Part 52

As for their seeking to support their claim with the saying that if you were to uncover a dead man in his grave you would find him just as he was, and you would find that the grave had not widened or become constricted; then the reply to this is from a number of angles, from them: (i) It is not allowed to try to contradict the Sharee'ah texts with the like of these futile doubts - which are such that if the one who raises them were to carefully consider the Sharee'ah texts he would see the futility of these doubts. So it is as has been said: "How many people seek to find fault with a saying that is correct, and their downfall is faulty understanding." (ii) That the state experienced after death (al-Barzakh) is from the affairs of the hidden and the unseen and cannot be reached by the senses. If it could be reached by the senses then the benefit in having eemaan in the hidden and the unseen would pass away, and the true Believers and the deniers would be the same in their affirmation of it. (iii) The punishment and bliss, expansion of the grave and its constriction will be experienced by the deceased and not by others. This is just like the sleeping person who sees in his dream that he is in a frightful and constricted place, or in an extensive and pleasing place, yet in the view of others he has experienced no change whilst asleep and remains in his room under his covers upon his bed. Also the Prophet used to receive Revelation whilst he was with his Companions, and he would hear the Revelation yet the Companions would hear nothing. Also sometimes the angel would take the form of a man and would speak to him, yet the Companions would not see or hear the angel. (iv) That the perception of the creation is limited to what Allaah, the Most High, has enabled them to reach and perceive, and they cannot reach and perceive everything that exists. So the seven heavens and the earth and all within them, and everything glorifies and praises Allaah in a true and real sense, and Allaah, the Most High, allows this to be heard sometimes by whomever He wills from His creation, yet this is something hidden from us. Concerning this Allaah, the Most High, says, "The seven heavens and the earth and the Believers, from the angels, men and jinn - within them praise and glorify Allaah, declaring Him free from all defects. There is nothing from His creation except that it praises and glorifies Him, yet you do not comprehend their praises." [surah al-Israa (17):44] Likewise the devils and the jinn proceed upon the earth, coming and going, and the jinn gathered in the presence of the Prophet and listened quietly to his recitation and then went off as warner's to their people. Yet despite this they are hidden from us. Concerning this Allaah, the Most High, says, "O children of Aadam, do not let Satan deceive you by putting you to trial just as he caused your parents Aadam and Hawaa to be taken out of Paradise, stripping them of their clothing to reveal their private parts - due to their obedience to him. Indeed Satan sees you, he and his tribe the jinn from whence you cannot see them. Indeed We have made the devils helpers of those who are unbelievers." [surah al-A'raaf (7):27] Since the creation cannot reach and perceive all that exists, then it is not permissible to reject those affairs of the Hidden and Unseen that have been affirmed but which they are unable to perceive. and that you truly believe in pre-decree (al-qadar) its good and its evil. [131] The proof for these six pillars is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, "It is not righteousness that you turn your faces to the east or the west, but rather righteousness is the righteousness of those who truly believe in Allaah, and the Last Day, and the Angels, and the Books, and the Prophets." [surah al-Baqarah (2): 177] The proof for pre-decree is the Saying of Allaah, the Most High, "We have created all things in accordance with a pre-decreed measure." [surah al-Qamar (54):49] ________________________________________________________ Al-Qadar (Pre-Decree) is "Allaah, the Most High's, ordainment of the creation, in accordance with His Knowledge that preceded everything, and in accordance with His Wisdom." Belief in qadar comprises four matters: (i) To believe that Allaah, the Most High, has always and eternally known everything, both the general and the specific details, whether with regard to His actions or the actions of His creation. (ii) To believe that Allaah wrote all of this in the Preserved Tablet (al-Lawhul Mahfoodh); and concerning these two matters Allaah, the Most High, says, "Do you not know that Allaah knows whatever is in the seven heavens and the seven earth's, nothing of that is hidden from Him. The knowledge of all that is contained in the Preserved Tablet, and it is something easy for Allaah."[surah al-Hajj (22):70] It is reported from 'Abdullaah ibn 'Amr ibn al-'Aas, radiyallaahu 'anhumaa, who said that I heard Allaah's Messenger say, "Allaah wrote the decreed measures for all of the creation before the creation of the heavens and the earth by fifty thousand years." [Reported by Muslim (Eng.