The Benefits of the Verse: ((That is because they said, "The Fire will not touch us except for a few counted days," and what they used to fabricate deluded them in their religion.))

Then Allah (Mighty and Majestic) said: Among the benefits of this noble verse is the invalidity of false hopes, and that the soul may wish for a person what will not happen, because these people wished for themselves when they said: . And among its benefits is warning a person not to rely on false hopes, because this is the doing of the Jews and the Christians, and many of the common people today fall into sins and wish for themselves forgiveness. When one falls into a sin, he says, "My brother, fear Allah, do not disobey Allah," and the other says, "Allah is Forgiving and Merciful," correct? Yes, it is true that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, but Allah said: and He said: So when He commanded His Prophet to inform, He began with forgiveness, and when He informed about Himself, He began with punishment, because the occasion is one of sovereignty and elevation, He said: . So what do we say to the one who said, "Allah is Forgiving and Merciful"? We say: And Allah is severe in punishment, yes? Some of the sinners wish for false hopes and say: He wants to commit zina, steal, drink intoxicants, and do everything except shirk, then he says: "Allah says: " This is an error; it is a report from Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and He is the most truthful of speakers. So what do we say? We say: Read the verse, do not be blind or one-eyed, looking with only one eye. He forgives what is less than that absolutely for whom He wills, and for whom He does not will, He does not forgive him. So do you assert that you are among those whom Allah willed to forgive? No, you do not assert it, you do not assert it, neither this nor that. So you are in error, you are in error. The one who takes sin lightly and confuses himself and the people may be among those whom Allah does not will to forgive — we seek refuge in Allah — because this person is mocking and belittling it. So those who wish for false hopes from Allah while continuing in their sins resemble whom? The Jews and the Christians. For this reason, it came in the hadith: . And among the benefits of this noble verse is that these people believed in the Resurrection, but their faith did not benefit them. Where is this taken from? From their saying: . And branching from this is that it is not sufficient in faith for a person to believe in the existence of Allah and the Last Day without this faith necessitating acceptance and submission. Mere belief is not considered faith; acceptance and submission are necessary. And the evidence for this is many texts, among which is that Abu Talib, the uncle of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), used to acknowledge that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was the truth, and he would say:
They have surely known that our son is not a denier with us, nor does he concern himself with speaking falsehood.
And he would say: "And I have certainly known that the religion of Muhammad is the best of the religions of the people in religion." And yet this acknowledgment did not benefit him, because it was not accompanied by acceptance and submission, and his end was sealed — may Allah protect us — with him saying, "I am upon the religion of 'Abd al-Muttalib." But considering what happened from him in defending Islam, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) permitted His Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) to intercede for him, so he interceded, and he was in shallow fire, with sandals on his feet from which his brain boiled, forever and ever — may Allah protect us — forever and ever. And this is the least of the people of the Fire in punishment — may Allah protect me and you from it. And we have not known of a disbeliever in whom intercession was beneficial absolutely, in the sense that he was saved from punishment forever, and we have not known of a disbeliever whose punishment was lightened by intercession except Abu Talib. So we say: That believing in the Last Day and that there is a Fire is not sufficient in faith, but acceptance and submission are necessary. And among the benefits of the noble verse is that a person may be deluded by the religion he is upon. A person may be deluded by the religion he is upon, due to His saying: So he is deluded that he prays, gives zakah, fasts, and performs Hajj, then he says to himself: "I will not be punished." And this is a shortcoming in perception, because the matter is not that you pray or give zakah or fast or perform Hajj. The matter, the whole matter, is that this deed is accepted from you. The matter, the whole matter, is that this deed is accepted from you. How many a worker has nothing from his deed except fatigue due to the presence of a prior or subsequent invalidator. A prior one, such as the loss of sincerity, for example, or a subsequent one, such as being pleased with the deed and showing off with it to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and for a person to see for himself a right over the Lord, and this may invalidate the deed. So your deed is surrounded by prior dangers and subsequent dangers. For this reason, do not be deluded by the religion you are upon, but always ask your Lord for success and acceptance. Success is prior, and acceptance is subsequent. Even a person may want good and love good, but he is afflicted with bid'ah (religious innovation). How many people love good and have love for Allah and His Messenger, but they are afflicted with ignorance, so they innovate in the religion of Allah what is not from it, and their deed becomes nullified or accepted? Nullified, because one of the conditions for the acceptance of a deed is that it be in accordance with what the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) brought, due to the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): .