Some people do things that contradict the Shari'ah and engage in hypocrisy, backbiting, and slander, and when I tell them that this is forbidden and that Allah will hold them accountable for it
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The questioner : Some people do things that contradict the Shari'ah and engage in hypocrisy, backbiting, or slander, and when I tell them
The Shaykh : What do they engage in?
The questioner : Hypocrisy, backbiting, or slander, and when I tell them that this is forbidden and that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) will hold them accountable for it, they say, "On the Day of Hell, our Lord is Merciful." So what do you say to such people?
The Shaykh : We say to such people who commit evil deeds and rely on the forgiveness and mercy of Allah that they are in great danger. Indeed, Allah the Exalted says in His Book:[Al-Hijr 15:49-50] And He (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: [Al-Ma'idah 5:98-99] So this reliance that some negligent and careless people have is undoubtedly from the deception of Shaytan and the whispering of Shaytan. And what does this man know? He does not know whether these sins, which are easy for him, will lead to greater sins, and then to disbelief in Allah (Mighty and Majestic). For this reason, Anas ibn Malik (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "You used to do deeds that in your eyes were finer than hair, and they were, in the view of the Companions, among the destructive sins." And the scholars said: "Persisting in a minor sin makes it a major sin." And major sins are not forgiven except through repentance. Moreover, backbiting and slander, if directed at believers, are threatened by Allah with wail, and He said: [Al-Humazah 104:1] It is obligatory for the believer to fear Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and to know that Allah is severe in punishment and that He is Forgiving and Merciful. So regarding sins, one must look from the angle of punishment so that he is deterred from sin. And regarding commands, if he performs them but there is some shortcoming, he should look from the angle of forgiveness and mercy.
By proceeding in this manner, it is realized that his path is as required, namely between fear and hope. If a person proceeds to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by emphasizing the aspect of hope, security from the stratagem of Allah may prevail over him. If he proceeds to Allah by emphasizing the aspect of fear, despair of the mercy of Allah may prevail over him. If he proceeds to Allah between fear and hope, he proceeds with two equal wings: he fears when intending to commit a sin and hopes when performing an act of obedience.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "His fear and his hope should be equal, for if either one prevails, its owner is destroyed."
And some of the scholars said: It is better to emphasize the aspect of hope, based on His saying (the Exalted) in the Holy Hadith:Sahih al-Bukhari 7505
And others said: The aspect of fear should be emphasized so that it protects him from committing sins.
And some scholars said: In the state of illness, the aspect of hope should be emphasized so that he meets Allah (Mighty and Majestic) while having a good opinion of Him. And in the state of health, the aspect of fear should be emphasized so that it leads him to abandon forbidden things and perform obligatory ones.
And others said: When performing an act of obedience, the aspect of hope should be emphasized, that Allah the Exalted will accept it from him, just as He facilitated its performance for him. And when intending to commit a sin, the aspect of fear should be emphasized so that his fear deters him from committing this sin.
This last opinion is the closest of the views: that a person, when performing an act of obedience, should emphasize the aspect of hope, and that the One who facilitated it for him will bestow upon him its acceptance. And when intending to commit a sin, he should emphasize the aspect of fear so that it prevents him from committing this sin.
In reality, a person has different states. Sometimes he finds himself open and turning to Allah, emphasizing the aspect of hope. And sometimes the opposite occurs; he becomes dull and quiet, so he emphasizes the aspect of fear. As some people say, a person is the doctor of himself. The important thing is that he does not reach a level of despair from the mercy of Allah, nor a level of security from the stratagem of Allah. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Sheikh Muhammad. This listener, N.M.S. from al-Qassim, says:
The Shaykh : What do they engage in?
The questioner : Hypocrisy, backbiting, or slander, and when I tell them that this is forbidden and that Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) will hold them accountable for it, they say, "On the Day of Hell, our Lord is Merciful." So what do you say to such people?
The Shaykh : We say to such people who commit evil deeds and rely on the forgiveness and mercy of Allah that they are in great danger. Indeed, Allah the Exalted says in His Book:
(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.
نَبِّئْ عِبَادِي أَنِّي أَنَا الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ * وَأَنَّ عَذَابِي هُوَ الْعَذَابُ الأَلِيمُ(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. And Allah knows whatever you reveal and whatever you conceal.
اعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ شَدِيدُ الْعِقَابِ وَأَنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ * مَا عَلَى الرَّسُولِ إِلَّا الْبَلاغُ وَاللَّهُ يَعْلَمُ مَا تُبْدُونَ وَمَا تَكْتُمُونَWoe to every scorner and mocker
وَيْلٌ لِكُلِّ هُمَزَةٍ لُمَزَةٍBy proceeding in this manner, it is realized that his path is as required, namely between fear and hope. If a person proceeds to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) by emphasizing the aspect of hope, security from the stratagem of Allah may prevail over him. If he proceeds to Allah by emphasizing the aspect of fear, despair of the mercy of Allah may prevail over him. If he proceeds to Allah between fear and hope, he proceeds with two equal wings: he fears when intending to commit a sin and hopes when performing an act of obedience.
Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal (may Allah have mercy on him) said: "His fear and his hope should be equal, for if either one prevails, its owner is destroyed."
And some of the scholars said: It is better to emphasize the aspect of hope, based on His saying (the Exalted) in the Holy Hadith:
I am to my slave as he thinks of Me
أنا عند ظن عبدي بيAnd others said: The aspect of fear should be emphasized so that it protects him from committing sins.
And some scholars said: In the state of illness, the aspect of hope should be emphasized so that he meets Allah (Mighty and Majestic) while having a good opinion of Him. And in the state of health, the aspect of fear should be emphasized so that it leads him to abandon forbidden things and perform obligatory ones.
And others said: When performing an act of obedience, the aspect of hope should be emphasized, that Allah the Exalted will accept it from him, just as He facilitated its performance for him. And when intending to commit a sin, the aspect of fear should be emphasized so that his fear deters him from committing this sin.
This last opinion is the closest of the views: that a person, when performing an act of obedience, should emphasize the aspect of hope, and that the One who facilitated it for him will bestow upon him its acceptance. And when intending to commit a sin, he should emphasize the aspect of fear so that it prevents him from committing this sin.
In reality, a person has different states. Sometimes he finds himself open and turning to Allah, emphasizing the aspect of hope. And sometimes the opposite occurs; he becomes dull and quiet, so he emphasizes the aspect of fear. As some people say, a person is the doctor of himself. The important thing is that he does not reach a level of despair from the mercy of Allah, nor a level of security from the stratagem of Allah. Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, Sheikh Muhammad. This listener, N.M.S. from al-Qassim, says: