13 MEANINGS OF THE WORD FITNAH–IMAAM IBNUL JAWZEE

[1] It is intended to mean shirk.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

حَتَّىٰ لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ

‘’Until there is no more Fitnah (disbelief and worshipping of others along with Allah)’’ [Soorah Al-Baqarah: Ayah: 193]

[2] It is intended to mean fighting.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

أَن يَفْتِنَكُمُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا

‘’if you fear that the disbelievers may attack you.’’ [Soorah An-Nisaa: Ayah: 101]

[3] It is intended to mean an excuse.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

ثُمَّ لَمْ تَكُن فِتْنَتُهُمْ

‘’There will then be (left) no Fitnah (excuses or statements or arguments) for them….’’ [Soorah Al-an'aam: Ayah: 23]

[4] It is intended to mean misguidance.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَمَن يُرِدِ اللَّهُ فِتْنَتَهُ

‘’And whomsoever Allah wants to put in Al-Fitnah [error, because of his rejecting the Faith..’’ [Soorah Al-Maa-idah: Ayah: 41]

[5] It is intended to mean a just judgement (i.e. a judgement of Allaah which is always based on perfect justice and wisdom and He does not wrong anyone or anything equal to the weight of an atom or smaller than that).  Allaah (The Most High) said:

إِنْ هِيَ إِلَّا فِتْنَتُكَ

‘’It is only Your Trial by which You lead astray whom You will, and keep guided whom You will.’’ [Soorah Al-Araaf: Ayah: 155]

[6] It is intended to mean sin.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

أَلَا فِي الْفِتْنَةِ سَقَطُوا

‘’Surely, they have fallen into trial’’ (i.e. disobedience to Allaah) [Soorah At-Tawbah: Ayah: 49] [See Tafseer of Imaam Sadi]

[7] It is intended to mean disease.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

يُفْتَنُونَ فِي كُلِّ عَامٍ

‘’They are tried once or twice every year (with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine, etc.)….’’ [Soorah At-Tawbah: Ayah: 126]

[8] It is intended to mean a moral lesson.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

رَبَّنَا لَا تَجْعَلْنَا فِتْنَةً لِّلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا

“Our Lord! Make us not a trial for the disbelievers’’ [(i.e. them having the upper hand over us due to our sins) –see tafseer of Imaam Sadi]’ [Soorah Al-Mumtahinah: Ayah:5]

[9] It is intended to mean Uqoobah (i.e. the just recompense of Allaah received by a person for abandoning obligations and committing crimes).  Allaah (The Most High) said:

أَن تُصِيبَهُمْ فِتْنَةٌ

‘’Lest some Fitnah (disbelief, trials, afflictions, earthquakes, killing, overpowered by a tyrant, etc.)’’ [Soorah An-Noor: Ayah: 63]

[10] It is intended to mean a test.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

وَلَقَدْ فَتَنَّا الَّذِينَ مِن قَبْلِهِمْ

‘’And We indeed tested those who were before them.’’ [Soorah Al-Ankaboot: Ayah: 3]

[11] It is intended to mean punishment.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

اللَّهِ جَعَلَ فِتْنَةَ النَّاسِ كَعَذَابِ اللَّهِ

‘’they consider the trial of mankind as Allah’s punishment.’’ [Soorah Al-Ankaboot: Ayah:10]

[12] It is intended to mean burnt in fire.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

يَوْمَ هُمْ عَلَى النَّارِ يُفْتَنُونَ

‘’(It will be) a Day when they will be tried (i.e. burnt) over the Fire!’’ [Soorah Adh-Dhaariyaat: Ayah:13]

[13] It is intended to mean afflicted with madness.  Allaah (The Most High) said:

بِأَييِّكُمُ الْمَفْتُونُ

‘’Which of you is afflicted with madness’’ [Soorah Al-Qalam]

Source: Al-Mudhish of Imaam Ibnul Jawzee (rahimahullaah) page: 30-31]