Shaykh al-`Uthaymeen said:

We believe that the sinner has no excuse in Allaah’s divine decree, because he commits his sin by his free will, without knowing that Allaah has decreed for him, for no one knows Allaah’s decree before it takes place:

«No soul knows what it will earn tomorrow» [31:34]

How can it be possible, then, to present an excuse that is not known to the person who is advancing it when he commits his offense? Allaah invalidated this type of argument by saying:

«Those who took partners (in worship) with Allaah will say: “If Allaah had willed, we would not have taken partners (in worship) with Him, nor would our fathers, and we would not have forbidden anything (against His Will). Likewise belied those who were before them, (they argued falsely with Allaah’s Messengers), till they tasted of Our Wrath. Say: “Have you any knowledge (proof) that you can produce before us? Verily, you follow nothing but guess and you do nothing but lie.» [6:148]

We say to the sinner who is using divine decree as an excuse: ‘Why did you not perform deeds of obedience, assuming that Allaah has decreed them upon you, since you did not know the difference between good deeds and sins? That is why, when Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu `alayhi wa sallam) told his Companions that everyone’s position in Paradise or Hell has been assigned, they said: ‘Should not we rely on this and stop working?’ He said: «No, work and everyone will be directed to what he is created for» [Bukhaaree and Muslim].

We say to the sinner who is trying to find an excuse in the divine decree: “Suppose you want to travel to Makkah. There are two roads that may take you there. You are told by a truthful person that one of these roads is dangerous and difficult, the other is easy and safe. You will take the second one. You will not take the first road and say it is decreed upon me. If you did, people would consider you crazy.”

We may also say to him: “If you are offered two jobs, one of which has a higher salary, you will certainly take the one with the higher salary. Why do you choose what is lower in the Hereafter and use the divine decree as an excuse?”

We may further say to him: “We see you when you are afflicted with a disease, you knock at every physician’s door looking for treatment and bearing whatever pain that may result from surgical operations and the bitterness of medicine. Why do not you do the same when your heart is spiritually sick with sins?“

the Muslim’s Belief.

If Allaah presents you with knowledge, then present Him with worship, and do not let your only concern be to narrate it to the people.

Knowledge Mandates Action by Imaam al-Baghdaadee

The cause behind failure is unsuitability of place, inconvenience, and lacking the ability to accept the blessing; if he was granted the blessing, he would say: this is mine and I got it because I deserve it as Allaah says:

«He said: “This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.» [28:78]

That is to say, because of the knowledge that Allaah gave me and according to which I deserve this blessing and so it is my right. Al-Farraa` said: I got it, and I deserve it according to the favors I possess.

`Abdullaah bin al-Haarith bin Nawfal mentioned the blessings and ownership that Sulaymaan bin Daawood possessed, then he recited that Allaah says:

«This is by the Grace of my Lord to test me whether I am grateful or ungrateful!» [27:40]

He did not say: this is because of my honor. Then he mentioned Qaaroon and recited,

«He said: “This has been given to me only because of knowledge I possess.» [28:78]

He meant that Sulaymaan realized that whatever he gained is from his Lord and his Favor, and that he is afflicted with it and Qaaroon thought that he deserved the blessings he received. Allaah also says:

«And truly, if We give him a taste of mercy from us, after some adversity (severe poverty or disease, etc.) has touched him, he is sure to say: “This is for me (due to my merit)» [41:50]

That is to say, I deserve it and it is mine: I own it.

The believer realizes that all blessings belong to Allaah and His favor and that Allaah grants him blessings without him deserving it. It is continual charity from Him to His servants, and He has the right to deprive anyone from this as He wills. If Allaah prevents people from receiving blessings, He never prevents them from what they deserve. If the servant fails to realize that, he might think that he deserves it and would become conceited thinking that he deserves this blessing and that he is better than others. As Allaah says:

«And if We give man a taste of Mercy from Us, and then withdraw it from him, verily! He is despairing, ungrateful. But if We let him taste good (favour) after evil (poverty and harm) has touched him, he is sure to say: “Ills have departed from me.” Surely, he is exultant, and boastful (ungrateful to Allaah).» [11:9-10]

Allaah dispraises such a man because of his despair and being ungrateful during times of afflictions and because he is happy and proud when the affliction is removed. He failed to praise Allaah, thank, and glorify Him when He removed the afflictions but Allaah says that he said: «Ills have departed from me.» If he had just said: Allaah removes ills away from me by His mercy, Allaah would never dispraise him, but the servant forgets Who bestowed this blessing on him by ascribing it to himself and through feeling proud.

If Allaah, the Exalted, sees such a heart in His servant, this is one of the greatest causes of failure and letting him down. His place is not suitable to receive such perfect and complete blessings, as Allaah says:

«Verily! The worst of (moving) living creatures with Allaah are the deaf and the dumb, those who understand not (i.e. the disbelievers). Had Allaah known of any good in them, He would indeed have made them listen, and even if He had made them listen, they would but have turned away, averse (to the truth).» [8:22-23]

Allaah said that their place is not suitable to receive His blessings. Besides this there is another obstacle that prevents blessings from reaching them, which is their denial and neglect of what they know and perceive.

The causes of failure are based on the state of the soul and its adherence to its nature; the origin of creation. The causes of success are according to Allaah, Who enables the servant to accept His blessings. The causes of success are from Him and from His favor, and He created both this and that as He created all parts of the earth; one part accepts plant life and the other does not. He created trees; one grows fruit and the other does not. He created the bee and enabled it to produce honey with different colors as well as the hornet, which cannot do that. He created good souls that are able to remember, praise, thank, glorify, and advise His servants, and also created evil souls who are not able to do that. He is the All-Wise and the All-Knowing.

al-Fawaa`id

It is reported that Abū Qilābah – Allāh Have mercy on him – said:

It is only the storyteller-preachers (al-qusās) who have killed knowledge. A man listens to a storyteller for a year without really learning anything that will last, whereas a man who sits with a scholar for an hour  learns what will last  and benefit him before he even gets up.

Abū Nu’aym, Hilyatu Al-Awliyā` 2:287.

that Allaah is true, the Messenger is true, the Qur`aan is true, and that Allaah fulfills His promise.

The soul will never become pious and purified except through undergoing afflictions. It is the same as gold that can never be pure except after removing all the base metals in it.

al-Fawaa`id, p365

~ Shaykh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen, The Book of Knowledge

العِـلم قال الله قال رسولـه *** قال الصحابة هم أولو العرفان

Knowledge is that which Allaah said, His Messenger said,

The Companions said – they are the possessors of knowledge and awareness

ما العلم نصبك للخلاف سفاهة *** بين الرسول وبين رأي فلان

Knowledge is not that you foolishly raise up a disagreement

Between the Messenger and the opinion of so-and-so

***

Translated by Aboo Talhah Dawud Burbank -rahimahullaah.

Let go these transient lands, my dear (brothers/sisters). For your fitrah and roots are only content with the lands to come. Hoist the horizons. And set sail. We are heading for a concealed pearl, wherein the lowest of its people will have a distance that would be traveled in a thousand years.

*~ Istijabah.com

Shaykh Ahmad bin Yahyaa an-Najmee:

Whoever did that has abandoned that which is more superior, which is the saying, “Jazaak Allaahu khayran” (may Allaah reward you with good). And in Allaah lies success.

• Taken from: Fath Rabbil-Wadood Fil-Fataawaa war-Rasaa’il war-Rudood 1/68, no. 30
• Translated by: Abu `Iyaad Amjad Rafiq