The Danger of Judging Others
📖Sunan Abi Dawud 4901
Narrated Abu Hurayrah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: There were two men among the Children of Israel striving for the same goal (worship of Allah). One of them was committed to worship, while the other was a habitual sinner. The worshipper would constantly advise the sinner: “Stop sinning!” One day, seeing him sin again, he said: “By Allah, Allah will never forgive you, nor admit you to Paradise., When both died, Allah said to the worshipper: “Did you have knowledge of Me? Or were you in control of what was in My Hand?” Then Allah said to the sinner: “Go, enter Paradise by My mercy.” And to the worshipper, He said: “Take him to Hell.” Abu Hurayrah added: By the One in Whose hand is my soul, the worshipper spoke a word that destroyed his worldly life and his Hereafter.
What Went Wrong?
The worshipper’s external deeds were righteous, But his internal arrogance destroyed him – because he:
- Spoke as if he had Allah’s authority
- Claimed to know what Allah will never do
- Gave a final judgment about someone’s eternal fate
This is not just a statement – it’s claiming knowledge of the unseen (ghayb), and challenging Allah’s mercy.
❗ Why Was This a Major Sin?
Because only Allah can say who will be forgiven or punished.
Quranic Context:
📖Quran 39:53
Say, “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
📖Quran 3:135
And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins – and who can forgive sins except Allah?
📖Quran 6:59
And with Him are the keys of the unseen; none knows them except Him…
📖Quran 12:87
Indeed, no one despairs of relief from Allah except the disbelieving people.
So when the worshipper declared someone hopeless, he actually denied the very mercy Allah commanded us to never lose hope in.
Today’s Case: Can We Warn Others?
Yes – we now have Allah’s message (Qur’an) and authentic Hadith that clearly state what actions lead to punishment and Hell.
We can warn based on what is written, like:
“Whoever dies while associating partners with Allah will not be forgiven”
“Adultery, theft, rape, murder, and pride lead to Hell if not repented from”
📖Quran 4:48
Indeed, Allah does not forgive association with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills…
📖Quran 25:68-69
And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity, or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden, except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever does that will meet a penalty. The punishment will be multiplied for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated.
📖Sahih al-Bukhari 2766
The Prophet ﷺ said: Avoid the seven destructive sins: associating partners with Allah, magic, killing a soul without right, consuming usury, consuming the property of orphans, fleeing from the battlefield, and falsely accusing chaste, innocent women.
📖Sahih Bukhari – 2449
The Prophet ﷺ said: Whoever has committed injustice against his brother in regard to his honor or anything else, let him seek forgiveness from him today – before a Day when there will be no dinar or dirham… only good and bad deeds.
So yes – we are commanded to warn about such acts, because:
- The Qur’an has declared their consequences
- The Hadith explain the punishments
- This person is evil because he openly fights against the Qur’an.
- The Ummah is meant to advise and enjoin what is right
But still – we cannot say with 100% certainty that a specific person is going to Hell, because:
- They might repent privately
- They may have good deeds unknown to us
- Allah’s mercy is greater than all sin
The man in the hadith who said “Allah will never forgive you” did not judge based on divine law.
He spoke from his own feelings – without knowledge or authority, That’s why Allah condemned him.