A person who enjoins good but does not practice it

Q: Does the Hadith that reads: ''A man will be brought on the Day of Resurrection and thrown into the Hellfire; his intestines will spill forth and he will go around them as a donkey goes around the millstone ..." mean that the person who calls people to a false Manhaj (methodology) and those who follow their orders all will deserve the Hellfire?


A: The Hadith mentioned in the question was stated in the Two Sahih (authentic) Books of Hadith (i.e. Al-Bukhari and Muslim). It is narrated by Al-A`mash from Abu Wa'il that he said: It was said to Usamah ibn Zayd, "Will you go to so-and-so [Uthman] and speak to him [about what is happening]?" He said, "You think that I do not speak to him except when you hear? I speak to him secretly without opening a door which I do not wish to be the first to open. Nor will I say to a man who is amir over me that he is the best of people after something which I heard from the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him." They asked, "What did you hear him say?" He said, "I heard him say, "A man will be brought on the Day of Rising and thrown into the Fire and the intestines of his belly will come out and he will be dragged round by them as the donkey goes round the mill. The people of the Fire will gather round him and say, "So-and-so! What has happened to you? Did you not enjoin the Ma`ruf (that which is judged as good, beneficial, or fitting by Islamic law and Muslims of sound intellect) and forbid the Munkar (that which is unacceptable or disapproved of by Islamic law and Muslims of sound intellect)?" He will say: "Yes, but I used to enjoin the Ma`ruf and not do it, and I used to forbid the Munkar and do it.'' (Narrated by Ghundar from Shu`bah from Al-A`mash. This is the wording of Al-Bukhari). This Hadith indicates (Part No. 11; Page No. 34) the true reason why this person will deserve the Hellfire and it is not the reason mentioned in the question.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.


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