The Feeling of Alienation ( Ghurabah)

Allah says..”Do not be deceived by their movement through the land...” Among the realities of faith and facts of life is this: the true adherents to the Straight Path of Allah (as-sirat al-mustaqeem) are a small minority, living as strangers in society. The reason is none other than the deviation of most of mankind from that Path and their excessive attachment to this world.

● The Quran describes the majority of the earth's population: ‘But most of the people do not know.” ‘No, but most of them do not use their minds.” ‘Most of the people do not believe.” “They are not except like sheep. No, but they are even more astray.”

● The degree of alienation varies from time to time, place place, people to people for Muslims are a minority among the inhabitants of this earth, and believers are a minority among Muslims Those of knowledge are few among believers, and those defending the Prophet’s sunnah are even fewer. In respect to this, the Messenger of Allah (saws) said, “Verily, my community among communities is like a white hair on a black bull. “

Although the believers are rare will still seek them out because as our Prophet said The believer who mixes with people and is patient in the face of their offense is preferable to the believer who does not mix with people and is not patient with their offense. And Allah reminds them: “The believers are but brothers.”

● So how can one avoid his brother for whom he cares and. shares responsibility? So the believer seeks out his brothers in Islam and he also learns to depend and trust in Allah first and foremost. He is aware of Allah because he knows that Allah is the only one who can: comprehend his concerns... appreciate his efforts and...relieve his sorrows

● The Believer knows that despite what others may think: Allah enumerates and rewards that which is unnoticed - So these servants of Allah are careful to avoid what is doubtful or might possibly lead to Haramand are indifferent to that which is of no benefit in the Hereafter. They fear Allah when dealing with others and even more so when dealing with the subtle affairs of their own hearts. They refuse to compromise tawheed. They cling to the sunnah when people have abandoned it and avoid innovation in religion while people find it good.

● Such people are the ones whom the prophet praised as being the Strangers when he said: Certainly Islam began as [something] strange and it will become strange once again as it began. So, blessed are the strangers."

● Yet as humans we are social beings with a natural desire to be accepted and when rejected we feel lonliness: Therefore, Allah assures those who travel on His Path that, in spite of temporary alienation from contemporaries, they do belong to the best company of mankind and that is the company of the prophets and he encourages us to call upon him and ask: “O Allah, guide me among those You have guided.”

● By remembering the prophet muhammad and the other righteous men this will remove that sense of lonliness and alienation from your heart: Ibn al-Qayyim said, “Every time you feel the loneliness of isolation due to alienation, remember those who have preceded you and be eager to join them; and do not be concerned with others, for they will not avail you at all before Allah. And if they call out to you during your journey, do not turn to them, for whenever you respond to them, they will take you and set you in another direction.”

● Some other early scholars said: “Keep fast to the path of truth, and do not succumb to loneliness because of the few who tread it; and beware of the path of falsehood, and do not be deceived by the many headed on it to destruction.”

● Those suffering from alienation of others due to their obediance to Allah should reflect upon the following verses: “Say, Not equal are evil and good, even if you are impressed by the abundance of evil” “And if you obey most of those on earth, they will lead you astray from the way of Allah. They follow nothing but speculation, and they are not but those who falsify ' “And if you obey most of those on earth, they will lead you astray from the way of Allah. They follow nothing but speculation, and they are not but those who falsify '

● If the believer ponders the reality that the angels and other creations of Allah obey him they are thus not in the minority: To Allah gives praise that which is in the heavens and that which is on the earth. So thus in reality the believer is amongst the Majority of allahs creation – he is just a minority amongst man

● Finally, the believer must understand that he has with him the best friend of all - allah With Allah as your friend he will protect and support you and give you the assurance you need to overcome your feelings of lonliness and alienation. So while Shaytan will attempt to infect you with loneliness and despair, his plan is frustrated and defeated by the realization that the believer is in harmony with the entire universe in submission to the will of Allah, whereas those who vainly try to oppose Him are but a small minority that will surely be overcome

So if you should feel yourself suffering from alienation amongst man Understand that all true believers are strangers in this world because we were created to worship Allah and put on this earth to be tested in our belief of him. The believers are simply travelers passing thru this life as we await our true abodes in paradise.