Follow the strangers
11-3-2012 | IslamWeb
Question:
Who are the strangers that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, described? How can I follow them?
Answer:
All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed us that Islam began as a strange religion, and it will return to being strange just as it began. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, gave glad tidings to such strangers that they would enter Paradise. When asked about them, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, described them as those who put things right when people behaved badly. [Ahmad]
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, enjoined for us the means to fend off this second stage of Islam becoming strange, for example encouraging good and forbidding evil, Jihaad…etc.
In the meanwhile, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed us that the truth would remain clear even at this time, when Islam would be seen as something strange for the second time, at the hands of a victorious group. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned that there would be a group from among this Ummah (nation) who would adhere to the truth until the command of Allaah came true. [Muslim] In another narration, he, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, informed us that there would be a group from among this Ummah who would fight for the truth until the Day of Resurrection. [Muslim]
The Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, outlined the characteristics of such strangers in many Hadeeths:
For example in a Hadeeth on the authority of the grandfather of Katheer ibn Abd Allaah, the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, mentioned that they are those who restore what people spoil of his Sunnah (tradition) after his death. [Ahmad]
In a narration on the authority of Abd Ar-Rahmaan ibn Sannah, they are those who are righteous when people become corrupt. [Ahmad]
In a narration on the authority of Abd Allaah ibn ‘Amr ibn Al-‘Aas, they are a few righteous persons among many, and those who disobey them are more than those who obey them. [Ahmad]
In another narration on the authority of Abd Allaah ibn ‘Amr, they are those who flee with their religion. [Ibn Battah in Al-'Ibaanah Al-Kubra]
In a further narration, they are those who immediately accept the truth, revive the Sunnah of the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, apply it, teach it to people and try their best to manifest it.
Every one of them lives among his people as isolated and deserted as a stranger because of his religion, but Allaah The Almighty assists them, for the pious will have a prosperous end. Allaah The Almighty Says (what means): {And Our word has already preceded for Our servants, the messengers. [That] indeed, they would be those given victory. And [that] indeed, Our soldiers will be those who overcome.} [Quran 37:171-173]
Some of the righteous predecessors stated that the person who adheres to the truth should not abandon it because those who hold onto it and defend it are few. Besides, the many who follow the way of falsehood should not tempt a person into following them because all of them are doomed. Others mentioned that it is not surprising how some are doomed [to Hell], but what is surprising is how some are saved [from Hell].
Imaam Ibn Al-Qayyim 
argued that these people are described as strangers due to their small number among people. Nevertheless, they are truly the party of Allaah The Almighty. Thus, they are not in essence strange, but only in comparison to the multitude that Allaah sometimes denounced Saying (what means): {And if you obey most of those upon the earth, they will mislead you from the way of Allaah.} [Quran 6:116]
Undoubtedly, what you refer to regarding the spread of confusion among people, the intermixing of concepts, the lack of loyalty and the inability to distinguish between friend and foe are some aspects of the strangeness of religion.
Therefore, we recommend you to look for strangers, with the characteristics mentioned above, in your community and around you. Once you find them, shadow them and follow in their footsteps, supplicating Allaah The Almighty often to make truth manifest for you and to help you follow it, and to show you falsehood for what it is, and help you avoid it.
Allaah Knows best.