The Reality of Rebuke or Punishment for the One Who Abandons the Sunnah
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 89
Will the person who abandons the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ be merely rebuked by the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Judgement, or will he also face punishment?
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
There is no power nor strength except with Allah.
The author of As-Sunan wa al-Mubtadaʿāt (1/18) mentions that some later scholars claimed:
"Whoever abandons the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ will be rebuked by the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Judgment. He will say to him: ‘Why did you abandon my Sunnah?’ and that person will appear embarrassed and ashamed."
This statement is equivalent to speaking about Allah without knowledge.
Such ideas are frequently found in lectures and sermons of some scholars and preachers, but they are baseless and strange.
The question arises:
What has blinded these people from the clear statement of the Prophet ﷺ, wherein he declared:
"Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]
And likewise, in another Hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"I have cursed seven types of people... among them is the one who abandons my Sunnah."
[Ṭabarānī, Al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr – graded ḥasan]
Such individuals are like those who have turned their backs on the Book of Allah, becoming deaf and blind to the truth.
Their hearts and eyes are veiled, unable to perceive or accept guidance.
✔ The notion that abandoning the Sunnah will result in only rebuke and not punishment is unfounded and misleading.
✔ Authentic narrations clearly indicate that abandoning the Sunnah is a serious matter, potentially deserving of curse and exclusion from the Prophet’s Ummah.
✔ This matter should be approached with fear of Allah and sound understanding of revelation.
And Allah knows best what is correct.
Source: Fatāwā al-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, p. 89❖ Question:
Will the person who abandons the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ be merely rebuked by the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Judgement, or will he also face punishment?
❖ Answer:
Al-ḥamdu lillāh, and peace and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
There is no power nor strength except with Allah.
The author of As-Sunan wa al-Mubtadaʿāt (1/18) mentions that some later scholars claimed:
"Whoever abandons the Sunnah of the Messenger ﷺ will be rebuked by the Prophet ﷺ on the Day of Judgment. He will say to him: ‘Why did you abandon my Sunnah?’ and that person will appear embarrassed and ashamed."
◈ Response to This Claim:
This statement is equivalent to speaking about Allah without knowledge.
Such ideas are frequently found in lectures and sermons of some scholars and preachers, but they are baseless and strange.
The question arises:
What has blinded these people from the clear statement of the Prophet ﷺ, wherein he declared:
"Whoever turns away from my Sunnah is not from me."
[Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī]And likewise, in another Hadith, the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"I have cursed seven types of people... among them is the one who abandons my Sunnah."
[Ṭabarānī, Al-Jāmiʿ al-Ṣaghīr – graded ḥasan]❖ Consequences for Abandoning the Sunnah:
Such individuals are like those who have turned their backs on the Book of Allah, becoming deaf and blind to the truth.
Their hearts and eyes are veiled, unable to perceive or accept guidance.
Conclusion:
✔ The notion that abandoning the Sunnah will result in only rebuke and not punishment is unfounded and misleading.
✔ Authentic narrations clearly indicate that abandoning the Sunnah is a serious matter, potentially deserving of curse and exclusion from the Prophet’s Ummah.
✔ This matter should be approached with fear of Allah and sound understanding of revelation.
And Allah knows best what is correct.
