Lessons from the Battle of Hattin

Of course, we have finished an event that may be the greatest event in this series.

It was the liberation of Jerusalem and everything related to the

Battle of Hattin. But in truth, many of the lessons and fruits may

appear in the sessions from now until the coming sessions.

Because

the issue of reform, working for the religion, and working for this ummah is an issue

in which, glory be to God, psychological, spiritual, heartfelt,

and physical matters come together.

So, let’s say, a person’s true character and qualities emerge.

Their true qualities

emerge with prolonged work and changing circumstances.

Now, when word spread of the liberation of Jerusalem, that the sultan

had defeated the Crusaders at Hattin and gone to Jerusalem, everyone came, right?

You know, the jurists and scholars came. As you recall, obody known in the country remained without coming.

When did they come? At the liberation of Jerusalem, during the time Saladin was besieging Jerusalem.

But that is not the point.

In times of glory, everyone comes. In times of victory, everyone comes.

The issue is what comes afterward. Who will be patient? Who will endure? What

will you do after victory?

And often,

people and Muslims are struck by the heedlessness that comes after victory.

The heedlessness that comes after victory.

Victory, you know, comes after hours and years of resolve and strength,

hard work and diligence. When it comes, and conquest comes, what is the

natural state a person falls into? Relaxation.

And sometimes deviation occurs.

Preoccupation with spoils, preoccupation with victory, preoccupation.

Even if you were sincere while working for liberation,

when you see the spoils, see power, and see what you have gained, sometimes you see

the intention and mindset change because of the new circumstances,

not because your original intention was not sincere.

Here, I am borrowing the wording that came from the Prophet, peace be upon him,

in the well-known hadith in Sunan al-Nasa'i.

When the Prophet, peace be upon him, was told—he heard th- th-th-that there were people

saying there is no jihad, that war has laid down its burdens, and so on,

The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, “They lied.

Now the fighting has come.”

Now the fighting has come. I’m telling you, folks, when you read the life of Salah

al-Din al-Ayyubi,

you see Hattin. Now the fighting has come.

And after Hattin, now the fighting has come.

By the way, this is difficult. Before that, you knew you were

fighting and fighting and fighting because something huge lay ahead that you wanted to reach,

but you reached it. Now fighting is difficult, right?

It’s difficult because you’ve arrived, that’s it.

So, dear folks,

what were you telling me a little while ago? That this is the last episode?

Yes, the last episode says, “There are still epic battles and more epic battles ahead of us,

fighting and more fighting,

hardships and horrors, difficulties and clashes, and— heroism

and retreats, and so on, among the things that will happen

after Hattin.”

Some of it is beautiful, and some of it is very sad.

There are banners raised, and blood is shed,

there are prisoners and martyrs, and so on.

Therefore, folks, in my opinion, this is truly when the lessons for reform come.

They come now.

Because truly, truly, glory be to God, this approach that Moses, peace be upon him, said: “Perhaps your Lord

will destroy your enemy and grant you succession in the land

then see how you act.” Did you see that “then see how you act”? Some people

working for Islam forget it.

For them, it is: “Perhaps your Lord will de— destroy your enemy and grant you succession in the land.” Period.

“And grant you succession in the land.” Period. That’s it, we’re done. “Grant you succession in the land,” we’re done.

But “then He will se— ‘then see how you act’” is what really matters.

Therefore, once again,

we truly hope that Saladin, may God have mercy on him, was among those who were sincere with God, Glorified

and Exalted be He, in his work, for his deeds were the deeds of the sincere.

He did not stop after that conquest, nor did he

slacken. Rather, he adhered to the path of resolve and the path of action until

God, Glorified and Exalted be He, completed it, or until God Glorified and Exalted be He decreed

his end in it.

God is the One whose help is sought. Let’s begin.