The Criterion Between The Allies Of the Merciful & The Allies Of the Devil

Chapter 7

There are some people who believe in the prophets in general and in principle but, as for the detailed belief, they may have received much of the details of the message of the Prophet, but other details have not reached them. They believe in that which has reached them from the prophets in principle. Such people, if the put into practice that which they know that Allah has ordered them to do with faith and pious practice, are of the allies of Allah, their wilaya (closeness to Allah) is in accordance to their belief and pious practice. As for that which has not reached him, he is not responsible for knowing it and believing in it in detail, and is not liable for punishment for failing to do it. However, there will be a lack in his wilaya to Allah in accordance with those missing parts. The one who attained knowledge of the message of the prophets, and believed in it in detail, and acted according to it is more complete in faith (imaan) and wilaya to Allah than the one who did not know the details of the message, and did not (consequently) act upon it. And both of them are allies of Allah - paradise is of vastly different degrees - and the allies of Allah, the believing and pious in practice are in those degrees according to their faith and their practice. Allah said:

[Whoever seeks this life, we will hurry it up for them as we wish to whomever we wish, then we will make for them the hell fire; they will enter it disgraced and rejected. And whoever seeks the hereafter and strive thereafter as it should be striven for, and is a believer, the striving of such will surely be appreciated. All of these (in the two groups) we have provided with the bounties from your Lord, the provision of you Lord is not closed (to anyone). Look how we have preferred some over others (in the wealth of this life) and surely, the hereafter is of degrees greater in variation, and favoring of some much greater in magnitude.] Qur'an 17/18-21

Here, Allah explains that He extends His sustenance to those who seek this life and to those who seek the hereafter. His provision is not closed to anyone neither the righteous nor the pious. Then, Allah said:

[Look how we have preferred some over others (in the wealth of this life) and surely, the hereafter is of degrees greater in variation, and favoring of some much greater in magnitude.]

making clear that people in the hereafter will be of different degrees wider in variation than their degrees in this life, and their ranks will be greater. Allah has explained the difference in degree of His prophets similar to the difference in degree of all of His believing servants, saying:

[Those are the prophets, we have preferred some of them over others. Some of them Allah addressed directly, and some of them He raised in rank. And we gave '`Isa the son of Maryam the clear signs, and we aided him with the holy spirit.] Qur'an 2/253

[We have preferred some of the prophets over others, and we gave Dawood the Zaboor.] Qur'an 17/55

In the collection of Muslim, Abu Huraira narrates that the Prophet said:

"The strong believer is superior and more loved by Allah than the weak believer, and in each there is good. Seek that which is beneficial to you, and ask Allah's aid, and do not become defeatist. If any calamity befalls you, do not say: "If only I had done such and such", rather say: "Allah decreed and did that which He wished", for, verily "if only" opens the work of the devil."

And, in both the collection of Muslim and Bukhari, it is narrated by Abu Huraira and by Amr ibn Al-'aas that the Prophet said:

"When the ruler exerts himself to the utmost to know the correct ruling and is correct, he gets two rewards, and when he exerts himself thus and is wrong, he gets one reward."

And Allah said:

[These are not the same: those who spent of their property before the victory and fought are greater in rank than those who spent of their property after (the victory) and fought, and for each, Allah has promised (a) good (reward).] Qur'an 50/10

[The believers who sit back without any valid excuse are not the same as those who fight in the path of Allah with their property and their lives. Allah has preferred those who struggle with their property and their lives over those who sit back by a degree, and to both Allah has promised good. And Allah has preferred those who struggle over those who sit back by a great (difference in) reward.] Qur'an 4/95-96

[Do you equate providing waters for the pilgrims and maintaining the sacred masjid with those who believe in Allah and in the last day and struggle in the path of Allah? They are not equal in the eyes of Allah, and Allah does not guide the oppressors. Those who believe and migrate and fight in the path of Allah with their property and their lives are greater in rank with Allah, and they are the successful ones. Allah gives them glad tidings of mercy from Him and acceptance and gardens wherein for them is a permanent bliss. They will stay in it forever, verily with Allah there is a very great reward.] Qur'an 9/19-22

[What about the one who spends the hours of the night in devotion prostrating and standing, in fear of the hereafter, and in hope for the mercy of his Lord? Say: Are they equal, those who know and those who know not? Only those of sound understanding will understand and take heed.] Qur'an 39/9

[Allah raises those among you who believe and those who have been given knowledge levels, and Allah is fully informed of that which you do.] Qur'an 58/11