Evidence from Al-Kitaab Al-Hakeem (the Wise Book):
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Ibraheem (14:27):
يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ
“Allaah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allaah Alone and none else), and in the Hereafter.”
Allaah (Ta’ala) also says in Surat An-Nahl (16:102):
قُلْ نَزَّلَهُ رُوحُ الْقُدُسِ مِنْ رَبِّكَ بِالْحَقِّ لِيُثَبِّتَ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا
“Say [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] Ruh-ul-Qudus [Jibreel (Gabriel)] has brought it (the Qur’an) down from your Lord with truth, that it may make firm and strengthen (the Faith of) those who believe.”
Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Ar-Ra’d (13:39):
يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ ۖ وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ
“Allaah blots out what He wills and confirms (what He wills). And with Him is the Mother of the Book (Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh).”
He (Ta’ala) also says in Surat Muhammad (47:7):
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنْ تَنْصُرُوا اللَّهَ يَنْصُرْكُمْ وَيُثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَكُمْ
“O you who believe! If you help (in the Cause of) Allaah, He will help you, and make your foothold firm.”
and Allaah says in Surat Hud (11:120):
وَكُلًّا نَقُصُّ عَلَيْكَ مِنْ أَنْبَاءِ الرُّسُلِ مَا نُثَبِّتُ بِهِ فُؤَادَكَ ۚ
“And all that We relate to you [O Muhammad (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam)] of the news of the Messengers is in order that We may make strong and firm your heart thereby.”
Evidence from the Prophetic Sunnah:
- Du’aa (supplication) of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam):
يا مقلب القلوب ثبت قلبي على دينك
“Ya muqallibal-qulubi, thabbit qalbi ‘ala dinika.”
“O Controller of the hearts, make my heart steadfast in Your religion.” [Saheeh At-Tirmidhi nos. 2140, 3522 and Saheeh Ibn Maajah no. 3834]
- Du’aa (supplication) of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) for Jareer (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu):
“ اللَّهُمَّ ثَبِّتْهُ وَاجْعَلْهُ هَادِيًا مَهْدِيًّا “
“O Allaah! Make him firm and make him a guiding and a rightly guided man.” [Al-Bukhaari no. 3020 and Muslim no. 2475]
- Allaah’s Messenger (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) also said: “Whoever walks with the one who has been wronged until he establishes his rights for him, Allaah will make his feet firm on the Siraat on the Day when feet slip.” [Saheeh At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (2/706)]
- In another narration, he (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Whoever walks with his Muslim brother until his need is met, Allaah will make him stand firm on the Day when all feet will slip.”
[Saheeh At-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb (2/709)]
Linguistic Meaning:
Thabaat (stability): It is the opposite of Zawaal (disappearance/removal).
It is said: The thing Thabata (remained stable) means it lasted and settled, so it is stable.
إثبات (Ithbaat) and تثبيت (Tathbeet) are sometimes used with a verb. It is used for something that comes into existence out of non-existence – for example (أثبت الله كذا): “Allaah established such matter.”
Sometimes it is used for what is established by command. It is said: “The ruler established such and such upon so and so”, and sometimes it is used for what is established with words…” [Al-Mufradaat (171), and Al-Misbaah Al-Muneer (52)]
Shar’ee Meaning:
(Tathbeet) Stabilizing is one of Allaah’s Actions Al-Ikhtiyariyyah (i.e. He does when He wills), and by examining the proofs of the Qur’an and the Sunnah, we find that the Attribute of At-Tathbeet (keeping firm, stability) comes in various forms with respect to Allaah, Exalted be He. All of it revolves around two types of Tathbeet: the first is sensible, and the second is insensible – pertaining to both worldly matters and matters of the Hereafter.
First type: ‘Tathbeet al-Aqdaar (establishing the Decree)’, as Allaah says in Surat Ar-Ra’d (13:39):
يَمْحُو اللَّهُ مَا يَشَاءُ وَيُثْبِتُ
“Allaah blots out what He wills and confirms (what He wills).”
This elimination (blotting) and Tathbeet (establishing) is not (in Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh;) in what is already known to Him and written by His Pen – there are no changes in what is already written – therefore, He (Ta’ala) says further (in the same verse):
وَعِنْدَهُ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ
“…and with Him is the Mother of the Book.” i.e., Al-Lawh Al-Mahfudh, to which everything conforms, for it is the master (of all decrees).” [See Tafseer As-Sa’di (419)]
This Decree is established and there can be no changes to it.
Similarly, ‘Tathbeet of the bodies’ as in the Du’aa of the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) for Jareer (Radia-Allaahu ‘anhu) when he was unable to stay stable on the horse.
Also from Tathbeet of the bodies is steadfastness during a fight/battle, as is mentioned in the Du’aa of the believers:
رَبَّنَا أَفْرِغْ عَلَيْنَا صَبْرًا وَثَبِّتْ أَقْدَامَنَا
“Our Lord! Pour forth on us patience and make us victorious over the disbelieving people.”
[Surat Al-Baqarah (2:250)]
and at other instances like steadfastness on the Siraat, as has preceded in the proofs of the Sunnah.
Second type: ‘Insensible (Spiritual) Tathbeet’, and this is the essence of Eeman, and it is the greatest of Tathbeet, and upon it is based success in both worlds, and upon it all other pillars are stabilized, as Allaah (Ta’ala) says in Surat Ibraheem (14:27):
يُثَبِّتُ اللَّهُ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا بِالْقَوْلِ الثَّابِتِ فِي الْحَيَاةِ الدُّنْيَا وَفِي الْآخِرَةِ ۖ
“Allaah will keep firm those who believe, with the word that stands firm in this world (i.e. they will keep on worshipping Allaah Alone and none else), and in the Hereafter.”
It is authentically narrated from the Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) that this verse was revealed regarding the trial in the grave.
The Prophet (Salla-Allaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “When a faithful believer is made to sit in his grave, then (the angels) come to him and he testifies that none has the right to be worshipped but Allaah and Muhammad is Allaah’s Messenger. And that corresponds to Allaah’s statement: ‘Allaah will keep firm those who believe with the word that stands firm…'” (14.27). [Saheeh Al-Bukhaari no.1369 and Muslim no. 2871]
“Thus, Allaah has informed that Tathbeet (steadfastness) of the believers and deviation of the wrongdoers is an Act of Allaah, and He does as He Wills.” [Shifaa Al-Aleel (2/489)]
Allaah (Ta’ala) keeps His Awliyaa’ (close and beloved servants) and His chosen righteous servants steadfast in the world at the time of conflict with the enemies and at times of doubts by providing safety from misguidances and deviations, and at times of desires and lusts by giving safety from corruptions, destruction and ruin. He provides safety for the dead at the time of their death agony from the whispers of the Shaytaan, and at the time of questioning in the grave by the two angels, and in the Hereafter at the time of fright, at the time of passing over the Siraat (the bridge) by making them pass safely without falling over until they enter Jannah.
Source:
At-Ta’aliq Al-Ulaa fee Sharh Asmaa’ illaahi Al-Husna wa Sifaatihi Al-Ulaa, by Maahir Al-Muqaddim.
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