Faṣl fī Tazkiyat al-Nafs - Ibn Taimiya - (43)

As for His words, “Do not raise your voices above the voice of the Prophet … lest your deeds be nullified while you are unaware” (Q 49:2), and the ʿAṣr-prayer report, there is a difference of opinion about their precise implication.

The Exalted also says, “O you who believe, obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and do not nullify your deeds” (Q 47:33).

Al-Ḥasan [al-Baṣrī] said that this refers to sins and major transgressions; ʿAṭāʾ understood it to mean shirk (polytheism) and nifāq (hypocrisy); Ibn al-Sāʾib said it is caused by riyāʾ (showing-off) and samʿah (seeking a reputation); while Muqātil said it is by mann, reminding others of one’s favors. (1)

The reason for revelation was that a group of Bedouins came to the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, and said, “We have come in obedience, so we have a right over you.” This verse was then sent down, along with His words, “They count it as a favor to you that they have embraced Islam” (Q 49:17). (2)

What is transmitted from al-Ḥasan indicates that sins and major offenses can nullify (some) (3) deeds. If it is said, “He only meant their nullification through disbelief,” the reply is that disbelief is forbidden in and of itself and entails everlasting perdition,

(1) See Zad al-Masir 4:122 and Tafsir al-Baghawi 7:290. (2) This sentence is absent from the printed edition, which instead reads: “they boasted about their acceptance of Islam.” Ibn al-Jawzi records the occasion of revelation in Zad al-Masir; a comparable report is related by al-Nasai in al-Kubra (no. 11455) and, through his transmission, by al-Diya al-Muqaddasi in al-Mukhtara 10:346—both with sound isnads. Al-Marwazi also cites it in Taʿzim Qadr al-Salat 2:531 with a sound mursal chain from Qatadah. (3) Omitted in the printed edition.

وأما قوله: {لَا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ} إلى قوله: {أَنْ تَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ وَأَنْتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ} وحديث صلاة العصر ففيه نزاع. وقال تعالى: {يَاأَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَلَا تُبْطِلُوا أَعْمَالَكُمْ} [محمد: ٣٣] قال الحسن: بالمعاصي والكبائر. وعن عطاء: بالشرك والنفاق. وعن ابن السائب: بالرياء والسمعة وعن مقاتل: بالمن (١) . وذلك أن قوما (من الأعراب قدموا على رسول الله صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وقالوا: أتينا طائعين، فلنا عليك حق. فنزلت هذه الآية ونزل قوله: {يَمُنُّونَ عَلَيْكَ أَنْ أَسْلَمُوا} ) (٢) . فما ذكر عن الحسن يدل على أن المعاصي والكبائر تحبط (بعض) (٣) الأعمال. فإن قيل: لم يرد بذلك إلا إبطالها بالكفر. قيل: الكفر منهي عنه في نفسه وموجب للخلود الدائم،

(١) انظر الأقوال في زاد المسير (٤/ ١٢٢) وتفسير البغوي (٧/ ٢٩٠). (٢) سقط من المطبوع، وبدلها في المطبوع: منوا بإسلامهم. وذكر خبر النزول ابن الجوزي في زاد المسير، وقد جاء نحوه فيما رواه النسائي في الكبرى (١١٤٥٥) ومن طريقه الضياء في المختارة (١٠/ ٣٤٦) وإسناده صحيح. ورواه المروزي في تعظيم قدر الصلاة (٢/ ٥٣١) بإسناد صحيح مرسل عن قتادة. (٣) سقط من المطبوع.