When bad thoughts come to you about Allaah!

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد

If ever such statements come to your mind, or you hear people saying this: “Allaah can’t do a thousand things”, or any other statements which harbors bad thoughts about Allaah or attributes weakness to Him, then:

1) Seek Allaah’s refuge from such thoughts or statements by saying:

أعوذ بالله من الشيطان الرجيم

2) Reaffirm your faith in Allaah and His Messengers by saying:

آمَنْتُ بِاللَّهِ وَرُسُلِهِ

3) Distance yourself from such thoughts and avoid the company of such people who say this.

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

❝The Shaitaan (Satan) comes to every one of you and says: ‘Who created this and that?, till he questions: Who created your Lord?’ When he comes to that, one should seek Allaah’s refuge and keep away (from such idle thoughts).❞

[Saheeh Muslim (252)]

Abu Hurairah رضي الله عنه narrated that the Messenger of Allaah صلى الله عليه وسلم said:

❝People will continue to question each other till this is propounded: ‘Allaah created all things but who created Allaah?’ He who found himself confronted with such a situation should say: “I affirm my faith in Allaah and His Messenger”.❞

[Saheeh Muslim (250, 251)]

Abu Hurairah reported رضي الله عنه: The Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم said to me:

❝They (the people) till constantly ask you, O Abu Hurairah, (about different things pertaining to religion). They would say: ‘Well, there is Allaah, but after all who created Allaah?’❞

He (Abu Hurairah) narrated: Once we were in the Masjid that some of the Bedouins came there and said: Well, there is Allaah, but who created Allaah? He said: I took hold of the pebbles in my fist and flung at them and remarked: Stand up, stand up (go away) my friend (the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم) told the truth.

[Saheeh Muslim (256)]

The Ghairah of Abu Hurairah for this Deen:

Shaikh Ibn al-`Uthaymeen رحمه الله said:

❝In the Hadeeth of Abu Hurairah where he threw pebbles at the Bedouins, there is evidence for his Ghairah (protective jealousy) for Allaah عز وجل. It is obligatory upon a person that he should not speak about matters such as these which would ruin or harm his `Aqeedah.

But we ask: Was there a way better than what Abu Hurairah did?

We say: Yes! It would have been better if he had informed them about the Hadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم that: “(they) should seek Allaah’s refuge and keep away (from such idle thoughts).” But at that instant of time, it was his Ghairah (protective jealousy for Allaah and His Deen) that made him do that.❞

[Sharh Saheeh Muslim]