Hadeeth: "Allaah may help this Deen even with a wicked person"

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

We are in an age where the speakers are more, but the scholars are less; where the listeners are more, but those who understand are less. And this is the age where the speakers are treated like celebrities, having mass followers and fans. Among these speakers, there are those who speak about Allaah تعالى, His Deen and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم without knowledge and get away with it.

-So among them is one who said: “You can call Allaah by the names of Hindu gods”, and he says: “the one who rejects the Messengership of Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم can still have a possibility of entering the Jannah.”

-Then there is another who said that it is not important to know where Allaah is or it is a secondary issue; for him addressing the social vice takes precedence over teaching about the matters of `Aqeedah. 

-Another one said: “This Qur’aan (which we have) is not THE Qur’aan” (meaning it is created), and he also says that the Angels make the snowballs and “it will be pretty cool if the Angels had snow fights”.

-Then there others who belittle the importance of `Aqeedah and says that the matters of `Aqeedah can be learned in five minutes.

The only reason why these “celebrities” get away with it, even after saying such terrible things, is because of their sympathetic blind followers. If you mention their names or refute their errors, some of them will come out blatantly defending them. It should not be surprising, because this is how the natural reaction would be after the hearts are attached to someone or something. This becomes trying times for their followers to accept the truth over personalities. But what is amazing is the way they come out to defend these “celebrities” even though they now know the truth from the falsehood and their most common line of defense is: “he has done such and such, what have you done?”

What someone else is doing or has done is irrelevant, and remember that these are speakers only and not scholars and what these speakers are saying is something which is affecting the masses. What we have to understand is that the truth takes precedence over the personalities; that if everyone remained silent about these errors and let them speak as they want, the speakers may go down and drag you down with them.

The reality check:

1. Do not rush to praise someone for his good deeds.

2. What is apparent is not always the reality.

3. The person might be a source of benefit for thousands of others but not for himself.

4. One wrong word can destroy the person’s Hereafter.

5. The person might be among those who call towards the gates of Hell while their followers perceive not.

6. If they go down, they may drag you with them.

[Note: Before proceeding, let it be clear that I am not saying that these speakers are Kaafir or that they are going to Hell, but some of the words which some of them have said is really dangerous and can lead to Kufr. And we have clear warnings from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم regarding these situations. Allaah aids His Deen the way He تعالى wants and He may use a disobedient person to help the cause – so don’t be surprised.]

1. Do not rush to praise someone:

Imaam al-Bukhaaree رحمه الله reported that `Aaishah رضي الله عنها said: “Whenever you appreciate the good deed of a person, you should say:

اعْمَلُوا فَسَيَرَى اللَّـهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُولُهُ وَالْمُؤْمِنُونَ

{...Do deeds! Allaah will see your deeds, and (so will) His Messenger and the believers...} [Surah al-Tawbah (9):105] and you should not hasten to praise anyone (for doing what seems to be a good deed).” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (9/154)]

2. What is apparent is not always the reality:

3. The person might be a source of benefit for thousands of others but not for himself:

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: We were in the company of Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم in a Ghazwa, and he remarked about a man who claimed to be a Muslim, saying: “This (man) is from the people of the (Hell) Fire.” When the battle started, the man fought violently till he got wounded. Somebody said: O Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم! The man whom you described as being from the people of the (Hell) Fire fought bravely today and died. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “He will go to the (Hell) Fire.” Some people were on the point of doubting (the truth of what the Prophet had said). While they were in this state, suddenly someone said that he was still alive but severely wounded. When night fell, he lost patience and committed suicide (in one narration it is: he put his hand into his quiver and took out some arrows, with which he killed himself). The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was informed of that, and he said: “Allaah is the Greatest! I testify that I am Allaah’s Slave and His Apostle.” Then he ordered Bilal to announce amongst the people: “None will enter Paradise but a Muslim, and Allaah may support this religion (i.e. Islaam) even with a wicked (disobedient) man.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (3062, 4203, 6606) and Saheeh Muslim (205)]

4. One wrong word can destroy the person’s Hereafter:

Narrated Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه: I heard the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم say: “There were two men among Banee Israa’eel, who were striving for the same goal. One of them would commit sin and the other would strive to do his best in the world. The man who exerted himself in worship continued to see the other in sin. He would say: ‘Refrain from it.’ One day he found him in sin and said to him: ‘Refrain from it.’ He (the other man) said: ‘Leave me alone with my Lord. Have you been sent as a watchman over me?’ He (the first man) said: ‘I swear by Allaah, Allaah will not forgive you, nor will he admit you to Paradise.’ Then their souls were taken back (by Allaah), and they met together with the Lord of the worlds.

He (Allaah تعالى) said to this man who had striven hard in worship: {Had you knowledge about Me or had you power over that which I had in My hand?} He said to the man who sinned: {Go and enter Paradise by My mercy.} He said about the other: {Take him to Hell.}”

Abu Hurairah said رضي الله عنه: By Him in Whose hand my soul is, he spoke a word by which this world and the next world of his were destroyed. [Sunan Abu Dawood (4901) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee]

5. The person might be among those who call towards the gates of Hell while their followers perceive not:

Narrated Hudhaifah bin Al-Yamaan رضي الله عنه: The people used to ask Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم about good, but I used to ask him about evil for fear that it might overtake me. Once I said: O Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم! We were in ignorance and in evil and Allaah has bestowed upon us the present good; will there be any evil after this good? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Yes.” I asked: Will there be good after that evil? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Yes, but it would be tainted with Dakhan (i.e. Little evil).” I asked: What will its Dakhan be? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “There will be some people who will lead (people) according to principles other than my tradition [In Saheeh Muslim it is: (That time will witness the rise of) the people who will adopt ways other than mine and seek guidance other than mine]. You will see their actions and disapprove of them.” I said: Will there be any evil after that good? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Yes, there will be some people who will invite others to the doors of Hell, and whoever accepts their invitation to it will be thrown in it (by them).” I said: O Allaah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم! Describe those people to us. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “They will belong to us and speak our language.” I asked: What do you order me to do if such a thing should take place in my lifetime? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Adhere to the Jamaa`ah (main body) of Muslims and their Chief.” I asked: If there is neither a Jamaa`ah nor a chief (what shall I do)? He صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Keep away from all those different sects, even if you had to bite (i.e. eat) the root of a tree, till you meet Allaah while you are still in that state.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (3606, 7084) and Saheeh Muslim (4553)]

6. Importance of correcting the mistakes irrespective of who the personality is:

Narrated An-Nu`maan bin Basheer رضي الله عنه: The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “The example of the person abiding by Allaah’s orders and limits (or the one who abides by the limits and regulations prescribed by Allaah) in comparison to the ones who do wrong and violate Allaah’s limits and orders is like the example of people drawing lots for seats in a boat. Some of them got seats in the upper part while the others in the lower part; those in the lower part have to pass by those in the upper one to get water, and that troubled the latter. One of them (i.e. the people in the lower part) took an ax and started making a hole in the bottom of the boat. The people of the upper part came and asked him, (saying), ‘What is wrong with you?’ He replied, “You have been troubled much by my (coming up to you), and I have to get water.’ Now if they prevent him from doing that they will save him and themselves, but if they leave him (to do what he wants), they will destroy him and themselves.” [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (2493, 2686)]

And Allaah is the One who grants success.