بسم الله الرحمان الرحيم
Prepared by Madeehah bint Nafees using Al-Mulakhkhas fee Sharh Kitaabit-Towheed of Shaykh Saalih Al-Fowzaan
Hadeeth translated by and explanation checked by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank rahimahullaah
Note to parents and other educators: This hadeeth does not mean that any one who practises towheed can never be punished for their sins. Please see the explanation below.
Shaykh Saalih al-Fowzaan said in I`aanatul-Mustafeed bisharh Kitaabit-Towheed (1/63-64)
“((That He will not punish one who does not associate anything with Him)):
So this shows that whoever remains free of Major and Lesser Shirk, then he will be safe from punishment. So when you gather this along with the other texts which mention a threat of punishment for the disobedient and the sinners, then you will say: the disobedient ones from the people of Towheed, those who did not associate anything with Allaah, however they have sins which are less than shirk: theft, fornication, drinking intoxicants, backbiting, or the rest, then these are sins whose people are deserving of punishment; however they fall under Allaah’s will (mashee~ah): if Allaah wishes He will forgive them without punishment, and enter them into Paradise; and if He wishes He will punish them in accordance with the level of their sins, then He will bring them out on account of their Towheed, and enter them into Paradise.
So as for the people of Towheed, then their destination will be Paradise: either immediately, or eventually; and there occurs in the ahaadeeth that whoever has the slightest weight of a mustard seed of Eemaan in his heart will come out from the Fire being like charcoal, having been burnt to cinders, then Allaah will cause their bodies to grow: they will be cast into a river at the gate of Paradise called ‘the River of Life’, and their bodies will grow, then they will enter Paradise, and they will remain in it forever. So the people of Towheed will end up in Paradise on account of Towheed even if they suffer punishment. As for the Disbelievers, the Mushrikoon, and the Hypocrites who were guilty of Major Hypocrisy, then their destination will the Fire: they will remain forever in it, and they will never enter Paradise…”
Translated by Aboo Talhah Daawood Burbank rahimahullaah