If the Ummah agrees to praise a certain person, is it permissible to testify that he is among the people of Paradise?
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The questioner : Shaykh, regarding the answer to the statement of some of the people of the Sunnah.
The Shaykh : Raise your voice, on?
The questioner : What is the answer to the fact that some of the people of the Sunnah testify that some of the Imams are among the people of Paradise?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Okay. This is an important question, and we will address it now.
Some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say: If the Ummah agrees to praise a person, meaning that he is among the people of Paradise, i.e., among the people of good, piety, and faith, then we may testify for him. For example, the four Imams, Sufyan al-Thawri, Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, and other scholars about whom the Ummah agreed to praise. He said: It is permissible for us to testify that he is among the people of Paradise. Yes.
And he cited as evidence for this the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him).
Among those who adopted this view is Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, but most of the authors on creed do not mention this third category, which is the one about whom the Ummah agreed to praise or to criticize.
And I tell you, and I repeat: What benefit is there in a testimony by which I am between sin and safety? Yes? If I testify now for this person about whom the Ummah agreed to praise, that he is among the people of Paradise, then I am now between sin and safety. If it were between sin and gain, we would say we look at which is stronger. But between sin and safety, it is known that a person will prioritize what? The side of safety over the possibility of sin. So we say: We testify for these Imams that they are good and that it is hoped that they are among the people of Paradise, yes, but our testimony that they are among the people of Paradise does not make Paradise obligatory for them if they are not among its people, and our lack of testimony that they are among the people of Paradise does not prevent their entering Paradise if they are among its people, and safety is safer. Yes.
The Shaykh : Raise your voice, on?
The questioner : What is the answer to the fact that some of the people of the Sunnah testify that some of the Imams are among the people of Paradise?
The Shaykh : Yes.
The questioner : ... .
The Shaykh : Okay. This is an important question, and we will address it now.
Some scholars (may Allah have mercy on them) say: If the Ummah agrees to praise a person, meaning that he is among the people of Paradise, i.e., among the people of good, piety, and faith, then we may testify for him. For example, the four Imams, Sufyan al-Thawri, Sufyan ibn Uyaynah, and other scholars about whom the Ummah agreed to praise. He said: It is permissible for us to testify that he is among the people of Paradise. Yes.
And he cited as evidence for this the saying of the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him)
When a funeral passed by and they praised it well, he said: It is decreed. And another funeral passed by and they spoke ill of it. He said: It is decreed. They said: O Messenger of Allah, what is decreed? He said: As for the first, you praised him well, so Paradise is decreed for him. And as for the second, you spoke ill of him, so the Fire is decreed for him. You are the witnesses of Allah on earth.
حين مرت جنازة فأثنوا علها خيرا قال : وجبت. وجنازة أخرى أثنوا عليها شرا. قال: وجبت. قالوا يا رسول الله: ما وجبت؟ قال : أما الأول فأثنيتم عليه خيرا فوجبت له الجنة، وأما الثاني فأثنيتم عليه شرا فوجبت له النار، أنتم شهداء الله في الأرضAmong those who adopted this view is Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, but most of the authors on creed do not mention this third category, which is the one about whom the Ummah agreed to praise or to criticize.
And I tell you, and I repeat: What benefit is there in a testimony by which I am between sin and safety? Yes? If I testify now for this person about whom the Ummah agreed to praise, that he is among the people of Paradise, then I am now between sin and safety. If it were between sin and gain, we would say we look at which is stronger. But between sin and safety, it is known that a person will prioritize what? The side of safety over the possibility of sin. So we say: We testify for these Imams that they are good and that it is hoped that they are among the people of Paradise, yes, but our testimony that they are among the people of Paradise does not make Paradise obligatory for them if they are not among its people, and our lack of testimony that they are among the people of Paradise does not prevent their entering Paradise if they are among its people, and safety is safer. Yes.