Minhaj as-Sunnah - Ibn Taimiya - (3/205)

Minhaj as-SunnahIbn Taimiya

However, this report cannot serve as proof, for it is not known (1) to be authentically established from Allah [Mighty and Majestic] (2). As for being content with Allah [as Lord] (3), with Islam as religion, and with Muhammad [may Allah Most High bless him and grant him peace] (4) as Prophet, this is obligatory. This is the contentment indicated by the Quran and the sunnah.

As for being content with everything Allah creates and decrees, neither the Quran nor the sunnah indicates that this is required, nor did any of the early Muslims say so. Rather, Allah Most High has informed us that He is not pleased with certain things even though they are created, as in His saying:

“He is not pleased with disbelief for His servants.”

[Surah al-Nisa:]

And His saying (5):

“When they conspire by night to say what does not please Him.”

[Surah al-Nisa: 108]

We have discussed [this matter] (6) at length in a separate work on contentment with the divine decree, explaining how people divided into factions over it. One faction claimed (7) that they are content with what Allah has forbidden because it forms part of His decree, while another faction denies Allah’s decree and predestination so that they will not be obliged to be content with it. Both factions based their position on the premise that (8) people are commanded to be content with everything Allah has created. This is not so. Rather, Glorified is He, Allah hates [and detests] (9) and abhors many things that occur, and He has commanded us to hate and detest them.

(1) (N) reads: “proof, for it is not known.” (2) “Mighty and Majestic” is added in (A) and (B). (3) “Lord” is omitted in (N). (4) “May Allah bless him and grant him peace” is added in (A) and (B). (5) “And His saying” is omitted in (N). (6) “This matter” is omitted in (N). (7) (A) and (B) read: “factions, and they claimed.” (8) “That” is omitted in (‘Ayn). (9) “And detests” is omitted in (N).

لَكِنَّ هَذَا لَا تَقُومُ بِهِ الْحُجَّةُ ; لِأَنَّ هَذَا لَا يُعْرَفُ (١) ثُبُوتُهُ عَنِ اللَّهِ [عَزَّ وَجَلَّ] (٢) . وَأَمَّا الرِّضَا بِاللَّهِ [رَبًّا] (٣) ، وَبِالْإِسْلَامِ دِينًا، وَبِمُحَمَّدٍ [صَلَّى اللَّهُ تَعَالَى عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ] (٤) نَبِيًّا فَهُوَ وَاجِبٌ. وَهَذَا هُوَ الرِّضَا الَّذِي دَلَّ عَلَيْهِ الْكِتَابُ وَالسُّنَّةُ. وَأَمَّا الرِّضَا بِكُلِّ مَا يَخْلُقُهُ اللَّهُ وَيُقَدِّرُهُ فَلَمْ يَدُلَّ عَلَيْهِ كِتَابٌ وَلَا سُنَّةٌ، وَلَا قَالَهُ أَحَدٌ مِنَ السَّلَفِ، بَلْ قَدْ أَخْبَرَ اللَّهُ تَعَالَى أَنَّهُ لَا يَرْضَى بِأُمُورٍ مَعَ أَنَّهَا مَخْلُوقَةٌ، كَقَوْلِهِ: {وَلَا يَرْضَى لِعِبَادِهِ الْكُفْرَ} [سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ:] ، وَقَوْلِهِ (٥) : {إِذْ يُبَيِّتُونَ مَا لَا يَرْضَى مِنَ الْقَوْلِ} [سُورَةُ النِّسَاءِ: ١٠٨] . وَقَدْ بَسَطْنَا الْكَلَامَ [عَلَى هَذَا] (٦) فِي مُصَنَّفٍ مُفْرَدٍ فِي الرِّضَا بِالْقَضَاءِ، وَكَيْفَ تَحَزَّبَ النَّاسُ فِيهِ أَحْزَابًا، حِزْبٌ زَعَمُوا (٧) أَنَّهُمْ يَرْضَوْنَ بِمَا حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ لِأَنَّهُ مِنَ الْقَضَاءِ، وَحِزْبٌ يُنْكِرُونَ قَضَاءَ اللَّهِ وَقَدَرَهُ لِئَلَّا يَلْزَمَهُمُ الرِّضَا بِهِ، وَكِلَا الطَّائِفَتَيْنِ بَنَتْ ذَلِكَ عَلَى أَنَّ (٨) الرِّضَا بِكُلِّ مَا خَلَقَهُ اللَّهُ مَأْمُورٌ بِهِ. وَلَيْسَ الْأَمْرُ كَذَلِكَ، بَلْ هُوَ سُبْحَانَهُ يَكْرَهُ [وَيُبْغِضُ] (٩) وَيَمْقُتُ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْحَوَادِثِ، وَقَدْ أَمَرَنَا اللَّهُ أَنْ نَكْرَهَهَا وَنَبْغَضَهَا.

(١) ن: حُجَّةٌ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يُعْرَفُ. (٢) عَزَّ وَجَلَّ: زِيَادَةٌ فِي (أ) ، (ب) . (٣) رَبًّا: سَاقِطَةٌ مِنْ (ن) . (٤) صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ: زِيَادَةٌ فِي (أ) ، (ب) . (٥) وَقَوْلِهِ: سَاقِطَةٌ مِنْ (ن) . (٦) عَلَى هَذَا: سَاقِطَةٌ مِنْ (ن) . (٧) أ، ب: أَحْزَابًا وَزَعَمُوا. (٨) أَنَّ: سَاقِطَةٌ مِنْ (ع) . (٩) وَيُبْغِضُ: سَاقِطَةٌ مِنْ (ن) .