Reconciling the statement of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) (that Allah has pardoned my community for what they think in their hearts as long as they do not speak of it or act upon it) with His statement
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The questioner : His statement - the Exalted - : [An-Nur 24:19] .
The Shaykh : In my opinion, the issue here differs from the one there, so it can be answered with two answers: The first is as mentioned previously, which is the weaker position in my view, and it is to say: The love was accompanied by some speech, because the verse was revealed regarding those who spread the immorality, and among them were some of the Companions, unfortunately, who spoke and talked, so these people spoke and loved what they spoke of, though they disliked it. This is the first answer, and it is the weaker position in my view. As for the stronger answer, the love here is like a belief that settled in their hearts: the love of spreading immorality. It is inconceivable for a Muslim to love in his heart without action. It is inconceivable for a Muslim. So the subject here, regarding the love, falls under the subject of belief: this person believes and loves that immorality should spread among a Muslim brother whom he knows to be a Muslim. So there is no generality in the verse; rather, it is specific to the love of spreading immorality, and the love of spreading any sin is attached to it. The answer is that this love is an action of the heart, and it is inconceivable for a Muslim to love spreading it without doing it as an action. If it is conceived that something of this exists, it is like a belief. Well, what did he bring after that?
Indeed, those who like that immorality should be spread [or publicized] among those who have believed will have a painful punishment in this world and the Hereafter
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يُحِبُّونَ أَنْ تَشِيعَ الْفَاحِشَةُ فِي الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِThe Shaykh : In my opinion, the issue here differs from the one there, so it can be answered with two answers: The first is as mentioned previously, which is the weaker position in my view, and it is to say: The love was accompanied by some speech, because the verse was revealed regarding those who spread the immorality, and among them were some of the Companions, unfortunately, who spoke and talked, so these people spoke and loved what they spoke of, though they disliked it. This is the first answer, and it is the weaker position in my view. As for the stronger answer, the love here is like a belief that settled in their hearts: the love of spreading immorality. It is inconceivable for a Muslim to love in his heart without action. It is inconceivable for a Muslim. So the subject here, regarding the love, falls under the subject of belief: this person believes and loves that immorality should spread among a Muslim brother whom he knows to be a Muslim. So there is no generality in the verse; rather, it is specific to the love of spreading immorality, and the love of spreading any sin is attached to it. The answer is that this love is an action of the heart, and it is inconceivable for a Muslim to love spreading it without doing it as an action. If it is conceived that something of this exists, it is like a belief. Well, what did he bring after that?
Source
www.al-albany.com
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