The majority of those who fall during tribulations are:

First: The blind-follower who surrenders his intellect to another person, following them in everything without bothering to investigate the truth. He may be a good person seeking the truth, yet he falls because he suspended his intellect during this tribulation

Second: The fearful person who fears taking a position lest he be criticised, lose favour with people, or see them abandon him. Some even outwardly display what is contrary to their inner beliefs (in the matter). This is not from prudence (mudārāt) but rather it is from duplicity and posturing at the expense of the truth. If students of knowledge engage in such posturing, then who will speak the word of truth?

Third: The opportunist who pursues his own self-interest—whether it e an endorsement (tazkiyah), money, status, or otherwise. Such a person is not saddened by the weakness of the truth or the ascendancy of falsehood. Rather, his sadness only appears when his personal interest (through the matter) is lost.

Fourth: The vengeful person who enters the tribulation only to settle scores. We have known (from experience) that such types may surface and spout rhetoric for a time, but Allāh eventually removes them, and the daʿwah is relieved of them.

Fifth: The infiltrator recruited by people to achieve specific agendas from within the daʿwah. Most of these types may wield much influence initially by distorting facts and buying loyalties, but they are ultimately exposed and defeated because this is Allāh’s religion, and Allāh is the Guardian of His religion, and it is the truth that is aided (to victory).

Reflect, O people, over past tribulations.