How do we explain the ambiguous narrations which some use to prove that the one who leaves off all actions in totality is a believer with a weak faith?
Question:
“May Allah reward you. The twelfth question is: There are certain narrations which are used by some as proof that the one who leaves off all actions in totality that he is a believer with a weak faith. Like the narration: “They did not perform any good deeds at all”. What is the answer to this? May Allah preserve you. And likewise the narration of ‘al-bitaaqa’[1]?”
Answer:
“This is from following the ambiguous proofs, and this is from the way of the people of deviation. The ones about whom Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says:
{So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof…} [Surah Aal-’Imraan 3:7]
Hence they take the ambiguous proofs and leave off the clear proofs which clarify and explain the ambiguous proofs. Thus it is mandatory to return the ambiguous proofs back to the clear proofs.
If he says that the one who leaves off performing actions due to a valid excuse and is not able to do so until he died, then this one is excused. And this is how these narrations should be explained.
That this person has uttered the two testifications (The testification that no one has the right be worshipped truly except Allah alone and the testification that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), whilst believing in them and doing it purely for Allah alone, and then he died on the spot, or that he did not have the ability to performs actions. But he uttered the two testifications, purely for Allah alone and with Tawheed. Like the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:
“The one who says La Illaha ila Allah and disbelieves in what is worshiped besides Allah; his blood and wealth are inviolable." [Sahih Muslim]
And he said:
“Indeed Allah has made forbidden the Fire for the one who says La ilaha illa Allah seeking thereby the face of Allah.” [Sahih Bukhaaree]
This person was not able to perform any actions, but despite that he uttered the two testifications, and he believed in its meaning, and doing it purely and sincerely for Allah (عز وجل) alone. But he did not have the chance to perform deeds until he died. This is the one who enters Paradise with only the two testifications. And this is how the narration of ‘al-bitaaqa’ is to be interpreted, and similar narrations which have the same meaning.
And the ones who are taken out of the Fire who did not perform any good actions. This is because they were not capable of performing actions, while they did utter the two testifications and entered into Islam.
This is the joining together of the narrations. Yes.”
[1] The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: "A man will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement, and will be shown his deeds which will be written on scrolls and each scroll, which will stretch as far as the eye can see, will be filled with bad deeds. These scrolls will be placed on one side of the scale, then a card, with "None has the Right to be Worshiped but Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) Alone"written on it will be placed on the opposite side of the scale. A statement which this man made from his heart with sincerity, conviction and faith, and so this statement will outweigh and surpass all of the scrolls." Saheeh - Narrated by At-Tirmidhi (2639) and Ibn Majaah (4300) on the authority of 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin al-Aas. Saheeh and it was authenticated by al-Albanee in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhi, (2127).
Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him
Translated by Salafi-Dawah.com.
Source: www.alfawzan.af.org.sa [Click here for screenshot in PDF format]
Use the player below or download the MP3 here.
“May Allah reward you. The twelfth question is: There are certain narrations which are used by some as proof that the one who leaves off all actions in totality that he is a believer with a weak faith. Like the narration: “They did not perform any good deeds at all”. What is the answer to this? May Allah preserve you. And likewise the narration of ‘al-bitaaqa’[1]?”
Answer:
“This is from following the ambiguous proofs, and this is from the way of the people of deviation. The ones about whom Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) says:
{So as for those in whose hearts there is a deviation (from the truth) they follow that which is not entirely clear thereof…} [Surah Aal-’Imraan 3:7]
Hence they take the ambiguous proofs and leave off the clear proofs which clarify and explain the ambiguous proofs. Thus it is mandatory to return the ambiguous proofs back to the clear proofs.
If he says that the one who leaves off performing actions due to a valid excuse and is not able to do so until he died, then this one is excused. And this is how these narrations should be explained.
That this person has uttered the two testifications (The testification that no one has the right be worshipped truly except Allah alone and the testification that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah), whilst believing in them and doing it purely for Allah alone, and then he died on the spot, or that he did not have the ability to performs actions. But he uttered the two testifications, purely for Allah alone and with Tawheed. Like the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said:
“The one who says La Illaha ila Allah and disbelieves in what is worshiped besides Allah; his blood and wealth are inviolable." [Sahih Muslim]
And he said:
“Indeed Allah has made forbidden the Fire for the one who says La ilaha illa Allah seeking thereby the face of Allah.” [Sahih Bukhaaree]
This person was not able to perform any actions, but despite that he uttered the two testifications, and he believed in its meaning, and doing it purely and sincerely for Allah (عز وجل) alone. But he did not have the chance to perform deeds until he died. This is the one who enters Paradise with only the two testifications. And this is how the narration of ‘al-bitaaqa’ is to be interpreted, and similar narrations which have the same meaning.
And the ones who are taken out of the Fire who did not perform any good actions. This is because they were not capable of performing actions, while they did utter the two testifications and entered into Islam.
This is the joining together of the narrations. Yes.”
[1] The Messenger of Allah (صلى الله عليه و سلم) said: "A man will be resurrected on the Day of Judgement, and will be shown his deeds which will be written on scrolls and each scroll, which will stretch as far as the eye can see, will be filled with bad deeds. These scrolls will be placed on one side of the scale, then a card, with "None has the Right to be Worshiped but Allah (سبحانه وتعالى) Alone"written on it will be placed on the opposite side of the scale. A statement which this man made from his heart with sincerity, conviction and faith, and so this statement will outweigh and surpass all of the scrolls." Saheeh - Narrated by At-Tirmidhi (2639) and Ibn Majaah (4300) on the authority of 'Abdullah bin 'Amr bin al-Aas. Saheeh and it was authenticated by al-Albanee in Saheeh Sunan at-Tirmidhi, (2127).
Shaykh Saalih bin Fawzaan Al-Fawzaan, may Allah preserve him
Translated by Salafi-Dawah.com.
Source: www.alfawzan.af.org.sa [Click here for screenshot in PDF format]
Use the player below or download the MP3 here.
نص السؤال
أثابكم الله، السؤال الثاني عشر: هناك بعض الأحاديث التي يستدل بها البعض على أن من ترك جميع الأعمال بالكلية فهو مؤمن ناقص الإيمان كحديث: "لم يعملوا خيرًا قط" فكيف الجواب عن ذلك -حفظكم الله-، وحديث البطاقة؟
الجواب
هذا من الاستدلال بالمتشابه، وهذه طريقة أهل الزيغ؛ الذين قال الله سبحانه وتعالى: (فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ) [آل عمران: 7] فيأخذون الأدلة المتاشبهة ويتركون الأدلة الْمُحكَمة، التي تفسرها وتبينها؛ فلابد من ردِّ المتشابه إلى الْمُحكَم
فإن قال: من ترك العمل لعذرٍ شرعي ولم يتمكن منه حتى مات؛ فهذا معذور، وعليه تُحمل هذه الأحاديث، أنَّ هذا رجل نطق بالشهادتين، معتقدًا لهما مخلصًا لله -عزَّ وجلَّ-؛ ثمَّ مات في الحال، أو لم يتمكن من العمل؛ لكنه نطق بالشهادتين مع الإخلاص لله، والتوحيد كما قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: "من قال لا إله إلا الله وكفر بما يُعبد من دون الله فقد حرم دمه وماله" وقال: "فإن الله حرم على النار من قال لا إله إلا الله يبتغي بذلك وجه الله"، هذا لم يتمكن من العمل، مع أنه نطق بالشهادتين، واعتقد معناهما، وأخلص لله –عزَّ وجلَّ-؛ لكنه لم يبق أمامه فرصةٌ للعمل حتى مات؛ فهذا هو الذي يدخل الجنة بالشهادتين، وعليه يحمل حديث البطاقة وغيره مما جاء بمعناه، والذين يخرجون من النار وهم لم يعملوا خيرًا قط؛ لأنهم ما تمكنوا من العمل، مع أنهم نطقوا بالشهادتين، ودخلوا في الإسلام. هذا هو الجمع بين الأحاديث. نعم
أثابكم الله، السؤال الثاني عشر: هناك بعض الأحاديث التي يستدل بها البعض على أن من ترك جميع الأعمال بالكلية فهو مؤمن ناقص الإيمان كحديث: "لم يعملوا خيرًا قط" فكيف الجواب عن ذلك -حفظكم الله-، وحديث البطاقة؟
الجواب
هذا من الاستدلال بالمتشابه، وهذه طريقة أهل الزيغ؛ الذين قال الله سبحانه وتعالى: (فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ) [آل عمران: 7] فيأخذون الأدلة المتاشبهة ويتركون الأدلة الْمُحكَمة، التي تفسرها وتبينها؛ فلابد من ردِّ المتشابه إلى الْمُحكَم
فإن قال: من ترك العمل لعذرٍ شرعي ولم يتمكن منه حتى مات؛ فهذا معذور، وعليه تُحمل هذه الأحاديث، أنَّ هذا رجل نطق بالشهادتين، معتقدًا لهما مخلصًا لله -عزَّ وجلَّ-؛ ثمَّ مات في الحال، أو لم يتمكن من العمل؛ لكنه نطق بالشهادتين مع الإخلاص لله، والتوحيد كما قال صلى الله عليه وسلم: "من قال لا إله إلا الله وكفر بما يُعبد من دون الله فقد حرم دمه وماله" وقال: "فإن الله حرم على النار من قال لا إله إلا الله يبتغي بذلك وجه الله"، هذا لم يتمكن من العمل، مع أنه نطق بالشهادتين، واعتقد معناهما، وأخلص لله –عزَّ وجلَّ-؛ لكنه لم يبق أمامه فرصةٌ للعمل حتى مات؛ فهذا هو الذي يدخل الجنة بالشهادتين، وعليه يحمل حديث البطاقة وغيره مما جاء بمعناه، والذين يخرجون من النار وهم لم يعملوا خيرًا قط؛ لأنهم ما تمكنوا من العمل، مع أنهم نطقوا بالشهادتين، ودخلوا في الإسلام. هذا هو الجمع بين الأحاديث. نعم