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Text and translation
English translation
85. 'Amr bin Shu'ayb narrated from his father that his grandfather said: "The Messenger of Allāh ﷺ came out to his Companions when they were disputing about the Divine Decree, and it was as if pomegranate seeds had burst on his face (i.e., it turned red) because of anger. He said: 'Have you been commanded to do this, or were you created for this purpose? You are using one part of the Qur'ān against another part, and this is what led to the doom of the nations who came before you.''" 'Abdullāh bin 'Amr said: "I was never so happy to have missed a gathering with the Messenger of Allāh ﷺ as I was to have missed that gathering." (Hasan)
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Commentary
84 & 85
Divine Decree is one of the closely-guarded secrets of Allāh. It will suffice us to have a general belief in it. Similarly, in other matters relating to the unseen world, it is enough that we believe in what has been told, without making an effort to discover the details of things deliberately left unexplained.
The main purpose of the study of the Qur'ān and Hadith is to reform one's morals and deeds. If there is a person who opens the paradox of delicate issues just to demonstrate his gift of the gab, or impress the people by his excessive knowledge and skills, it is an act of distraction from the main objective, and amounts to inviting the wrath of Allāh.
c. During the course of admonition, it is perfectly in order for the speaker to take recourse to a show of anger if the situation so demands, especially if the speaker is a person of eminence and a show of anger is not likely to have a negative effect on the audiences.
d. The Companion in question felt happy at having been absent from the assembly because in it, the Prophet ﷺ had expressed his displeasure to the listeners. This means that a person's expression of happiness on being able to do a good deed or avoid an act of sin, is not to be considered an act of self-pride or hypocrisy. It is rather a sign of his love of good and hatred of evil, which is a part of Imân (faith).
