Part of Concepts of Ahl as-Sunnah (series completed)
· Lesson 567 of 1251
Summary of Sunni concepts | Concept (565) | Fear and hope must be combined and balanced
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Transcript
Machine translation — may contain errors
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A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
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It is essential to combine fear and hope, and to maintain a balance between them.
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Anyone who leans exclusively toward verses of fear and warning while neglecting verses of hope and promise,
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has deviated from justice and moderation, and bears a resemblance to the Khawarij who emphasize threats.
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And anyone who leans exclusively toward verses of hope and promise while neglecting verses of fear and warning,
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has also deviated from justice and moderation, and bears a resemblance to the Murji'ah.
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The truth lies in combining them, by bringing together the words of Allah the Exalted:
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“There is no sin for you in that which ye proclaim or hide in your minds concerning your troth with women. Allah knoweth that ye will remember them. But plight not your troth with women except by uttering a recognised form of words. And do not consummate the marriage until (the term) prescribed is run. Know that Allah knoweth what is in your minds, so beware of Him; and know that Allah is Forgiving, Clement.” (2:235)
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And His saying, the Exalted:
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“Perform the pilgrimage and the visit (to Makka) for Allah. And if ye are prevented, then send such gifts as can be obtained with ease, and shave not your heads until the gifts have reached their destination. And whoever among you is sick or hath an ailment of the head must pay a ransom of fasting or almsgiving or offering. And if ye are in safety, then whosoever contenteth himself with the visit for the pilgrimage (shall give) such gifts as can be had with ease. And whosoever cannot find (such gifts), then a fast of three days while on the pilgrimage, and of seven when ye have returned; that is, ten in all. That is for him whoso folk are not present at the Inviolable Place of Worship. Observe your duty to Allah, and know that Allah is severe in punishment.” (2:196)
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Along with His saying, the Exalted:
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"And He is the Forgiving, the Loving."
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And His saying, the Exalted:
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"And Allah is Kind to His servants."
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This is the very method of the Noble Qur'an in combining both encouragement and deterrence.
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Reflect upon the words of Allah the Exalted:
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“Announce, (O Muhammad) unto My slaves that verily I am the Forgiving, the Merciful,” (15:49)
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“And that My doom is the dolorous doom.” (15:50)
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This will inform you of that.
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Know that fear and hope
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are like the two wings of a bird;
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it cannot fly without both of them,
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nor with just one of them alone.
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Therefore, one must have the two wings of fear and hope:
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a fear that drives the servant forward,
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and a hope that beckons him onward.
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Thus, the balanced Muslim
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is one who neither despairs nor causes people to despair of the mercy of Allah,
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just as he neither feels secure nor causes people to feel secure from the plan of Allah.
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In this way, he combines the words of Allah the Exalted:
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“Go, O my sons, and ascertain concerning Joseph and his brother, and despair not of the Spirit of Allah. Lo! none despaireth of the Spirit of Allah save disbelieving folk.” (12:87)
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And His saying, the Exalted:
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"Do they feel secure from the plan of Allah?"
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“Are they then secure from Allah's scheme? None deemeth himself secure from Allah's scheme save folk that perish.” (7:99)