How can we reconcile the Hadith "What I fear most for you is polytheism" with the Prophet’s (peace be upon him) Hadith during the Farewell Pilgrimage: "Indeed, I do not fear that you will associate partners with Allah after me, but I fear for you the worldly life, that you will compete for it as those before you competed, and it will destroy you as it destroyed them"?
What has been authentically established from the words of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, contains no contradictions. Ibn al-Qayyim clarifies that the problem lies in understanding, not in the words themselves. He reconciles between the two hadiths by explaining that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, knew that (polytheism) was the greatest thing he feared for his Ummah, because it nullifies good deeds and necessitates eternal damnation in Hell if it is major shirk. However, he also knew that the Companions would not fall into shirk due to the strength of faith in their hearts. Rather, conquests would open up for them, and they would compete for worldly gains. Al-Nawawi explains that this is a miracle of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, as he foretold that his Ummah would possess the treasures of the earth and would not apostatize en masse, and that they would compete for worldly gains, all of which has indeed occurred.
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Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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