💯 Miscellaneous benefits from Yemen

BENEFIT 9: CAN GOOD DEEDS EXPIATE MAJOR SINS? There are 3 main opinions in this matter: 1⃣st: good deeds only expiate minor sins. As for major sins, they are only expiated through sincere repentance. This is the stance of the majority of scholars. 2⃣nd: good deeds expiate all sins; minor and major. This is the stance of Ibn Mundhir, Ibn Hazm, and others. 3⃣rd: good deeds 'can' expiate major sins if they are accompanied with a high level of sincerity. This is the stance of Sheikul Islam, Ibnul Qayyim and Ibn Hajar. while explaining the statement of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم; that fasting 'Arafah expiates two year's worth of sins [reported by Muslim on the authority of Abu Qatadah radhiyallahu' anhu], in one of the recent Bulooghul Maram classes, Sheikh Abu Bilal hafidhahullah discussed this issue, and he -may Allah preserve him- concluded that the third stance (that of Sheikhul Islam, Ibnul Qayyim and Ibn Hajar) is the strongest of the three, based on the following hadeeth: On the authority of Abu Hurairah radhiyallahu 'anhu, that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: «أن امرأة بغياً رأت كلباً في يوم حار يطيف ببئر، قد أدلع لسانه من العطش، فنزعت له بموقها فغفر لها» ''A prostitute saw a dog moving around a well on a hot day and hanging out its tongue because of thirst. She drew water for it using her shoe and so she was forgiven (due to that).'' [Reported by Bukhari & Muslim] Point of evidence: Ibnul Qayyim rahimahullah said: ''It is due to what occurred in the prostitute's heart at the moment when she saw that dog overcome by severe thirst; though she had no equipment, no assistance and no one to show off her good deed to; this is what drove her to risk her own safety while climbing down the well, filling her sock (khuff), undeterred by the fact that she was exposing herself to danger; biting onto her water-filled sock so she could climb back out of the well. Thereafter, showing such humility to this creature -which is commonly mistreated/beaten- by holding the sock in her hand for it to drink from, without seeking any reward or thanks in return. So the sheer radiance from this portion of tawheed (i.e. Her sincerity) burnt away her previous sin of prostitution.'' [Madarij As-Salikeen (1/332)] Similarly, Sheikhul Islam rahimahullah said: ''With that, it is not said of every prostitute who gives water to a dog that she is forgiven, because the case of this particular prostitute; in terms of her devotion, sincerity and mercy towards Allah's creation, reached a level capable of countering the sin of prostitution and beyond, which is why her sin was forgiven. And forgiveness occurs due to what is found in the heart from Iman, whose true extent and nature is known only to Allah. And this opens the gate of good deeds and something which encourages the servant to perform such deeds and it likes, all of which are a reason for (Allah's) mercy and forgiveness, while maintaining a balance between fear and hope.'' [Mukhtasar Al-Fatawa Al-Misriyyah 261] He also said: ''Similar to that is the case of the man who removed a thorny branch from the pathway; a deed for which he was forgiven. So deeds vary in virtue due to what is found in the heart from Iman and sincerity. This is why you may have two men standing in the same row in prayer, yet the difference in their reward is like the difference between the heaven and the earth.'' [Minhaj As-Sunnah (6/135)] He also said: ''It is not the case that every type of good deed expiates/wipes away every type of sin, but rather expiation may be of minor sins at times, or of major sins at times, depending on the balance. And perhaps a person may carry out a particular good deed in a manner where his sincerity and servitude is so complete that his major sins are forgiven.'' [Minhaj As-Sunnah (6/136)]