Examples of reconciling verses that appear to contradict each other?
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Question:
It is well known that when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed some of the disbelievers, Allah said to him:[Ali 'Imran 3:128]. It is also well known that cursing the disbelievers with destruction and annihilation contradicts the wisdom of Allah in their continued existence. How can we reconcile this, Honorable Shaykh, with the saying of the Exalted: [Nuh 71:26], and the cursing and supplication of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) against them, as we have seen in this lesson?
Answer:
There is a difference between cursing disbelievers in general, and cursing specific individuals. Cursing disbelievers in general and supplicating against them in general is permissible by consensus. However, cursing a specific disbeliever by name is what Allah forbade His Prophet from doing, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "O Allah, curse so-and-so and so-and-so." Then Allah bestowed favor upon them, and they embraced Islam, and their Islam was good.[Ali 'Imran 3:128] Allah has forgiven them, and they embraced Islam, and their Islam was good. May Allah be pleased with them.
So there is a difference between cursing a specific person and cursing a general category, such as the general category of disbelievers. We say, “May Allah curse the liars,” and “May Allah curse the disbelievers.”[Hud 11:18] So there is a difference between this and that. A person must understand this matter.
And Noah (peace be upon him) prayed against them in general when Allah informed him, saying:[Hud 11:36] Allah informed him that they would not believe, so he prayed for their destruction. For this reason, he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: [Nuh 71:26] "Indeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except a wicked, disbelieving one." [Nuh 71:27] Allah informed him of this; Allah informed him of this. Therefore, he (peace and blessings be upon him) prayed against them.
It is well known that when the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) cursed some of the disbelievers, Allah said to him:
Not for you, [O Muhammad, but for Allah], is the decision
لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ شَيْءٌAnd Noah said, "My Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant.
وَقَالَ نُوحٌ رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ دَيَّارًاAnswer:
There is a difference between cursing disbelievers in general, and cursing specific individuals. Cursing disbelievers in general and supplicating against them in general is permissible by consensus. However, cursing a specific disbeliever by name is what Allah forbade His Prophet from doing, because the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, "O Allah, curse so-and-so and so-and-so." Then Allah bestowed favor upon them, and they embraced Islam, and their Islam was good.
Not for you, [O Muhammad, but for Allah], is the decision whether He should [cut them down] or forgive them or punish them, for indeed, they are wrongdoers.
لَيْسَ لَكَ مِنَ الْأَمْرِ شَيْءٌ أَوْ يَتُوبَ عَلَيْهِمْ أَوْ يُعَذِّبَهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ ظَالِمُونَSo there is a difference between cursing a specific person and cursing a general category, such as the general category of disbelievers. We say, “May Allah curse the liars,” and “May Allah curse the disbelievers.”
Unquestionably, the curse of Allah is upon the wrongdoers.
أَلَا لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِينَAnd Noah (peace be upon him) prayed against them in general when Allah informed him, saying:
No one will believe from your people except those who have already believed, so do
أَنَّهُ لَن يُؤْمِنَ مِن قَوْمِكَ إِلَّا مَن قَدْ آمَنَ فَلَاMy Lord, do not leave upon the earth from among the disbelievers an inhabitant.
رَّبِّ لَا تَذَرْ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ مِنَ الْكَافِرِينَ دَيَّارًاIndeed, if You leave them, they will mislead Your servants and not beget except [every] wicked one and [confirmed] disbeliever.
إِنَّكَ إِن تَذَرْهُمْ يُضِلُّوا عِبَادَكَ وَلَا يَلِدُوا إِلَّا فَاجِرًا كَفَّارًا
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، أمثلة على الجمع بين الآيات التي ظاهرها التعارض؟ للشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.