Al-Amr bi-l-Maʿrūf wa-n-Nahy ʿan al-Munkar - Ibn Taimiya - (47)

Al-Amr bi-l-Maʿrūf wa-n-Nahy ʿan al-MunkarIbn Taimiya

whereas those who are not God-fearing receive only the immediate reward and no enduring portion. The ultimate outcome, though it is certainly in the Hereafter, also manifests in this world, as the Exalted One declared after relating Noah’s story and his rescue in the Ark:

“It was said: ‘Noah, disembark in peace from Us, with blessings upon you and upon communities descending from those with you. As for other communities, We shall grant them enjoyment for a time, then a painful punishment from Us will touch them.’” (Hud 11:48)

and up to His words:

“So be patient; indeed, the (good) outcome belongs to the God-fearing.” (Hud 11:49)

He likewise said:

“So whoever transgresses against you, transgress against him in like manner to that with which he transgressed against you—but fear Allah and know that Allah is with the God-fearing.” (al-Baqarah 2:194)

The decisive criterion, then, is to praise only what Allah and His Messenger have praised; for it is Allah—glorified be He—whose approval is true adornment and whose censure is genuine disgrace, not the verdict of poets, orators, or anyone else. Hence, when a man from Banū Tamīm boasted to the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, saying, “My praise is an adornment and my condemnation a disgrace,” he replied, “That belongs to Allah.”

[Categories of people with respect to courage]

Allah, mighty and sublime, has praised courage and open-handedness when they are exercised in His cause. In the authentic report narrated by Abū Mūsā, it was said: “Messenger of Allah, a man fights out of bravery, another out of tribal zeal, and another for show— which of these is in the path of Allah?” He answered, “Whoever fights so that the word of Allah may be supreme is in the path of Allah.”

The Most High also said: “Fight them until there is no persecution and religion is wholly for Allah.” (al-Anfāl 8:39) For this is the very purpose for which creation was brought into being, as He likewise said: “I did not create jinn and humankind except that they worship Me.” (adh-Dhāriyāt 51:56) Therefore, everything that is directed toward that end which

غير المتقين فلهم عاجلة لا عاقبة، والعاقبة وإن كانت في الآخرة فتكون في الدنيا أيضا، كما قال تعالى لما ذكر قصة نوح ونجاته بالسفينة: {قِيلَ يَا نُوحُ اهْبِطْ بِسَلَامٍ مِنَّا وَبَرَكَاتٍ عَلَيْكَ وَعَلَى أُمَمٍ مِمَّنْ مَعَكَ وَأُمَمٌ سَنُمَتِّعُهُمْ ثُمَّ يَمَسُّهُمْ مِنَّا عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ} [هود: ٤٨] (سورة هود: آية ٤٨) . إلى قوله: {فَاصْبِرْ إِنَّ الْعَاقِبَةَ لِلْمُتَّقِينَ} [هود: ٤٩] (سورة هود: من الآية ٤٩) . وقال: {فَمَنِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ فَاعْتَدُوا عَلَيْهِ بِمِثْلِ مَا اعْتَدَى عَلَيْكُمْ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ وَاعْلَمُوا أَنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَ الْمُتَّقِينَ} [البقرة: ١٩٤] (سورة البقرة: من الآية ١٩٤) . والفرقان: أن يحمد من ذلك ما حمده الله ورسوله، فإن الله تعالى هو الذي حمده زين، وذمه شين، دون غيره من الشعراء والخطباء وغيرهم، ولهذا لما قال القائل من بني تميم للنبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: إن حمدي زين وذمي شين! قال له: «ذاك الله» [أصناف الناس في الشجاعة] والله سبحانه حمد الشجاعة والسماحة في سبيله، كما في الصحيح عن أبي موسى قال: قيل: «يا رسول الله! الرجل يقاتل شجاعة، ويقاتل حمية، ويقاتل رياء، فأي ذلك في سبيل الله؟ فقال: من قاتل لتكون كلمة الله هي العليا فهو في سبيل الله» وقد قال سبحانه: {وَقَاتِلُوهُمْ حَتَّى لَا تَكُونَ فِتْنَةٌ وَيَكُونَ الدِّينُ كُلُّهُ لِلَّهِ} [الأنفال: ٣٩] (سورة الأنفال: من الآية ٣٩) . وذلك أن هذا هو المقصود الذي خلق الخلق له، كما قال تعالى: {وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْإِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ} [الذاريات: ٥٦] (سورة الذاريات: آية ٥٦) . فكل ما كان لأجل الغاية التي