Does the one who raises his head before the imam have his head turned into a donkey's head?

The questioner : People, if someone were to say: We find people raising their heads before the imam, but they do not say "donkey surah" or that their heads are donkey heads. Move on. This might be in a day of reckoning when he is held accountable.

The Shaykh : No, because the hadith was lost; it did not return.

The questioner : Likewise.

The Shaykh : Also, it is figurative, meaning that the resemblance to the donkey is figurative.

The questioner : Still.

The Shaykh : The explanation for this, they say, is that raising one's head before the imam indicates dullness. What does it mean that he is not in a position to follow the doer? That his action requires the dullness of the doer. It is fitting to make the general transformation into the most eloquent of things. For this reason, the donkey is used as a parable for dullness. This is one opinion. Another opinion says: No, or that his image is made into the image of a donkey, an image that is not in the meaning, but is apparent in its preservation. However, the hadith did not say, "I say that whoever does such-and-such, Allah will transform him." If it had said, "Whoever does such-and-such, Allah will transform him," this calculation would not have come back to us. Rather, it said, "Does he not fear that..." and this is evidence that if he does that, he has exposed himself to this punishment. It does not follow from that that it will occur, because Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, may not bring it about for this person due to a preventer with Allah. He may have righteous deeds that require greater [mercy], meaning they erase this evil and the like. The important thing, people, is that we say the words of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) are without doubt. But the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say that it will happen. If he had said, "Whoever raises his head before his imam, Allah will turn his head into a donkey's head," then the issue would be found. But since he said, "Does he not fear," it is a warning against this thing happening, not a guarantee of its occurrence in every case.