Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

Whenever you are answering any question, at the end you always mention "Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me".

Though this shows your magnanimity, I have a small point of objection here. When all the thoughts and deeds are only with ALLAH`s will, how can the errors alone be of yours? Should it not also be due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance?

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Error due to Allahs assistance

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

Your Question: …..When all the thoughts and deeds are only with ALLAH`s will, how can the errors alone be of yours?

There is a stark difference between Allah’s Will or the Lord Most Gracious giving His permission and allowing a thing to happen….and Allah Subhanah being pleased with a deed.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumar Verse 7:

7 If ye reject (Allah) truly Allah has no need of you; but He likes not ingratitude from His servants: if ye are grateful He is pleased with you.

Because man is involved in a test for the period of this life, Allah Subhanah for the period of test ‘Allows’ man to be grateful or ungrateful unto Him….but although He ‘Allows’ both gratefulness and ungratefulness, He is Pleased with the one who displays gratefulness and displeased with one who displays ungratefulness.

Secondly, if Allah Subhanah has blessed one amongst His slaves the ‘tawfeeq’ or the allowance to do a good deed, it would simply not behove the believer who sincerely fears Allah and the Last Day to boast or take pride in doing that good deed….but rather piety and righteousness would dictate that the believer attribute the performance of that good deed to the ‘tawfeeq’ and allowance accorded to him by his Lord Most Gracious, Most Benevolent.

And although it is also true that one can only do an error or a mistake because The Lord Most Wise Allowed and Permitted it to happen, it would neither be piety nor righteousness that one attribute or blame that error or mistake to the Will of Allah Subhanah….but rather one should always attribute that error to oneself and in all sincerity and humility strive to seek forgiveness from their Lord Most Gracious Most Merciful for their shortcomings.

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan