#1091: Why Allah Gets Angry When His Sanctity Is Violated And Does Insulting The Prophet Alaihi Salam Angers Allah?

Sallam alaykum warahmatullah Ya Shiek, I hope you faring well, what can be said about this statement that Insulting ALLAH, His Messenger does not harm them, and why does ALLAH gets Angry when HIs servants violate HIS Sanctity by committing Sins which at most times Results to ALLAH sending HIS Punishment, Does Insulting the Prophet MUHAMMAD (Sallalahu alayhi wa Sallam) Angers ALLAH or not? How do we reconcile with these, jazakhallahu khyran as you shed more Light on this. And in Addition, does the Muslim believers inability to act in defense of the Prophet MUHAMMAD (Sallalahu alayhi wa Sallam) when He is Insulted while they have the power to act in His Defense to be considered a Sin, and will that Act of Silence results to ALLAH’S anger on the Muslims Believers, jazakhallahu khyran as you expound more.

ANSWER:

Wa alaikumus salam wa rahmatullah wa barakaatuhu.

Alhamdullilah was-salaatu was-salaamu ala rasulillah.

As regarding what follows, know that such statements as you have mentioned; “insulting Allah and His messenger does not harm them” has to be viewed in the context in which it is mentioned. Using such statements out of context has serious juristic implications in the deen.

In sahih Muslim, ‘Ubaydullah ibn Abi Rafi’ reported: The Haruriyya (Khawarij) came out against Ali ibn Abi Talib and they said, “There is no rule but for Allah,” (12:40). Ali, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “A word of truth by which is intended falsehood. Verily, the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, described some people and I recognized their description in these people. They speak the truth with their words but it does not go beyond this,” and he pointed to this throat. And we seek Allah for clear understanding of the deen and to distance nifaq from our hearts.

Indeed, insulting Allah does not harm Him ta’aala in the context of He ta’aala being completely perfect in all His attributes and as such, is not in any need of His creatures nor can any of His creation cause any form of harm to Him subhaanahu wa ta’aala.

Allah ta’aala says: “And I created not the Jinn and mankind except that they should worship Me. I seek not any provision from them nor do I ask that they should feed Me. Verily, Allah is the All-Provider, Owner of power, the Most-Strong.” (Adh dhaariyat 56-58).

He also said:
“And do not be grieved [O Muhammad] by those who hasten into disbelief Indeed they will never harm Allah at all. Allah intends that He should give them no share in the Hereafter and for them is a great punishment.” (An-Nisaa:176)
Also,
“Indeed, those who purchase disbelief [in exchange] for faith – never will they harm Allah at all and for them is a painful punishment.” (An-Nisaa:177).

And in the Hadith Al-Qudsi which Imam Muslim transmits from the narration of Abu Dhar radiyallahu anhu: “… … … O My slaves, you can neither do Me any harm nor can you do Me any good. O My slaves, were the first of you and the last of you, the human of you and jinn of you to be as pious as the most pious heart of any man of you, that would not increase My domain a thing. O My slaves, were the first of you, and the last of you, the human of you and the jinn of you to be as wicked as the most wicked heart of any man of you, that would not decrease My domain in a thing. … … …”.

However, when the issue of insulting Allah and the messenger is viewed in the context of the relentless effort of the unbelievers to undermine the truth, to fight it and to diminish its status, such statements are not supposed to be uttered. This is because, when such statements are uttered, especially from the ones that are supposed to be models for the Muslims, it belittles such a crime in the minds of the Muslims and as a result harms the deen of the Muslims in a serious way. This is because such diminishes the honor of the most important symbols of the deen in the minds of Muslims.

And can totally erode the veneration of these significant symbols from the minds. And what is the deen order than venerating its symbols in every situation.

Allah ta’aala says: “That [has been commanded] and whoever honors the sacred ordinances of Allah – it is best for him in the sight of his Lord” (Al-hajj 30)

“ … … (whoever honors the sacred things of Allah,) means, whoever avoids disobeying Him and does not transgress that which is sacred, and regards committing sin as a very serious matter, (then that is better for him with his Lord.) means, he will attain much good and a great reward for doing that. Just as the one who does acts of obedience will earn a great reward, so too, the one who avoids sin will earn a great reward.” (Tafsir Ibn Khathir)

Allah also said: “That [is so] And whoever honors the symbols of Allah – indeed it is from the piety of hearts” (Al-hajj 32)

The shaykh Umar bin Mahmood Abu Umar hafidhohu-llah said: “… and never be quiet nor should you relent in protecting the honor of the best of creation. Because this serves as a protection for you from the death of your heart. And by Allah I inform you with the information from that has witnessed it. And that is, the one that keeps quiet (in such situations) will definitely experience the death of sensation from his heart which manifest in the form of corruption, disbelief and filth. And this is the greater death which the Quran has warned against.”

The Shaykh Sulayman Al Ulwan hafidhohu-llah said: “Anyone that sit in a gathering or witnesses one in which the prophet is dishonored and he did not react, then in his heart is a disease which can be equal to the disease of the one that dishonors him (alaihi salaam) or even worse than that.” (Al Jawaahir Al Hassaan).

Allah ta’aala in suratul A’araaf verse 157 makes venerating the symbols of the deen a condition of success for the Muslims in this world and the hereafter. “Those who follow the Messenger the unlettered prophet whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them So they who have believed in him honored him supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him – it is those who will be the successful.”

He ta’aala also said in Suratul Al Fath (vs: 8-9): “O Prophet indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner. That you [people] may believe in Allah and His Messenger and honor him and respect the Prophet and exalt Allah morning and afternoon.”

Thus, in this context, Allah ta’aala has mentioned very stern punishment for those that harm Allah and His messenger by dishonoring them and disrespecting them in anyway ever.

In suratul Ahzaab, Allah says: “Indeed those who harm Allah and His Messenger – Allah has cursed them in this world and the Hereafter and prepared for them a humiliating punishment”.

The scholars of Tafsir, have explained what it means to harm Allah and His messenger in this context.

They say, Harming Allah refers to going contrary to His commands or all actions that brings about His anger Subhaanahu wa ta’aala. For example, associating partners to Him, as mentioned in the Hadith al-Qudsi on the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah ta’aala said: Allah Almighty has said: The son of Adam denied Me and he had no right to do so. And he reviled Me and he had no right to do so. As for his denying Me, it is his saying: He will not remake me as He made me at first – and the initial creation [of him] is no easier for Me than remaking him. As for his reviling Me, it is his saying: Allah has taken to Himself a son, while I am the One, the Everlasting Refuge. I begot not nor was I begotten, and there is none comparable to Me. i.e., bring me back to life after death. It was related by al-Bukhari (also by an-Nasa’i).

Also, Abu Huraira reported that God’s messenger declared that God said,

“The son of Adam injures me by abusing time, whereas I am time. Authority is in my hand. I vary night and day.”

What harming the Messenger alaihi salaam means is harming him verbally by abusing him or making a jest or mock of him in any way, alaihi salaam. Harming him physically by causing any physical harm to him as was done to him in Makkah, during the battle of uhud, or by trying to kill him. Harming his personality and his honor or the honor of his wives or anything that can cause him harm.

And the scholars never differed regarding the ruling of such harm towards the prophet alaihi salaam. They maintain that the ruling remained the same as he was alive and after his death. Because, his honor alaihi salaam remains the same both alive and after his death.

Based on this, the ruling of the one (Muslim or Non-Muslim) that dishonors the prophet in anyway is the death penalty.

Shaykhul Islam Ibn Taymiyaah in his treatise saarimul masluul alaa shaatimi Ar Rasul mentioned it as the consensus ruling of all the first three generation after the Prophet alaihi salam. (i.e. a consensus of the companions, tabieen, and taabi taabieen). (Abridged version saarimul masluul alaa shaatimi Ar Rasul pages 31-39)

They have only differed in the case where if such a person repented or later accepted Islam. Is, this ruling dropped because of his acceptance of Islam just as in the case of one that apostates by violating the rights of Allah. Or the ruling is retained even after acceptance of Islam just as in the case of the rights of the people. For example, if a thief steals from someone, the ruling over him cannot be dropped because he has repented. His repentance will surely be accepted by Allah for going against His command but the rights of the people has to be returned before he will be fully exonerated from the consequence of that evil he perpetuated. In this case, Shyakhul Islam and majority of the scholars preferred and showed the strength of the opinion that the ruling remains even after repentance or acceptance of Islam because this is the right of the Rasul which must be strongly safeguarded even more than the right of the other people which is also safeguarded by the shariah and is not dropped by repentance or acceptance of Islam.

As regarding your question on why Allah gets angry when His sanctity is violated. Then you should know that this just as how every king gets angry when his sanctity is violated, likewise Allah gets angry when His sanctity is violated.

Both Imam Bukhari and Muslim transmits on the authority of an-Nu’man ibn Basheer radiyallahu anhu, who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah alaihi salaam say, “That which is lawful is clear and that which is unlawful is clear, and between the two of them are doubtful matters about which many people do not know. Thus, he who avoids doubtful matters clears himself in regard to his religion and his honor, but he who falls into doubtful matters [eventually] falls into that which is unlawful, like the shepherd who pastures around a sanctuary, all but grazing therein. Truly every king has a sanctuary, and truly Allah’s sanctuary is His prohibitions. ……”

To get angry is from amongst the established attributes of Allah. However, because He has declared His mercy to supersede His anger, a name is derived for Him ta’aala as the Merciful and a name is not derived from the attribute of anger. This is because if a name is attributed to Him ta’aala it means that at all times, a slave will always find that attribute of that name with Him. Just as every creation is always enveloped with His mercy even when His creation is in the very midst of disobeying Him. Thus, you still see an arrogant tyrant that prevents the spread of the message of Islam having the Mercy of breathing and being very healthy. And that is why a name is derived from His essential attribute of Mercy.

However, since His anger only comes when his sanctity is violated and because He has declared His mercy to supersede His anger, He is not and cannot be described as the angry one (for example). Because this will now be a blemish on His essence subhanahu wa ta’aala.

It is not for anyone to ask why Allah gets angry when He is the owner of all and everything, “He is not questioned about what He does but they will be questioned” (Suratul Anbiyaa 23).

And this is the attribute of The King of All kings. And this is the perfection of His own Kingdom and attributes.

And for your question as regarding if insulting the Rasul alaihi salam angers Allah or not. Then the answer to this is a Yes. This is because of a lot of reasons that are too much to mention. Just to mention, the Imam Ibn Kathir rahimahullah mentions under the commentary of the verse:
“Verily, those who annoy Allah and His Messenger,” (Al Ahzaab 57) was revealed about those who slandered the Prophet over his marriage to Safiyyah bint Huyay bin Akhtab. The Ayah appears to be general in meaning and to apply to all those who annoy him in any way, because whoever annoys him annoys Allah, just as whoever obeys him obeys Allah. (Tafsir Ibn Khathir).

For your last question, “… … does the Muslim believers inability to act in defense of the Prophet MUHAMMAD (Sallalahu alayhi wa Sallam) when He is Insulted while they have the power to act in His Defense to be considered a Sin, and will that Act of Silence results to ALLAH’S anger on the Muslims believers” ?
The question is contradicting. Because you said the Muslim believer’s inability to act in defense ……….. and then you said again, “ ……. While they have the power to act in his defense … …”
We think it should rather read, “… … does the Muslim believers indifference to act in defense of the Prophet MUHAMMAD (Sallalahu alayhi wa Sallam) when He is Insulted while they have the power to act in His Defense to be considered a Sin, and will that Act of Silence results to ALLAH’S anger on the Muslims believers” ?
Then we say, acting in support of the Rasul alaihi salam in such situations in the best way that pleases Allah ta’aala is regarded as rendering help and support to the messenger of Allah. It is also a way of venerating the symbols of the deen and a condition of attaining success in this world and the hereafter.

Allah ta’aala says: “That [has been commanded] and whoever honors the sacred ordinances of Allah – it is best for him in the sight of his Lord” (Al-hajj 30)
Allah ta’aala also said: “… … So they who have believed in him honored him supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him – it is those who will be the successful.” (suratul A’araaf vs: 157)

What we also learn from these verses is that not venerating the sacred symbols of Allah or being lackadaisical about it is a sign of corruption of the soul.

Shaykh Sulayman Al Ulwan hafidhohu-llah said: “Anyone that sit in a gathering or witnesses one in which the prophet is dishonored and he did not react, then in his heart is a disease which can be equal to the disease of the one that dishonors him (alaihi salaam) or even worse than that.” (Al Jawaahir Al Hassaan)

And Allah knows best.

Bārakallahu Fikum
Jazakumullahu Khayran.

Abū Hafs

4th Rabiu Th-Thani, 1442AH.

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