How do we reconcile the two noble verses from Surat Hud: “Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornment, We will bring to them their deeds therein, and they will not be wronged therein”
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The questioner : He asks about reconciling the two noble verses from Surat Hud. I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan: [Hud 11:15], the other verse in Surat al-Isra: [Al-Isra 17:18] the verse?
The Shaykh : Reconciling the two verses is to say that the verse from Hud is qualified by the verse from al-Isra. So His saying, the Exalted:[Hud 11:15] means “if We will,” and thus this verse is qualified by His saying, the Exalted: [Al-Isra 17:18]. And in that case, there is no contradiction between the two verses. And in this connection, I say that two correct texts cannot possibly contradict each other. The two texts from the Book of Allah cannot possibly contradict each other, and the two texts from the speech of the Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him, that are established from him cannot possibly contradict each other. If something occurs that suggests a contradiction, then either the man who perceived the contradiction is mistaken, or he is ignorant. Either he is mistaken in that he perceived, according to his understanding, that there is a contradiction between them when there is none, or he is ignorant in that there is a contradiction between them, but there was a specification or qualification that he does not understand or does not know, and thus he is ignorant. As for a contradiction actually occurring between two texts from the Book of Allah or two texts from the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, that are established from him, this is absolutely impossible, because the speech of Allah is all truth, and the speech of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, that is established from him is all truth, and two truths cannot possibly contradict each other, because assuming their contradiction means—rather, assuming their contradiction necessitates that one of them is true and the other false, and this is impossible in the speech of Allah and the speech of His Messenger, peace and blessings be upon him. And in that case, if you perceive a contradiction between two texts, you must reflect upon the two texts. If reconciliation becomes apparent to you, that is well; otherwise, ask the people of knowledge, due to His saying, the Exalted: [An-Nahl 16:43]. If that is not facilitated for you, then you must suspend judgment and say: [Al-Baqarah 2:32]. For this is the affair of those firmly grounded in knowledge. Allah, the Exalted, said: [Ali 'Imran 3:7]. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh Muhammad. The listener is also Muhammad from Ethiopia, he says.
Whoever desires the life of this world and its adornments - We fully repay them for their deeds therein, and they therein will not be deprived.
مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْحَيَاةَ الدُّنْيَا وَزِينَتَهَا نُوَفِّ إِلَيْهِمْ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فِيهَا وَهُمْ فِيهَا لا يُبْخَسُونَWhoever should desire the immediate - We hasten for him from it what We will
مَنْ كَانَ يُرِيدُ الْعَاجِلَةَ عَجَّلْنَا لَهُ فِيهَا مَا نَشَاءُThe Shaykh : Reconciling the two verses is to say that the verse from Hud is qualified by the verse from al-Isra. So His saying, the Exalted:
We fully repay them for their deeds therein
نُوَفِّ إِلَيْهِمْ أَعْمَالَهُمْ فِيهَاWe hasten for him from it what We will to whom We intend
عَجَّلْنَا لَهُ فِيهَا مَا نَشَاءُ لِمَنْ نُرِيدُSo ask the people of the message if you do not know.
فَاسْأَلُوا أَهْلَ الذِّكْرِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ لا تَعْلَمُونَExalted are You; we have no knowledge except what You have taught us. Indeed, it is You who is the Knowing, the Wise."
سُبْحَانَكَ لا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْعَلِيمُ الْحَكِيمُIt is He who has sent down to you, [O Muhammad], the Book; in it are verses [that are] precise - they are the foundation of the Book - and others unspecific. As for those in whose hearts is deviation [from truth], they will follow that of it which is unspecific, seeking discord and seeking an interpretation [suitable to them]. And no one knows its [true] interpretation except Allah. But those firm in knowledge say, "We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord."
هُوَ الَّذِي أَنْزَلَ عَلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ مِنْهُ ءايَاتٌ مُحْكَمَاتٌ هُنَّ أُمُّ الْكِتَابِ وَأُخَرُ مُتَشَابِهَاتٌ فَأَمَّا الَّذِينَ فِي قُلُوبِهِمْ زَيْغٌ فَيَتَّبِعُونَ مَا تَشَابَهَ مِنْهُ ابْتِغَاءَ الْفِتْنَةِ وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ ءامَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَاThe questioner : May Allah reward you, Shaykh Muhammad. The listener is also Muhammad from Ethiopia, he says.