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“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.” (Qur’an 4:48)
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Qur’an 39:53)
“Turn to your Lord ˹in repentance˺, and ˹fully˺ submit to Him before the punishment reaches you, ˹for˺ then you can no longer be helped (Quran 39:54).
So are these text in contradiction with one another or are these text addressing two different audiences?
It is not sound exegesis (tafsir) to just pick out these two verses as a contradiction without looking at the context, and who is being addressed, as well as other verses in the Qur’an that address the same topic. This will allow one to have a better grasp of the subject before they reach a conclusion.
This article will lay out the Ibadi position as clearly stated in the Qur’an in contradistinction to the misguidance of the Sunni position.
So first let us look at the Sunni position in regard to their misunderstanding.
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.” (Qur’an 4:48)
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly gone far astray.” (Qur’an 4:116)
So they (those who call themselves Sunni) want to say that Allah (swt) is forgiving all the sins except shirk. Everything is forgiven without any tauba (except the shirk)
This is totally in error. They (those who call themselves Sunni) are in major doctrinal error on this issue!
What one will really see that instead of representing the teachings of the Qur’an and the belief of the early Muslims, (those who call themselves Sunni) are in fact propagating the views of the Murji’ah sect.
A key tenet of belief of the Murji’ah sect is the belief that Muslims who commit major sins and die without repentance are still considered Muslim and eligible for paradise.
“But He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
This key part of the text of Qur’an 4:116 & Qur’an 4:48 is what is used to justify the idea that Allah (swt) is either random, capricious or whimsical in his approach to forgiving sins. We seek protection in Allah (swt) from this!
We say that Allah (swt) is not whimsical, capricious or random in the approach to forgiving sins and the Qur’an lays out clearly the approach to reconciliation to Allah (swt).
“But the Jews and the Christians say, “We are the children of Allah and His beloved.” Say, “Then why does He punish you for your sins?” Rather, you are human beings from among those He has created. He forgives whom He wills, and He punishes whom He wills. And to Allah belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth and whatever is between them, and to Him is the [final] destination.” (Qur’an 5:18)
“Then why does Allah punish you for your sins?”
If Allah (swt) punishes people who commit no sin where is the justice?
If we understand that Allah (swt) at random, capriciously selects this group or this one for forgiveness and not that one you also have to ask where is the justice?
Yet, Allah (swt) is just!
“Paradise is not [obtained] by your wishful thinking nor by that of the People of the Scripture. Whoever does a wrong will be recompensed for it, and he will not find besides Allah a protector or a helper.” (Qur’an 4:123)
“And whoever does righteous deeds, whether male or female, while being a believer – those will enter Paradise and will not be wronged, [even as much as] the speck on a date seed.(Qur’an 4:124)
So let us go back to the clause in the two verses: Qur’an 4:116 & Qur’an 4:48
“But He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
How is this will known to us?
Let the Qur’an speak!
“And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated -Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 25:68-70)
The above verse is very clear that shirk can be forgiven “Except for those who repent“. However, the major point of the above verse is that shirk and other big sins(killing someone unlawfully, committing illicit sexual intercourse) are forgiven by tauba (repentance) and follow this up with righteous actions.
So whoever does shirk, or kills another person without right, or commits unlawful sexual intercourse all of them will meet the penalty (which means hellfire). So that point is crystal clear.
Now, the only point in dispute is rather or not those who enter the hellfire remain therein eternally or only a short period of time.
This is discussed at length here:
Other examples of Allah (swt) forgiving shirk.
“Indeed, those who took the calf [for worship] will obtain anger from their Lord and humiliation in the life of this world, and thus do We recompense the inventors [of falsehood] But those who committed misdeeds and then repented after them and believed – indeed your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 7:152-153)
˹after their repentance˺ < didn’t think we would notice but we did.
“But He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.”
“Anyways what are you guys trying to deduce from this? That one can do whatever non shirk sins they want and they can still be forgiven?” – brother Abdullah
What he means by is that are The Ahl Sunnah suggesting that a person can do what ever sins they want (rape, molestation, murder) just short of shirk and they will be forgiven without repentance and reformation?
“Whom he wills” is a reference to those who repent.
We have already given a text from the Qur’an that clearly proves this. (Qur’an 25:68-70)
You also have the following:
“Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only [committing] slight ones. Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness. He was most knowing of you when He produced you from the earth and when you were fetuses in the wombs of your mothers. So do not claim yourselves to be pure; He is most knowing of who fears Him.” (Qur’an 53:32)
“IF (but) eschew the evilest of the things which you are forbidden to do, We shall expel out of ( Saiyiatikum) YOU ALL THE EVIL IN YOU, and admit you to a gate of great honor.” -(Qur’an 4:31)
Even this above verse some of the translators have tried to manipulate it in accordance with their i’tiqad.
Please see the article here:
“Turn to your Lord, and submit to Him before the punishment reaches you, then you will not be helped.” (Qur’an 39:54)
“And follow the best of what was revealed to you from your Lord before the punishment comes upon you suddenly while you do not perceive.” “Lest a soul should say, “Oh [how great is] my regret over what I neglected in regard to Allah and that I was among the mockers.” “Or [lest] it say, “If only Allah had guided me, I would have been among the righteous. Or [lest] it say when it sees the punishment, “If only I had another turn so I could be among the doers of good.” “But yes, there had come to you My verses, but you denied them and were arrogant, and you were among the disbelievers”. (Qur’an 39:55-59)
Qur’an 4:48=Those who were given the Scripture (Ahl Kitab)
The forgiveness for their shirk is by embracing Islam!
“O you who were given the Scripture, believe in what We have sent down, confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them toward their backs or curse them as We cursed the sabbath-breakers. And ever is the decree of Allah accomplished. Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin. Have you not seen those who claim themselves to be pure? Rather, Allah purifies whom He wills, and injustice is not done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]. Look how they invent about Allah untruth, and sufficient is that as a manifest sin. Have you not seen those who were given a portion of the Scripture, who believe in superstition and false objects of worship and say about the disbelievers, “These are better guided than the believers as to the way”? (Qur’an 4:47-4:51)
The context is in relation to the people of the book. Some of them believed in superstition, worship of false objects etc. They deviated from the true pure monotheism as given to them in their scripture.
Qur’an 4:48 is a warning to them = Those who were given the Scripture
Qur’an 39:53 = “my servants”
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Qur’an 39:53)
This verse is already addressed to those who believe in Islam.
Our quick witted brother Abdullah has correctly noted:
“Also I’ve seen a lot of Sunnis use this verse (Qur’an 4:48) which was revealed against “disbelievers” as apply it to the believers. So are they Khawarij?”
What he means is that The Ahl Sunnah take a verse that is directed towards the disbelievers and apply it to the believers! They say that is a quality of the khawarij and yet they do it themselves!
“No, it doesn’t, your understanding of this verse (Qur’an 4:48) is ignoring the verse in Zumar (Qur’an 39:53) which says, “Allah forgives **all sins** and shirk is a sin.” Abdullah
Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili elaborates more here:
“As for the second place, it is preceded by His saying: “If anyone contends with the Messenger even after the guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men to faith, We shall leave him in the path He has chosen, and land him in hell. What an evil refuge!” (Qur’an 4:115).” -Shaykh Al Khalili
“So, interpreting it to mean other than what I have mentioned of its tafsir, will take it out from its context. His saying, Exalted is He: ‘Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him’ (Qur’an 4:48) is an affirmation carrying the meaning of being the reason for His saying:
“If anyone contends with the Messenger even after the guidance has been plainly conveyed to him, and follows a path other than that becoming to men of faith, We shall leave him in the path He has chosen, and land him in hell. What an evil refuge!” (Qur’an 4:115)
“And His saying , ‘And He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases‘, is a promise to those mushriks who embrace Islam of forgiveness for all their past sins, after what has preceded it of warning to those who persist in their shirk. From this, the reason clearly emerges of repeating the wording of the verse another time with no difference other than the end-rhyme. At first occurrence it is repeated by His saying, Exalted is He! ” -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
“The second is that His saying ‘and He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases‘, (Qur’an 4:48) does not in any way indicate forgiveness of the people who commit major sins other than shirk, irrespective of their persistence in them.” -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
To elaborate on this point. Do not think that if you do major sins without seeking repentance or without reforming yourself that you will be forgiven.
“This verse has come in two places in al-Nisa’ in the context of specifying the entering into Islam of those who did not accept Islam. In the first place it is preceded by His saying: “Exalted Is He: “O People of the Book, believe in what We have revealed confirming what was with you, before We destroy the countenances so as to confound or to curse them as We cursed the Sabbath-breakers. And the decision of Allah must be carried out.” (Qur’an 4:47) -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
“Then it is followed by His saying: ‘Allah does not forgive that partners be set up with Him’ and He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases.’ (Qur’an 4:48).” -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
“It is understood from this context that the meaning of the verse is that Allah does not forgive whomever remains in his shirk, not turning from it to tawhid, even if he repents from the rest of his sins. For the repentance of the mushrik is not otherwise than by tawhid which is the basis of all good deeds, the axis of all virtue, just as shirk is the matrix of sinning.” -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
“And His saying, ‘And He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases’. i.e. whatever is other than shirk, that is, all the disobediences of the mushriks other than their shirk, for whoever He wills to guide to repentance from his shirk. That is because…….” -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
QUESTIONS FOR SUNNI MUSLIMS.
Also, you as a (Sunni) saying that if a Muslim commits shirk than there is absolutely no chance of forgiveness? That is harsh!
That concept is against the verse , “Allah forgives all sins.” (Qur’an 39:53)
This will also be an obstacle to the verse: “Never give up hope of Allah’s soothing mercy; in fact none despairs of Allah’s soothing mercy except the ungrateful disbelievers.” (Qur’an 12:87)
How do you expect one not to despair of Allah’s mercy since they won’t be forgiven? In the process of giving up on Allah’s mercy they drown further in despair and darkness!
Also, the concept of an unforgivable sin is a Christian concept!
Jesus said, “I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this life or in the life to come” (Matthew 12:31-32)
This is not an Islamic concept.
OR…
Are we to believe that you as a Sunni understand this verse to mean that you can do any sin imaginable and even if you do not repent Allah (swt) will still forgive you (by spending a little time in hellfire) unless it is shirk and than you are sealed forever?
How do you reconcile your perspective with the following?
Safwan ibn ‘Assal reported: The Messenger of Allah (saw) said,
“Verily, towards the Western sun is an open gate the length of which is seventy years of travel, It will continue to be open for repentance until the sun rises from there. When the sun rises from there, the faith of any soul will not benefit it had it not had faith earlier or earned goodness from its faith.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:4070)
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will accept his repentance.”
Source: (https://sunnah.com/muslim:2703)
Further proofs that Allah (swt) forgives the sin of shirk are from logic (mantiq) and text (nass)
- A person who commits shirk by being devoted to things other than Allah (swt) has their sin of shirk forgiven by embracing Islam.
The proof for that is this:
“Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] – then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place.” (Qur’an 8:38)
It would make no sense to call those who are involved in being devoted other than Allah (O you who were given the Scripture) to forgiveness if they can find no forgiveness?!
The forgiveness for their shirk is by embracing Islam! When they take the shahada testification of faith all their previous sins are forgiven (including shirk).
This is what (Qur’an 4:48) is in reference to.
“They take their priests and their anchorites to be their lords in derogation of Allah, and (they take as their Lord) Christ the son of Mary; yet they were commanded to worship Allah alone: there is no god but He. Exalted is He above whatever they associate (yush’rikuna) with Him.” (Qur’an 9:31)
2. If the believing Muslim slips and commits shirk they will have no recourse to salvation. This cannot be the case.
This cannot be the case because the verse clearly states that Allah (swt) “forgives all sins” (Qur’an 39:53).
Yet, if you even as a Muslim have slipped by consulting psychics, astrologist, and put your faith and trust in them to divine your future you must repent, rectify yourself and flee to Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.
This is true of any act of shirk that Muslims fall into.
The key is sincere repentance. If you do not repent and you do not make effort to reform than there is no sincerity.
Alas , if the position is that if Muslims slip, fall into shirk and there is no hope for them what motive is there now for them to be moral in this life?
Indeed their hearts will darken and Allah (swt) knows best!
Allah (swt) will forgive any sin. Those who were given the Scripture have their sin of shirk removed by embracing Islam and by staying the course. The one born and raised as a Muslim has their sin of shirk removed by sincere repentance and reformation.
REPENTENCE:
“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 ungrateful disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment.” (Qur’an 4:18)
“The ˹true˺ servants of the Most Compassionate are those who walk on the earth humbly, and when the foolish address them ˹improperly˺, they only respond with peace. They are˺ those who spend ˹a good portion of˺ the night, prostrating themselves and standing before their Lord. ˹They are˺ those who pray, “Our Lord! Keep the punishment of Hell away from us, for its punishment is indeed unrelenting. It is certainly an evil place to settle and reside.” ˹They are˺ those who spend neither wastefully nor stingily, but moderately in between. ˹They are˺ those who do not invoke any other god besides Allah, nor take a ˹human˺ life—made sacred by Allah—except with ˹legal˺ right, nor commit fornication. And whoever does ˹any of˺ this will face the penalty. Their punishment will be multiplied on the Day of Resurrection, and they will remain in humiliation forever, except those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, they are the ones whose evil deeds Allah will change into good deeds. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And whoever repents and does good has truly turned to Allah properly.” (Qur’an 25:63-71)
For further reading:
Analyzing the hadith of the get out of jail free card.
The proof from the Qur’an and the Sunnah: Those who do major sins are in a state of Kufr.
The refutation of those who claim that heaven is not only for Muslims (but others also).
Islam is the only path for salvation.
To read more and to be upon the truth in your creed (aqidah) we invite you to read:
May Allah (swt) Guide the Ummah.
May Allah (swt) Forgive the Ummah.
Prima Quran 
Hi what do you mean “ It would make no sense to call those who are involved in being devoted to other than Allah/or things along side Allah (swt) if they can find no forgiveness. This is what (Qur’an 4:48) is in reference to.” What is 4:48 referring to ?
Qur’an 4:48=Transgressors among the People of the Book
Context:
“O you who were given the Scripture, believe in what We have sent down”
Qur’an 4:48 is a warning to them =the People of the Book.
Looking at the paragraph the wording looks convoluted. So the article can still get the point across with/out it.
Hope this is helpful..
So if a Muslim does major shirk intentionally can he be forgiven I am so confused ?
I don’t know who the people of the book are ?
Let us see if the context helps you.
The words that I will put in all caps who do you think this is a reference to? Feel free to consult the Arabic text as well.
O YOU WHO WERE GIVEN THE SCRPTURE, believe in what We have sent down, confirming that which is with you, before We obliterate faces and turn them toward their backs or curse them as We cursed the sabbath-breakers. And ever is the decree of Allah accomplished. Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And he who associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin. Have you not seen those who claim themselves to be pure? Rather, Allah purifies whom He wills, and injustice is not done to them, [even] as much as a thread [inside a date seed]. Look how they invent about Allah untruth, and sufficient is that as a manifest sin. HAVE YOU NOT SEEN THOSE WHO WERE GIVEN A PORTION OF THE SCRIPTURE, who believe in superstition and false objects of worship and say about the disbelievers, “These are better guided than the believers as to the way”? (Qur’an 4:47-4:51)
That which is in caps is a reference to whom?
insh’Allah I hope this is helpful.
So let us try and go step by step. Qur’an 4:48 in context is a reference to the people of the book correct?
what about 4:116? It doesn’t seem to refer to ahlul kitab and seems to speak to a general audience that there is no Mghfirah for shirk
Bismillah ir rahman ir raheem,
I do not believe I can provide clarity more than what has been given by Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili (h)
So to reiterate the points in the article.
Qur’an 4:116 does not have to refer to the ahl kitab as it is also addressing a different set of mushrik.
Unless now, someone wants to come along and tell us that Jews and Christians are not mushrik. We can provide them with with other references from the Qur’an to show that they clear are mushrik.
It would not make consistent sense to tell the Jews and Christians that they cannot be forgiven of their shirk (unless they enter into Islam) and not convey this sentiment in general to other polytheist as a whole.
As Shaykh says in the article:
““And His saying , ‘And He forgives anything else, to whom He pleases‘, is a promise to those mushriks who embrace Islam of forgiveness for all their past sins, after what has preceded it of warning to those who persist in their shirk. From this, the reason clearly emerges of repeating the wording of the verse another time with no difference other than the end-rhyme. At first occurrence it is repeated by His saying, Exalted is He! ” -Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili
Because of the Murji’ah beliefs that permeate “Ahl Sunnah” they want to deduce from their understanding of the verse the following:
A person can do what ever sins they want (rape, molestation, murder) just short of shirk and they will be forgiven without repentance and reformation?
We have no evidence of that from the Qur’an.
““Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.” (Qur’an 4:48)
Because this verse applies to the Christians and Jews can we deduce that shirk from other than the Jews and Christians would be acceptable? Of course not.
Thus, when we read:
“Surely Allah does not forgive associating ˹others˺ with Him ˹in worship˺, but forgives anything else of whoever He wills. Indeed, whoever associates ˹others˺ with Allah has clearly gone far astray.”
Just because Christians and Jews are not specified by the context of the above verse does this justify their exclusion?
“Indeed, WHOEVER associates ˹others˺ with Allah has clearly gone far astray.”
So just as the first set of verses is addressed to the Ahl Kitab does not mean it is ok for the Non Ahl Kitab to commit shirk.
So just as the verse in 4:116 does not mention Ahl Kitab it does not mean it is ok for them to commit shirk.
Just like neither verses does not mention the believers but that does not mean it is ok for the believers to commit shirk.
Those verses 4:116 & 4:48 are further strengthened by the verse:
“And whoever desires other than Islām as religion – never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.” (Qur’an 3:85)
Which deen other than Islam is a deen that is free from shirk?
And lastly we have this verse of the Qur’an.
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives ALL SINS Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Qur’an 39:53)
And shirk is a sin without doubt.
What is interesting about all this, is that it is obvious and logical that when a non Muslim enters into Islam and they are sincere all the shirk they have committed prior is forgiven. This in and of itself proves what we have said.
Because it shows exception does it not?
So now the Ahl Khilaf (the people of opposition) will need to provide us an example from the Qur’an where a believer committed shirk, asked Allah for forgiveness and was not forgiven.
May Allah (swt) guide us to what is beloved to Allah.
Remember Palestine, Libya, the Congo, the Rohingya, Syria, the Uyghur, Rohingya and all those suffering from injustice and oppression in your du’a.
So, according to Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili, Muslims who shave their beard will be in hell eternally – since he has given a fatwa stating that shaving the beard is a major sin. Are you in agreement with this?
Your question reminds me of those #TheTellMeChallenge you know the ones that say, “Tell me you are from Portugal without telling me you are from Portugal” for example. So your question is basically like this. “Tell me you don’t know how to engage with the points laid out in the article without telling me you don’t know how to engage with the points laid out in the article.”
So instead you hope for an emotive dig.
Rather you are Maliki or Salafi , the position of the Qur’an is clear and the Maliki and Salafi position on the matter is contrary to the Qur’an.
“And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated -Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful.” (Qur’an 25:68-70)
The above verse is crystal clear. Allah (swt) does indeed forgive shirk.
Second Allah (swt) does not forgive killing without right, fornication or adultery unless one repents and reforms themselves.
This text alone lets you know that no matter where you are among the Sunni (Salafi, Shafi’i, Hanbali, Maliki, Hanafi) your aqidah is in error.
So you see when a person has no argument and no objection they come with emotive points.
In fact, I’ll give you something else. I do believe that a Muslim can go to hellfire (forever) from drinking a single cup of wine! (Salafi, Shafi’i, Hanbali, Maliki, Hanafi) all agree that drinking alcohol is a major sin. There is a hadd punishment for it.
So if it is a major sin and we have clearly established in the Qur’an that Allah (swt) does not forgive those who do not avoid major sins or dies before repenting from them that person would be in hell (forever).
I’ll give you some other interesting ones you can reflect on.
What about the belief among many in Ahl Sunnah that plucking one’s eye brows sends one to hell!
The Shafi’i have a position on executing the Muslim who is negligent in prayer:
One of the big Salafi Shaykhs, Salih Al Fawzan believes that those who do not want to keep the beard should be castrated!
“according to Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili, Muslims who shave their beard will be in hell eternally – since he has given a fatwa stating that shaving the beard is a major sin.”
Correction:
His view actually would be: “Muslims who shave their beard will be in hell eternally if they do not repent and reform their ways.”
That again would be for people who CAN grow the beard but WILLFULLY neglect it. Not for those who have a medical condition or a valid reason for example.
As you might be a ware Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili (h) is the current Mufti of Oman. I would say a man of Allah (swt) and one who does fear the blame of the blamer or the critique of the critique or the need to say what pleases the ears and tickles the nafs.
As a person in his position he looks at the legal evidence and make a legal verdict in light of those evidences. That is what someone would have to contend with.
So now to your question:
“Are you in agreement with this?”
I am in agreement with a Mufti giving a fatwa based upon his research yes.
As regard personally agree, I would have to look into all the evidences and reasons and justifications for said position. Which I have not.
It would be great if you had questions or objections to the actual points raised in the article.
May Allah (swt) guide us to what is beloved to Allah (swt).
There seems to be a good deal of psychological projection going on with your reply. I was neither emotional, nor looking to make an appeal to emotion. I have no idea what that was about.
My question was direct and simple, and you have answered it – i.e., you believe that Muslims who shave their beard will be in hell eternally (provided they do not repent for that major sin, as you very well added). I was just curious about your position and decided to ask. I assume the place was not the best – I confess I’m not too well versed in technology and blogs of this nature. My apologies.
Regarding the general thesis of the article, I have no objection. I think your exposition is quite valid and goes in line with the Qur’anic message.
“There seems to be a good deal of psychological projection going on with your reply. I was neither emotional, nor looking to make an appeal to emotion. I have no idea what that was about.”
I offer my apologies to you. The reason I responded in the way that I did is I had via e-mail someone from the Shafi’i school ask this very same question. As if it was some valid objection against our school.
“My question was direct and simple, and you have answered it – i.e., YOU believe that Muslims who shave their beard will be in hell eternally (provided they do not repent for that major sin, as you very well added)”
I would kindly ask you to look closely at my reply.
My reply states:
“As regard personally agree, I would have to look into all the evidences and reasons and justifications for said position. Which I have not.”
So the view you are quoting is that of Shaykh Ahmed Al Khalili (h) that should be clear. insh’Allah.