Does the Verse “So, Do Not Weaken…” Imply That It Is Sinful to Feel Sadness?


Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

Do the verses, “So do not weaken and do not grieve, and you will be superior if you are [true] believers” [3:139] and “Allah does not like negative thoughts to be voiced—except by those who have been wronged” [4:148] imply that it is sinful to feel sadness, stress, or to share difficulties with friends and family?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

The first verse guarantees hope if you are a believer with sound faith. The other verse does not imply that feeling sadness, stress, or sharing difficulties with friends and family is sinful. This is why a human is called insan, which means one who is intimate and befriends others.

Commentary of Verse 4:148

‘Ali Ibn Abi Talha said that Ibn ‘Abbas commented on the verse,

لاَّ يُحِبُّ اللَّهُ الْجَهْرَ بِالسُّوءِ مِنَ الْقَوْلِ

(Allah does not like that the evil should be uttered in public) “Allah does not like that anyone should invoke Him against anyone else unless one were wronged. In this case, Allah allows one to invoke Him against whoever wronged him. Hence Allah’s statement,

إَلاَّ مَن ظَلَمَ

(except by him, who has been wronged.) Yet, it is better for one if he observes patience.” Hasan Basri commented, “One should not invoke Allah (for curses) against whoever wronged him. Rather, he should supplicate, O Allah! Help me against him and take my right from him.”’ In another narration, Hasan said, “Allah has allowed one to invoke Him against whoever wronged him without transgressing the limits.”

[Ibn Kathir, Tafsir Ibn Kathir]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “No fatigue, illness, anxiety, sorrow, harm, or distress befalls a Muslim, not even a thorn that pricks him, except that Allah expiates some of his sins because of it.” [Bukhari]

The Human Journey is One from Forgetfulness to Loving Allah

In the article linked below, Shaykh Asim states there is a more insightful way of understanding the nature of humanity, which is to be found by understanding the Arabic word for human, or insan.

Insan is derived from two meanings, namely uns and nisyan. While uns refers to the need to be loved, nisyan refers to forgetfulness. He says humanity is driven by the desire to be loved but has forgotten where to find it. So, the human journey is one from forgetfulness to love.

I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. In sha Allah, you will receive guidance and direction.

Related

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I pray this helps with your question.

Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.