“Those are a people who have passed away; theirs is that which they earned and yours that which you earn. And you will not be asked of what they used to do.” (Qur’an 2:141)
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Once more our school demonstrates to the Ummah a very practical and pragmatic approach.
On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (ra) who said:
The Messenger of Allah (saw) said, “Part of the perfection of one’s Islam is his leaving that which does not concern him.”
Source: https://sunnah.com/nawawi40:12
We as Muslims should not concern ourselves with who is in heaven or in hell. We should instead concern ourselves about our own station with Allah. As Fathers , are we guiding our children? As parents are we guiding our children? As a spouse am I assisting my spouse to get there? That is our immediate concern.
Nor should we be among those who think they have the keys to heaven and hell able to distribute it to whomever we like!
A very eye opening video on the matter by Dr Shaykh Abdullah al-Mu’ammari. -May Allah continue to benefit us by him.
“And-they say: “How can we say that the people of Fitra can be damned, while the Prophet (saw) parents lived upon such fitra?”
Thus also, that means we must then affirm the damnation of the Prophets Parents and that they are in hellfire. And that saying such is not permissible etc.; First, this issue originally is not acceptable for one to enter upon it with emotions to be emotional about it.
Because in principle there is no harm if the father of a prophet is a disbeliever or the son of a prophet is a disbeliever. Or for that matter if the wife of a Prophet is a disbeliever. And all of these have their examples. As Allah mentioned that the son of Noah was a disbeliever.
As Allah mentions about Nuh (as) “And Noah called out to his Lord, Saying: My son is of my family and your promise is true and you are the most just of judges.” (Qur’an 11:45)
“And Allah replied: “Oh Noah, He is not of your family, he has done that which is no right.” (Qur’an 11:46)
So, this individual was a disbeliever as well. He was a disbeliever in the sense that he was disobedient to Allah. Thus, he was destroyed along with those destroyed.
And as Allah says: “And the waves came between them and he was among the drowned.” (Qur’an 11:43)
And as well the father of Ibrahim (as). He was also a disbeliever. And the verses mentioning such are many.
And Ibrahim (as) disassociated himself from his father.
“And the request of forgiveness of Ibrahim for his father was only because of a promise he had made to him. But when it became apparent to Ibrahim that his father was an enemy to Allah, he disassociated himself from him. Indeed was Ibrahim compassionate and patient.” (Qur’an 9:114)
As well as the wives of Noah and Lot, the Wives of the two were disbelievers. As mentioned in Surah Al Tahrim. And in other chapters in regard to the wife of Lut (as).
Allah presents an example of those who disbelieved: the wife of Noah and the wife of Lot. They were under two of Our righteous servants but betrayed them, so they [i.e., those prophets] did not avail them from Allah at all, and it was said, “Enter the Fire with those who enter.” (Qur’an 66:10)
Therefore there is no problem. Religion is not an inheritance. There is no harm. But as regard the parents of the Prophet (saw) there is no obligation on us to say that they were disbelievers-Allah forbid!
Rather we withhold judgement on that (Wuqoof). As we say that the issue of aqeeda(creed) are founded upon certain decisive evidences and are no founded upon speculative evidences.
For we can not delve into the unseen/unknown about a person. Whether they are in heaven or in hell. Only this can be said with certain decisive evidence.
Thus, in regard to the parents of the Prophet (saw) we withhold judgement on their abodes and their issue is with Allah.
And we do not overwhelm ourselves with that-which our knowledge has not reached.
“Those are a people who have passed away; theirs is that which they earned and yours that which you earn. And you will not be asked of what they used to do.” (Qur’an 2:141)
As for those narrations -they are inconsistent with each other and are ahad. And the scholars, some have faulted them in regards the salvation of his father or the salvation of any of his (saw) Parents.
Some of the narrations mention that the Prophet (saw) asked his Lord to resurrect his mother Aminah -Then Allah resurrected her and then she believed and died again.
These narrations are just to affirm her salvation. But these statements collide with the clear evidences on resurrection of the dead. This is far from that by a lot!
Also we find the narration of Muqabil that in it is that a man asked the Prophet (saw) about his Father who had died upon polytheism and the Prophet (saw) said he is in the hellfire.
And that man replied: “And your father?” To which the Prophet (saw) said: “If you pass by the grave of a disbeliever give him glad tidings of hellfire.” And in other narrations: “My father and yours are in hell.”
Sources: (https://sunnah.com/ibnmajah:1573)
& (https://sunnah.com/muslim:203)
Regardless of what was said. In regard to this narration and the in authenticating it. We cannot confirm it. And for that reason as I said before, Some of the scholars have faulted it. In accepting its narration. Some say if it is affirmed it is ahad and speculative. So it is not permissible for one to rely upon it or fault those who have abandoned it.
And for that reason it is for us to withhold judgement (wuqoof) on this matter and to leave the matter to Allah (swt) The Exalted.
In deciding for specific individuals whether this person is in heaven or that person is in hell-The decision is with Allah!
And there are from the scholars those who originally kept silent on such issues and on speaking about Ahlul Fatrah-and says the issue needs more looking into.
Thus, our school removes from the Ummah one less barrier, one less issue to debate about. Suspend judgement and practice wuquoof.
You may also be interested in the following:
https://primaquran.com/2023/02/24/do-sunni-muslims-believe-animals-can-go-to-hell/
https://primaquran.com/2024/01/21/a-popular-misunderstanding-of-the-verse-in-the-quran-2426/
May Allah forgive the Ummah.
May Allah guide the Ummah.
Prima Quran 