Sharḥ Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn - Ibn al-'Uthaymin - (1/584)

Sharḥ Riyāḍ al-ṢāliḥīnIbn al-'Uthaymin

created all this in vain.”

They ponder the creation of the heavens and the earth—why were they made, how were they fashioned, and so on—then they say with both heart and tongue, “Our Lord, You have not created all this in vain,” meaning that the heavens and the earth must serve a praiseworthy purpose for which the Lord is to be thanked. They were certainly not brought into being for nothing, merely for people to appear, eat, drink, and enjoy themselves like cattle. No, they were created for a tremendous end.

Allah the Exalted says, “I did not create the jinn and humankind except that they worship Me” (al-Dhariyat 51:56).

“Our Lord, You have not created all this in vain.” Those who imagine that the creation of the heavens and the earth is pointless are the people of the Fire. Allah, glorified be He, says, “We did not create the heaven, the earth, and whatever lies between them in vain; that is the assumption of those who disbelieve—so woe to the disbelievers because of the Fire” (Sad 38:27).

Thus anyone who thinks that Allah—exalted is He—created this cosmos merely to exist and then vanish, with no ultimate goal or return, is among those who disbelieve: “That is the assumption of those who disbelieve—so woe to the disbelievers because of the Fire.”

People must inevitably die, inevitably be called to account, inevitably be resurrected, and inevitably end up in one of only two abodes: either Paradise or Hell. We ask Allah to make us and you among the people of Paradise and to shield us from the Fire.

His words “Subḥānaka” (Glory be to You) mean: You are far above creating the heavens and the earth without purpose.

“Then protect us from the punishment of the Fire.” They implore Allah—Mighty and Majestic—by praising Him with His perfect attributes to safeguard them from Hellfire. Protection from the Fire is secured by two means:

خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلاً) يتفكرون في خلق السماوات والأرض لماذا خلقت؟ وكيف خلقت؟ وما أشبه ذلك، ثم يقولون بقلوبهم وألسنتهم (رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلاً) أي: لا بد أن يكون لخلق السماوات والأرض غاية محمودة، يحمد الرب عليها ﷿، ليس لخلق السماوات والأرض باطلا، خلقت ليوجد الناس يأكلون ويشربون ويتمتعون كما تتمتع الأنعام! لا، بل هي مخلوقة لغرض عظيم. قال الله تعالى: (وَمَا خَلَقْتُ الْجِنَّ وَالْأِنْسَ إِلَّا لِيَعْبُدُونِ) (الذريات: ٥٦) . (رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلاً) فالذين يظنون خلق السماوات والأرض باطلا، هم أصحاب النار، قال الله ﵎: (وَمَا خَلَقْنَا السَّمَاءَ وَالْأَرْضَ وَمَا بَيْنَهُمَا بَاطِلاً ذَلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النَّارِ) (صّ: ٢٧) . فكل من ظن أن الله_ سبحانه تعالى_ خلق هذه الخليقة لتوجد وتفنى فقط، بدون أن يكون هنالك غاية ومرجع، فانه من الذين كفروا (ذَلِكَ ظَنُّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا فَوَيْلٌ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا مِنَ النَّارِ) . فالناس لا بد أن يموتوا، ولا بد أن يحاسبوا، ولا بد أن يبعثوا، ولا بد أن يؤولوا إلى دارين لا ثالث لهما، أما الجنة وأما النار، نسأل الله أن يجعلنا وإياكم من أهل الجنة وأن يعيذنا من النار. وقوله: (سُبْحَانَكَ) أي: تنزيها لك أن تخلق هذه السماوات والأرض باطلا. (فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ) فيتوسلون إلى الله_ عز وجل_ بما يثنون عليه من صفات الكمال، أن يقيهم عذاب النار، والوقاية من عذاب النار تكون بأمرين: