In the name of Allah ,the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

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Kitaab At-Tawheed, Chapter: 32

Allah's Words: " Did They Then Feel Secure Against the Plan of Allah?"

Allah (swt ), says:

" Did they then feel secure against the Plan of Allah? But none can feel secure against the Plan of Allah except those who are lost" (Qur'an 7:99)

In this verse, Allah (swt ), Most Glorified, Most High, rebukes the people of the towns and cities to whom Guidance was sent, and all those who behave as they did, because they did not esteem Allah (swt ), as is His right, nor did they fear Him, though it was from Him that they received all blessings; rather, they increased their disobedience until Allah's Wrath descended upon them and His punishment overwhelmed them. Then Allah (swt ), Most High explains that no one behaves as they did except those who are doomed and will have no success in the Hereafter.

Benefits Derived From This Verse

1. The obligation to fear Allah's Plan.

2. The permissibility of describing Allah as Planning, as a comparison.

3. That belief in security from Allah's Plan results in destruction.

Relevance of This Verse to the Subject of the Chapter

That it proves the obligation of fearing Allah's Plan.

Relevance of This Verse to the Subject of Tawheed

That it proves the forbiddance of believing in security from Allah's Plan, because this would necessitate a lack in Allah's Completeness and this is in contradiction with a belief in pure, Islamic monotheism.

..ooOOoo..

Allah (swt ), says:

" And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?" (Qur'an15:56)

Because the Mercy of Allah (swt ), Most Glorified, Most High, covers all things, and because the Prophets were the most knowledgeable of people concerning Allah's Mercy and His Generosity, Ibraheem (as ) said that he did not doubt the news of the impending birth of a son to him, even though he and his wife were advanced in years, for he did not despair of the Mercy and Bounty of his Rabb. His question to the angels, " Do you give me glad tidings that old age has seized me?" merely reflected his surprise that he should have a son, bearing in mind the advanced age of him and his wife. Then He (swt ) asked rhetorically: " And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?"

Benefits Derived From This Verse

1. The forbiddance of despairing of Allah's Mercy.

2. Confirmation of Allah's Divine Attribute of Mercy, in a manner befitting His Majesty.

3. That despair of Allah's Mercy is a sign of ignorance and being astray.

Relevance of This Verse to the Subject of the Chapter

That the verse proves the forbiddance of despairing of Allah's Mercy.

Relevance of This Verse to the Subject of Tawheed

That it proves the forbiddance of despairing of Allah's Mercy, because this suggests a lack in Allah's most perfect Generosity and this is in contradiction with a belief in pure, Islamic monotheism.

..ooOOoo..

It is reported on the authority Ibn `Abbas (ra ) that the Messenger of Allah (saas ) was asked about the major sins; He (saas ) replied: "Associating partners with Allah (swt ) (shirk), despairing of Allah's Mercy and believing that one is safe from Allah's Plan."

Because obedience to Allah and His Messenger (saas ) was of the utmost importance to the Companions of the Prophet (saas ) and the overriding goal of their lives, they asked the Messenger of Allah (saas ) about the major sins in order that they might refrain from them and so He (saas ) informed them about some of the worst of them: The first which he mentioned, and the worst of all, was shirk, or associating partners with Allah (swt ), because no deeds are accepted where shirk is involved, no matter what they may be and no matter how praiseworthy they may be. Then He, Most High, mentioned both despair of Allah's Mercy and believing that one is safe from Allah's Plan, for the Muslim should be in a state between hope and fear: He does not despair of Allah's Mercy and Compassion, which are without limit, for to do so would be to think ill of the Most Generous of all; nor does he depend totally on Allah's Mercy to the extent that he abandons those righteous deeds [i.e worship of Allah (swt )] for which he was created.

Benefits Derived From This Verse

1. That sins are categorized as major or minor.

2. The forbiddance of all manner of shirk, of despair of Allah's Mercy and Compassion and of believing oneself safe from Allah's Plan, and that all of these are major sins.

3. The obligation of both fear of Allah and hope of His Mercy.

4. Confirmation of Allah's Divine Attribute of Mercy, in a manner befitting His Majesty.

5. The permissibility of describing Allah's plan in comparison with the plans of His creatures.

  1. The obligation to think well of Allah, All-Mighty , All-powerful.

Relevance of This Hadith to the Subject of the Chapter

That the Hadith proves the obligation of fearing Allah (swt ), while hoping for His Mercy.

Relevance of This Hadith to the Subject of Tawheed

That it proves the obligation of fearing Allah (swt ) and hoping for His Mercy, because this is confirmation of Allah's Completeness and Perfection, a belief which is a necessary requisite for correct tawheed.

Important Note

Scholars have said that it is incumbent upon every Muslim that he comes to Allah (swt ) in a state of fear and hope, like a bird between its wings, but that hope should predominate at the time when death approaches.

..ooOOoo..

It is reported on the authority of Ibn Mas'ood (ra ) that he said: "The most heinous of all the major sins are: shirk, believing that one is safe from Allah's Plan, despairing of Allah's Mercy and losing hope of Allah's Relief.

Ibn Mas'ood (ra ) informs us in this narration that sins are major and minor, and of the major sins, some are more serious than others and that the worst of all major sins is shirk, or associating partners with Allah (swt ), for no deed will be accepted if it is accompanied by shirk. After mentioning shirk, he goes on to inform us of another of the worst major sins, which is believing that one is safe from Allah's Plan, i.e. that Allah (swt ) will not punish the disobedient; this erroneous belief springs from complete dependence on Allah's Mercy, without fearing His punishment, hence that leads to abandoning the righteous deeds for which we were all created. Then Ibn Mas'ood (swt ) mentions another of the worst major sins which is despairing of Allah's Mercy and Compassion and losing all hope of His Relief; this is because such a belief entails thinking ill of Allah (swt ), All-Mighty , All-powerful.

Benefits Derived From This Narration

1. The prohibition of all forms of shirk, of believing oneself safe from Allah's Plan, of despairing of Allah's Mercy and Compassion and of losing all hope of His Relief, that all of these are major sins.

2. That sins are categorized as minor, major and worst major sins.

3. The permissibility of describing Allah's Plan in comparison with those of His creatures.

4. Confirmation of Allah's Divine Attribute of Mercy in a manner befitting His Majesty.

5. The obligation to be fair and just in all matters.

Relevance of This Narration to the Subject of the Chapter

That it proves the obligation of fearing Allah's punishment while hoping for His Mercy.

Relevance of This Narration to the Subject of Tawheed

That it proves the obligation of both fear and hope of Allah (swt ), for such is necessary in order for one's tawheed to be complete.

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