we have beloved ones in Syria with whom we share the brotherhood of faith, so I love for them what I love for myself.

We know that these manifestations of heedlessness do not represent the people of Syria. However, as a reminder, we say to our people there, those who participated in these manifestations and those who remained silent and did not denounce: Remember the saying of Allah, the Almighty, in the story of Moses, peace be upon him: "Perhaps your Lord may destroy your enemy and make you successors in the land, that He may see how you act."

May Allah be angry with the criminal regime that has afflicted you with evil torment as He did with Pharaoh and the Children of Israel. And now, Allah the Almighty is looking at you to see your deeds. Disobedience after blessing is the ugliest, and you have disobeyed after He has shown you what you love.

It has been the habit of many nations to harden their hearts and become heedless of their Lord, the Almighty, with the passage of time. The time has prolonged for them, so their hearts have hardened. Whereas in your case, the blessing of Allah is very close, not even a month has passed. The war has not ended yet, but everyone is waiting for you, and you have huge, difficult tasks ahead. "And [remember] when your Lord proclaimed, 'If you are grateful, I will surely increase you [in favor]; but if you are ungrateful, indeed, My punishment is severe.'"

Warning Against Heedlessness After Salvation

One of the phenomena that the Quran speaks about is the heedlessness of man after the Most Merciful saves him: "And when We bestow favor upon man, he turns away and distances himself." So beware of being of this kind, and do not think that you are safe from a new trial: "Say, 'He is the Most Capable of sending upon you a punishment from above you or from beneath your feet or of causing you to dispute in sects and making some of you taste the punishment of others. Look how We diversify the signs that perhaps they will understand.'"

You have brothers in Gaza and Sudan calling out: "O Allah, support those who support us and forsake those who forsake us."

Righteous Joy and Condemned Joy

Does this mean that we should not rejoice in our lives so as not to be ungrateful to our brothers? No, when the fleeing rat fell, I personally hastened to confirm that Muslims in general should rejoice and share your joy. However, betrayal is to disobey and dance on the wounds of our brothers instead of striving for their support in whatever way we can, including supplication and obedience, so that Allah may look upon us with mercy.

This joy with heedlessness is what Allah does not love for His people, for He said to them: "Do not rejoice, indeed Allah does not love the rejoicers," meaning the joy of heedlessness and arrogance.

Call to Repentance and Gratitude

So let us seek forgiveness from our Lord, brothers, and let us resolve to renew our covenant with Him, the Most High, to be among the grateful, to denounce evil, and not to remain silent about it or approve of it. By Allah, we do not dispense with our Lord for the blink of an eye.

May Allah guide us and you to His obedience. Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah.