WEBVTT 00:00:00.180 --> 00:00:08.769 A Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah: 00:00:08.769 --> 00:00:16.079 Evil is not attributed to Allah Almighty. 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, 00:00:23.079 --> 00:00:24.079 in which he said: 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:26.109 "And evil is not attributable to You." 00:00:26.109 --> 00:00:30.239 It was reported by Muslim, Abu Dawud, and al-Tirmidhi. 00:00:30.239 --> 00:00:35.240 This negation necessitates the impossibility of attributing evil to Allah Almighty in any manner whatsoever: 00:00:35.240 --> 00:00:39.240 neither in His Essence, nor in His names or attributes, 00:00:39.240 --> 00:00:41.240 nor in His actions. 00:00:41.240 --> 00:00:44.240 For He, Glory be to Him, is far above and exalted beyond that, 00:00:44.240 --> 00:00:47.240 and His actions are all pure goodness. 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. 00:00:54.240 --> 00:00:57.240 This is as Allah Almighty said: 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) 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) 00:01:05.239 --> 00:01:08.239 Meaning: Whatever afflicts you, O son of Adam, of that which harms or grieves you, 00:01:08.239 --> 00:01:11.239 it is because of your own sins and disobedience. 00:01:11.239 --> 00:01:16.370 This does not contradict the fact that evil, just like good, 00:01:16.370 --> 00:01:19.370 occurs by the decree and predetermination of Allah, Mighty and Majestic. 00:01:19.370 --> 00:01:23.370 As Allah Almighty said in refutation of the hypocrites: 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) 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) 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) 00:01:38.370 --> 00:01:44.370 "So what is [wrong] with these people that they hardly understand any statement?" 00:01:44.370 --> 00:01:47.459 For what Allah enacts of justice among His servants, 00:01:47.459 --> 00:01:50.459 and His punishment of those among them who deserve punishment, 00:01:51.459 --> 00:01:53.459 is beloved, pure good, 00:01:53.459 --> 00:01:57.459 even if it is considered evil in their view or relative to them— 00:01:57.459 --> 00:02:01.459 such as severing the hand of the thief or executing retribution upon the murderer. 00:02:01.459 --> 00:02:07.560 In summary, Allah is the Creator of both good and evil, 00:02:07.560 --> 00:02:10.560 but evil is a separate created effect (maf'ul), 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:13.560 and not an attribute of Allah Almighty. 00:02:13.560 --> 00:02:17.560 Nor is it said that He, Glory be to Him, is a "doer of evil." 00:02:17.560 --> 00:02:23.560 Rather, it is good from the standpoint of its connection to His action and predetermination, 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. 00:02:28.560 --> 00:02:31.560 Thus, it is a relative matter with two aspects: 00:02:31.560 --> 00:02:33.560 One aspect is good, 00:02:33.560 --> 00:02:36.560 which is the aspect attributed to Allah Almighty 00:02:36.560 --> 00:02:39.560 in terms of creation, bring into existence, and divine will, 00:02:39.560 --> 00:02:42.560 due to the profound wisdom contained therein— 00:02:42.560 --> 00:02:45.560 wisdom whose knowledge Allah may reserve exclusively for Himself, 00:02:45.560 --> 00:02:50.560 or disclose of it what He wills to whom He wills among His creation. 00:02:50.560 --> 00:02:52.620 The second aspect is evil, 00:02:52.620 --> 00:02:58.620 which is the aspect attributed to the created being who caused it and experienced it. 00:02:58.620 --> 00:03:02.659 For this reason, one must observe proper etiquette with Allah in speech 00:03:02.659 --> 00:03:05.659 and refrain from attributing evil to Him, Glory be to Him. 00:03:05.659 --> 00:03:08.659 Just as al-Khidr said to Moses (peace be upon him) 00:03:08.659 --> 00:03:11.659 when he explained to him what he had done to the ship: 00:03:11.659 --> 00:03:14.659 "So I intended to damage it," 00:03:14.659 --> 00:03:16.659 attributing the action [of damaging] to himself. 00:03:16.659 --> 00:03:20.659 Whereas when he explained the aspect of good in rebuilding the wall, 00:03:20.659 --> 00:03:25.659 he said: "So your Lord intended that they reach maturity 00:03:25.659 --> 00:03:29.659 and extract their treasure as a mercy from your Lord," 00:03:29.659 --> 00:03:32.659 attributing the goodness to Allah Almighty. 00:03:32.659 --> 00:03:35.659 Then he said regarding all of it: 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) 00:03:38.659 --> 00:03:42.659 "That is the interpretation of that about which you could not have patience." 00:03:42.659 --> 00:03:47.300 A Summary of the Concepts of Ahl al-Sunnah.