The Meaning of the Saying of Allah the Exalted: "Indeed, those who disbelieve, it is the same for them whether you warn them or you do not warn them; they will not believe."
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The Shaykh :[Al-Baqarah 2:6] This means that warning them and not warning them is the same for them; they will not believe, whether you warn them or not. This verse presents a difficulty with reality, for among the disbelievers, some were warned by Allah the Exalted and they believed, and some were warned by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and they believed, and some were warned but did not believe. So explain to us an example of someone the Messenger warned who then believed?
The student: 'Umar ibn al-Khattab.
The Shaykh : Yes, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was a disbeliever who denied the Islamic call. Then Allah granted him guidance, and he embraced Islam. And among them were those He warned who did not believe, such as his uncle Abu Lahab, the uncle of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned Abu Lahab, but he did not believe. So how do we reconcile the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:6] with those whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned and who believed?
We reconcile them by saying that the intended meaning of the verse:[Al-Baqarah 2:6] is those upon whom the word of punishment has become a reality, meaning that the word of punishment is obligatory for them and that they will not believe. The evidence for this is the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Yunus 10:96-97] Now pay attention, how many difficulties have we raised? How many have we raised?
The student: Two.
The Shaykh : Two difficulties. The first is that it is a guidance for the righteous and a guidance for all people.
And the second is:[Al-Baqarah 2:6] despite the existence of people who were warned and then believed, and we have learned how to reconcile them.
Good. And it is obligatory for you, O believer, to know with certainty that the speech of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and what is authentic from His Messenger can never, under any circumstances, contradict each other, as Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:82] So if you encounter something that appears to be contradictory or conflicting, review it again and again until the reconciliation becomes clear to you. If it does not become clear, what is obligatory?
The obligation is to stop and say what the firmly grounded in knowledge say:[Ali 'Imran 3:7]. And Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has placed in the Qur'an things that are ambiguous for the purpose of trial and testing, because the believers say that everything is from our Lord and cannot possibly contradict.
As for those in whose hearts is deviation, they follow this ambiguous matter and take from it a defect in the Noble Qur'an, as Allah the Exalted said:[Ali 'Imran 3:7].
And the firmly grounded in knowledge? They are the counterpart of those in whose hearts is deviation.[Ali 'Imran 3:7].
Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe.
إن الذين كفروا سواء عليهم أءنذرتهم أم لهم تنذرهم لا يؤمنونThe student: 'Umar ibn al-Khattab.
The Shaykh : Yes, 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) was a disbeliever who denied the Islamic call. Then Allah granted him guidance, and he embraced Islam. And among them were those He warned who did not believe, such as his uncle Abu Lahab, the uncle of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) warned Abu Lahab, but he did not believe. So how do we reconcile the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe.
إن الذين كفروا سواء عليهم أءنذرتهم أم لهم تنذرهم لا يؤمنونWe reconcile them by saying that the intended meaning of the verse:
Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn
إن الذين كفروا سواء عليهم أءنذرتهم(96) Indeed, those upon whom the word of your Lord has come into effect will not believe, (97) Even if every sign should come to them, until they see the painful punishment.
إن الذين حقت عليهم كلمة ربك لا يؤمنون ولو جاءتهم كل آية حتى يروا العذاب الأليمThe student: Two.
The Shaykh : Two difficulties. The first is that it is a guidance for the righteous and a guidance for all people.
And the second is:
Indeed, those who disbelieve - it is all the same for them whether you warn them or do not warn them - they will not believe.
إن الذين كفروا سواء عليهم أءنذرتهم أم لم تنذرهم لا يؤمنونGood. And it is obligatory for you, O believer, to know with certainty that the speech of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) and what is authentic from His Messenger can never, under any circumstances, contradict each other, as Allah the Exalted said:
If it had been from [any] other than Allah, they would have found within it much contradiction.
ولو كان من عند غير الله لوجدوا فيه اختلافا كثيراThe obligation is to stop and say what the firmly grounded in knowledge say:
We believe in it. All [of it] is from our Lord.
آمنا به كل من عند ربناAs for those in whose hearts is deviation, they follow this ambiguous matter and take from it a defect in the Noble Qur'an, as Allah the Exalted said:
It 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].
هو الذي أنزل عليك الكتاب من آيات محكمات هن أم الكتاب وأخر متشابهات فأما الذين في قلوبهم زيغ فيتبعون ما تشابه منه ابتغاء الفتنة وابتغاء تأويلهAnd the firmly grounded in knowledge? They are the counterpart of those in whose hearts is deviation.