Allah's Will in Accepting the Repentance of Some Sinners and Not Others
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Your Eminence! There is a question that constantly comes to mind: We see two people committing the same sin together, and then suddenly one of them dies while the other remains. The other then repents, even though the one who died passed away in a state of sin. We do not doubt the justice of Allah (Mighty and Majestic); but for the sake of clarification, knowledge, and refuting the doubts of Satan, how is it just in the justice of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), given that lifespans are in the hand of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), how is it just in His justice that He grants this one time to repent, while the other was not granted time, and Allah (Mighty and Majestic) took him, so the second had a chance to repent, but the first did not have a chance to repent? How is this?
I ask you: Did Allah kill him to take revenge on him?The questioner: No.
It is merely his lifespan that Allah has decreed.
The Shaykh: It is a predestined lifespan, and the fact that Allah extends the life of the second is a favor from Allah that He grants to whom He wills. Also, this one who died in a state of sin, as long as it was not shirk (associating partners with Allah), is also under the will of Allah (Mighty and Majestic); if He wills, He will forgive him without anything [being required].As Allah the Exalted said: [al-Nisa:48] .
You are not unaware of the hadith established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in which he gave an example of his Ummah (Muslim community) in relation to the Jews and the Christians, comparing them to a man who hired workers; a group from dawn to midday, and he paid them their wages, and a group from midday to afternoon, and he paid them their wages, and a group from afternoon to sunset, and he gave them twice what he gave the first two groups,Meaning: He doubled their wages,So the first group argued with him: How do you give these people twice as much, or twice the amount, while you do not give us the same as them?He said: (Did I wrong you in any way?They said: No! He said: This is my favor, which I give to whom I will) ,Meaning: I hired you for ten [units] each, and I gave these people twenty, and you have no right to complain to me.
So the important point is that there is absolutely no problem in this matter. This one died at his appointed time, and Allah (Mighty and Majestic) did not kill him to take revenge on him. He is also under the will of Allah if his sin was less than shirk (associating partners with Allah).
As for this one whose lifespan was extended, he may repent, or he may not repent, and he may even increase in sin upon his sin.
I ask you: Did Allah kill him to take revenge on him?The questioner: No.
It is merely his lifespan that Allah has decreed.
The Shaykh: It is a predestined lifespan, and the fact that Allah extends the life of the second is a favor from Allah that He grants to whom He wills. Also, this one who died in a state of sin, as long as it was not shirk (associating partners with Allah), is also under the will of Allah (Mighty and Majestic); if He wills, He will forgive him without anything [being required].As Allah the Exalted said:
Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills
إِنَّ اللَّهَ لا يَغْفِرُ أَنْ يُشْرَكَ بِهِ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَلِكَ لِمَنْ يَشَاءُYou are not unaware of the hadith established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) in which he gave an example of his Ummah (Muslim community) in relation to the Jews and the Christians, comparing them to a man who hired workers; a group from dawn to midday, and he paid them their wages, and a group from midday to afternoon, and he paid them their wages, and a group from afternoon to sunset, and he gave them twice what he gave the first two groups,Meaning: He doubled their wages,So the first group argued with him: How do you give these people twice as much, or twice the amount, while you do not give us the same as them?He said: (Did I wrong you in any way?They said: No! He said: This is my favor, which I give to whom I will) ,Meaning: I hired you for ten [units] each, and I gave these people twenty, and you have no right to complain to me.
So the important point is that there is absolutely no problem in this matter. This one died at his appointed time, and Allah (Mighty and Majestic) did not kill him to take revenge on him. He is also under the will of Allah if his sin was less than shirk (associating partners with Allah).
As for this one whose lifespan was extended, he may repent, or he may not repent, and he may even increase in sin upon his sin.