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مسند اسحاق بن راهويه
Musnad Ishaq
كتاب الايمانBook of Faith
If a polytheist repents before death, his faith will be valid
Hadith 37
اُردوEn
أَخْبَرَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ كَيْسَانَ، عَنْ أَبِي حَازِمٍ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ قَالَ لِعَمِّهِ: ((قُلْ لَا إِلَهَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ أَشْهَدُ لَكَ بِهَا يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ)) ، فَقَالَ: لَوْلَا أَنْ يُعَيَّرَ قُرَيْشٌ بِي لَأَقْرَرْتُ عَيْنَكَ بِهَا، فَأَنْزَلَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ ﴿إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَهْدِي مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ﴾(القصص: 56) .
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said to his uncle (Abu Talib): “Acknowledge «لا الهٰ الا الله» so that I may testify in your favor on the Day of Resurrection.” He replied: If it were not that the Quraysh would reproach me, I would acknowledge it before you. Then Allah the Exalted revealed this verse: «إِنَّكَ لَا تَهْدِي مَنْ أَحْبَبْتَ وَلَـكِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَهْدِي مَن يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِالْمُهْتَدِينَ» [28-القصص:56] “You cannot guide whom you love, but Allah guides whom He wills, and He knows best those who are guided.”
Explanation & Benefits
Hafiz Abdush Shakoor Tirmidhi
Benefits:
It is narrated in Sahih Bukhari from Sayyiduna Musayyib radi Allahu anhu that when the time of Abu Talib’s death approached, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came to him and saw that at that time Abu Jahl ibn Hisham and Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah ibn al-Mughirah were present with him. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to him: “Uncle, say one word «لا اله الا الله» so that I may testify on your behalf before Allah because of this word.” Upon this, Abu Jahl and Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah ibn al-Mughirah said: “Abu Talib! Will you turn away from the religion of your father Abdul Muttalib?” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam continued to present the word of Islam to him, and Abu Jahl and Ibn Abi Umayyah kept repeating their statement. In the end, Abu Talib’s final statement was that he remained on the religion of Abdul Muttalib. He refused to say «لا اله الا الله», yet the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “I will continue to seek forgiveness for you until I am forbidden to do so regarding you.” Then Allah, the Possessor of Majesty, revealed this verse:
«مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ» [9-التوبة:113]
“It is not appropriate for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are close relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the companions of Hellfire.” [بخاري ، كتاب الجنائز ، رقم : 1360]
From the aforementioned ahadith, it is understood that if a polytheist repents before death, his faith will be valid and his sins will be forgiven, provided that the repentance is before the throes of death. However, after the throes of death (sakarat al-mawt), repentance will not be accepted.
As Allah, the Exalted, has said:
«فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَانُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَا» [40-غافر:85]
“But their faith did not benefit them when they saw Our punishment.”
And it is also understood that even after recognizing the truth, sometimes a person refuses to accept the truth due to the taunts of his community or for worldly motives.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu that he came to the service of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and said: “Abu Talib has passed away.” Upon this, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu: “Go and bury him.” Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu said: “He died as a polytheist.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam again said: “Go and bury him.” Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu says: “When I had buried him and returned to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he said to me: ‘Perform a ritual bath (ghusl).’” [سنن ابي داود : 3214، سنن النسائي : 190، اسناده صحيح]
It is understood from this that granting guidance is Allah’s prerogative; the Prophet cannot guide whomever he wills.
It is narrated in Sahih Bukhari from Sayyiduna Musayyib radi Allahu anhu that when the time of Abu Talib’s death approached, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came to him and saw that at that time Abu Jahl ibn Hisham and Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah ibn al-Mughirah were present with him. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to him: “Uncle, say one word «لا اله الا الله» so that I may testify on your behalf before Allah because of this word.” Upon this, Abu Jahl and Abdullah ibn Abi Umayyah ibn al-Mughirah said: “Abu Talib! Will you turn away from the religion of your father Abdul Muttalib?” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam continued to present the word of Islam to him, and Abu Jahl and Ibn Abi Umayyah kept repeating their statement. In the end, Abu Talib’s final statement was that he remained on the religion of Abdul Muttalib. He refused to say «لا اله الا الله», yet the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “I will continue to seek forgiveness for you until I am forbidden to do so regarding you.” Then Allah, the Possessor of Majesty, revealed this verse:
«مَا كَانَ لِلنَّبِيِّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَن يَسْتَغْفِرُوا لِلْمُشْرِكِينَ وَلَوْ كَانُوا أُولِي قُرْبَىٰ مِن بَعْدِ مَا تَبَيَّنَ لَهُمْ أَنَّهُمْ أَصْحَابُ الْجَحِيمِ» [9-التوبة:113]
“It is not appropriate for the Prophet and those who believe to seek forgiveness for the polytheists, even if they are close relatives, after it has become clear to them that they are the companions of Hellfire.” [بخاري ، كتاب الجنائز ، رقم : 1360]
From the aforementioned ahadith, it is understood that if a polytheist repents before death, his faith will be valid and his sins will be forgiven, provided that the repentance is before the throes of death. However, after the throes of death (sakarat al-mawt), repentance will not be accepted.
As Allah, the Exalted, has said:
«فَلَمْ يَكُ يَنفَعُهُمْ إِيمَانُهُمْ لَمَّا رَأَوْا بَأْسَنَا» [40-غافر:85]
“But their faith did not benefit them when they saw Our punishment.”
And it is also understood that even after recognizing the truth, sometimes a person refuses to accept the truth due to the taunts of his community or for worldly motives.
It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu that he came to the service of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and said: “Abu Talib has passed away.” Upon this, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said to Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu: “Go and bury him.” Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu said: “He died as a polytheist.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam again said: “Go and bury him.” Sayyiduna Ali radi Allahu anhu says: “When I had buried him and returned to the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, he said to me: ‘Perform a ritual bath (ghusl).’” [سنن ابي داود : 3214، سنن النسائي : 190، اسناده صحيح]
It is understood from this that granting guidance is Allah’s prerogative; the Prophet cannot guide whomever he wills.
Source: Musnad Ishaq bin Rahwayh, Page: 37
