[8] Abu Makkah asks a foolish or stupid rhetorical question to conceal truth and beautify falsehood
In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.
Allah [The Exalted] said:
خُذِ ٱلْعَفْوَ وَأْمُرْ بِٱلْعُرْفِ وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْجَٰهِلِينَ
Show forgiveness, enjoin what is good, and turn away from the foolish.
[Surah Al-A’raaf. Ayah 199]
[وَأَعْرِضْ عَنِ ٱلْجَٰهِلِينَ – and turn away from the foolish]- Meaning, when the foolish (or ignorant) person behaves foolishly (or ignorantly) towards you, do not respond to him with foolishness (or ignorance). (1)
Abu Makkah posed a foolish rhetorical question after immersing himself in self-denial and self-delusion while seeking to deceive everyone because of his passionate desire to twist and distort reality. He stated, “Since when did Waheed Alam know the state of the hearts?” لا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلا بِالله
He made this statement even though it is absolutely clear that his companion was judged based on his companionship with Ahlul bidah and Musaafiqah extremists, which is a symptom of one of the sicknesses of the hearts – Shubuhaat or Shahawaat. His companion did not choose such blameworthy companionship except due to the disease of doubt or desires!
Therefore, this foolish rhetorical question that was presented to promote falsehood and hide truth will not be addressed with another foolish rhetorical question, rather, we’ll respond with what is beneficial from the Book of our Lord. Allah [The Exalted] said:
وَعِنْدَهُ مَفَاتِحُ الْغَيْبِ لَا يَعْلَمُهَا إِلَّا هُوَ
And with Him are the keys of the Ghaib (all that is hidden), none knows them but He.
[Surah Al-An’aam. Ayah 59]
Imaam Ash-Shanqeetee [may Allaah have mercy upon him] presented a number of robust proofs to demonstrate and establish that even the most knowledgeable amongst the creation- Allah’s Messengers and Angels-do not possess knowledge of the unseen. The Imaam [may Allaah have mercy upon him] said:
Aa’isha [may Allah be pleased with her] was falsely accused and the Prophet [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] did not know whether she was innocent or not until Allah informed him, saying: [ أُولَٰئِكَ مُبَرَّءُونَ مِمَّا يَقُولُونَ- Such (good people) are innocent of (each and every) bad statement which they say].
Prophet Ibraaheem [peace be upon him] slaughtered a lamb for the angels, while not knowing that they were angels until they informed him that they were angels. Allah said that the angels said to him: [إِنَّا أُرْسِلْنَا إِلَىٰ قَوْمِ لُوطٍ – We have been sent against the people of Lout (Lot). (11:70)]
When the angels came to Prophet Lut [peace be upon him], he did not know that they were angels, and due to that, Allaah said: [عَصِيبٌ سِيءَ بِهِمْ وَضَاقَ بِهِمْ ذَرْعًا وَقَالَ هَٰذَا يَوْمٌ – He was grieved on their account and felt himself straitened for them (lest the town people should approach them to commit lewdness with them). He said: This is a distressful day]. And because of this Allah said that lut said: [لَوْ أَنَّ لِي بِكُمْ قُوَّةً أَوْ آوِي إِلَىٰ رُكْنٍ شَدِيدٍ – Would that I had strength (men) to overpower you, or that I could betake myself to some powerful support (to resist you). (11:80)]. He did not know the news the angels brought until they said to him: [إِنَّا رُسُلُ رَبِّكَ لَنْ يَصِلُوا إِلَيْكَ – Verily, we are the Messengers from your Lord!]
Prophet Ya’qub [peace be upon him] lost his eyesight due to grieving for Prophet Yusuf [peace be upon him], while he was in Egypt. He did not know anything about Yusuf until Allah reveal news about him.
Prophet Sulaymaan [peace be upon him], even though Allah gave him authority over the devils and subjugated the wind in his service, did not know about the people Bil Qees until the Hud hud came with news about them. Allah said that the Hud’hud said:
أَحَطْتُ بِمَا لَمْ تُحِطْ بِهِ وَجِئْتُكَ مِنْ سَبَإٍ بِنَبَإٍ يَقِينٍ
I have grasped (the knowledge of a thing) which you have not grasped and I have come to you from Saba’ (Sheba) with true news].
Prophet Nuh [peace be upon him] did not know that his son – who was drowned- was not from those members of his household who were to be saved, as Allah said that Nuh said:
رَبِّ إِنَّ ابْنِي مِنْ أَهْلِي وَإِنَّ وَعْدَكَ الْحَقُّ
O my Lord! Verily, my son is of my family! And certainly, Your Promise is true.(11:45)]
He did not know the reality of the affair until Allaah informed him, saying:
قَالَ يَٰنُوحُ إِنَّهُۥ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِكَ إِنَّهُۥ عَمَلٌ غَيْرُ صَٰلِحٍ فَلَا تَسْـَٔلْنِ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِۦ عِلْمٌ إِنِّىٓ أَعِظُكَ أَن تَكُونَ مِنَ ٱلْجَٰهِلِينَ
He said: “O Nuh (Noah)! Surely, he is not of your family; verily, his work is unrighteous, so ask not of Me that of which you have no knowledge! I admonish you, lest you be one of the ignorant].
And indeed Allah (The Most High) also stated in Surah Hud about Nuh that he said to his people:
وَلَا أَقُولُ لَكُمْ عِنْدِي خَزَائِنُ اللَّهِ وَلَا أَعْلَمُ الْغَيْبَ
And I do not say to you that with me are the Treasures of Allah, “Nor that I know the Ghaib (unseen).
And when Allah said to the Angels: [هَٰؤُلَاءِ إِنْ كُنْتُمْ صَادِقِينَ أَنْبِئُونِي بِأَسْمَاءِ -Tell Me the names of these if you are truthful]; Allaah said that the angels replied: [قَالُوا سُبْحَانَكَ لَا عِلْمَ لَنَا إِلَّا مَا عَلَّمْتَنَا -They (angels) said: “Glory be to You, we have no knowledge except what you have taught us.
Therefore, it is very clear that the most knowledgeable amongst the creation, the Messengers and the Angels, do not know anything of the unseen except what Allah makes known to them. Allah (The Most High) informs His Messengers what He wishes from the knowledge of the Unseen, as Allah stated:
وَمَا كَانَ اللَّهُ لِيُطْلِعَكُمْ عَلَى الْغَيْبِ وَلَٰكِنَّ اللَّهَ يَجْتَبِي مِنْ رُسُلِهِ مَنْ يَشَاءُ ۖ
Nor will Allah disclose to you the secrets of the Ghaib (unseen), but Allah chooses of His Messengers whom He pleases. (2)
Finally, after asking his deceptive rhetorical question, he said: لا حَوْلَ وَلا قُوَّةَ إِلا بِالله
What a disaster! Indeed, there is no doubt that Abu Makkah was consumed by an intense desire to spread falsehood and conceal the truth at all costs, to the point where he mentioned a mighty statement that should have reminded him that the One Who owns all Power and Might was watching him as he pursued falsehood and desperately sought to conceal the truth.
Abu Musa Al-Ash’aree [may Allah be pleased with him] said, “The Messenger of Allah [peace and blessings of Allah be upon him] said to me, ‘O Abdullaah Bin Qais! Shall I tell you a statement that is one of the treasures of Paradise? It is [لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ – (i.e. There is neither might nor power (to alternate from one state to another nor move from one thing to another) except by Allaah’s Will]. [Bukhaari 6384 & Muslim 2704]
“One of the treasures of paradise”- Meaning, its reward is great and that is paradise; and Paradise is the greatest thing sought after. This shows the virtue of the statement: لَا حَوْلَ وَلَا قُوَّةَ إِلَّا بِاللهِ
And why does it carry this reward? That is because it necessitates surrendering all of one’s affairs to Allah, manifesting one’s inability and poverty in the presence of Allah, and that indeed Allah is The One Perfect in Strength and The One Fully Able to do all things (and has power over all things). It is a great statement, easy to utter and repeat on the tongue. (3)
To be continued InShaaAllah
Ref 1:Madaarij As-Saalikeen 2/304-307
Ref 2: An Excerpt from “Adwaa Al-Bayaan Fee Idaah Al-qur’aan Bil-Qur’aan. 2/130-131Tafseer Al-Qur’aan Bil-Qur’aan Min Adwaa Al-Bayaan’ pages 169-170. Daar Hady An-Nabawiy’ 2nd ed. (1431AH -2010)
Ref 3: An Excerpt from Tasheelul Il’haami Bi-Fiqhil Ahaadeeth Min Bulooghil Maraam’. Vol 6. page 335- By Al-Allaamah Saaleh al-Fawzaan (may Allaah preserve him).
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