Benefit 57: Sternness in its correct place is a form of mercy
11 December 2023 • 1.09K views
Undoubtedly, the Prophet ﷺ was sent as a mercy, as Allah ﷻ said:
{وَمَاۤ أَرۡسَلۡنَـٰكَ إِلَّا رَحۡمَةࣰ لِّلۡعَـٰلَمِینَ}
“We have sent you ˹O Prophet˺ ONLY as a mercy for the whole world.”
[Surah Al-Anbiyâ’: 107]
However, when people quote this Āyah, they tend to ONLY mention qualities such as politeness, kindness, gentleness, etc., and they neglect the fact that sternness, seriousness, severity - in its correct place - is also a form of mercy.
Sheikh ibn Bāz raḥimahullāh said:
«الشريعة الكاملة جاءت باللين في محله، والشدة في محلها، فلا يجوز للمسلم أن يتجاهل ذلك، ولا يجوز أيضا أن يوضع اللين في محل الشدة، ولا الشدة في محل اللين، ولا ينبغي أيضا أن ينسب إلى الشريعة أنها جاءت باللين فقط، ولا أنها جاءت بالشدة فقط، بل هي شريعة حكيمة كاملة صالحة لكل زمان ومكان ولإصلاح جميع الأمة. ولذلك جاءت بالأمرين معا، واتسمت بالعدل والحكمة والسماحة فهي شريعة سمحة في أحكامها وعدم تكليفها ما لا يطاق، ولأنها تبدأ في دعوتها باللين والحكمة والرفق، فإذا لم يؤثر ذلك وتجاوز الإنسان حده وطغى وبغى أخذته بالقوة والشدة وعاملته بما يردعه ويعرفه سوء عمله. ومن تأمل سيرة النبي ﷺ وسيرة خلفائه الراشدين وصحابته المرضيين وأئمة الهدى بعدهم عرف صحة ما ذكرناه».
“The perfect (Islamic) legislation came with gentleness in its (correct) place and sternness in its (correct) place, so it is not permissible for a Muslim to ignore this, nor is it permissible to place gentleness in the place of sternness, nor sternness in the place of gentleness, nor should it be ascribed to the Islamic legislation that it only came with gentleness, nor that it came with sternness only, but rather it is a perfect, wise legislation that is suited to every time and place and a reformation for the whole nation. So, it came with both affairs together. It is likewise characterised with justice, wisdom and tolerance; for it is a legislation of tolerance in its rulings as it does not prescribe anything that is unbearable. It begins its invitation upon gentleness, wisdom and kindness, but if this does not have any effect and the person exceeds his limit, transgresses the bounds and acts unjustly, it takes him by force and with sternness and treats him in a manner that will deter and make him realise his wrongdoing. And whoever contemplates the biography of the Prophet ﷺ as well as the biographies of his righteous successors, his noble Companions and the Imams of guidance after them, will realise the validity of what we mentioned.”
[Source: https://binbaz.org.sa/old/677]
𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲 ⤵️
Sheikhul Islām Ibn Taymiyyah raḥimahullāh said:
«المُؤمِنُ للمؤمنِ كَاليدينِ تَغسلُ إحداهُمَا الأخرىَ
وَقَدْ لاَ يَنْقلعُ الوسَخُ إلا بنوعٍ مِنْ الخُشونَةِ، لَكنْ ذَلكَ يُوجبُ مِنْ النظافةِ وَالنعومَةِ مَا نَحمدُ مَعهُ ذلكَ التخشينَ».
“A believer to another believer is like the two hands which wash one another, sometimes the dirt is only removed with some coarseness, however this results in a level of cleanliness and smoothness by which we commend the use of such coarseness.”
[Majmū’ Al-Fatāwā (54/28)]