I Asked Less Than You Refused

📖Sahih al-Bukhari 3334, Sahih Muslim 2805
Anas ibn Malik reported: The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Allah Almighty will say to the one least punished in the Hellfire: If you had anything on the earth, would you ransom yourself with it? He will say yes. Allah will say: I asked from you less than that while you were in the backbone of Adam, that you not associate anything with Me, but you refused only for the sake of your idolatry.”

This hadith refers to idolaters who knowingly associate partners with Allah (shirk). Allah only asked for worship of Him alone, yet they refused.

This punishment does not apply to everyone:

• Those who never received the message.
• Children or people unable to understand monotheism.
• People unaware of Allah’s commands.

Why associating another deity with Allah is unforgivable:

• Allah is the Creator and Sustainer; equating a created being to Him denies His authority and is irrational.
• It is like saying, “Your mother is not your mother,” denying her rights and honor.
• Choosing to worship others despite knowing Allah’s command makes the punishment fully justified. You knew the warning, yet you accepted false gods; Allah’s words remain unchanged—your choice leads to Hell, so blame yourself.

Quranic Context:

📖Quran 4:48
Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills.

📖Quran 6:151
Say, “Come, I will recite what your Lord has prohibited to you: Do not associate anything with Him…”

📖Quran 39:11-12
Say, “Indeed, I have been commanded to worship Allah, [being] sincere to Him in religion. And I have been commanded to be the first [among you] who submit.”

📖Quran 16:51
And Allah has said: “Do not take for yourselves two gods. He is only one God, so fear only Me.”

This hadith emphasizes the severity of shirk. Allah asked only for worship and sincerity, yet those who knowingly associated partners with Him refused. By choosing false gods despite knowing Allah’s command, they consciously accept their punishment. The act is irrational, unjust to the Creator, and fully justifies Hell. The choice was theirs; the warning was clear, blame lies with themselves, not with Allah.