Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah : Lesson 22 Part B
Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan | Dawud Burbank [Audio|English]
Ar-Rajaa’ (hope and longing) and its Proof
Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdul-Wahhaab (rahimahullaah) said:
And the proof for ar-Rajaa’ (hope and longing) is His saying, He the Most High:
فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
So whoever has hope in the meeting with his Lord and in His reward then let him perform righteous actions and not associate anyone in worship with his Lord [18:110] 16
[16]: Shaykh Saalih al-Fawzan’s Explanation:
His saying, He the Most High, “man kaana yarjoo”: meaning he has hope for the reward of Allaah the Mighty and Majestic and in seeing Him openly on the Day of Resurrection, whoever has hope in seeing Allaah openly with his eyes on the day of resurrection, then let him perform righteous deeds, he should carry out the means which will enable him to attain this goal, which is the reward of entry into Paradise and of being saved from the Fire and of looking upon the Face of Allaah – this necessarily follows on, because whoever enters Paradise, then he will see Allaah, the Mighty and Majestic.
فَمَن كَانَ يَرْجُو لِقَاءَ رَبِّهِ فَلْيَعْمَلْ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا وَلَا يُشْرِكْ بِعِبَادَةِ رَبِّهِ أَحَدًا
So whoever has hope in the meeting with his Lord and in His reward then let him perform righteous actions [18:110]
This shows that hope alone is not sufficient, rather there must be action, as for your just having hope in Allaah, but you do not act, then this is to abandon the use of the means. So praiseworthy hope is that which occurs along with righteous action. As for hoping which is not praiseworthy, then it hope which does not have righteous action along with it.
And righteous action is that which fulfills two conditions:
- The first: is that it is done purely and sincerely for Him, the Mighty and Majestic.
- The second: is that it is done following the Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam.
So an action will not be righteous unless it fulfills these two conditions: that it is done purely and sincerely seeking the Face of Allaah, it does not contain any shirk, and that it should be a correct action, done upon the Sunnah of Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, not containing innovation. So if the two conditions are met then it will be a righteous action, and if any condition is missing, then it will be a corrupt action, it will not benefit the person who does it.
So action which contains shirk will be rejected for the person, and likewise action which contains innovation, it will be rejected for the person. He sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam said:
“Whoever does an action which is not in accordance with our affair, then it will be rejected” [1]
So this aayah contains ar-Rajaa’ (hope and longing), and that it is an act of worship to Allaah the Mighty and Majestic. And it shows that hope will not be correct except along with righteous action.
[1] Reported by al-Bukhaaree in disconnected form straight after hadeeth 7350, and reported by Muslim as hadeeth 1718/17 from a hadeeth of ‘Aa’ishah radiy Allaahu ‘anhaa. And also reported by al-Bukhaaree in connected form as hadeeth 2697 and Muslim as hadeeth 1718/17 from ‘Aa’ishah radiy Allaahu ‘anhaa, that she said, Allaah’s Messenger sallallaahu’ alaihi wa sallam said, “Whoever introduces into this affair of ours that which is not from it will have it rejected”.
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Sharh-ul-Usool-ith-Thalaathah. Explanation of the Three Fundamental Principles of Imaam Muhammad ibn ‘Abdil-Wahhaab by Shaykh Saalih ibn Fowzaan al-Fowzaan hafizahullaah. Translated by Daawood Burbank, rahimahullaah
Posted with kind permission from Dawud Burbank rahimahullaah
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Sharh Usool-ith-Thalaathah – Shaykh Fawzan | Dawud Burbank
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