I remember a couple of these questions being answered by Shaykh Bazmool in a beneficial and concise post on this forum. It should be available on bakkah.net but I'm unable to access the site at present. Maybe someone else can post the link(s).
I can remeber shaikh Ubayd al-Jaabiri being asked this question by our brother abu Ishaaq in Madeenah about 4-5 years back and the shaikh gave an excellent answer. Im sure it was translated so if someone knows where the article can be found then please post it as they were very good. If I manage to find the tape I will put up the shaikh's answer bi idhnillaah.
أبو سلمان النمري طلحة بن وليم
والعصر ان الانسان لفي خسر الا الذين آمنواو عملوا الصالحات و تواصوا بالحق و تواصوا بالصبر