The Promise

{"And when the believers saw the coalition, they said: "This is what Allah & His Messenger promised us, and they spoke the truth," and it increased them only in Iman & submission."} (33:22)

Explaining the promise referred to in this ayah, al-Mawdudi wrote that

"when they saw the storms of danger gathering, they remembered Allah's promise. But this promise wasn't that once they believed, they'd instantly take over the whole world without any effort and the Angels would come down to place crowns on their heads. Rather, the promise was that they'd pass through severe trials, endure extreme hardship & fitnah, and sacrifice a lot, after which Allah would bless them with His grace and give them that promised success in this world & the next."

He continued: "On seeing fitnah approaching, they didn't waver in their Iman. Rather, they only became stronger in it. Rather than giving up on obeying Allah, they were ready to surrender to Him whatever they had with complete conviction. Here, you must fully understand that Iman & reliance are qualities of the soul which are tested with every command & demand. At every step in life, you come across situations where Iman either enjoins something, forbids it, or requires you to sacrifice yourself, your money, your time, and your desires. At every such occasion, the faith & conviction of one who deviates from obedience will decline, while the faith & conviction of one who submits to the commands & demands will be strengthened & enhanced."

He finished: "Yes, you become a believer & a Muslim by uttering the Shahadatayn. But Iman doesn't remain static. It's open to both deterioration & development. Decline in sincerity & the spirit of obedience causes your Iman to deteriorate, such that constant regression will push you to the last limits of faith where the slightest move backwards will turn you from a believer into a munafiq. Conversely, the more sincere, obedient, and dedicated to Iman you are, the stronger you'll grow to the point that you can even attain the rank of a siddiq..."

So Iman enables you to adapt to any season, as the Prophet said that "the believer is like a flexible plant, which the wind pushes left & right - knocking it over, only to raise it up again - until it dries..."

And Iman transforms any situation into a good one, as he said that "I'm amazed at the situation of the believer. Indeed, every situation is good for him. He's thankful if he experiences something good, and that's good for him. And he's patient if he experiences something bad, and that's good for him. This doesn't happen for anyone but the believer."

And Iman can be fulfilled in any condition you find yourself, as he told the Ansar: "Give me bay'ah that you'll listen & obey whether you're energized or lazy, and that you'll spend your money for Allah's sake in good times & bad, and that you'll enjoin the good & forbid the evil, and that you'll speak the truth for Allah's sake without fearing anyone's condemnation... If you do this, Jannah is yours."

— Tariq Mehanna