By Muhib al-Rahman Mukhlis
Sheikh Abu Abdullah narrates:
Allama Abu Ismah narrates from Hammad ibn Abi Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on them:
«لما بلغ الخوارج أن أبا حنيفة لا يُكَفِّرُ أحدًا بذنبٍ أتاه أربعون (في كشف الاثار» (٤٧٩ / ١) و «المناقب للإمام أبي حنيفة» للعلامة الكردري (١٦٣ / ١) «سبعون»)، رجلاً معهم السلاح، حتى دخلوا الكوفة فأتوا أبا حنيفة وهو في جمع كثير.
“When the Khawarij heard that Imam Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him, did not declare any Muslim an unbeliever because of a sin, forty men, according to Kashf al-Athar, or seventy, according to Manaqib al-Imam Abi Hanifa by al-Kardari, came to him armed with swords. They entered Kufa and approached Abu Hanifa while he was sitting among a large gathering of people.”
فقالوا: يا أبا حنيفة قُلْ لهم حتى يقوموا عنك، فإن لنا مسألة، فقاموا فلم يتكلموا حتى اخترطوا سيوفهم، فقالوا له: يا عدو هذه الأمة، يا شيطان هذه الأمة، قتلكَ أحب إلينا من جهاد سبعين سنة، فأجب عن مسائلتين، وإلا فهيء نفسك للقتل.
They said:
“O Abu Hanifa, tell these people to leave. We have something to ask you.”
The Imam signaled to those around him, and they all departed, leaving him alone. The Khawarij remained silent until they drew their swords.
Then they shouted:
“Enemy of this Ummah!”
“Devil of this Ummah!”
“Your death is more beloved to us than seventy years of jihad. Answer two questions. If you do not, prepare yourself for death.”
فقال أبو حنيفة «رحمه الله تعالى»: أغمدوا سيوفكم، فقالوا: كيف نُعيدُها؟! ونريد أن نُخضِبَها من دمك، قال فتكلموا باسم الله.
Imam Abu Hanifa, may Allah have mercy on him, replied:
“Put your swords back into their sheaths.”
They answered:
“How can we sheath them when we intend to stain them with your blood?”
The Imam said:
“Then speak. Begin in the name of Allah.”
فقالوا: هاتان جنازتان على باب المسجد، أما الأولى: فرجل شرب الخمر فحشرج (الحشرجة: الغرغرة عند الموت)، فمات، وأما الأخرى: فامرأة زنت فلما استيقنت بحبلها شربت دواء فقتلت نفسها، أفهما من المؤمنين؟
They began:
“There are two funerals lying at the gate of the mosque.
The first is a man who drank wine. As death approached, his breath rattled in his throat until he died.
The second is a woman who committed adultery. When she became certain that she was pregnant, she drank poison and killed herself.
Tell us, are these two among the believers?”
فقال أبو حنيفة «رحمه الله تعالى»: أفمن اليهود كانوا؟
قالوا: لا،
قال: فمن المجوس كانوا؟
قالوا: لا،
قال: فمن أي ملة كانوا؟
قالوا: مَن يشهد أن لا إله إلا الله وأن محمدًا عبده ورسوله، والإقرار بما جاء من عنده.
قال: فأخبروني إن كلامهم هذا من الإيمان؟
قالوا: نعم
Imam Abu Hanifa asked:
“Were they Jews?”
They replied:
“No.”
He asked:
“Were they Magians?”
They answered:
“No.”
He then asked:
“Then what religion did they follow?”
They said:
“They testified that there is no god but Allah, that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger, and they believed in everything he brought.”
The Imam asked:
“Tell me then, were these words they spoke part of faith?”
They replied:
“Yes.”
قال: فأخبروني: إنه ثلث الإيمان أو ربعه أو نصفه؟
قالوا: لا يكون للإيمان ثلث ولا ربع ولا نصف، بل كل الإيمان،
قال: فما تسألوني عن قوم زعمتم أنهم تكلموا بالإيمان كله؟!
He asked:
“Was that one-third of faith? One-quarter? Half of it?”
They answered:
“Faith is not divided into thirds or quarters or halves. That is complete faith.”
The Imam then said:
“Then why do you ask me about people whom you yourselves say possessed complete faith?”
قالوا: أخبرنا أهم جنانيون أم سقريون؟
قال أبو حنيفة «رحمه الله تعالى»: أقول كما قال إبراهيم عليه السلام: ﴿فَمَن تَبِعَنِي فَإِنَّهُ مِنِّي ۖ وَمَنْ عَصَانِي فَإِنَّكَ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ﴾ [إبراهيم: ٣٦].
« ولا نريد بهذا معصية الکفر؛ لأن الله تعالى لا يغفر للكفار أبدًا»
وأقول كما قال عيسى عليه السلام: ﴿إِن تُعَذِّبْهُمْ فَإِنَّهُمْ عِبَادُكَ ۖ وَإِن تَغْفِرْ لَهُمْ فَإِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْعَزِيزُ الْحَكِيمُ﴾ [المائدة: ١١٨].
The Khawarij replied:
“Tell us then. Are they among the people of Paradise or the people of Hell?”
Imam Abu Hanifa answered:
“I say what Ibrahim (AS) said:
“Whoever follows me is surely of me, and whoever disobeys me, then indeed You are Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.” (Surah Ibrahim 14:36)
This does not refer to the sin of disbelief, for Allah does not forgive those who die upon disbelief. Rather, it refers to the believer who falls into sin while remaining upon faith. His affair is left to Allah’s mercy and His will.
And I also say what Isa (AS) said:
“If You punish them, they are Your servants. But if You forgive them, then surely You are the Almighty, the All-Wise.” (Surah al-Ma’idah 5:118)
In other words, those who die upon faith but have committed sins are left to the judgment of Allah.
وأراد من مات على الإيمان وارتكب الذنوب، فلما سمعوا ذلك ألقوا السلاح، وقالوا: نتبرأ إلى الله تعالى من جميع ما كنا فيه، وندين بدينك، فقد جعل الله تعالى عندك حكمة وعلمًا، وعقلًا وفضلًا».
When the Khawarij heard this answer, they threw their weapons to the ground and said:
“We repent to Allah for everything we once believed. We now follow your religion and your creed. Allah has granted you wisdom, knowledge, understanding, and virtue.”
