Blessed Are the Strangers: The Importance of Following the Sunnah

The Reward of Adhering to the Sunnah in a World of Innovation and Fitnah

BLESSED ARE THE STRANGERS

There is no doubt that success lies in following the Qur’an and the Sunnah, clinging to the two of them and holding fast to them both as ALLĀH said,

وَمَن یُطِعِ ٱللَّهَ وَرَسُولَهُۥ فَقَدۡ فَازَ فَوۡزًا عَظِیمًا

And whoever obeys ALLĀH and HIS Messenger has certainly attained a great attainment. {Al-Aḥzāb: 71}

And this was the Prophet’s command when he said, “I have left you with two matters which will never lead you astray, as long as you hold to them: the Book of ALLĀH and the Sunnah of his Prophet.” {al-Muwatta’ #1661}

He (ﷺ) also said: “Whoever lives after me will see many conflicts. You must adhere to my Sunnah and the Sunnah of the righteous, guided successors. Hold firmly to it as if biting with your molar teeth. Beware of newly invented matters in religion, for every new matter is an innovation and, every innovation is misguidance.” {Sunan Abi‌ Da‌wu‌d #4607}

The Sunnah of the Prophet (ﷺ) is a ship of salvation and a haven of safety. You must adhere to it and follow it constantly, and not pay any attention to those who criticize you or blame you for that. When evil and corruption become widespread and innovation and fitnah prevail, the reward for the one who adheres to the Sunnah will be greater, and the status of those who follow the Sunnah will be higher, for they are living as strangers with the light that they bear in the midst of that darkness and because of their efforts to set the people’s affairs straight. The Prophet (ﷺ) said: “Islām began as something strange and it will return to being strange, so blessed are the strangers.” {Muslim #145}

Al-Sindi said in Hashiyat Ibn Majah: “Strange” refers to the small number of its adherents. The basic meaning of ghareeb (a stranger) is being far from one’s homeland. “And will revert to being strange” refers to the small number of those who will adhere to its teachings even though its followers are many. “So give glad tidings to the strangers” means those who follow its commands. “Tūba (glad tidings)” has been interpreted as meaning Paradise or a great tree in Paradise.” (Islamqa)

This world is only a temporary stepping stone upon the path to eternity in the Hereafter. We should never become too attached to its delights and beauties, nor should we let the opinion of society at large pressure us into abandoning our faith and the path of the Messenger of ALLĀH (ﷺ). Sometimes we will be called strange or weird, and we will be mocked or even abused, yet we should always remember that blessed are the strangers.