The Obligation to Avoid Forbidden Transactions, with Evidence
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The Shaykh : It remains for us to say: We know that this matter is forbidden. So what is our position? Do we engage in it and say, "Allah is the Pardoner, the Merciful, the Forgiver, and He loves to pardon," or do we avoid it? The first or the second? The first or the second?
The student: The second.
The Shaykh : What is the second?
The student: We avoid it.
The Shaykh : We avoid it, because Allah gave us[Al-Ma'idah 5:98]. So with which did He begin? With the warning [Al-Ma'idah 5:98-99], because the context of the verses requires it to begin with the warning. But when He wanted to speak about Himself, Mighty and Majestic, He said: [Al-Hijr 15:49-50] Did He begin with the warning or with the promise? With the promise, because the occasion requires this. In any case, it is not permissible for a person to engage in sin on the pretext that Allah is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Because we say to him: If you say that Allah is the Forgiving, the Merciful, we say to you: Know that Allah is severe in punishment before you know that Allah is the Forgiving, the Merciful. Then what guarantees that Allah will forgive you? What guarantees that you will repent? You may commit the sin and say, "Insha'Allah, I will repent to Allah." Who guarantees it? Perhaps you will die before then, or perhaps you will gradually progress to something more severe. Then, who guarantees that Allah will forgive you? The strange thing is that some people say: "Do not be strict with us, do not be strict with us." Read with us the saying of Allah the Exalted: [An-Nisa 4:48] So I have not associated partners with Allah, but let me do whatever I want. Do not be strict with me in what Allah has made easy for me. [An-Nisa 4:48] Is this an argument or a doubt?
The student: A doubt.
The Shaykh : Yes, a doubt, or an argument?
The student: A doubt.
The Shaykh : A doubt, why? Because Allah did not say, "Allah does not forgive that partners are associated with Him, and He forgives what is less than that." He only said. Who guarantees to you that Allah willed to forgive you? You cannot say it is guaranteed. As long as it is conditional, you cannot say it is guaranteed. [An-Nisa 4:48]. So if a person knows that this transaction is forbidden, he should say: "We hear and we obey." [Al-Ahzab 33:36] So you, my Muslim brother, must not prefer the worldly life over the Hereafter, lest you lose both the worldly life and the Hereafter. Prefer the Hereafter over the worldly life, and you will attain both the Hereafter and the worldly life. [Al-A'la 87:16-17]
The student: The second.
The Shaykh : What is the second?
The student: We avoid it.
The Shaykh : We avoid it, because Allah gave us
Know that Allah is severe in penalty and that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
اعلموا أن الله شديد العقاب وأن الله غفور رحيم(98) Know that Allah is severe in penalty and that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. (99) Not upon the Messenger is [responsibility] except [for] notification
اعلموا أن الله شديد العقاب وأن الله غفور رحيم ما على الرسول إلا البلاغ(49) [O Muhammad], inform My servants that it is I who am the Forgiving, the Merciful. (50) And that it is My punishment which is the painful punishment.
نبئ عبادي أني أنا الغفور الرحيم، وأن عذابي هو العذاب الأليمIndeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills
إن الله لا يغفر أن يشرك به ويغفر ما دون ذلك لمن يشاءIndeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills
إن الله لا يغفر أن يشرك به ويغفر ما دون ذلك لمن يشاءThe student: A doubt.
The Shaykh : Yes, a doubt, or an argument?
The student: A doubt.
The Shaykh : A doubt, why? Because Allah did not say, "Allah does not forgive that partners are associated with Him, and He forgives what is less than that." He only said