Clarification of the issue of specifying individuals versus generalizing, and that it is not permissible for us to testify that a specific person is in Paradise or that he is in the Fire.
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The Shaykh : And it is not permissible for us to testify that a specific person who committed this act is forbidden from Paradise by Allah. We do not testify about a specific person, but we bring the general statement as the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) commanded, saying: But if we testify that so-and-so enabled his family to commit this act while he had the ability to change it, is it permissible for us to say that Allah has forbidden you Paradise? No, my brothers, pay attention to this issue. There is a great difference between specifying and generalizing. If the text comes in a general form, bring it in a general form. If it comes in a specific form, bring it in a specific form. This man, whom we know brought these channels into his home and enabled his family to watch what destroys morals, ideas, and beliefs, we cannot testify that Allah has forbidden him Paradise, and it is not permissible. Why? Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) did not say "this man," but rather said: Sahih Muslim 142a This is general. Now, do you testify that every believer is in Paradise? Do you testify that every believer is in Paradise? Do you testify that every believer is in Paradise?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Do you testify that every believer is in Paradise? Just answer, yes or no.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Is it established?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Okay, rest. Yes, we testify that every believer is in Paradise. But do you testify that so-and-so is in Paradise, even though he is a believer whom we see fasting, praying, giving charity, advancing in the mosque, and doing good? Do you say this specific man is in Paradise? Yes or no? Therefore, you must, my brothers, distinguish between specifying and what? And generalizing. And for this reason, it is the creed of the people of the Sunnah that we do not testify for anyone of Paradise or Fire except for those for whom Allah and His Messenger have testified. Except for those for whom Allah and His Messenger have testified. Testimony is of two types: testimony by description and testimony by person. Pay attention. Testimony by description is to say, "Every believer who completes [his faith] is in Paradise." This is a description. Testimony by person is to say, "So-and-so is in Paradise." No, this is not possible unless Allah and His Messenger have testified for him. Okay, testimony regarding the Fire is the same. You say, "Every disbeliever is in the Fire," correct?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Who says correct? Stand up and give us the evidence?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : What is the evidence?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. Perfect, this is evidence. And His saying, the Exalted:[Ali 'Imran 3:131] Okay, but do you testify for a specific person that he is in the Fire? No, it is not permissible. You testify only if Allah and His Messenger have testified for him. Did you understand? If Allah and His Messenger have testified for a person that he is in the Fire, we say he is in the Fire. Abu Lahab, the uncle of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), his father's brother. Do you testify that he is in the Fire?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Do you testify? What is the evidence? Say?
The student: His saying, the Exalted:[Al-Masad 111:1-5].
The Shaykh : Well done. This we testify for specifically. We testify for him specifically that he is in the Fire. But it is not possible for a disbeliever to come to us and we testify for him specifically that he is in the Fire. Rather, we say, "Every disbeliever is in the Fire." So we must distinguish between generalizing and what? And specifying. Likewise, regarding the believers for whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) testified of Paradise by their specific names. Who?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, the four Caliphs, all of them: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, and 'Ali, and the ten [promised Paradise] and the people of Badr. The people of Badr, Allah said to them:Sunan Abi Dawud 2650Sahih (Al-Albani) Allah is the Greatest. O Allah, forgive us. Sunan Abi Dawud 2650Sahih (Al-Albani) Those who pledged allegiance to the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) under the tree, the Pledge of Satisfaction. Allah, the Exalted, said: [Al-Fath 48:18] What? [Al-Fath 48:18] And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) informed that no one who pledged under the tree will enter the Fire.
This is one of the causes of this great sin, the sin of sodomy. Among the causes also is that many guardians have neglected their children. They neglect their sons. The son goes out in the morning and does not come back until his father has fallen asleep, and he does not know where he went or who his companion is. And this is forbidden. You are responsible for this. If a sheep from your flock were lost, would you leave it? No, he does not leave it. Rather, he does not sleep until it is with him. He searches for it all night. And his son, for whom he is responsible, and if Allah wills his rectification, he will be beneficial to him in this world and the Hereafter. Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Riyad as-Salihin 949 So the rectification of your son is better for you in this world and the Hereafter. And there are other causes, but time is short for mentioning them.
No servant
ما من عبدThere is none amongst the bondsmen who was entrusted with the affairs of his subjects
ما من عبد يسترعيه الله على رعيةThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : Do you testify that every believer is in Paradise? Just answer, yes or no.
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Is it established?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Okay, rest. Yes, we testify that every believer is in Paradise. But do you testify that so-and-so is in Paradise, even though he is a believer whom we see fasting, praying, giving charity, advancing in the mosque, and doing good? Do you say this specific man is in Paradise? Yes or no? Therefore, you must, my brothers, distinguish between specifying and what? And generalizing. And for this reason, it is the creed of the people of the Sunnah that we do not testify for anyone of Paradise or Fire except for those for whom Allah and His Messenger have testified. Except for those for whom Allah and His Messenger have testified. Testimony is of two types: testimony by description and testimony by person. Pay attention. Testimony by description is to say, "Every believer who completes [his faith] is in Paradise." This is a description. Testimony by person is to say, "So-and-so is in Paradise." No, this is not possible unless Allah and His Messenger have testified for him. Okay, testimony regarding the Fire is the same. You say, "Every disbeliever is in the Fire," correct?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Who says correct? Stand up and give us the evidence?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : What is the evidence?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : May Allah bless you. Perfect, this is evidence. And His saying, the Exalted:
And fear the Fire, which has been prepared for the disbelievers.
واتقوا النار التي أعدت للكافرينThe student: ... .
The Shaykh : Do you testify? What is the evidence? Say?
The student: His saying, the Exalted:
(1) May the hands of Abu Lahab be ruined, and ruined is he. (2) His wealth will not avail him or that which he gained. (3) He will [enter to] burn in a Fire of [blazing] flame (4) And his wife [as well] - the carrier of firewood. (5) Around her neck is a rope of [twisted] fiber.
تبت يدا أبي لهب وتب ما أغنى عنه ماله وما كسب سيصلى نارا ذات لهب وامرأته حمالة الحطب في جيدها حبل من مسدThe Shaykh : Well done. This we testify for specifically. We testify for him specifically that he is in the Fire. But it is not possible for a disbeliever to come to us and we testify for him specifically that he is in the Fire. Rather, we say, "Every disbeliever is in the Fire." So we must distinguish between generalizing and what? And specifying. Likewise, regarding the believers for whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) testified of Paradise by their specific names. Who?
The student: ... .
The Shaykh : Yes, the four Caliphs, all of them: Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, and 'Ali, and the ten [promised Paradise] and the people of Badr. The people of Badr, Allah said to them:
Do what you wish, I have forgiven you.
اعملوا ما شئتم فقد غفرت لكمDo what you wish, I have forgiven you.
اعملوا ما شئتم فقد غفرت لكمCertainly was Allah pleased with the believers
لقد رضي الله عن المؤمنينwhen they pledged allegiance to you, [O Muhammad], under the tree
إذ يبايعونك تحت الشجرةThis is one of the causes of this great sin, the sin of sodomy. Among the causes also is that many guardians have neglected their children. They neglect their sons. The son goes out in the morning and does not come back until his father has fallen asleep, and he does not know where he went or who his companion is. And this is forbidden. You are responsible for this. If a sheep from your flock were lost, would you leave it? No, he does not leave it. Rather, he does not sleep until it is with him. He searches for it all night. And his son, for whom he is responsible, and if Allah wills his rectification, he will be beneficial to him in this world and the Hereafter. Because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: