Bab Qawl ar-Rajul Ana Mu'min
Investigation of Saying 'I am a Believer'
بَابٌ : قَوْلُ الرَّجُلِ "اَنَا مُؤْمِنٌ" *Chapter: In establishing this matter that someone says "I am a believer"* (People of former times used to fear calling themselves believers, not knowing what their end would be? And whether this Muslim will remain steadfast on Iman till the end or not. But the reality is that everyone should have certainty about their Iman. Very many people have the habit of doubting the Iman of any Muslim without reason. And even while saying it, they say "I am somewhat a believer," etc. Saying such things is totally against the holy guidance of the Prophet ﷺ "ظُنُّوُا الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ خَيْرًا" (Have good thoughts about believers). Therefore, neither should one doubt one's own Iman being a believer, nor should one doubt about others. ہر کرا جامہ پارسا بینی * پارسا داں و نیک مرد انگار ورنہ دانی کہ در نہانش چیست * محتسب را درون خانہ چہ کار Consider whomever you see in a pious appearance as pious and a good man. And if you do not know the correct truth about his inner state, then do not delve into his inner state. The Muhtasib, meaning the police chief, has no right to interfere in someone's domestic affairs. Accountability and interrogation, arresting, punishing, etc. are on apparent actions. اَلْإِيْمَانُ بَيْنَ الْخَوْفِ وَالرَّجَاءِ Iman is between hope and fear. This teaching means that man should neither completely despair of Allah's mercy and His forgiveness, nor should he become so emboldened upon His mercy that he gets ready to do every evil deed. Thus, if any good deed is accomplished, then one should be grateful to Allah that by Allah's grace and bounty, he got the guidance to do this good deed. After this gratitude, he should pray that Allah accepts it with a good reward. And regarding this, he should not keep hope from Allah's mercy that Allah will care for the reward of this deed. Similarly, if any bad deed is done, he should immediately repent of it and due to its remorse, fall down crying in the presence of Allah and pray that "O Allah! Out of negligence and mistake, this sin has been committed by me. Forgive it and save me from it in the future.")
عَنْ سَعِيْدِ بْنِ يَسَارٍ قَالَ لَمَّا بَلَغَ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ أَنَّ رَجُلًا بِالشَّامِ يَزْعُمُ اَنَّهُ مُؤْمِنٌ فَكَتَبَ إِلَى اَمِيْرِهِ أَنِ ابْعَثْهُ إِلَىَّ فَلَمَّا قَدِمَ قَالَ اَنْتَ الَّذِي تَزْعُمُ اَنَّكَ مُؤْمِنٌ ؟ قَالَ نَعَمْ يَا أَمِيْرَ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ !قَالَ وَيْحَكَ مِمَّ ذَاكَ ؟ قَالَ اَوَلَمْ تَكُوْنُوْا مَعَ رَسُوْلِ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَ سَلَّمَ أَصْنَافًا مُّشْرِكٌ وَّ مُنَافِقٌ وَّ مُؤْمِنٌ فَمِنْ أَيِّهِمْ كُنْتُ فَمُدَّ عُمَرُ يَدَهُ إِلَيْهِ مَعْرِفَةً لِمَا قَالَ حَتَّى اَخَذَ بِيَدِهِ - (عب ، كنز) لَمَّا: when, at the time of. بَلَغَ: reached, gave information. يَزْعُمُ: assumes, thinks. اِبْعَثْهُ إِلَىَّ: send him to me. وَيْحَكَ: Alas for you. مِمَّ: Originally it was مِنْ مَا. مِمَّ ذَاكَ: For what reason, upon what reliance. أَصْنَافًا: plural
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