Hasten to do good deeds before we are overtaken by these Fitan (trials),

Shaikh al-Albaanee said:

"The fortification of the Muslims from the trials is through righteous deeds."

He also said:

"hasten to do good deeds before we are overtaken by these Fitan (trials), i.e. we face them with righteous deeds. So that if these (Fitan) come upon us all of a sudden, we can face them armed with our righteous deeds which we had done previously. And that these righteous deeds (by Allaah’s Will) will come in between us and the Fitan so that we do not fall into these Fitan."

[From the duroos on Targheeb wa Tarheeb (Cassette 57b)]

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عليه وسلم: The Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said: 

“Be prompt in doing good deeds (before you are overtaken) by turbulence which would be like a part of the dark night. During (that stormy period) a man would be a Believer in the morning and an unbeliever in the evening or he would be a Believer in the evening and an unbeliever in the morning, and would sell his faith for worldly goods.” [Saheeh Muslim (169)]

-Creed of As-Salaf As-Salih