Why would Allah Hang a Punishment He Already Written? - Ramadan 1436/2015

In the fourth segment [of the hadith], Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala says:"I will, for My servant to be punished. I write that. I will it. However, I keep it hanging. I do not execute the will. Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala, on the one hand, he wants to quickly punish you, to purify you, and that is from His Rahma. But on the other hand, Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala does not execute the punishment yet. Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala keeps it hanging. "Wa ma yalamu bi 'abdi". And My 'abd,servant has no clue what is going on. He is sleeping in his bed and he has no clue what is going on. He has committed a sin and he has not asked for Istighfar.

This Hadith is assuming that the person has forgotten to seek Allah's forgiveness. Because if you ask Allah's forgiveness, there is no reason why Allah would punish you. Allah would remove that punishment. You have forgotten to ask Allah for His Alrahman, for His mercy, for His forgiveness. You are sleeping, you forgot about the sin. You have no clue. Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala, is now writing a punishment that awaits you. There is this calamity that awaits you, and you have no clue about it.

But Allah has kept it hanging. Why does Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala, make some of His wills hanging? Why? Allah doesn't execute them immediately. Allah does so because He is giving us a chance to change that, brothers and sisters. And this is the biggest lesson we learn on Laylat al-Qadr.

That I as a human being, yes, I am weak, I am nothing when compared to the greatness of Allah. But this Merciful Lord has given me a chance to change what Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala has destined for me. "Yamhu Allahu man yasha wa yuthbit" (13:39). Allah Subhana wa Ta'ala can erase some things which He has decreed for us, which He has written for us. Allah can change that. I have a role in that.

When you do good, for example, the hadith says, Allah has decreed for some individuals to die in three years. They pay charity, they donate, they visit family members, they help someone. Allah makes that 3 into 30 years. Allah gave you the opportunity to change that.

That is why on Laylat al-Qadr, we open our hearts and pray and supplicate. So we change the destiny. Laylat al-Qadr, means the night of destiny, the night of determination. And I have a role in what Allah, Subhana wa Ta'ala, predetermines for me, brothers and sisters. This is from the Rahma of Allah, Subhana wa Ta'ala.