Explanation of the author's statement: "And that is because negation does not indicate perfection unless it includes an affirmative attribute for which one is praised"
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The Shaykh : Therefore, he says: "And that is because negation does not indicate perfection unless it includes an affirmative attribute for which one is praised—yes—, for mere negation", well, pure negation does not indicate perfection unless it necessitates an affirmative attribute, as we said, and that is because "mere negation may be caused by inability, in which case it is a deficiency, as in the poet's saying:
"A tribe that does not betray a pledge *** nor wrong people by a mustard seed"
Is this praise or blame? It is blame, because he says they do not betray a pledge. The one who does not betray is a believer, because betrayal is a sign of hypocrisy and the absence of betrayal is a sign of faith. But here, the point is not that they do not betray because of their perfection and fulfillment of their promises. If he had intended that they do not betray because of their perfection and fulfillment, it would have been praise. But rather, they do not betray because of their inability; they are not able to go against their word. Yes. Likewise, "they do not wrong people by a mustard seed"—they do not wrong people by a mustard seed. Why? Because of their inability to wrong. Otherwise, if they had the capacity, they would have wronged, but they are incapable. So, do we say now that this negation necessitates praise? No. As for the Lord, Mighty and Majestic, if you say that Allah does not betray, the meaning is because of the perfection of His fulfillment. Allah the Exalted said: Yes. And if you say that He does not wrong, it is because of the perfection of His justice, not because He is incapable. Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, is capable of wronging if He willed, but He, Mighty and Majestic, is perfect in justice, so He cannot wrong. Yes.
And it is strange that some of the Bedouins, especially in the early times, consider injustice to be perfection. They consider injustice to be perfection, and that the one who does not wrong is deficient and cowardly. So much so that when a man proposes to them, they say, "Come, did he guard his people and take their camels or sheep?" If they say yes, they say, "All right, we will marry him off immediately." And if they say no, they hesitate to accept his proposal. Yes, because they consider that the one who does not do this means he is a coward and a slave who is not able to... what? And on this basis, this verse is understood: "A tribe that does not betray a pledge, nor wrong people by a mustard seed." The pledge, the trust, the covenant. Yes.
"A tribe that does not betray a pledge *** nor wrong people by a mustard seed"
Is this praise or blame? It is blame, because he says they do not betray a pledge. The one who does not betray is a believer, because betrayal is a sign of hypocrisy and the absence of betrayal is a sign of faith. But here, the point is not that they do not betray because of their perfection and fulfillment of their promises. If he had intended that they do not betray because of their perfection and fulfillment, it would have been praise. But rather, they do not betray because of their inability; they are not able to go against their word. Yes. Likewise, "they do not wrong people by a mustard seed"—they do not wrong people by a mustard seed. Why? Because of their inability to wrong. Otherwise, if they had the capacity, they would have wronged, but they are incapable. So, do we say now that this negation necessitates praise? No. As for the Lord, Mighty and Majestic, if you say that Allah does not betray, the meaning is because of the perfection of His fulfillment. Allah the Exalted said:
And who is more faithful to His covenant than Allah
ومن أوفى بعهده من اللهAnd it is strange that some of the Bedouins, especially in the early times, consider injustice to be perfection. They consider injustice to be perfection, and that the one who does not wrong is deficient and cowardly. So much so that when a man proposes to them, they say, "Come, did he guard his people and take their camels or sheep?" If they say yes, they say, "All right, we will marry him off immediately." And if they say no, they hesitate to accept his proposal. Yes, because they consider that the one who does not do this means he is a coward and a slave who is not able to... what? And on this basis, this verse is understood: "A tribe that does not betray a pledge, nor wrong people by a mustard seed." The pledge, the trust, the covenant. Yes.