Explanation of the Verse: (And if you reveal what is in your hearts or conceal it, Allah will hold you accountable for it)

Question:
In the noble verse: (And if you reveal what is in your hearts or conceal it, Allah will hold you accountable for it), and in a noble hadith: “Indeed, Allah has pardoned my ummah (the Muslim community) for what their souls imagine, as long as they do not act upon it.”

Answer:
Answer: Yes. This verse was revealed at the beginning of the command, and the Muslims felt distressed when they heard it. It is His saying—(Glorified and Exalted is He)—: (And if you reveal what is in your hearts or conceal it, Allah will hold you accountable for it). He informed them that He would hold them accountable for the whispers of the soul, even if they did not speak. (If you reveal what is in your hearts or conceal it, Allah will hold you accountable for it). That was difficult for the Muslims, but the Messenger—(peace and blessings be upon him)—ordered them to listen and obey the command of Allah—(Glorified and Exalted is He). He said—(peace and blessings be upon him): “Do you wish to say, as the People of the Book before you said, ‘We heard and we disobeyed’? No, rather say: ‘We heard and we obeyed, forgiveness from You, our Lord, and to You is the destination.’” So they said: “We heard and we obeyed, forgiveness from You, our Lord, and to You is the destination.” When the people recited it, their tongues became humbled by it, so Allah revealed in its wake: “The Messenger has believed in what was revealed to him from his Lord, and the believers, all of them have believed in Allah and His angels and His books and His messengers. We do not make a distinction between any of His messengers. And they say: ‘We heard and we obeyed. Forgiveness from You, our Lord, and to You is the destination.’” When they did that, Allah abrogated it, so Allah—(Mighty and Majestic)—revealed: “Allah does not charge a soul except with what it can bear.” The Muslims rejoiced at that.