Part 8

[As for the slanderers,] to every one of them [will be accounted] all that he has earned by [thus] sinning; and awesome suffering awaits any of them who takes it upon himself to enhance this [sin]." [Al Qur'aan 24:11] Those who erred towards me, I pardon. As for those who abused the rights of Allaah, then let them repent and Allaah will forgive them. If they do not, then Allaah's Rule should be imposed upon them. For if the human were to be thanked for his errors, I would have thanked everyone responsible in this matter for the subsequent benefits in this life and in the next 22. But Allaah is the most worthy of praise, and the believer seeks the good in all of His decrees. Similarly, those with good intention are thanked for that, and those who do good are praised for their work. But to those who perform bad deeds, we ask Allaah to forgive them. And this is what you are accustomed to of my manners, and what I know of this matter and I what I have experienced is great and more grave than what you perceive. Nevertheless, the rights of people to one another, and the rights of Allaah upon them, are all under His Rule, and He will be the eventual arbiter. Let us not forget the incident involving the Sideeq (truthful one) Aboo Bakr during the trial of Ifk 23 about which some verses of the Qur'aan were revealed. In it, Aboo Bakr promised that he 21 The issue refers to his being falsely accused in the subject of 'aqeedah, and the envious shaykhs ill treatment towards him, and his subsequent imprisonment as a result, although his opinion was correct. 22 He is referring to his exposing innovation and the many lessons he taught in masjids and Schools. 23 Al-Ifk here denotes a false accusation of unchastity. It refers to an incident, which occurred on the Prophet's return from the campaign against the tribe of Mustaliq in the year 5AH. The Prophet's wife 'Aaishah, who had accompanied him on that expedition, was inadvertently left behind when the Muslims struck camp. After spending several hours alone, she was found by one of the Prophet's companions, who led her to the next halting-place of the army. This incident gave rise to malicious would no longer assist the companion Mistah ibn Athathah. The reason behind Aboo Bakr's decision to exclude Mistah from the many Muslims he helped on a regular basis, was based on the latter's involvement in the spreading of lies. So Allaah revealed: "Hence, [even if they have been wronged by slander,] let not those of you who have been graced with [Allaah's] favour and ease become remiss in helping [the erring ones among] their near of kin, and the needy, and those who have forsaken the domains of evil for the sake of Allaah, but let them pardon and forbear. [For] do you not desire that Allaah should forgive your sins, seeing that Allaah is much forgiving, a dispenser of grace." [Al Qur'aan 24:22] The reaction of Aboo Bakr when this verse was revealed was, "Of course! By Allaah, I wish for Him to forgive me." Aboo Bakr, the father of the wrongly accused promptly returned to helping Mistah. "Allaah will in time, bring forth people whom He loves and who live Him - humble towards the believers, proud towards the disbelievers. They strive hard in Allaah's cause and do not fear to be blamed by anyone who might blame them: such is Allaah's favour, which He grants unto whom He wills. And Allaah is infinite, All-Knowing. Behold, your only helper shall be Allaah, and His Messenger, and the believers - those that are constant in prayer, pay zakah and bow down before Allaah. For, all those who ally themselves with Allaah and His Messenger and those who believed - behold, it is they, the partisans of Allaah who shall be victorious." [Al Qur'aan 5:54-56] Wasalaamu 'alaykum wa rahmatullaah!