Why did exegetes, such as Imam Ibn Kathir, attribute all the verses of punishment in the Noble Qur'an specifically to disbelievers, given that some Muslims may commit sins that fall within the scope of these verses?
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The questioner : Why did exegetes, such as Imam Ibn Kathir, attribute all the verses of punishment in the Noble Qur'an specifically to disbelievers? Given that some Muslims may commit sins that fall within the scope of these verses, and given that some verses do not specify the disbeliever from the sinful Muslim, nevertheless, the exegetes attributed them specifically to disbelievers, such as the saying of the Exalted in Surat al-Baqarah, I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Shaytan: [Al-Baqarah 2:81]?
The Shaykh : This statementThe questioner : The claim that the exegetes applied the verses of warning in the Qur'an to disbelievers is not correct. I have not known anyone to say that, neither Ibn Kathir nor anyone else, and no one can say this, because the verses of warning in the Qur'an include some that are for disbelievers and some that are for other than disbelievers.
For example, the saying of the Exalted:[An-Nisa 4:93] This is not specific to disbelievers; even if one is a believer, this warning applies to him. However, all warnings regarding the commission of sins that are less than disbelief fall under the generality of the saying of the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:48].
Thus, the punishment of this sinner falls under the will of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Allah may forgive him on the Day of Resurrection by His grace and generosity, or He may forgive him through intercession or by other means.
The important point is that the verses of warning, as well as the hadiths of warning, are not specific to the disbeliever but may also apply to the believer. However, the believer, with regard to this warning, falls under the will of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: if He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will forgive him.
The questioner : Thank you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah magnify your reward for...
Yes, whoever earns evil and his sin has encompassed him - those are the companions of the Fire; they will abide therein eternally.
بَلَى مَنْ كَسَبَ سَيِّئَةً وَأَحَاطَتْ بِهِ خَطِيئَتُهُ فَأُوْلَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَThe Shaykh : This statementThe questioner : The claim that the exegetes applied the verses of warning in the Qur'an to disbelievers is not correct. I have not known anyone to say that, neither Ibn Kathir nor anyone else, and no one can say this, because the verses of warning in the Qur'an include some that are for disbelievers and some that are for other than disbelievers.
For example, the saying of the Exalted:
But whoever kills a believer intentionally - his recompense is Hell, wherein he will abide eternally, and Allah has become angry with him and has cursed him and has prepared for him a great punishment.
وَمَنْ يَقْتُلْ مُؤْمِنًا مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاؤُهُ جَهَنَّمُ خَالِدًا فِيهَا وَغَضِبَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَلَعَنَهُ وَأَعَدَّ لَهُ عَذَابًا عَظِيمًاIndeed, 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 يَشَاءُThus, the punishment of this sinner falls under the will of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. Allah may forgive him on the Day of Resurrection by His grace and generosity, or He may forgive him through intercession or by other means.
The important point is that the verses of warning, as well as the hadiths of warning, are not specific to the disbeliever but may also apply to the believer. However, the believer, with regard to this warning, falls under the will of Allah, Mighty and Majestic: if He wills, He will punish him, and if He wills, He will forgive him.
The questioner : Thank you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah magnify your reward for...