How do we reconcile Allah’s saying, “So remind, for the reminder benefits the believers,” with His saying, “So remind, if the reminder benefits”?
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The questioner : May Allah reward you. We said: regarding Allah’s saying, [Adh-Dhariyat 51:55], the obligation to remind is in all cases. And what is said, O Shaykh, regarding Allah’s saying: [Al-A'la 87:9]
The Shaykh : This is specific. There is a type of reminding where you remind a specific person; you remind him if the reminder benefits him. But if we know that he is a rebel who knows the truth but is stubborn, then no. And if it is general, it is general; one reminds in all cases. This is if we say that the conditional particle is intended in the sense of a true condition. But if we say the other opinion:[Al-A'la 87:9], the meaning is: whether it benefits or not, just as one says to a person: “Teach this to him, if knowledge benefits him,” the meaning being: repeat the teaching to him. This is a known style in the Arabic language where the condition implies continuation. So the scholars have two opinions on it: Is the condition an intended condition, meaning: remind if you see benefit in the reminder, otherwise do not? In that case, we interpret it as specific to a certain person or a certain group.
But if we say that “in” here means: whether it benefits or not, meaning that for these people, there is no benefit whether you remind them or not, then it does not imply specification.
And remind, for indeed, the reminder benefits the believers.
وَذَكِّرْ فَإِنَّ الذِّكْرَى تَنْفَعُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَSo remind, if the reminder should benefit;
فَذَكِّرْ إِنْ نَفَعَتِ الذِّكْرَىThe Shaykh : This is specific. There is a type of reminding where you remind a specific person; you remind him if the reminder benefits him. But if we know that he is a rebel who knows the truth but is stubborn, then no. And if it is general, it is general; one reminds in all cases. This is if we say that the conditional particle is intended in the sense of a true condition. But if we say the other opinion:
So remind, if the reminder should benefit;
فَذَكِّرْ إِنْ نَفَعَتِ الذِّكْرَىBut if we say that “in” here means: whether it benefits or not, meaning that for these people, there is no benefit whether you remind them or not, then it does not imply specification.