14. WE SEEK REFUGE WITH ALLAH FROM HAVING FAULTY UNDERSTANDING
We seek refuge from Allah from having a faulty understanding, particularly in the case of those who are considered from the people of knowledge.
Imam Ahmad recorded in his Musnad that Abu ‘Abdu’l-Rahman al-Sulaml disputed with Hayyan Ibn ‘Abdullah. The former said to Hayyan, ‘I know what encouraged your friend (i.e. ‘Ali Ibn Abl Talib)’ Hayyaan asked, “What is that?’
He said, ‘The statement of the Prophet when he said, “Allah may have looked at the people who fought in the Battle of Badr and said, “Do whatever you like for I have forgiven you.’”
This statement shows the faulty understanding of Abu ‘Abdu’lRahman concerning the subject matter as he thought the motive of ‘Ali for taking part in the fighting was his reliance on being forgiven!
It is noteworthy for everyone to understand that the meaning of the said hadith is that: regardless of what sins you may have committed in your past, all are now forgiven.
As for forgiving what is yet to come that is not part of it. Is it not obvious that they will be held accountable if any one of them disbelieved afterwards— and none have as they are above that— since they are not infallible? The same applies to sins too.
And, even if we hypothetically assume its meaning includes future sins, it would mean in such a case that you will eventually be forgiven.
Apart from the meaning of the hadith, how can a Muslim think that the chief of believers, ‘Ali Ibn Abi Talib (radiy Allahu ‘anhu) fought because he was counting on being forgiven?
He is above such behaviour for he fought relying on evidence while being forced to take the fight; hence he was upon the truth and all scholars agree that the truth was with ‘AH (radiy Allahu ‘anhu) in all his fights and battles!
How could it be otherwise when the Messenger of Allah (^g) said: “O Allah, let the truth be with him wherever he goes.”
It becomes obvious that Abu ‘Abdu’l-Rahman made a seriously ugly mistake that was driven by the fact he was from the alleged supporters of ‘Uthman Ibn ‘Affan (radiy Allahu ‘anhu).
(Source: al-Hafiz Abu’l-Faraj ibn al-jawzl [d. 597AH] “CAPTURED THOUGHTS being” a translation of his masterpiece ‘Sayd al-K hatir)
Comments
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.
John Doe
23/3/2019Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.