Epigraph
“And they rejected them, though their souls were convinced thereof, out
of injustice and arrogance. So see how was the end of the corrupters.”
— Qur’an 27:14
Human history is full of examples where judgments about faith, loyalty, and sincerity were misused by people against one another. Yet, the Qur’an reminds us that the matters of the heart are known only to Allah. No human being — regardless of knowledge or authority — has access to the unseen reality of another person’s belief.
One of the most telling episodes in early Islamic history comes from the time when the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself was faced with the death of ʿAbdullāh ibn Ubayy ibn Salūl, the leader of the hypocrites in Medina. Despite ibn Ubayy’s notorious opposition to the Prophet and his role in spreading hypocrisy, the Prophet ﷺ led his funeral prayer and even gave his cloak to shroud him. This act demonstrated the Prophet’s boundless compassion and his hope for reconciliation, even for those who hurt him most.
Shortly afterward, revelation came:
“And never offer the prayer over any of them who has died, and do not
stand at his grave. Indeed, they disbelieved in Allah and His Messenger and
died while they were defiantly disobedient.”
— Qur’an 9:84
Why was the Prophet prohibited in this specific case? The Qur’an itself makes it clear: Allah alone knows the matters of the heart. The Prophet ﷺ received revelation that exposed the inner reality of certain individuals, and as a Messenger, he was guided directly by divine knowledge.
But this leads us to a profound realization for today: revelation has ended. In 2025, the institution of prophethood is closed in all its manifestations. No one today receives divine revelation to know who a believer, a hypocrite, or an apostate is truly. That door is forever closed.
This means that while in the Prophet’s time hypocrisy was identified by revelation, in our age, we cannot and must not declare anyone an infidel, hypocrite, or apostate. All such verdicts require knowledge of the heart — and the heart is the domain of Allah alone.
Moreover, we must acknowledge that many people today may struggle with
doubts — not always from malice, but because of the poor presentation and
representation of Islam by Muslims and even by some scholars. Faith is
delicate, and its flame must be nurtured with compassion, not extinguished with
judgment.
The Qur’an’s lesson is timeless: our role is not to declare and condemn, but to live with mercy, patience, and tolerance. Instead of imitating the harshness of those who take it upon themselves to excommunicate others, we should adopt the Prophet’s generosity of spirit.
As the Qur’an shows in the case of Pharaoh — “They rejected them, though their souls were convinced thereof…” (27:14) — it is only Allah who knows the inner testimony of a person’s conscience. Humans see only words and actions, but God alone sees the hidden truth of belief.
In a world already torn by division, perhaps the truest Islamic ethic we can embody is not “Live and Let Die” — as the famous movie title suggests — but “Live and Let Live.” To allow space for others, to tolerate difference, and to leave ultimate judgment to the One who alone knows the hearts.
Perfectly articulated - as they say, look at faults only in yourself but always look look at good qualities of others.
ReplyDelete"Na thi haal ki jab hamein apne khbar,
ReplyDeleteDekhte rahe auron ke aib o hunar;
Paḍi apni buraiyon par jo nazar,
To nigah mein koi bura na raha."
English translation (approximate):
“Unaware of my own flaws, I observed the faults and virtues of others;
When I turned my gaze to my own shortcomings, none appeared flawed in my eyes.”
- Bahadur Shah Zafar