His second question states that there are some people who provide material aid to some of the poor and are content with that, and do not perform the obligatory duties of Allah the Exalted, such as prayer.
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The questioner : His second question states that there are some people who provide material aid to some of the poor and are content with that, and do not perform the obligatory duties of Allah the Exalted, such as prayer and fasting and others. They claim that they are doing good deeds and that they are better in the sight of Allah than those who perform the obligatory duties of Allah and then sin. They claim that they will enter Paradise with the material good deeds they have provided before those who perform the obligatory duties. Perhaps it will be forbidden to those who perform the obligatory duties and sin, while they will not be forbidden from it, because they too have pure hearts and are not sinners. What is the ruling regarding such people, wherever they are?
The Shaykh : The ruling regarding these people is that if one of them claims that he is not a sinner, then we say: what greater sin is there than abandoning prayer and the symbols of Islam?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And what they spend on people in meeting needs, helping the needy, repairing roads, and other such things, none of this benefits them. All of this is scattered dust, as Allah the Exalted said:[Al-Furqan 25:23] And He the Exalted said: [At-Tawbah 9:54] So these people, all their deeds, even if their benefit extends to others, none of it benefits them with Allah or brings them closer to Him. And if they die while abandoning prayer, they die as disbelievers, abiding eternally in the Fire, may Allah protect us from that.
The questioner : We seek refuge in Allah.
The Shaykh : So they must repent to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and perform what Allah has made obligatory upon them. Their claim that whoever performs the laws of Islam but does not spend as they do will be forbidden from entering Paradise, and that Paradise will be for them, is a false claim. Indeed, if one performs the laws of Islam and is stingy in some of what Allah has made obligatory for him to give, he is like the others among the people of sins and disobedience, subject to the will of Allah. If Allah the Exalted wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will forgive him. If this is the case, then what those people said is a false, lying claim.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.
The Shaykh : The ruling regarding these people is that if one of them claims that he is not a sinner, then we say: what greater sin is there than abandoning prayer and the symbols of Islam?
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : And what they spend on people in meeting needs, helping the needy, repairing roads, and other such things, none of this benefits them. All of this is scattered dust, as Allah the Exalted said:
And We will regard what they have done of deeds and make them as dust dispersed.
وَقَدِمْنَا إِلَى مَا عَمِلُوا مِنْ عَمَلٍ فَجَعَلْنَاهُ هَبَاءً مَنْثُورًاAnd what prevents their expenditures from being accepted from them but that they have disbelieved in Allah and in His Messenger and that they come not to prayer except while they are lazy and that they do not spend except while they are unwilling.
وَمَا مَنَعَهُمْ أَنْ تُقْبَلَ مِنْهُمْ نَفَقَاتُهُمْ إِلَّا أَنَّهُمْ كَفَرُوا بِاللَّهِ وَبِرَسُولِهِ وَلا يَأْتُونَ الصَّلاةَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كُسَالَى وَلا يُنفِقُونَ إِلَّا وَهُمْ كَارِهُونَThe questioner : We seek refuge in Allah.
The Shaykh : So they must repent to Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and perform what Allah has made obligatory upon them. Their claim that whoever performs the laws of Islam but does not spend as they do will be forbidden from entering Paradise, and that Paradise will be for them, is a false claim. Indeed, if one performs the laws of Islam and is stingy in some of what Allah has made obligatory for him to give, he is like the others among the people of sins and disobedience, subject to the will of Allah. If Allah the Exalted wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will forgive him. If this is the case, then what those people said is a false, lying claim.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Yes.