Sharh as-Sunnah : Lesson 47: Point 77
Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]
Imaam Barbahaaree rahimahullaah said:
And Allaah, the Exalted and Most High Hears, Sees and Knows. His two Hands are outstretched. He knew that the creation would disobey Him before He created them. His Knowledge takes effect upon them, however, His Knowledge of them did not prevent Him from guiding them towards Islaam. He favoured them with it out of His Generosity, Munificence and Favour so all praise is for Him.
Transcribed Audio:
His saying, “And Allaah, the Perfect and Most High Hears, Sees and Knows.” This is the third type from the types of Tawheed; to affirm Al-Asma Wa-Sifaat (Names and Attributes) for Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic, just as they occur in the Book and the Sunnah, along with believing in their meanings and whatever they indicate and not entering into the kayfiyyah (how they are) because how they are is not known except to Allaah but as for their meaning then it is something known. So, it is obligatory upon you to affirm them and to hold as your creed what they indicate just as Imaam Maalik said, “Allaah, the Most High ascended over His Throne.” The ascending is something known. Known in its meaning and how is unknown.
His saying, “He knew that the creation were going to disobey Him even before He created them.” Allaah has knowledge of everything. He knew what was going to occur – from eemaan (true faith) and from kufr (disbelief) and from obedience and from disobedience; nothing is hidden from Him. He knew it before He created the heavens and the earth.
His saying, “His Knowledge of them did not prevent Him from guiding them towards Islaam.” Even though He knew what they would commit from disbelief and from eemaan (true faith) then Allaah called them to Islaam and He called them to true faith; eemaan and He sent the Messengers and He sent down the Books for their guidance and He knew what they would do. However, from His mercy, He did not just leave them and entrust them to His Knowledge about them. Rather, He established the proof upon them and He gave them ikhtiyaar (choice) and mashee’ah (will) and qudrah (ability). So, they are able to act. So, if they leave action then the sin is their sin and the shortcoming is their shortcoming.
And Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, guides all of the creation; the believers and the disbelievers. With the meaning that He makes the affair clear to all of them. He, the Most High, said:
.. وَأَمَّا ثَمُودُ فَهَدَيْنَاهُمْ
As for Thamood then We showed them the way ..
(Soorah-Fussilat (41), aayah 17)
We guided them, showed them the way: meaning, We made it clear to them and directed them towards it. However, they did not accept this. They obstinately rejected and were haughty.
فَاسْتَحَبُّوا الْعَمَىٰ عَلَى الْهُدَىٰ فَأَخَذَتْهُمْ صَاعِقَةُ الْعَذَابِ الْهُونِ بِمَا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ ..
.. However, they loved blind error over and above guidance so the awful blast of humiliating torment seized them on account of the sins that they used to earn. (Soorah-Fussilat (41), aayah 17)
Meaning, on account of what they earned and it was not just because Allaah knew that and decreed it for them but rather because of what they actually earned by their choice and their will and their action. So, guidance; hidaayah is of two kinds:
- Hidaayatul Irshaad (the guidance of giving direction) and this is general to the believer and the disbeliever,
- Hidaayatut-Tawfeeq (the guidance of being granted the success of accepting that guidance). This is specific to the believers, those who accepted the guidance of Allaah and His direction. So, Allaah grants them the success of its attainment and He makes them firm.
His saying, “So He guided them towards Islaam. And He favoured them with it from His Generosity and His Munificence and His Favour. So all praise is for Him.”
“From His Generosity,” meaning that He called them and made clear to them and clarified to them from His Generosity and He bestowed favour because of their need of that. And as for Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, then He has no need at all of them whether they disbelieve or whether they believe, whether they obey or whether they disobey, they will not harm Allaah, the Majestic and Most High, nor will they benefit Him because He is Ghaniyy (independent), He has no need at all of them and this, its benefit or harm only rebounds upon them. So from His mercy upon them, He made clear to them the way of good and the way of evil, and He gave them strength and He gave them ability, and He gave them intellects with which they could distinguish between what harms and what benefits.
—
Ithaaful-Qaaree bit-Ta`leeqaat `alaa Sharhis-Sunnah
(A Gift To The Reader In Annotation Of Sharh As-Sunnah)
by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah
Transcribed by Saima Zaher.
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
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Sharh-us-Sunnah – Shaykh Saalih Fawzaan – Dawood Burbank [Audio|En]
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