First Principle during Fitan

When Fitan (sing. Fitnah) emerge and situations change, then one should act with kindness, wisdom and deliberation and without haste.

This I san important principle, which includes three matters:

a. Kindness (Rifq): It is narrated from the Prophet in the Saheeh,

“There is no kindness/gentleness in anything but it adorns it, and the absence of kindness/gentleness in anything makes it ugly.” [Reported by Saheeh Muslim (4698)]

The people of knowledge explained that the word, '(everything)' is general and includes everything and thus, kindness is liked in all matters as is also mentioned in a Hadeeth in which the Prophet said to Aisha (radhi allahu anha), "Verily Allah loves Rifq (kindness) in all matters." Imam Bukharee (rahimahullah) has recorded this Hadeeth under the Chapter, 'The Book of Rifq in all matters.' So you should be kind and deliberate in all matters. Do not get angry and do not be harsh because you will never regret being kind and "Kindness only increases the beauty of a matter."

Your thoughts, your opinions, any issue that arises, your judgments, etc. - you should be kind (in all matters). Do not rush and do not be with those who rush or are hasty – following the saying of your Prophet, "Kindness only increases the beauty of a matter." So, be graceful and act with elegance and be warned of being unkind because it rips off mercy from all matters.

b. Lack of Haste (Ta'anni):

The Prophet said to Ashakh Abd al-Qays, "You possess two qualities which are beloved to Allah; deliberation and lack of haste." [Reported by Saheeh Muslim]

Lack of haste is a desired quality, and therefore Allah says, "Man invokes (Allah) for evil as he invokes (Allah) for good and man is ever hasty (i.e., if he is angry with somebody, he invokes saying, "O Allah! Curse him, etc.")." [Soorah al-Isra’ (17):11]

The people of knowledge explained that man is rebuked in this verse when man behaves in haste because whosoever has this trait, he is criticized for it, and therefore the Prophet was never hasty.

c. Deliberation/Tolerance (Hulm): is also much loved during Fitan and when situations change because with deliberation only, one truly sees the reality of the matter and comprehends it.

It is recorded in Saheeh Muslim that Mustaurid al-Qurashi reported, "I heard Allah's Messenger saying, "The Last Hour would come while the Romans would form a majority of people." Amr said to him, "Be careful of what you say?" He replied, "I say what I heard from Allah's Messenger." Thereupon, Amr ibn al-Aas said, "If it is so – then this is such due to four qualities that the Romans possess. They are the most deliberate people upon emergence of Fitna. They are the quickest of people to recover after a calamity. They are quick to recover and attack again after defeat; and they are good to the poor, orphans and the weak. And a fifth good quality that they have is that they resist the oppression of kings." [Reported by Saheeh Muslim (41/6925)]

The people of knowledge said, "In this statement, Amr ibn al-Aas does not seek to praise the Romans and the disbelieving Christians. Rather, he seeks to explain to the Muslims that the survival of the Romans and their being majority of the people at the time of the establishment of the Hour is that they are the most deliberate people during Fitan. Their deliberation causes them to look into the issues and solve them so that their lives and the lives of their people are saved."

This has been mentioned by as-Sanawi and al-Ubi in their explanations of Saheeh Muslim.

This Hadeeth is a gentle warning from the Prophet because he mentioned that the Hour will not be established until the Romans form majority of the people.

Why (will the Romans form majority of the people near the end of time)?

Amr ibn al-Aas explained that such is because they possess four traits, and the first of these traits is what interests us - they are the most deliberate people upon emergence of Fitna. Meaning if the situation changes and Fitan emerge, they act with deliberation. They do not make haste and they do not act out of rage which might cost them the lives of their Jewish people or bring about more Fitan upon them. Because they know that if Fitan arise then they will themselves be entrapped. So, due to this characteristic, they will form majority of the people when the Hour is established.

We are amazed as to why we do not adapt this quality of 'deliberation' that is praised by Amr ibn al-Aas because it is a praise-worthy quality and we are the most-deserving of all good.

Deliberation is appreciated in all issues. The thoughts of an intelligent person are enlightened by deliberation, lack of haste and kindness. These qualities show one's intelligence and wisdom.

So, this is the first fundamental which Ahlus-Sunnah have adhered to during Fitan and when situations change.

(Note:) Some of these (points which I have mentioned) are fundamentals/rules while others are principles. I have consolidated them together because some of them share the meaning with the other.