Al-Rad 'ala al-Jahmiya - Ahmad Ibn Hanbal - (60)

Al-Rad 'ala al-JahmiyaAhmad Ibn Hanbal

The heretics cast doubt upon the Almighty’s words:

“Whenever their skins are burned…”

…

Aḥmad commented on the Exalted One’s statement:

“Whenever their skins are burned away, We shall replace them with other skins” (Sūrat al-Nisāʾ 4:56).

The heretics objected, saying, “What of the very skins that disobeyed? They have been consumed, and He has given them other skins instead. It seems, then, that God is punishing skins that never sinned when He says, ‘We replaced them with other skins.’1”

Thus they entertained doubts about the Qur’an and alleged that it contained contradictions.

I replied, “God’s saying, ‘We replaced them with other skins,’ does not mean skins different from their own; rather, it means that He renews those same skins. Whenever their skins are scorched, Allah restores them, for the Qur’an contains verses that are particular and others that are general, along with many layers and insights known to the scholars.2

“As for His words:

‘This is a Day on which they will not speak, nor will they be granted leave so that they might offer excuses’ (Sūrat al-Mursalāt 77:35–36).”

…and seeking its interpretation. Yet no one knows its interpretation except Allah, and those firmly grounded in knowledge say, “We believe in it; all of it is from our Lord.” But only people of insight take heed (Al Imran, 3:7). She narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: “When you see people pursuing the ambiguous passages of it, they are the ones Allah has named, so beware of them.” Related by al-Bukhari, no. 4547, and Muslim, no. 2665. (1) This proceeds from their bad opinion of Allah and the corruption of their hearts. It is self-evident by reason and by revelation that Allah does not punish skins that never sinned; yet the zanadiqa (heretics) abandoned the unambiguous texts and followed the ambiguous ones, plunging into deep misguidance. We seek refuge in Allah from that. (2) See Tafsir al-Tabari 5:142; Ibn Kathir 1:546; al-Suyuti 2:568–569; al-Shawkani 1:479.

شك الزنادقة في قوله تعالى: {كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُمْ} ... قال أحمد في قوله عز وجل: {كُلَّمَا نَضِجَتْ جُلُودُهُمْ بَدَّلْنَاهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا} [النساء: ٥٦] . قالت الزنادقة: فما بال جلودهم التي عصت قد احترقت، وأبدلهم جلودًا غيرها؟ فلا نرى إلا أن الله يعذب جلودًا لم تذنب حين يقول: بدلناهم جلودًا غيرها١. فشكوا في القرآن، وزعموا أنه متناقض. فقلت: إن قول الله تعالى: {بَدَّلْنَاهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا} ليس يعني جلودًا غير جلودهم، وإنما يعني: {بَدَّلْنَاهُمْ جُلُودًا غَيْرَهَا} تبديلها: تجديدها؛ لأن جلودهم إذا نضجت، جددها الله، وذلك لأن القرآن فيه خاص وعام، ووجوه كثيرة وخواطر يعلمها العلماء٢. وأما قوله عز وجل: {هَذَا يَوْمُ لا يَنطِقُونَ، وَلا يُؤْذَنُ لَهُمْ فَيَعْتَذِرُونَ} [المرسلات: ٣٥، ٣٦] .

= وَابْتِغَاءَ تَأْوِيلِهِ وَمَا يَعْلَمُ تَأْوِيلَهُ إِلاَّ اللَّهُ وَالرَّاسِخُونَ فِي الْعِلْمِ يَقُولُونَ آمَنَّا بِهِ كُلٌّ مِنْ عِنْدِ رَبِّنَا وَمَا يَذَّكَّرُ إِلاَّ أُوْلُوا الأَلْبَابِ} [آل عمران: ٧] قالت: قال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم: "إذا رأيتم الذين يتبعون ما تشابه منه، فأولئك الذين سمى الله، فاحذروهم". أخرجه البخاري "رقم ٤٥٤٧" ومسلم "رقم ٢٦٦٥". ١ هذا من سوء ظنهم بالله وخبث طويتهم، فمن المعلوم ببداهة العقل والشرع أن الله لا يعذب جلودًا لم تذنب، ولكن الزنادقة تركوا المحكم واتَّبعوا المتشابه فوقعوا في الضلال البعيد عياذًا بالله من ذلك. ٢ انظر: تفسير الطبري "١٤٢/٥" وابن كثير "٥٤٦/١" والسيوطي "٥٦٨/٢، ٥٦٩" والشوكاني "٤٧٩/١".