What is the difference between this man who doubts the power of Allah the Exalted and the one who doubts the punishment of the grave?
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The questioner : O Shaykh, what is the difference between this man who doubts the power of Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, and the one who doubts the punishment of the grave?
The Shaykh : I mean, for example, he says, "Do not bury me, I am afraid of the punishment of the grave."
The questioner : No, I mean he says, "I do not believe that there is punishment in the grave."
The Shaykh : He says, "I do not believe that there is punishment in the grave?"
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : No, he did not say, "I do not believe in the power of Allah."
The questioner : He says, "I doubt that there is punishment there."
The Shaykh : No, that is not acceptable. We tell him to repent to Allah if the text has reached him; he is a disbeliever. But if it has not reached him, he is not a disbeliever.
The questioner : What is the difference between them?
The Shaykh : The difference between them is that this one is afraid of his sins, so he thought that this would save him from the punishment of Allah. He did not think that Allah has no power, but he thought that this would save him. It is like if a person thought that a shelter of straw would protect him from the cannons, when it does not protect him. It does not protect him. The person imagines that this thing will save him and that it is a barrier and a shield between him and that thing, but it is not so. Otherwise, he did not doubt the power at all; he knows that Allah is capable of all things.
The Shaykh : I mean, for example, he says, "Do not bury me, I am afraid of the punishment of the grave."
The questioner : No, I mean he says, "I do not believe that there is punishment in the grave."
The Shaykh : He says, "I do not believe that there is punishment in the grave?"
The questioner : Yes
The Shaykh : No, he did not say, "I do not believe in the power of Allah."
The questioner : He says, "I doubt that there is punishment there."
The Shaykh : No, that is not acceptable. We tell him to repent to Allah if the text has reached him; he is a disbeliever. But if it has not reached him, he is not a disbeliever.
The questioner : What is the difference between them?
The Shaykh : The difference between them is that this one is afraid of his sins, so he thought that this would save him from the punishment of Allah. He did not think that Allah has no power, but he thought that this would save him. It is like if a person thought that a shelter of straw would protect him from the cannons, when it does not protect him. It does not protect him. The person imagines that this thing will save him and that it is a barrier and a shield between him and that thing, but it is not so. Otherwise, he did not doubt the power at all; he knows that Allah is capable of all things.