By Khadar bin Muhammad Amin, Senior Lecturer in Hadeeth and ‘Aqeedah, Darul Hadeeth International.
27 Jumaadaa Al Oolaa 1448 / Nov 7, 2026
All praise and thanks is due to Allaah, and may Allaah send salaam upon and exalt the mention and status of His Messenger, Muhammad.
We live in a time when sin is done openly, the haraam is made attractive, and the one who holds to his religion is often made to feel out of place. Many sincere Muslims ask: how do I stay obedient to Allaah when so much around me pulls the other way?The Prophet ﷺ did not leave us without an answer. He told us these times would come, he described them, and he promised a great reward to those who stay firm in them.
Below are six authentic narrations on this subject, with their sources and a brief explanation of each.
1. Worship in Times of Turmoil Is Like Hijrah.
Ma’qil ibn Yasaar (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
«العِبادةُ في الهَرْجِ كهِجْرةٍ إليَّ»
“Worship during times of turmoil (al-harj) is like making hijrah to me.” Collected by Muslim (2948)
Al-harj refers to times of fitnah, killing and confusion. Imaam an-Nawawi explained that the reward is so great because in such times people become heedless and busy with the fitan, and only a few devote themselves to worship.Think about what hijrah to the Prophet ﷺ meant for the Companions. They left their homes, their wealth and their families for the sake of Allaah. The one who keeps his salaah, his remembrance and his obedience while the world around him is in chaos is given a reward compared to that.
2. Like Holding a Burning Coal.
Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
«يَأْتِي عَلَى النَّاسِ زَمَانٌ الصَّابِرُ فِيهِمْ عَلَى دِينِهِ كَالْقَابِضِ عَلَى الْجَمْرِ»
“A time will come upon the people when the one who is patient upon his religion among them will be like one grasping a burning coal.” Collected by at-Tirmidhi (2260). At-Tirmidhi called it ghareeb, and al-Albaani graded it saheeh in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah (957).
A person holding a hot coal feels pain every moment he keeps his grip. Letting go would bring relief. This is the condition of the one who holds to the Sunnah when the people around him have abandoned it: staying firm costs him something, and giving in would be easy.The hadeeth does not tell us to let go. It tells us that the pain is expected, so that when we feel it, we know we are on the path the Prophet ﷺ described.
3. The Reward of Fifty.
Abu Tha’labah al-Khushani (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
«فإنَّ مِن ورائِكُم أيَّامَ الصَّبرِ، الصَّبرُ فيهنَّ مثلُ القَبضِ على الجمرِ، للعاملِ فيهنَّ مثلُ أجرِ خمسينَ رجلًا يعملونَ مثلَ عملِه»
“Ahead of you are days of patience. Patience in them is like grasping a burning coal. The one who acts in them will have the reward of fifty men who do the same deed.” Collected by Abu Daawood (4341), at-Tirmidhi (3058) who called it hasan ghareeb, and Ibn Maajah (4014). Al-Albaani strengthened the “days of patience” portion through supporting narrations in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah (494). In some narrations, the Companions asked: “The reward of fifty of them?” He ﷺ answered: “Rather, the reward of fifty of you. “The scholars explained that this does not make anyone after the Companions better than them. Their virtue of companionship has no equal. Rather, the one who does a particular good deed in a time of great fitnah, with few helpers, earns a multiplied reward for that deed because of how hard it is to do. It is worth noting the context of this hadeeth. Abu Tha’labah had asked about the ayah
عَلَيْكُمْ أَنْفُسَكُمْ (al-Maa’idah, 5:105),
and the Prophet ﷺ answered by first commanding them to enjoin one another to the good and forbid one another from evil. Only after that did he speak of the days of patience. Commanding the good and forbidding the evil is one of the great signposts of Islam.
Allaah said: كُنتُمْ خَيْرَ أُمَّةٍ أُخْرِجَتْ لِلنَّاسِ تَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَتَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ وَتُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ
“You are the best nation brought forth for mankind. You command the good, forbid the evil, and believe in Allaah. “Soorah Aal ‘Imraan (3:110)
And the Prophet ﷺ said: «مَنْ رَأَى مِنْكُمْ مُنْكَرًا فَلْيُغَيِّرْهُ بِيَدِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِلِسَانِهِ، فَإِنْ لَمْ يَسْتَطِعْ فَبِقَلْبِهِ، وَذَلِكَ أَضْعَفُ الْإِيمَانِ»
“Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If he is unable, then with his tongue. If he is unable, then with his heart, and that is the weakest of eemaan.” Collected by Muslim (49) from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri
Yet today this signpost has almost disappeared. Worse, it is treated as a crime. If you remind your brother or sister of a shortcoming or an error, you are made out to be the one in the wrong: judgmental, extreme, interfering. These are the difficult times we live in. But this is exactly why the reward is so great: the one who does what he must, obeys Allaah, stays away from sin, and sincerely advises others with wisdom and gentleness, is doing so in the very days of patience the Prophet ﷺ described.
4. Glad Tidings for the Strangers.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
«بدأ الإسلامُ غريبًا، وسيعودُ كما بدأ غريبًا، فطوبى للغرباءِ»
“Islam began as something strange, and it will return to being strange as it began. So glad tidings (toobaa) to the strangers.” Collected by Muslim (145) In the narration of Imaam Ahmad, he ﷺ was asked who the strangers are, and he answered:
«الذين يصلحون إذا فسد الناس» “Those who remain righteous when the people become corrupt.
“Graded saheeh by al-Albaani in as-Silsilah as-Saheehah (1273)
If you feel like a stranger because you pray on time, lower your gaze, avoid interest and refuse the haraam, then this hadeeth is for you. Your strangeness is not a sign that you are wrong. It is the very description the Prophet ﷺ gave of the people who receive his glad tidings.
5. Guarding the Halaal When People Stop Caring.
Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
«يأتي على الناس زمانٌ لا يبالي المرءُ ما أخذَ منه، أمِنَ الحلالِ أمْ من الحرامِ»
“A time will come upon the people when a person will not care what he takes, whether it is from the halaal or from the haraam.” Collected by al-Bukhaari (2059)
This hadeeth is from the signs of prophethood, and we see it clearly today. Interest-based dealings, cheating in trade, bribery and doubtful earnings have become normal for many people. This carelessness is not limited to wealth. It includes how men and women deal with one another. Many people no longer ask: “Is this woman halaal for me? Am I with her through a nikaah, or am I with her in what Allaah has forbidden?” Relationships outside of marriage, and even zina itself, are treated as normal and private matters. The Prophet ﷺ foretold this as well:
«لَيَكُونَنَّ مِنْ أُمَّتِي أَقْوَامٌ يَسْتَحِلُّونَ الْحِرَ وَالْحَرِيرَ وَالْخَمْرَ وَالْمَعَازِفَ»
“There will certainly be people from my ummah who will treat as lawful zina, silk, wine and musical instruments.” Collected by al-Bukhaari (5590) from Abu ‘Aamir or Abu Maalik al-Ash’ari
We also see the doors that lead to zina thrown wide open. Many women, including Muslim women, now want to display their beauty to everyone and have abandoned the hijab. Then the men look at them instead of lowering their gaze. Worse, they encourage them, writing “Maa shaa Allaah, you look beautiful” under the very posts in which these women are exposing themselves. A phrase meant for remembering Allaah is used to praise disobedience to Him. Even among those who still wear the hijab, it has become a fashion statement, like a Muslimah hairstyle. It was legislated so that a woman would not attract attention, yet now it is worn to attract attention. It is wrapped over half the head, with half the hair showing, the whole neck uncovered, and even more shown in some cases. Allaah described the true covering for the Muslim women when He commanded the believing women:
وَلْيَضْرِبْنَ بِخُمُرِهِنَّ عَلَىٰ جُيُوبِهِنَّ
“And let them draw their head coverings over their chests. “Soorah an-Noor (24:31)
The head covering is to come down over and cover the neck and chest, not to sit on the back of the head as an accessory. A hijab that displays the hair and the neck does not fulfil what Allaah commanded. The Prophet ﷺ described these women:
«وَنِسَاءٌ كَاسِيَاتٌ عَارِيَاتٌ، مُمِيلَاتٌ مَائِلَاتٌ، رُءُوسُهُنَّ كَأَسْنِمَةِ الْبُخْتِ الْمَائِلَةِ، لَا يَدْخُلْنَ الْجَنَّةَ وَلَا يَجِدْنَ رِيحَهَا»
“…and women who are clothed yet naked, who attract others to them and are themselves attracted, their heads like the leaning humps of camels. They will not enter Paradise, nor will they find its fragrance.” Collected by Muslim (2128) from Abu Hurayrah.
Allaah has addressed the believing men first, and then the believing women in the following ayah:
قُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَغُضُّوا مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِمْ وَيَحْفَظُوا فُرُوجَهُمْ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ أَزْكَىٰ لَهُمْ
“Tell the believing men to lower their gaze and guard their private parts. That is purer for them.” Soorah an-Noor (24:30)
وَقُل لِّلْمُؤْمِنَاتِ يَغْضُضْنَ مِنْ أَبْصَارِهِنَّ وَيَحْفَظْنَ فُرُوجَهُنَّ وَلَا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ
“And tell the believing women to lower their gaze, guard their private parts, and not display their beauty.” Soorah an-Noor (24:31)
The woman who exposes herself and the man who looks and praises her are helping one another toward what Allaah forbade. Both are called to return to Him. The measures have been turned upside down. The sister who covers herself with niqaab is looked down upon, as if covering were only for the elderly, the poor or the uneducated. Meanwhile, the brothers rush to soccer and basketball games in short shorts, uncovering their thighs, while the masjid stands empty and the circles of knowledge are abandoned. The Prophet ﷺ said to Jarhad (may Allaah be pleased with him):
«غَطِّ فَخِذَكَ، فَإِنَّ الْفَخِذَ عَوْرَةٌ» “Cover your thigh, for the thigh is ‘awrah. “Collected by Abu Daawood (4014) and at-Tirmidhi (2798), and graded saheeh by al-Albaani in Irwaa’ al-Ghaleel (269)
Modesty is not backwardness, and covering is not for one class of people. It is the command of Allaah to every believing man and woman, rich or poor, young or old, educated or not. Allaah did not only forbid zina; He forbade even approaching it. Allaah, the Most High, said:
وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الزِّنَىٰ ۖ إِنَّهُ كَانَ فَاحِشَةً وَسَاءَ سَبِيلًا
“And do not come near zina. Indeed, it is ever an immorality and an evil way.”Soorah al-Israa’ (17:32)
The believer in this time should consider and look for the halaal in his relationships just as he considers it in his earnings. He seeks what Allaah made lawful through nikaah, and he stays far from every path that leads to the haraam. The hadeeth is a warning, and by implication it is praise for the one who still asks: “Is this halaal?” Being careful about what you earn, eat and spend is not extremism. It is the very thing that distinguishes the believer in a time when others have stopped caring.
6. Hasten to Good Deeds Before the Fitan. (Trials and temptations)
Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allaah ﷺ said:
«بادِروا بالأعمالِ فِتَنًا كقِطَعِ الليلِ المظلمِ، يُصبحُ الرجلُ مؤمنًا ويُمسي كافرًا، أو يُمسي مؤمنًا ويصبحُ كافرًا، يبيعُ دينَه بعَرَضٍ من الدنيا»
“Hasten to do good deeds before trials come like pieces of a dark night. A man will wake up a believer and reach the evening a disbeliever, or reach the evening a believer and wake up a disbeliever. He will sell his religion for some worldly gain.” Collected by Muslim (118)
The cure the Prophet ﷺ prescribed for the fitan is action. He did not say “wait” or “withdraw in despair”. He said: hasten. Good deeds done now build the strength of eemaan that protects a person when the trials arrive. Notice also the reason people fall: they sell their religion for a small, temporary gain of this world. Every compromise in halaal and haraam is a small sale of this kind.
From these narrations and the guidance of the scholars, here are some practical steps for staying obedient to Allaah in our time:
1. Hold on to the obligations first. Guard the five daily prayers in their times. They are the first line of defence against sin.
2. Seek knowledge. Learn the Qur’aan and the Sunnah from trustworthy teachers. Ignorance makes a person easy prey for every doubt and desire.
3. Choose righteous company. The strangers find strength in each other. Stay close to people who remind you of Allaah.
4. Examine your earnings. Ask about what is halaal and haraam in your work, trade and spending before you enter into it.
5. Hasten to good deeds. Do not delay repentance or righteous action. You do not know what tomorrow’s fitnah will bring.
6. Ask Allaah for firmness. The Prophet ﷺ used to supplicate often:
«يا مُقَلِّبَ القُلوبِ ثَبِّتْ قَلْبي على دينِك»
“O Turner of the hearts, make my heart firm upon Your religion.” (At-Tirmidhi, 2140)
A Closing Reminder. The spread of sin around us does not lower the standard Allaah has set for us. If anything, it raises the reward of the one who keeps to it. The worshipper in the harj, the one holding the coal, the stranger who stays righteous, the one who still guards the halaal: all of them were described by the Prophet ﷺ, and all of them were promised a good reward. So do not be discouraged by being few, and do not measure the truth by what most people do. Hold fast, be patient, and hasten to good. We ask Allaah to make us among the strangers who rectify themselves when the people become corrupt, to make our hearts firm upon His religion, and to grant us a good ending. And Allaah knows best.