بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Sheikh Muhammad ibn Saalih Al Uthaymin said:
Pardoning is to overlook inflicting punishment. If anyone directs evil towards you, and you consequently pardon them, then indeed Allah is aware of that. However, the pardoning that is required for the pardoner to be praised must be connected with reconciliation, due to The Exalted’s statement:
فمن عفا وأصلح فأجره على الله
“So whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah.” [Ash-Shura: 40]
The reason being is that pardoning often times can be the reason for the increase in oppression and hostility. Often times it can be the means to end the oppression, and sometimes there is neither increase -in oppression- nor a reduction therein.
1. So if it is a means for the increase in oppression pardoning in this instance is blameworthy, and perhaps it is prohibited.
For example; we pardon a criminal while knowing, or the most overwhelming probability is that he will go and commit a greater crime, in this situation the pardoner is not praised, on the contrary he is condemned.
2. Often times the pardoning is a means to ending the hostility, that being if the pardoned person has shame as a result he says, “This person has pardoned me there is no way I can oppress him again, nor anyone besides him.” Thus he has shame from being among the oppressors while the other is from those that pardon.
Therefore pardoning here is praiseworthy and demanded, and most times it is obligatory.
3. Sometimes pardoning has no affect neither in increase nor reduction -of the oppression and hostility. This is better due to The Exalted’s statement:
وأن تعفو أقرب للتقوى
“And to pardon is closer to taqwa” [Al-Baqarah: 237]
شرح العقيدة الواسطية
In light of this it is quite ridiculous the statement of some who state that our brother Abu Muhammad Al Jamaiky should pardon Hasan As-Somali and Anwar Wright for the crimes mentioned in his -Abu Muhammad’s- recent speech. Especially considering the fact that he has been patient since 2013 enduring the harms that resulted while both individuals increased in their oppression, foolishness, and slander of their brother and others associated with him.
Thus it is strongly perceived that pardoning them will only increase them in stubbornness and opposition to the truth in this regard. After all Anwar Wright AKA The Deceitful was recently exposed for holding hostility against Salafis based on non issues, slander of other Salafis by use of sensationalism, and double standards. Allah brought to light his condition as a result of him indirectly attacking Abu Muhammad (and others) once again via Twitter.
Thus him and As-Somali had more than enough time to rectify their wrongs; however, they have obstinately clung to their narrow minded position that has been the cause of disunity among the Salafis throughout the states. So upon them is to repent and rectify their wrongs. They had better hope that the oppressed do not return this affair to Allah by way of supplication, as the Messenger -sallahu alayhi wa sallam- said:
“And fear the supplication of the oppressed, for indeed there is not between it and Allah a veil.”
Al-Hafidh ibn Hajr Al-Asqalaani said: “There is no one that can avert it -i.e. the supplication-, nor block it. The intent is that it is accepted, even though he -the one supplicating- may be a sinner…”
فتح الباري شرح صحيح البخاري
It’s time these brothers practice the unity, brotherhood, and togetherness that they preach, and Allah knows best.
Written by Najeeb Al Anjelesi