1 00:00:00,180 --> 00:00:08,769 A Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah: 2 00:00:08,769 --> 00:00:16,079 Evil is not attributed to Allah Almighty. 3 00:00:16,079 --> 00:00:23,079 For it was narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) in one of the opening supplications of prayer, 4 00:00:23,079 --> 00:00:24,079 in which he said: 5 00:00:24,079 --> 00:00:26,109 "And evil is not attributable to You." 6 00:00:26,109 --> 00:00:30,239 It was reported by Muslim, Abu Dawud, and al-Tirmidhi. 7 00:00:30,239 --> 00:00:35,240 This negation necessitates the impossibility of attributing evil to Allah Almighty in any manner whatsoever: 8 00:00:35,240 --> 00:00:39,240 neither in His Essence, nor in His names or attributes, 9 00:00:39,240 --> 00:00:41,240 nor in His actions. 10 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:44,240 For He, Glory be to Him, is far above and exalted beyond that, 11 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:47,240 and His actions are all pure goodness. 12 00:00:47,240 --> 00:00:54,240 Evil exists only in relation to the created being, what pertains to it, and what emanates from it. 13 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:57,240 This is as Allah Almighty said: 14 00:00:57,240 --> 00:01:00,240 “Whatever of good befalleth thee (O man) it is from Allah, and whatever of ill befalleth thee it is from thyself. We have sent thee (Muhammad) as a messenger unto mankind and Allah is sufficient as Witness.” (4:79) 15 00:01:00,240 --> 00:01:05,239 “Whatever of good befalleth thee (O man) it is from Allah, and whatever of ill befalleth thee it is from thyself. We have sent thee (Muhammad) as a messenger unto mankind and Allah is sufficient as Witness.” (4:79) 16 00:01:05,239 --> 00:01:08,239 Meaning: Whatever afflicts you, O son of Adam, of that which harms or grieves you, 17 00:01:08,239 --> 00:01:11,239 it is because of your own sins and disobedience. 18 00:01:11,239 --> 00:01:16,370 This does not contradict the fact that evil, just like good, 19 00:01:16,370 --> 00:01:19,370 occurs by the decree and predetermination of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. 20 00:01:19,370 --> 00:01:23,370 As Allah Almighty said in refutation of the hypocrites: 21 00:01:23,370 --> 00:01:29,370 “Wheresoever ye may be, death will overtake you, even though ye were in lofty towers. Yet if a happy thing befalleth them they say: This is from Allah; and if an evil thing befalleth them they say: This is of thy doing (O Muhammad). Say (unto them): All is from Allah. What is amiss with these people that they come not nigh to understand a happening?” (4:78) 22 00:01:29,370 --> 00:01:34,370 “Wheresoever ye may be, death will overtake you, even though ye were in lofty towers. Yet if a happy thing befalleth them they say: This is from Allah; and if an evil thing befalleth them they say: This is of thy doing (O Muhammad). Say (unto them): All is from Allah. What is amiss with these people that they come not nigh to understand a happening?” (4:78) 23 00:01:34,370 --> 00:01:38,370 “Wheresoever ye may be, death will overtake you, even though ye were in lofty towers. Yet if a happy thing befalleth them they say: This is from Allah; and if an evil thing befalleth them they say: This is of thy doing (O Muhammad). Say (unto them): All is from Allah. What is amiss with these people that they come not nigh to understand a happening?” (4:78) 24 00:01:38,370 --> 00:01:44,370 "So what is [wrong] with these people that they hardly understand any statement?" 25 00:01:44,370 --> 00:01:47,459 For what Allah enacts of justice among His servants, 26 00:01:47,459 --> 00:01:50,459 and His punishment of those among them who deserve punishment, 27 00:01:51,459 --> 00:01:53,459 is beloved, pure good, 28 00:01:53,459 --> 00:01:57,459 even if it is considered evil in their view or relative to them— 29 00:01:57,459 --> 00:02:01,459 such as severing the hand of the thief or executing retribution upon the murderer. 30 00:02:01,459 --> 00:02:07,560 In summary, Allah is the Creator of both good and evil, 31 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:10,560 but evil is a separate created effect (maf'ul), 32 00:02:10,560 --> 00:02:13,560 and not an attribute of Allah Almighty. 33 00:02:13,560 --> 00:02:17,560 Nor is it said that He, Glory be to Him, is a "doer of evil." 34 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:23,560 Rather, it is good from the standpoint of its connection to His action and predetermination, 35 00:02:23,560 --> 00:02:28,560 and evil only from the standpoint of its attribution to the one for whom it is evil. 36 00:02:28,560 --> 00:02:31,560 Thus, it is a relative matter with two aspects: 37 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:33,560 One aspect is good, 38 00:02:33,560 --> 00:02:36,560 which is the aspect attributed to Allah Almighty 39 00:02:36,560 --> 00:02:39,560 in terms of creation, bring into existence, and divine will, 40 00:02:39,560 --> 00:02:42,560 due to the profound wisdom contained therein— 41 00:02:42,560 --> 00:02:45,560 wisdom whose knowledge Allah may reserve exclusively for Himself, 42 00:02:45,560 --> 00:02:50,560 or disclose of it what He wills to whom He wills among His creation. 43 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:52,620 The second aspect is evil, 44 00:02:52,620 --> 00:02:58,620 which is the aspect attributed to the created being who caused it and experienced it. 45 00:02:58,620 --> 00:03:02,659 For this reason, one must observe proper etiquette with Allah in speech 46 00:03:02,659 --> 00:03:05,659 and refrain from attributing evil to Him, Glory be to Him. 47 00:03:05,659 --> 00:03:08,659 Just as al-Khidr said to Moses (peace be upon him) 48 00:03:08,659 --> 00:03:11,659 when he explained to him what he had done to the ship: 49 00:03:11,659 --> 00:03:14,659 "So I intended to damage it," 50 00:03:14,659 --> 00:03:16,659 attributing the action [of damaging] to himself. 51 00:03:16,659 --> 00:03:20,659 Whereas when he explained the aspect of good in rebuilding the wall, 52 00:03:20,659 --> 00:03:25,659 he said: "So your Lord intended that they reach maturity 53 00:03:25,659 --> 00:03:29,659 and extract their treasure as a mercy from your Lord," 54 00:03:29,659 --> 00:03:32,659 attributing the goodness to Allah Almighty. 55 00:03:32,659 --> 00:03:35,659 Then he said regarding all of it: 56 00:03:35,659 --> 00:03:38,659 “And as for the wall, it belonged to two orphan boys in the city, and there was beneath it a treasure belonging to them, and their father had been righteous, and thy Lord intended that they should come to their full strength and should bring forth their treasure as a mercy from their Lord; and I did it not upon my own command. Such is the interpretation of that wherewith thou couldst not bear.” (18:82) 57 00:03:38,659 --> 00:03:42,659 "That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience." 58 00:03:42,659 --> 00:03:47,300 A Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah.