What is the difference between the innovated doctrine of al-irja' and hope in it, given that you cited the hadith of the man from the Children of Israel who did no good at all, from which it is understood that...

The questioner : I mentioned my response to your statement at the beginning, O Shaykh. The issue of your citing the hadith of the man from the Children of Israel who did no good at all: does it follow from this statement that abandoning deeds entirely does not make one a disbeliever? And if this statement is correct, what is the difference between the innovated doctrine of al-irja' and hope in it?

The Shaykh : One of the calamities of the present age is al-irja'. There are two types of al-irja': the first is delaying the punishment for abandoning deeds to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), as stated in the noble verse: . This is agreed upon by the people of the Sunnah and the community, as they used to say in the past. The other type of al-irja' is the belief of the Murji'ah, who say that no harm is caused by anything alongside faith, just as no good deed benefits alongside shirk (associating partners with Allah). They delay deeds from faith and do not make them a part of faith. There is no doubt and no ambiguity that faith, as established in the Book and the Sunnah first, and in the books of Salafi creed second, includes deeds as a part of faith. However, this part is a part of perfection, not a part of validity. This is where the belief of the people of the Sunnah differs from that of the Khawarij. The Khawarij are those who make deeds a pillar of faith, so whoever does not act is a disbeliever and has apostatized from his religion. As for the people of the Sunnah and the community, they make deeds not a pillar, but a part. For this reason, they said that faith increases and decreases. Faith increases with righteous deeds and decreases by abandoning righteous deeds and committing evil deeds, and so on. But none of them agrees with the Khawarij in saying that deeds are a fundamental pillar of faith. How could that be, when everything we read in the authentic hadiths, which fill the books of the Sunnah—whether those committed to authenticity or those not committed to it—includes the hadiths of intercession, in which Allah (Mighty and Majestic) says: . Thus, the one who saves from eternal abode in the Fire... This believer denies something of it. And in light of what I explained to you just now, even if it is from the branches, but he knew that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had brought it and he denied it, then this is disbelief. But if he brought a pillar of the pillars of Islam and believed in it, but did not perform it, then on the Day of Resurrection he will enter the Fire and be punished according to what he deserves of punishment from the Lord of the Worlds, unless he is encompassed by the forgiveness of Allah. And this is the text of the noble Qur'an. Therefore, I am amazed today at those who label people like me—for example, the one who brings such an explanation—as "the Murji'ah of the present age." Glory be to our Lord, who says in clear Arabic: , without any specific limit. And the one who takes matters by unbridled emotions will fall on his own head before he causes others to fall. That is the consequence of not standing by His saying (Blessed and Exalted is He): . I think I have answered your question, if Allah wills.

The questioner : May Allah reward you.

The Shaykh : It is now ten o'clock.

The questioner : Ten o'clock.

The Shaykh : We have added about half an hour to the ten.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh: Yes.

The questioner : ... Fajr.

The Shaykh : May Allah bless you.

The questioner : ... .

The Shaykh : What do you have? Please, go ahead.

The questioner : Do you want to continue the discussion on the topic of upbringing?

The Shaykh: Go ahead.

The questioner : Especially the topic of the apparent? Do you have a desire, O Shaykh, to share with us on the topic?