Do not be carried away by your “righteousness”

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

Allaah تعالى says:

﴿لَقَدْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَىٰ أَكْثَرِهِمْ فَهُمْ لَا يُؤْمِنُونَ﴾

{Indeed the Word (of punishment) has proved true against most of them, so they will not believe} [Surah Yaaseen (36): 7]

A few benefits mentioned by Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله regarding this Aayah:

1) One of the benefits we learn from this Aayah is: to reaffirm the important news even if the one being address does not deny it; because here Allaah تعالى is informing the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the Believers, even though they are the ones who do not deny it. This is only because of the importance of reaffirming (the news).

2) Another benefit we learn from this Aayah is: The one against whom the word of punishment has gone out will never believe. As Allaah تعالى says:

﴿أَفَمَنْ حَقَّ عَلَيْهِ كَلِمَةُ الْعَذَابِ أَفَأَنتَ تُنقِذُ مَن فِي النَّارِ﴾

{Is then one against whom the Word of punishment justified (equal to the one who avoids evil)? Will you (O Muhammad) rescue him who is in the Fire?} [Surah al-Zumar (39): 19]

It affirms that (the person against whom the Word has gone out) will be in the fire and there will be no one to rescue him. [Like the example of Abu Lahab]

3) From the benefits of this Aayah is: From Quraish, the people who rejected the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمم (at first), amongst them there were those against whom the Word did not go in effect, so they believed because of the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿عَلَىٰ أَكْثَرِهِمْ﴾

{…against MOST of them}

[For He تعالى did not say: “against ALL of them”]

4) And from the benefits of this Aayah is: There is an indication in this Aayah that one should or rather it is obligatory upon one that he should seek Allaah’s protection and turn towards Him; because it is Allaah in Whose Hands is the Kingdoms of the heavens and the earth. Do not reply on (or be overconfident of) what is in your heart of the Imaan, even if it has reached the highest level, and feel secured that Shaitaan will never be able to overpower you or that your desires will not make you slip – the self which is a persistent enjoiner of evil. Rather, be always the one who constantly seeks Allaah’s protection and turns towards Him, beseeching Him for Firmness (upon the Deen), because of the saying of Allaah تعالى:

﴿لَقَدْ حَقَّ الْقَوْلُ عَلَىٰ أَكْثَرِهِمْ﴾

{Indeed the Word (of punishment) has proved true against most of them}

For all the Commands, Decisions and Matters are verily in the Hands of Allaah alone.

[Note: Allaah تعالى guides whom He Wills and leaves astray whom He Wills. And the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “Verily the hearts are between two Fingers from the Fingers of Allaah and He turns them (in whichever direction) as He likes.” [Saheeh Muslim and Sunan Ibn Maajah]]

[Tafseer Surah Yaseen (1/25-26) by Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله]