Foam on the River
“We know well that what they say grieves you [Prophet]. It is not you they disbelieve: the evildoers reject God’s revelation. Other messengers were disbelieved before you, and they bore their rejection and persecution steadfastly until Our aid arrived– no one can alter God’s promises. You have already received accounts of these messengers. If you find rejection by the disbelievers so hard to bear, then seek a tunnel into the ground or a ladder into the sky, if you can, and bring them a sign: God could bring them all to guidance if it were His will, so do not join the ignorant. Only those who can hear will respond; as for the dead, God will raise them up, and to Him they will all be returned. They also say, ‘Why has no sign been sent down to him from his Lord?’ Say, ‘God certainly has the power to send down a sign,’ though most of them do not know: all the creatures that crawl on the earth and those that fly with their wings are communities like yourselves. We have missed nothing out of the Record– in the end they will be gathered to their Lord. Those who reject Our signs are deaf, dumb, and in total darkness. God leaves whoever He will to stray, and sets whoever He will on a straight path.” Qur’an 6:33–39
Evidently the Prophet (SAW) was concerned about the activities of the disbelievers, so is reminded that the messengers who came before him were rejected and persecuted as well, but for Allah’s good purpose were expected to remain steadfast. Therefore the believers, including the Prophet (SAW) himself, were spiritually developed through trials and afflictions as Allah could have provided aid at any time. In this way Allah develops faith and trust. The next ayats address the importance of community by directing the Prophet to be aware of the signs in nature, for he could “seek a tunnel” or climb a ladder, indicating as referenced in the following ayat to respond to the disbelievers seeking a sign or proof that indeed Allah can send down a sign, but because they are disbelievers would not understand the symbolic representation of the spiritual truth which was also relevant truth for the Prophet and even believers today; …all the creatures that crawl on the earth and those that fly with their wings are communities like yourselves.”
Many living things live in groups so that as a group all individuals are protected. Those animals and insects that burrow underground are able to escape predators and the birds that fly provide warnings for each other for the same reason. Therefore, the Prophet (SAW) is reminded not be worried about the actions of the disbelievers but to focus on strengthening the Ummah which as a united force can more easily withstand attacks. A community of believers are to support one another, provide for each others needs, lift up the weakest among them by the protection of the strongest. For it is the weakest or the isolated in the community who are at most risk for attack from the Shaytan and other enemies. This mirrors the natural world of animals where the hungry, lame and weakest are the ones targeted by predators.
As soon as a person intentionally expresses their new belief by sincerely speaking the Shahada they have become a community member who should be under the protection of the Ummah. However, there appears to be resistance from the Ummah to embrace new converts, especially white single female converts. Many of these women are seeking a spiritual haven within the believing community, but instead find they must deal with ostracism and isolation which causes most of them to leave the Masjids and then eventually Islam itself. Because the converts are not welcomed and helped to transition into the new community with positive intent, some will be forced to fall back into sinful behaviors.
There are authenticated hadith that recount the Prophet Muhammad’s prophecies regarding the Ummah in the later days:
“Thawban, freed slave of the Prophet reported the Prophet said: “The nations are about to call each other and set upon you, just as diners set upon food.”
And, “Rather on that day you will be many, but you will be like the foam on the river. And Allah will remove the fear of you from the hearts of the enemies and will throw wahn (weakness) into your hearts (wahn is the love of the world and the hatred of death.) Abu Dawud #4297 authenticated by Al-Albani in As-Sahihah #958.
These hadith indicate the Ummah will become weak because of the Muslims over attachment to material goods which infers a lack of understanding or acknowledgement of the Qur’an’s teachings. Allah provides a clear Book as a guidance and protection for the Ummah if it is followed. The above hadith likens the Ummah to “foam on the river,” which is water droplets which pick up dirt, becomes heavy, and then floats on the surface of the rivers. When the pure Word of Allah becomes corrupted by false teachings, then it is no longer a guidance or a protection, but can hide the pure truth underneath.