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 4:17-18)
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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 7/7/2024 but decide to stop praying, fasting paying zakat?
Am I 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.
What happens to the one leaves Islam completely?
Do their deeds, and statements of creed effect their salvation?
Do the murtad become the people of paradise?
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.
A logical problem if one takes those hadith in isolation.
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.
If one takes those hadith that promise a person paradise in isolation without considering all the other hadith evidence that clearly state if one does such and such as well as the clear text of the Qur’an we will end up with serous logical contradictions.
Likewise, this is an issue of morals and ethics.
Has Islam really come to teach that a person can take the declaration of fast and afterwards not pray, not fast, not purify our wealth, and that one can lie, cheat, steal, commit fornication and adultery and will be among the people of paradise?
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:
Our school states that no disbeliever enters into the paradise and no believer enters into the hellfire. Such a belief about the believer entering into hellfire has no basis in the primary source of Islam, the Qur’an.
So the differences are:
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).
Does Allah replace some Jews and Christians (destined to paradise) and swap them for (Muslims destined to hell) as some Sunni claim?
Does Allah grant polytheist salvation (as the case of Ibrahim’s father) and place in his stead a goat or sheep?
https://primaquran.com/2023/02/24/do-sunni-muslims-believe-animals-can-go-to-hell/
Forget what this one claims or that one claims.
https://primaquran.com/2023/02/16/a-huge-misunderstanding-among-muslims/
What does Allah (swt) say in the Qur’an?
May Allah Forgive the Ummah.
May Allah Guide the Ummah.
Prima Quran 
From what I read, not shaving mustache, for example, is grounds for takfir. Not just sinning while remaining Muslim, but actually going outside the fold of Islam:
https://dorar.net/hadith/sharh/68946
Takfir = you didn’t die upon Islam = permanent (not temporary) Hellfire even with Sunni aqeeda in consideration.
Why do they complain eternal Hellfire for sinning in Ibadi Islam when they have something like this? They shouldn’t cast rocks if they live in a glass house.
This is a very good point! I had not come across this before.
Though I was aware of those cursed for plucking the brows.
“Why do they complain eternal Hellfire for sinning in Ibadi Islam when they have something like this?”
Just a caveat for the readers our position is that those who commit major sins and die WITHOUT REPENTING will enter into the hellfire.
Other than that, Allah (swt) wants to forgive us and he wants us to repent and transform our charachter.
On the subject of debated doctrines within Sunnism, may I ask what your view is of the popular notion of the ‘Light of Muhammad’? As I understand it this belief, strongly adhered to among the Barlevis of India and other Sufi groups, proclaims that the Islamic Prophet is the mortal manifestation of Divine Light, created by God prior to all time and from whom all things derive.
Furthermore the divine nature (lahut) of the Islamic Prophet is the Universal Intellect (al-‘aql al-kull) of God, which is also called the Light of Muhammad (noor Muhammad). In your opinion, does this opinion have any support in either the Quran or the earliest stratum of Islamic belief.
I am not sure if you are the same person that inquired about the Messiah on X (formerly known as twitter). Insh’Allah will get around to this.
Writing on this particular topic is not something pressing for me.
“does this opinion have any support in either the Quran or the earliest stratum of Islamic belief.”
As regard rather or not such a doctrine has support in the Qur’an -these days people can deduct all manner of ideas from the Qur’an. Rather it has support from the grammar itself is another matter.
As regard the Muhammedan light, I am well aware of it. Suffice it to say for now that these has not reached the status of tawatur.
We do not take the lone narrator reports as evidence in theology. They can be taken in matters of law.
However, it is an excellent suggestion for a topic, and write up.
May Allah guide you.
I also wanted to add here. I have met many people who claim to be Sufi, Will throw around Sufi jargon, will claim to be people of Tassawuf and I too have met people who claim to be Salafi and upon the path of the Salaaf.
I am commanded to be just. If I was to give you an honest assessment based upon Dhahir I have to give it to the Salafis. If I was to compare/contrast many Salafi who actually do witr prayers, and tahajjud, live austere lifestyles and truly are in zuhd. Mild mannered, calm, a far cry from what you may meet at hyde park.
and then compare/contrast that to let us say someone who claims to be from the Ismailii Nizari smoking Shisha, wearing high end brands, working a hotel owned by the Aga Khan selling alcohol, not praying at all, not fasting in Ramadan. Reading books on Sufism with fragrant jargon.
To me that Salafi is on the path and there is no doubt.
Look, you really don’t need a justification to be a hedonist. However, to claim that Islam gives you these justifications or worse yet to imagine that you have a heart burning for the love of Allah, when in reality you want to puff up your ego by thinking yourself intellectually superior to others -without doubt that is certainly the downward road.