Thabaat: Embodying the Unwavering Steadfastness of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ)
﷽
THABAAT
BE UNSHAKEABLE
What would you say if you were to sum up the life of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) in one word? My proposition is that the single term that most describes his life is thabaat, which translates to immovability or steadfastness. It’s not simply the amount of tests he endured on, but also the sheer variety of these tests. The prophet (ﷺ) experienced trials in his political, physical, financial, family, moral, and ideological spheres, yet his stance remained constant, immovable thabaat. He was tortured, persecuted and this animosity was also found among his family members.
The pagans tried another method, one that continues to draw most individuals to their knees: the gift of worldly temptations. the Prophet (ﷺ) replied by reciting verses from the Qur’an, all of which were from Surah Fussilat until he reached the following verse where Allāh (ﷻ) said:
[If they turn away, then say, ˹O Prophet,˺ “I warn you of a ˹mighty˺ blast, like the one that befell ’Ȃd and Thamûd.”
[Al-Fuṣṣilat 41:13]
As soon as the ambassador heard this, he pleaded with the Prophet (ﷺ) to stop reciting, and he returned to his community. What word would best sum up this period of trials in the Prophet’s (ﷺ) life, without a doubt, it would be Thabaat.
The Prophet (ﷺ) witnessed numerous tragedies. He buried his wife Khadijah (رضي الله عنها) his first and greatest love, likewise his eyes fell on the mutilated corpse of his uncle Hamza (رضي الله عنه) following a devastating loss in the battlefield. Furthermore, he had to witness the death of almost every one of his children and he bore the stress of seeing the corpses of his loyal companions scattered across the battlefield in defence of his own blessed life. how much trauma can one bear, nevertheless he weathered it all in a breathtaking display of thabaat.
Thabaat is a daily occurrence in the life of a Muslim; in fact, we may be tested on it at any time, whether we are at home, behind the desk, in a public sphere, or in private quarters; the test is active, and Allāh, The Divine’s Eyes are upon us. We may be summoned to prayer for the fifth time that day, and we may feel as if our body, spirit, or both are about to fail us, yet we pull ourselves together in a display of overwhelming thabaat before Allāh (ﷻ). When our carnal urges are at their peak, our hormones rage, and sinful opportunities for relief are only a click away. We still are able to maintain control over ourselves and we realise that we are at the heart of a test, one that Allāh (ﷻ) will help us with thabaat, steadfastness.
When a distressing ordeal befalls us and separates us from something that we loved, we veer away from the dark paths of despair despite the tears and anguish we may experience, at the end of the day we find our way in a path of thabaat. when those around you abdicate their Islamic dress and descend from hijab, hayaa, and modesty. You on the other hand see it as an opportunity to represent the prophetic way during these times of estrangement, you realise that the reward is now aggrandized and therefore you hold on to your hijab with unconquerable thabaat.
I offer three bits of advice, for those who wish to foster their thabaat, a conscious and intentional retreat to the Qur’ān.
Number two the remembrance of Allāh (ﷻ).
And finally , you get what you ask for.
One thing that all Muslims with exemplary thabaat have in common is that they ask Allāh (ﷻ) for this faculty. The army of Prophet Dawood (عليه سلام) which defeated jaalut and his men, they appealed to Allāh for thabaat just before war. Against all odds Allāh (ﷻ) gave them victory and their prayers were answered.