QUESTION:
What is the meaning of the following verse in Surah al-Baqarah:
‘’This is a people that have passed away; they shall have what they earned and you shall have what you earn, and you shall not be called upon to answer for what they did.’’ – The Qur’an, 2:135.
What is the meaning of “And you will not be asked about what they used to do”?
used Abu Bakr and Umar for being the ones who killed him?
ANSWER:
In the Name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the All-Merciful.
May Allah bless Muhammad and his Family and damn their enemies.
In the books of Maqatil (the stories of how the Infallibles were martyred), such as Maqtal al-Hussain, by Al-Khawarizmi, he narrates the following of him (may peace be upon
The following is taken from a previous answer given by the Sheikh regarding the verse in question:
This verse does not confirm the impermissibility of historical research, nor do we believe that any jurist claims such a thing. Allah (Exalted is He) said you *will not be asked* what they used to do and not *do not* ask what they used to do. We were not forbidden from asking and researching the history of the actions of the previous nations that have passed away. Allah informs us that we would not be asked about their actions, i.e., we will not carry the burden of their acts or answer for their deeds.
The Glorious Qur’an is full of stories of the previous nations, and it invites us to look into their actions so that we may see what their destiny became. Allah (Exalted is He) said:
Indeed, there have been ways (of life) before you; therefore, travel in the earth and see what was the fate of the rejectors.
The Qur’an, 3:138.
He (Exalted is He) also said
Indeed, We have sent a Messenger into every nation saying: ‘Worship Allah and avoid Satan. Among them were people whom Allah guided, and among them were people whom aberration was due; therefore, travel in the earth and see what was the fate of the rejectors.
The Qur’an, 16:37
He (Exalted is He) also said:
How many towns have We destroyed, which were wrong-doing? They tumbled down on their thrones. And how many wells are lying idle and neglected, and castles lofty and well-built? Do they not travel in the earth, so that their hearts (and minds) may think reasonably, and their ears may hear? Indeed, it is not their eyes that are blind, but rather their hearts that are in their breasts.
Qur’an, 22:46-47.
Suppose someone today would ask Allah to have mercy upon Qabeel, Namroud, Fir’awn, Abi-Lahab, Musaylamah, or any other personality representing disbelief and deviation. In that case, a believer has no other option than to have some sense of honor that draws him to the truth, and hence you would see him take a brave stand against those who ask Allah to be pleased with the wrong-doers. Because when deviants are revered, their acts are legitimized, and they appear as if they were on the right path. It will become impossible to disseminate truth from the falsehood when those representing each side are viewed equally. Also, no one has the right to object to the act of this brave believer, saying: “Qabeel, Namroud, Fir’awn, Aba-Lahab, and Musaylamah have all died, and they exist no more. So why should we go through pages of history?”
Similarly, suppose someone today would ask Allah to be pleased with the polytheist priests of Quraish, the Christian priests of Najran, or the Jewish priests of Khaibar, in such a case. In that case, a loyal and courageous believer can not remain silent, and you would see him take a stand and say: “These people are enemies of Allah and His Messenger (may Allah’s blessings be upon him and his family). How can you ask Allah to be pleased with them?’’ Those who ask Allah to be pleased with these people can not justify their actions with the excuse that they did so to bring religions closer to each other or to prevent bloodshed. Such an excuse is worse than a sin. Shall we consider the feelings of the Jews and the Christians and hence ask Allah to be pleased with their idols, and not consider the feelings of Allah’s Messenger (may Allah’s blessings be upon him and his family) who suffered because of them?’’
No and never.
A loyal and courageous believer should come and make a stand, with all strength and bravery, and storm this realm of falsehood, and repeat the following Word of Allah (Exalted is He) in which He condemns the Jewish leaders:
The likeness of those who were entrusted with the Torah, but yet not observe it, is as the likeness of a donkey bearing books. Evil is the likeness of the people who denied the Signs of Allah. And Allah does not guide the unjust people.
The Qur’an, 62:6
Moreover, a believer should not care for anyone who protests, saying: “Why do you swear at the Jewish priests and describe them as being donkeys bearing books? They are our countrymen. (such as in Egypt, Morocco, and Yemen).” Indeed, Jews existed in the time of the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace be upon him and his pure family), and he had many dealings with them, yet Allah saw it fit to reveal this verse and condemn them in such a manner. On the other hand, the Polytheist gods were insulted, their idols smashed, and centuries-old traditions abolished. Could the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his pure family) not respect their symbols while raising awareness about the folly of their ways? Why did the Qur’an speak of the past, and why were such harsh language and provocative actions necessary? The person who claims the verse is instructing the Mulsim individual not to bring up the past by exposing deviants and their evil acts because ‘’It is a thing of the past that bears no consequences to us’’ is objecting to the Prophet and the Holy Qur’an’s wisdom unwittingly.
When people are railing against those who follow in their Prophet’s (blessings and peace be upon him and his pure family) footsteps while still calling themselves his followers, serious questions must be asked about their beliefs. One cannot claim to be a Muslim yet so blindly object to a fundamental belief in Islam, i.e., abolishing any and every symbol of deviancy that shall misguide people.
That is precisely why, as Muslims, we must expose the deviants so that people are not corrupted and misled by them, especially if they speak in the name of Islam. The heads of disbelief and corruption in Islam are Abu Bakr, Umar, A’isha, or Hafsa. A significant portion of Muslims worldwide take their faith from them. Sadly, there are those who claim to be Shi’a Muslims yet directly oppose the Holy Qur’an and the statements of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) by praising these personalities with the supposed aim of bringing us closer to those who have been deceived by the likes of Abu Bakr and Umar. In that case, a faithful follower of Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them) has no option but to publicly denounce the hypocrites who have corrupted Islam, waged war against the Prophet and his pure family (peace be upon them), and misled countless people.
It must be known to those who follow Abu Bakr that he was a hypocrite who was deprived of Allah’s mercy, as was revealed in the Qur’an:
Then Allah sent down His peace upon him (the Prophet)’’, but deprived Abu Bakr of it.
The Qur’an, 9:40
Those who praise Umar need to know that Allah had promised grievous punishment for what he did at the Calamity of Thursday when he said:
Therefore, let those beware, who go against his order that a trial might afflict or a painful punishment.
The Qur’an, 24:64
Finally, those who praise A’isha and Hafsa should know that these two women were at war with Allah for the harm they brought upon the Prophet and his pure family (peace be upon them). Allah has said of these two deviant women:
If you repent to Allah (and you have to do so), for indeed, your hearts have inclined. And if you back up each other against him, then surely Allah is His Guardian, and Jibril, and the Most Righteous of the Believers, and the Angels after them are the helpers
The Qur’an, 66:5.
The Office of Sheikh al-Habib