To be content with disobedience is disobedience

Allah has certainly heard the statement of those [Jews] who said, "Indeed, Allah is poor, while we are rich." We will record what they said and their killing of the prophets without right and will say, "Taste the punishment of the Burning Fire.

[Qur'aan 3:181]

The Jews did not kill the Prophets. Their forefathers did. However, the Jews were content with that; hence Allaah annexed the killing to them.

Based on this the scholars have derived a principle. The principle states:

الرضا بالمعصية معصية

When you are content with disobedience then it is disobedience itself.

وحسن رجل عند الشعبي ، قتل عثمان - رضي الله عنه - فقال له الشعبي : شركت في دمه

A man from among the Shi'itte considered the killing of Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) to be a good thing. Therefore, Imam al-Sha'bi said to him: You have participated in his blood [i.e. his killing].

فجعل الرضا بالقتل قتلا

He considered being content with the killing of Uthmaan (may Allaah be pleased with him) to equal killing him.

The following Verse reinforces this principle:

And do not incline toward those who do wrong, lest you be touched by the Fire, and you would not have other than Allah any protectors; then you would not be helped.

[Qur'aan 11:113]

The Arabic word for "incline" is rakana. The verbal noun for rakana is rukuun. The Arabic for "do not incline" is Laa tarkanuu.

Imaam al-Qurtubi quotes Abu al-'aaliyyah. He says regarding Laa tarkanuu:

لا ترضوا أعمالهم

[It means] do not be content with their deeds

وهذا هو الصحيح في معنى الآية، وأنها دالة على هجران أهل الكفر والمعاصي من أهل البدع وغيرهم

The Verse is evidence that we must forsake ahl al-Kufr [people who disbelief] and those who are disobedient from among the people of Bid'ah and others.

You must keep good company. Sit with those who follow the Sunnah. Avoid those who indulge in Bid'ah. The torment of Allaah can descend upon the evil ones at any time. You do not want to be with them when that happens.

No one knows when the torment of Allaah will descend. Your only hope is to avoid evil people at all times if you want to save yourself from being enveloped in the torment of Allaah.

Mercy descends on the righteous slaves of Allaah. Stick with them so that you can benefit from the Mercy of Allaah.

Reference(s):

Tafsir al-Qurtubi

Volume 4 Page 294

Publisher: دار الكتب المصرية - القاهرة