Al-Irshad ila Sahih al-Itiqad - Salih Al-Fawzan - (72)

Al-Irshad ila Sahih al-ItiqadSalih Al-Fawzan

of his Lord’s mercy except those who are astray?”⦗1⦘ For Abraham knew of Allah’s power and mercy what is far greater and more profound than words can convey, yet he said to the angels: “Have you given me glad tidings when old age has overtaken me—of what, then, do you give me glad tidings?”⦗2⦘ He spoke in astonishment, pondering the sheer magnitude of Allah’s ability and compassion.

When Allah’s prophet Jacob—peace be upon him—was pressed by hardship and the anguish of separation from his children, his hope in Allah and his longing for His mercy only grew. He said to the sons who were present: “My sons, go and inquire about Joseph and his brother, and do not despair of Allah’s relief; indeed, none despairs of Allah’s relief except the disbelieving people.”⦗3⦘ He also said: “So patience is fitting; perhaps Allah will bring them all back to me.”⦗4⦘

Concerning our Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, Allah says: “When those who disbelieved drove him out, he was one of two; when the two of them were in the cave and he said to his companion, ‘Do not grieve; indeed, Allah is with us.’”⦗5⦘ In the midst of that ordeal, his hope was at its height, and he would say, “Know that relief comes with affliction.”

Allah, exalted be He, forbids His servants—no matter how numerous their sins or how serious their crimes—from letting that drive them to despair of His mercy or to abandon repentance. He says: “Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of Allah’s mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins; He is truly the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful. So turn back to your Lord in repentance and submit to Him.’”⦗6⦘ Thus the Almighty has prohibited His servants from allowing the weight of their sins to keep them from repenting or to make them lose hope of forgiveness.

The Prophet ﷺ counted despair of Allah’s relief among the major sins. Ibn ʿAbbas—may Allah be pleased with them both—reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ was asked about the major sins and replied, “Associating partners with Allah, despair of Allah’s relief, and feeling secure from Allah’s plan.” Ibn Masʿud said, “The gravest of the major sins are: associating partners with Allah, feeling secure from Allah’s plan, despair of Allah’s mercy, and losing hope of Allah’s relief…"

1) Surah al-Hijr, verse 56. 2) Surah al-Hijr, verse 54. 3) Surah Yusuf, verse 87. 4) Surah Yusuf, verse 83. 5) Surah al-Tawbah, verse 40. 6) Surah az-Zumar, verses 53–54.

مِنْ رَحْمَةِ رَبِّهِ إِلاّ الضَّالُّونَ﴾ ١، لأنه يعلم من قدرة الله ورحمته ما هو أبلغ من ذلك وأعظم، لكنه قال للملائكة: ﴿أَبَشَّرْتُمُونِي عَلَى أَنْ مَسَّنِيَ الْكِبَرُ فَبِمَ تُبَشِّرُونَ﴾ ٢، قال ذلك على وجه التعجب والتفكر في عظيم قدرة الله ورحمته. وهذا نبي الله يعقوب ﵇، لما أشتد به الأمر، وتأزم الحال بفراق بنيه؛ عظم رجاؤه بالله وطمعه برحمته، وقال لبنيه الحاضرين عنده: ﴿يَابَنِيَّ اذْهَبُوا فَتَحَسَّسُوا مِنْ يُوسُفَ وَأَخِيهِ وَلا تَيْأَسُوا مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ إِنَّهُ لا يَيْأَسُ مِنْ رَوْحِ اللَّهِ إِلاّ الْقَوْمُ الْكَافِرُونَ﴾ ٣، وقال: ﴿فَصَبْرٌ جَمِيلٌ عَسَى اللَّهُ أَنْ يَأْتِيَنِي بِهِمْ جَمِيعاً﴾ ٤. وهذا نبيا محمد ﷺ قال الله عنه: ﴿إِذْ أَخْرَجَهُ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا ثَانِيَ اثْنَيْنِ إِذْ هُمَا فِي الْغَارِ إِذْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِهِ لا تَحْزَنْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ مَعَنَا﴾ ٥، فعظم رجاؤه عند الشدة، ويقول: "واعلم أن الفرج مع الكرب". والله - سبحانه - ينهى عباده الذي كثرت ذنوبهم وعظمت جرائمهم أن يحملهم ذلك على القنوط من رحمته وترك التوبة منها؛ قال تعالى: ﴿قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعاً إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ﴾ ٦، فنهى - سبحانه - عباده أن تحملهم كثرة ذنوبهم على ترك التوبة واليأس من المغفرة. وقد عد النبي ﷺ اليأس من روح الله من الكبائر؛ فعن ابن عباس ﵄، أن رسول الله ﷺ سئل عن الكبائر؟ فقال: "الإشراك بالله، واليأس من روح الله، والأمن من مكر الله". وعن ابن مسعود؛ قال: "أكبر الكبائر: الإشراك بالله، والأمن من مكر الله، والقنوط من رحمة الله، واليأس من روح

١ سورة الحجر، الآية: ٥٦. ٢ سورة الحجر، الآية: ٥٤. ٣ سورة يوسف، الآية: ٨٧. ٤ سورة يوسف، الآية: ٨٣. ٥ سورة التوبة، الآية: ٤٠. ٦ سورة الزمر، الآيتان: ٥٣ ـ ٥٤.