“So when We said to the angels: Prostrate to Adam they did prostrate, but Iblis (did it not). He refused and he was proud, and he was one of the ungrateful (l-kafirina).” (Qur’an 2:33)
“So when We said to the angels: Prostrate to Adam they did prostrate, but Iblis (did it not). He refused and he was proud, and he was one of the ungrateful (l-kafirina).” (Qur’an 2:33)
Based upon the foundational text, the Qur’an, the above verse mentions Iblis failing to follow the ‘amr, the command of Allah (swt).
So when Iblis failed to follow the command of Allah (swt) was he
A) An Ungrateful Muslim? Kufr ni’amah
B) Guilty of Kufr Shirk?
It is very clear that the Iblis did not commit shirk. His sin is not the sin of worshipping other than Allah (swt).
In fact even after his transgression Iblis makes a du’a to Allah (swt)!
“Satan appealed, “My Lord! Then delay my end until the Day of their resurrection.” (Qur’an 15:36)
It is clear that Allah (swt) said that Iblis is a Kafir for failing to obey his command.
IBLIS DID NOT COMMIT SHIRK AND YET ALLAH (SWT) CALLED HIM A KAFIR!
What about all those hadiths that say if you do this or that you will be GUARANTEED PARADISE?
So for example there are a great many hadith that say that if a person does this act or says this statement they will be guaranteed paradise.
Examples:
It is narrated on the authority of ‘Uthman that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said. He who died knowing (fully well) that there is no god but Allah entered Paradise.
Source: (https://sunnah.com/muslim:26a)
Narrated Mu’adh bin Jabal :
The Messenger of Allah (saw) as saying: If anyone’s last words are “There is no god but Allah” he will enter Paradise.
Source: (https://sunnah.com/abudawud:3116)
Abu Huraira reported:
The Prophet, (saw) said, “Whoever recites ten times, ‘Say: He is Allah, the One,’ a palace will be built for him in Paradise. Whoever recites it twenty times, two palaces will be built for him. Whoever recites it three times, three palaces will be built for him.”
Source: (al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ lil-Ṭabarānī 281) (https://www.abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2016/02/23/surah-al-ikhlaas-10-jannah/)
Abu Umamah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever recites the ‘verse of the Throne’ after every prescribed prayer, there will be nothing standing between him and entry into Paradise but his death.”
Source: (al-Mu’jam al-Awsaṭ lil-Ṭabarānī 8068)
(https://www.abuaminaelias.com/dailyhadithonline/2012/08/27/ayat-al-kursi-after-salat/)
Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (saw) said:
“Indeed, Allah has ninety-nine Names, whoever counts them shall enter Paradise.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/tirmidhi:3508)
The first response to the above hadith is that they have to be all taken into account with many other hadith. Because the singular narrations (ahad) put a few strokes on the canvas they do not paint the whole picture.
Hadith that do not guarantee Muslims paradise.
Narrated Abu Huraira:
Allah’s Messenger (saw) said, “All my followers will enter Paradise except those who refuse.” They said, “O Allah’s Messenger (saw)! Who will refuse?” He said, “Whoever obeys me will enter Paradise, and whoever disobeys me is the one who refuses (to enter it).”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/bukhari:7280)
Hudhaifah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (saw) said:
“A backbiter will not enter Paradise.” Agreed upon.
Source: (https://sunnah.com/bulugh/16/69)
It was narrated from Abu Darda’ that the Prophet (saw) said:
“No one who is addicted to wine will enter Paradise.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:3376)
Narrated Jubair bin Mut`im:
That he heard the Prophet (saw) saying, “The person who severs the bond of kinship will not enter Paradise.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/bukhari:5984)
How to reconcile these contradictory hadith? A simple solution and one that even Sunni schools of theology are forced to acknowledge.
All of those ahadith that guarantee paradise for a Muslim based upon this action or this statement have to be taken into context with all those hadith that says if a Muslim does this or that they will not enter paradise. Those hadith about the guarantee for paradise is for a Muslim who stays the course, who practices their Islam who is diligent in all matters of their faith.
Otherwise we run into the following logical problems. Examples:
Question: What happens if that person was to miss the verse of the throne recitation even after just one prayer? Would they now not be guaranteed paradise?
The Prophet, (saw) said, “Whoever recites ten times, ‘Say: He is Allah, the One,’ a palace will be built for him in Paradise. Whoever recites it twenty times, two palaces will be built for him. Whoever recites it three times, three palaces will be built for him.
Question: What happens if I recite surah ikhlas ten times today 11/5/2023 but decide to stop praying, fasting paying zakat. So I am guaranteed paradise then?
Also what happens if I recite surah ikhlas ten times and then I become a backbiter and I break the ties of kinship?
So it is not logical that one statement or one action is going to get a person into paradise. Especially when all the ahadith are taken as a whole.
There is no verse in the Qur’an that says Kafir will enter paradise! None!
There is no verse in the Qur’an that states you can sin and continue sinning without repentance without restitution and you will enter paradise! None.
“Allah accepts only the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and foolishness and repent SOON afterwards; it is THEY WHOM Allah will forgive and Allah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.
And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: ‘Now I repent;’ NOR of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment” (Qur’an 4:17-18)
Truly, Allah loves THOSE who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves” (Qur’an 2:222)
“But whosoever repents AFTER his crime and does righteous good deeds (by obeying Allah), then verily, Allah will pardon him (accept his repentance). Verily, Allah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Qur’an 5:39)
“O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will expiate from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise)” (Qur’an 66:8)
“Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven” (Qur’an 8:38)
“Your Lord has written (prescribed) Mercy for Himself, so that if any of you does evil in ignorance, and thereafter repents and does righteous good deeds (by obeying Allah), then surely, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Qur’an 6:54)
“Allah wishes to accept your repentance, but those who follow their lusts, wish that you (believers) should deviate tremendously away (from the Right Path).” (Qur’an 4:27)
“Say: Oh my slaves who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Qur’an 39:53)
“And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allah’s forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Qur’an 4:110)
Islam is salvation through repentance. Islam is NOT salvation simply because I am Muslim.
All of those verses explicitly tell us as Muslims that we have an incredibly Merciful, Compassionate, Loving and Forgiving Creator. The verse even says that Allah wishes to accept your repentance. It doesn’t get more clear than this!
Yet, if we do not care about our own selves, and our own salvation, if we do not even have a modicum of decency and awareness to turn towards Allah (swt) and repent for our sins. Make restitution, reform our conduct, than we have absolutely no one to blame if we end up in hellfire forever.
The point we can make is that even if all such hadith are 100% correct, chains hold up etc. It shows the extent of Allah’s mercy. His readiness to accept us into paradise.
Yet as mentioned they need to be interpreted in light of all such hadith that say the polar opposite.
Also, logic as mentioned I say Shahahada with sincerity guarantees me paradise but then I decide not to practice the deen?
Surely they see it as problematic.
We can go around raping women in war, blowing up ourselves on buses taking children with us, usurping the rights of orphans and as long as I believe those are all sins I may have a brief sojourn in hell but then I am in paradise? No!
We are to do our level best to control our based desires, restrain our tongues and hands from harm. We are NOT to be the very devils Allah tells us to seek refuge from.
So it is very clear that Sunni Muslims have to agree with us on these points. They are crystal clear. That the kafir does not enter paradise.
We are upon the model of Adam (alayi salam) One who sinned and repented and was forgiven.
To sin and to never seek forgiveness. What is that except the model of Iblis.
Choose wisely dear truth seekers.
The only difference that now remains between us is as follows:
Do some believers go to hell for a while (as Sunni schools claim).
Or.
Do believers all go to paradise without any sojourn in hell (as the Ibadi school claims).
But forget for a moment what the Ibadi’s claim. Or what the Shi’i or the Sunni claims.
What does Allah (swt) say in the Qur’an?
May Allah (swt) guide us to what is beloved to Allah (swt). May Allah (swt) guide us to the truth.
Prima Quran 