Covered in this lesson:
Question 136 – Will a person enter into Paradise or be saved from Hellfire by way of his actions? – and its answer.
Question 137 – How do we reconcile between the hadīth: “…Not even I, but that Allah wraps me in His Mercy…” and the āyah: “This is the Paradise which you have been made to inherit because of your deeds which you used to do (in the life of the world).“? – and its answer.
Question 138 – What is the evidence for belief in al-Qadr in a broad general sense? – and its answer.
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Notes (produced by Abū Yahyā Imrān Rafīq):
– Q136. – This is an important discussion.
– Shaykh Hāfidh Al-Hakamī (رحمه الله) brings ahadīth such as:
“… and know that your deeds will not make you enter Paradise, and that the most beloved deed to Allah is the most regular and constant even if it were little.” [Sahih Bukharī, 6464]
“…and be happy for none would be able to get into Paradise because of his deeds alone. They (the Companions of the Holy Prophet) said: Allah’s Messenger, not even you? Thereupon he said: Not even I, but that Allah wraps me in His Mercy, and bear this in mind that the deed loved most by Allah is one which is done constantly even though it is small.” [Sahih Muslim, 2818a]
– Commentary of Shaykh Ahmad al-Najmī (d.1429H, rahimahullāh): What is taken from this is that action is a cause for entering into Paradise, not the cause.You need action to enter Paradise, it is not the thing itself that is the cause, it is the mercy and bounty of Allāh. If a person is upright, fears Allāh and rectifies, he hopes with the best of hopes. “Actions are not a cause for Paradise, but they are a cause for acquiring [Allāh’s] mercy by which a servant enters Paradise.” [Al-Fawā’id al-Manthūrah (p.344)]
– Commentary of Shaykh Sālih ibn ‘Abdil-‘Azīz Aal ash-Shaykh: rather it is only by Allāh’s pardon and mercy. Action is a cause or reason:
وَتِلۡكَ ٱلۡجَنَّةُ ٱلَّتِىٓ أُورِثۡتُمُوهَا بِمَا كُنتُمۡ تَعۡمَلُونَ
“This is the Paradise which you have been made to inherit because of your deeds which you used to do (in the life of the world).” [43:72]
The letter ب (bā) has been used as a preposition. Can be used for different reasons:
1) sababīyah (a cause)
2) muqābalah (an equivalent exchange)
which ب is being used? It is the ب of sababīyah.
– Does a servant deserve to enter Paradise because of what he has brought? No, this can’t be the case, all of what Allāh has given you (blessings, bounties, favours, etc.) in this life is not equal to what you have brought or done. Guidance is from Allāh. Actions are a cause but not the reason for entering Paradise as equal compensation. No one will enter Paradise except by the mercy of Allāh.
– This is different to Mu’tazilah as they say entering into Paradise is because of equal consideration, compensation, the just reward Allāh owes to His servants. There’s a reason they say this, it’s tied to their belief in Qadr, they say Allāh doesn’t will or create His servant’s actions. They say people do deeds on their own (independently), they are the creator of their own actions. No, Allāh has prior knowledge of the deeds of servants, He decreed for them to occur. Some people He abandons as they have turned away.
– Q137. – Shaykh Hāfidh Al-Hakamī (رحمه الله): There is no contradiction because what is affirmed in the āyah is the ب of sababīyah. What is negated in the hadīth is the ب of thamaniyyah (cost/price). Are righteous actions an equal sufficient price for Paradise? No.
And say (O Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم)): “My Lord! Forgive and have mercy, for You are the Best of those who show mercy!” [23:118]
An example: cultivation and tilling is required for a harvest.
– Commentary of Shaykh Ahmad al-Najmī (d.1429H, rahimahullāh): Actions are a must, part of the reason for entering Paradise, actions are not the price for Paradise. Paradise is too lofty for it to be equal consideration for your actions. Actions are a cause for earning the mercy of Allāh, Allāh’s mercy is what enters you into Paradise. Allāh shows mercy to the one who does righteous deeds and obeys Him. Actions are not a direct cause for entering Paradise. The essence of the point:Actions are not the direct cause of entering Paradise, it is a way of earning the mercy of Allāh.
– Commentary of Shaykh Muhammad ibn Sālih al-ʿUthaymīn (d.1421H, rahimahullāh): Same point, the ب used does not mean compensation but means a sabab as actions are a sabab. Paradise is not an ‘iwad (an equal compensation). ب negated in hadīth is ب of ‘iwad, ب affirmed is ب of sababiyah.
– Q138. – Note: now discussing 6th pillar of eemān. Questions 102-137 (starting from lesson #48) covered the 5th pillar (the Last Day).
– Shaykh Hāfidh Al-Hakamī (رحمه الله) brings āyāt and ahadīth such as:
“…that Allāh might accomplish a matter already ordained (in His Knowledge)” [8:42]
“And whatever of misfortune befalls you, it is because of what your hands have earned. And He pardons much.” [42:30]
The hadīth of Jibrīl: “…that you believe in Qadr, the good and the bad of it.”
“…If anything befalls you, do not say, “if only I had done such and such” rather say “Qaddarallāhu wa mā shā‘a fa‘al (Allāh has decreed and whatever he wills, He does).” For (saying) ‘If’ opens (the door) to the deeds of Satan.'” [Sunan Ibn Mājah, 79]
– Commentary of Shaykh Ahmad al-Najmī (d.1429H, rahimahullāh): whatever Allāh wishes and decrees, it will happen, whatever He did not will, does not happen. Belief in al-Qadr is a condition for eemān to be valid, without it eemān is invalid.
