إن من حق الإنسان أن يطلب العلم ويبحث في آفاق هذا الكون، فالله سبحانه وتعالى أودع فينا هذه العقول لنستخدمها لا لنعطلهــا، فكل إنسان يتبع دين آباءه دون إعمال للعقل، وبلا تفكير وتحليل لهذا الدين، فهو بلا شك ظــالم لنفسه، محتـقــر لذاتــه، محتقر لهذه النعمة العظيمة التي أودعها الله تعالى فيه ألا وهي العقل.
It is man's right to seek knowledge and explore the horizons of this universe, as Allah Almighty has granted us these minds to use them not to suspend them. Everyone who follows the religion of his forefathers without using his mind, thinking, or analyzing such a religion, certainly wrongs and despises himself, and disdains this great blessing that Allah Almighty has bestowed on him which is the mind.
فكم من مسلم نشأ في أسرة موحدة، وحاد عن الطريق بالشرك بالله، وهناك من نشأ في أسرة مشركة أو نصرانية يؤمن بالتثليث، ورفض هذه العقيدة وقال: لا إله إلا الله.
Many Muslims grew up in a Muslim family but, then, deviated from the right path by associating partners with Allah. On the other hand, others grew up in a polytheistic or Christian family believing in Trinity, then, rejected this creed and testified that there is no god but Allah.
والقصة الرمزية الآتية توضح هذه النقطة، حيث قامت زوجة بطبخ سمكة لزوجها ولكنها قطعت الرأس والذيل قبل أن تطبخها، وعندما سألها زوجها: لماذا قطعتِ الرأس والذيل؟ قالت: إن أمي تطهوها بهذه الطريقة، سأل الزوج الأم: لماذا تقطعين الذيل والرأس عندما تطبخين السمك؟ أجابت الأم: إن أمي تطهوها بهذه الطريقة. بعدها سأل الزوج الجدة: لماذا تقطعين الرأس والذيل؟ أجابت: كان قدر الطهي في البيت صغيرًا وكان عليَّ أن أقطع الرأس والذيل لأتمكن من إدخال السمكة في القدر.
The following allegory clarifies this point. A woman cooked a fish for her husband but before cooking it, she cut its head and tail. When her husband asked her why she did that, she replied saying: My mother cooks it this way. He asked her mother why she would cut the head and tail when cooking fish, and she gave him the same reply as her daughter. After that, he asked the grandmother why she would cut the head and tail, and she said: I had a small cooking pot and I had to cut the head and tail so the fish would fit in the pot.
الواقع أن كثيرًا من الأحداث السابقة والتي جرت في العصور التي سبقتنا كانت رهينة عصرها وزمنها، ولها أسبابها التي ارتبطت بها ولعل القصة السابقة تعكس ذلك، والواقع أنها كارثة بشرية، أن نعيش في زمان ليس بزماننا وأن نقلد أفعال غيرنا دون أن نفكر أو نسأل رغم اختلاف الظروف وتغير الأزمنة.
As a matter of fact, many of the previous events that took place in the past ages depended on the circumstances of their age and time and had their relevant causes, as reflected in the previous story. Actually, this is a human disaster; to live at a time that is not ours and to imitate others' acts without thinking or wondering despite the different circumstances and times.
قال الله تعالى:
Allah Almighty said:
"…إنَّ اللَّهَ لَا يُغَيِّرُ مَا بِقَوْمٍ حَتَّىٰ يُغَيِّرُوا مَا بِأَنفُسِهِمْ…" [329]. (الرعد: 11).
{...Allah does not change the condition of a people until they change their own attitude and conduct...} [329] Surat ar-Ra‘d: 11.
هؤلاء لن يظلمهم الله عز وجل ولكنه سوف يمتحنهم في يوم القيامة.
Allah will not wrong such people; rather, He will test them on the Day of Judgment.
والبشر الذين لم تحن لهم الفرصة برؤية الإسلام جيدًا فهؤلاء ليس لهم عذر، لأنه كما ذكرنا فلا ينبغي لهم التقصير في البحث والتفكير. مع أن إقامة الحجة وقيامها يصعب التحقق منه، فكل شخص يختلف عن غيره، والعذر بالجهل أو عدم بلوغ الحجة أمره إلى الله في الآخرة، أما أحكام الدنيا فتعتمد على الظاهر.
People who did not have an opportunity to know Islam well have no excuse because, as we mentioned, they should not have been negligent in searching for the truth and thinking about it, although it is difficult to verify the act of informing people of Islam beyond ignorance and doubt since people vary. The destiny of those who are excused for their ignorance or for not being provided with irrefutable proof will be decided by Allah in the Hereafter, whereas the rulings related to this worldly life depend on what is apparent.
وإن حكم الله تعالى عليهم بالعذاب ليس ظلمًا بعد كل هذه الحجج التي أقامها عليهم، من العقل والفطرة والرسالات والآيات في الكون وفي أنفسهم، وأقل شيء كان من المفترض عليهم أن يفعلوه مقابل ذلك كله هو أن يعرفوا الله تعالى ويوحدوه، مع الالتزام بأركان الاسلام كحد أدنى، ولو فعلوه لنجوا من الخلود في النار، وحققوا السعادة في الدنيا والآخرة، أتعتقد أن هذا صعبًا؟
Allah's judgment to punish them is not injustice after all such irrefutable proofs that He provided them with through the mind, the natural disposition, the messages, and the signs in the universe and in their own selves. The least they were expected to do in return for all this was to know Allah Almighty and worship Him alone with adhering to the pillars of Islam at least. Had they done this, they would have been saved from eternity in Hellfire and would have attained happiness in this life and in the Hereafter. Do you think this is difficult?
إن حق الله تعالى على عباده الذين خلقهم أن يعبدوه وحده، وحق العباد على الله ألا يعذب من لا يشرك به شيئًا. الأمر بسيط، هي كلمات يقولها الإنسان ويؤمن بها ويعمل بمقتضاها، وكافية للنجاة من النار، أليس هذا هو العدل؟ هذا هو حُـكم الله عز وجل، وهو الحكم العدل اللطيف الخبير، وهذا هو دين الله تبارك وتعالى.
The right of Allah Almighty over His slaves whom He created is to worship Him alone, and the slaves' right over Allah is that He does not punish those who do not associate anything with Him. It is very simple, only words that man must say, believe in, and act upon and this will be sufficient to save him from Hellfire. Is this not justice? This is Allah's judgment and He is the Judge, the Just, the All-Subtle, and the All-Aware, and this is His religion.
المشكلة الحقيقية ليست في أن يخطئ الإنسان أو يرتكب ذنبًا؛ لأن من طبيعة الإنسان الوقوع في الخطأ، فكل ابن آدم خطاء، وخير الخطائين التوابين، كما أخبر بذلك النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم، ولكن المشكلة هي في التمادي في اقتراف المعاصي والإصرار عليها، والعيب أيضًا هو أن يُنصح الإنسان فلا يسمع النصيحة ولا يعمل بها، وأن يُذكَّر فلا تنفعه الذكرى، وأن يوعَظ فلا يتعظ ولا يعتبر ولا يتوب ولا يستغفر، بل يصر ويولي مستكبرًا.
The real problem is not the fact that man errs or sins because making mistakes is part of man's nature, as all the children of Adam are sinners and the best of the sinners are those who frequently repent, as the Prophet (may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him) told us. The real problem; however, lies in exceeding the limits and insisting on committing sins. Besides, when one is offered an advice, he does not listen to it or apply it, and when reminded, he does not benefit from the reminder, and when admonished, he does not learn his lesson, repent, or ask for Allah's forgiveness; rather, he insists and turns away in arrogance.
قال الله تعالى:
Allah Almighty said:
" وَإِذَا تُتْلَى عَلَيْهِ آيَاتُنَا وَلَّى مُسْتَكْبِرًا كَأَنْ لَمْ يَسْمَعْهَا كَأَنَّ فِي أُذُنَيْهِ وَقْرًا فَبَشِّرْهُ بِعَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍ "[330]. (لقمان: 7).
{When Our verses are recited to him, he turns away in arrogance, as if he did not hear them, as if there were deafness in his ears. So give him tidings of a painful punishment.} [330] Surat Luqmān: 7.
قال الله تعالى:
Allah Almighty said:
تتلخص نهاية رحلة الحياة والوصول إلى بر الأمان في هذه الآيات.
The conclusion of the journey of life and the reaching the shore of safety are summed up in the following verses:
"وَأَشْرَقَتِ الْأَرْضُ بِنُورِ رَبِّهَا وَوُضِعَ الْكِتَابُ وَجِيءَ بِالنَّبِيِّينَ وَالشُّهَدَاءِ وَقُضِيَ بَيْنَهُم بِالْحَقِّ وَهُمْ لَا يُظْلَمُونَ (٦٩) وَوُفِّيَتْ كُلُّ نَفْسٍ مَّا عَمِلَتْ وَهُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَا يَفْعَلُونَ (٧٠) وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِلَىٰ جَهَنَّمَ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوهَا فُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا أَلَمْ يَأْتِكُمْ رُسُلٌ مِّنكُمْ يَتْلُونَ عَلَيْكُمْ آيَاتِ رَبِّكُمْ وَيُنذِرُونَكُمْ لِقَاءَ يَوْمِكُمْ هَـٰذَا ۚ قَالُوا بَلَىٰ وَلَـٰكِنْ حَقَّتْ كَلِمَةُ الْعَذَابِ عَلَى الْكَافِرِينَ (٧١) قِيلَ ادْخُلُوا أَبْوَابَ جَهَنَّمَ خَالِدِينَ فِيهَا ۖ فَبِئْسَ مَثْوَى الْمُتَكَبِّرِينَ (٧٢) وَسِيقَ الَّذِينَ اتَّقَوْا رَبَّهُمْ إِلَى الْجَنَّةِ زُمَرًا ۖ حَتَّىٰ إِذَا جَاءُوهَا وَفُتِحَتْ أَبْوَابُهَا وَقَالَ لَهُمْ خَزَنَتُهَا سَلَامٌ عَلَيْكُمْ طِبْتُمْ فَادْخُلُوهَا خَالِدِينَ (٧٣) وَقَالُوا الْحَمْدُ لِلَّـهِ الَّذِي صَدَقَنَا وَعْدَهُ وَأَوْرَثَنَا الْأَرْضَ نَتَبَوَّأُ مِنَ الْجَنَّةِ حَيْثُ نَشَاءُ ۖ فَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِينَ" [331] (الزمر:69-74).
{The earth will shine with the light of its Lord, the record of deeds will be laid open, the prophets and the witnesses will be brought forth, and judgment will be passed between them with fairness, and they will not be wronged. Every soul will be paid in full for what it has done, for He knows best what they do. Those who disbelieved will be driven to Hell in groups, until when they reach it, its gates will be opened and its keepers will say to them, “Did there not come to you messengers from among you, reciting the verses of your Lord and warning you of your meeting of this Day?” They will say, “Yes indeed, but the decree of punishment has come to pass against the disbelievers.” It will be said, “Enter the gates of Hell, abiding therein forever.” What a terrible abode for the arrogant! But those who feared their Lord will be led to Paradise in groups, until when they reach it, its gates will be wide open, and its keepers will say to them, “Peace be upon you. You have done well, so enter it, abiding forever.” They will say, “All praise be to Allah Who has fulfilled His promise to us, and made us inherit the land to dwell wherever we please in Paradise.” How excellent is the reward of those who do [good]!} [331] Surat az-Zumar: 69-74.
أشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له
I testify that there is no god but Allah alone, Who has no partner,
وأشهد أن محمد عبده ورسوله
and I testify that Muhammad is His slave and messenger.
وأشهد أن رسل الله حق
I testify that the messengers of Allah are true,
وأشهد أن الجنة حق والنار حق.
and I testify that Paradise is true and that Hellfire is true.