Arrogance, Iman and Jannah

(Translated by Yahya Adel Ibrahim)

Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah) was asked:
Regarding his statement,

“The one who possesses an iota of Kibr in his (spiritual) heart (intention, consciousness) shall not enter al-Jannah”

Is this hadith specific only to the believers (Mu‘minin) or (is it specific only to the) unbelievers (Kufar)? If we were to say that it is specific for the Believers then (is not) our statement trivial considering (the fact that) the believers shall enter al-Jannah (Paradise) due to their Iman . If, on the other hand, we were to say that the hadith is specific for the unbelievers then what is the relevance of the statement (since it is already known that the unbelievers shall not gain admission to al-Jannah)?

He (rahimahullah) answered: (Another) authentically reported wording of (this particular version of the) Hadith is,

“The one who possesses half of mustard seed of Kibr in his heart shall not be granted admission to Jannah; and the one who possesses half of a mustard seed of Iman shall not enter the (Eternal) Fire.” [1]

Kibr that openly opposes and negates Iman results in the banishment of its possessor from entering al-Jannah as is found in His (Allah, the Most High) statement:

“And your Lord said: “Invoke Me, [i.e. believe in My Oneness (Islamic Monotheism)] (and ask Me for anything) I will respond to your (invocation). Verily! Those who scorn (Yastakbirûn – Have Kibr) My worship [i.e. do not invoke Me, and do not believe in My Oneness, (Islamic Monotheism)] they will surely enter Hell in humiliation!” Ghaafir 40:60

This is the Kibr of Iblis (the Devil), Pharaoh and all the others who possessed Kibr that invalidated Iman . This is also the Kibr that the Jews possess and those whom Allah has described to us by saying:

“Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant? Some, you disbelieved and some, you killed.” Al-Baqarah 2: 87

Al-Kibr, in its entirety, openly opposes the essentials of al-Iman. As such he who has an iota of Kibr in his heart shall not act upon that which Allah has prescribed, nor shall he abstain from that which Allah has prohibited. Instead his Kibr shall result in his disavowal and rejection of the Haqq (Truth) and instill in him contempt of others. This, precisely, is the explanatory definition of al-Kibr provide by an-Nabi as is found in the complete version of the initial Hadith

“The one who possesses an iota of Kibr in his heart shall not be granted admission to Jannah.”

He was (then asked), “[But] O Messenger of Allah ! A man likes to have fine clothing and footwear. Is this included in Kibr?” He responded,

“No. Allah is Beauty and loves Beauty. Kibr is the rejection of Truth (Battrul-Haqq) and condescension of others (wa ‘ghamttun-Nas).”[2]

The statement Battarul-Haqq denotes distain and rejection of the Truth, while wa ghamttun-nas implies contempt and condescension of others from amongst mankind.

Therefore the one who possesses half of a mustard seed of it (Kibr) rejects the Truth that he was ordered to accept and act upon. At the same time, the Kibr instills in him a sense of condescension that inculcates in the individual an oppressive demeanor producing transgression over the rights of others.

The one who neglects his obligations (due to his rejection of them) and is oppressive to others from amongst the creation is not to be amongst the people of Jannah (while in this state), or deserving of it. On the contrary, such an individual is to be counted amongst the people who are threatened with punishment (Ahlul Wa‘id)!

His statement, “The one who possesses an iota of Kibr in his heart shall not be granted admission to Jannah,” implies that the individual is not from its (Jannah) people and is not deserving of it. But if he repents, or he possesses Hasanat (righteous deeds) that expiate his sins, or Allah has given him Ibtillah (trials and tests) in the form of calamities that have expunged his sins, or similar things; then for that individual the recompense of Kibr – which originally was a barrier for him to enter Jannah – is eliminated and he gains admission (to the Jannah). Similarly Allah, due to Divine Grace, may forgive the individual (the sin of) Kibr.[3] None shall gain admission (to Paradise) while possessing an iota of Kibr. As a result, those (scholars) discussing this Hadith, and other Hadith that have a similar theme, have stated:

“Unconditional admission (to the Jannah) – that is not in conjunction with punishment (for the sin of Kibr) – is what is being negated in this Hadith; not the admission to Jannah that is granted to those who enter the Fire (to be purified and cleansed) and then are allowed admission to Paradise thereafter. (On the other hand) if a Hadi th explicitly declares that a particular person is in Jannah or that a particular person is from the People of Jannah, it would then be understood that he would enter the Jannah and not enter the fire (beforehand).”

After this clarification we come to understand the true meaning of these narrations as being that the one who possesses an iota of Kibr in his heart is not from the people of Paradise (up to that point) and shall not gain admission into it without punishment (for his sin). Surely he deserves punishment – due to the enormity of the sin – similar to those who perform the Major (Kaba’ir) sins. Allah may punish him in the Fire as long as He wishes, but none from amongst the people of Tawhid shall remain in the Fire eternally.

This is to be the way we understand all the Hadith that have a similar meaning. This understanding is to be used when seeking the meaning of his statement:

“The one who severs the ties of the womb shall not enter Jannah. [4]

Or,

“You shall not enter Jannah until you believe. And you shall not believe until you love one another. Shall I inform you of something that if you do you shall (truly) love each other? Spread the greetings of Salam amongst yourselves.”

This is the understanding that we are to have when pondering over the Hadith that contain Wa‘id – Threat of Punishment. In this way we understand that the hadith is general and can be attributed to both the Kufar (unbelievers) and Muslims.

If one was to say, “All the Muslims enter Jannah due to their Islam.” The response is that not all Muslims enter Jannah without punishment. Surely the people who have been Threatened (with punishment in the Hereafter due to their sins) shall enter into the Fire to remain in it for the period that Allah so wills even though they are not Kufar. The individual who has some Iman coinciding with major sins may enter into the Fire and exit from it as a result of the Shafa‘ah (Intercession – permission from Allah to intercede) of an-Nabi or by other reported means as he has articulated. He said:

“My Shafa‘ah is for (shall benefit) the people of the Majors Sins (who did not commit Shirk) from amongst my Ummah.”[5]

And he said as is reported in the Sahih:

“I shall bring out of the Fire the one who possesses half of a mustard seed of Iman .”[6]

In this way we understand what is in store for those whom Allah has threatened with punishment – the murderer, fornicator/adulterer, the one who consumes intoxicants, and the one who misappropriates the wealth of the orphans, the one who witnesses falsehood and others who perform the deeds of the people of major sins. They – even if they are not unbelievers – are not deserving of the Jannah that they are promised (as Muslims) without first being (cleansed and purged through) punishment.

The Madh-hab (way and belief) of Ahlis-Sunnah wal-Jam‘ah is that the Fusaq (deviant sinners) from amongst the general body of Muslims are not going to be eternally punished in the Fire as has been stated by al-Khawarij [7] and al-Mu‘tazilah. [8]They are not complete in their religion (Din), Iman and obedience to Allah[9]] They have Hasanat wa Sayyi’at (good and bad deeds) that necessitate a measure of punishment and reward. This is a concise dissertation regarding the issue.

Wa Allahu a‘lam

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[1] Translator: Reported by Imam Muslim, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmithi on the authority of Ibn Mas‘ud. See Islah al-Masajid for Shaykh al-Albani rahimahullah.
[2] Translator: Reported by Imam Muslim (54), Ibn Khuzaymah, Abu Dawud, At-Tirmithi, Ibn Sa‘d on the authority of Ibn Mas‘ûd. At-Tabrani reports it on the authority of ‘Abdullah bin Salam

[3] Translator: Allah the Most High says in Surat an-Nisa’ (4:48):

“Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin..”

[4] Translator: Reported by al-Imam Muslim (1765 – Mukhtasar) al-Hakim, al-Bayhaqi, Abu Dawûd, and at-Tirmithi on the authority of Jubayr bin Mut‘am.

[5] Translator: Turn to the Chapter of “Shafa‘ah for the People of Major Sins” (Pg. 61-108) in the highly beneficial book of the world-renowned Muhadith ash-Shaykh Muqbil bin Hadi al-Wadi‘i(rahimahullah) titled, “Ash-Shafa‘ah.” In the chapter the Shaykh reports seventy-six (76) hadith showing that those who perform Major sins are not excluded from the Shafa‘ah of Rasûl ul Allah . This particular hadith can be found in the book on page 85 – Hadith number 56. Sh. Abi ‘Abdir-Rahman Muqbil bin Hadi reports that the Hadith is collected by at-Tirmithi (Vol. 4, Pg. 45) on the authority of Anas and Jabir. He then states: “And this Hadith is Hasan Sahih Gharib (Good and Authentic yet Scarce in this mode). The Hadith is reported by Ibn Khuzaymah (Pg. 270), Ibn Hibban as is in the Mawrid (Pg. 640), and al-Hakim (Vol. 1, Pg. 69) said – This Hadith is Authentic and meets the requirements set by Bukhari and Muslim even though they did not narrate it.” Later on the Shaykh rahimahullah says, “al-Hafidh Ibn Kathir said in his Tafsir (Vol. 1, Page 487) that its chain of Narration is Sahih and meets the requirements set by Bukhari and Muslim.” The Shaykh then takes us step by step through the Chain of narration and proves convincingly that the hadith does not meet the requirements of Bukhari and Muslim due to the presence of Mu‘mar reporting from Thabit. For further detailed analysis turn to Pg. 85-88. In Shaykh al-Albani’s Sahih al-Jami‘ he declares the Hadith Sahih on the authority of Jabir, Ibn ‘Abbas, Ibn ‘Umar, Ka‘b bin ‘Ajrah and Anas.

[6] Translator: This is a segment of the famous Hadith of Shafa‘ah collected by Bukhari (Vol. 13, Pg. 472).

[7] Translator: Khawarij is the plural of Khariji – They are those who declared that a Muslim becomes a disbeliever due to commiting a major sin alone.

[8] Translator: Al-Mu‘tazila deem the one who does not agree with their understanding of Tawhid (7 false principles) is deemed a Mushrik. They believe that the sinners who are Muslim shall be in a place between Jannah and the Fire. There beliefs are built on false logical deductions that led them to negate many of the Names and Attributes of Allah. They were the deviant group who opposed Imam Ahlis-Sunnah Ahmed Ibn Hanbal by falsely claiming that the Qur’an is created and not the Speech of Allah.

[9] Translator: The Murji’ah believe that sins, major or minor, do not effect faith and that Iman neither increases nor decreases. They claim that actions are not part of faith and that people do not vary in faith.

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