The Devils Deception by Imam Ibn AL-Jawzi

T H E D E V I L ' S
D E C E P T I O N S
see how merchants risk a large sum of money for the sake of little
gain? It is unwise for them to give up that latter pleasure and to
dwell into eternal punishment for the sake of small immediate gain.
Some laypeople say: "Allah is generous, His forgiveness is vast,
and having hope (in Allah) is from our religion." They consider
their wishful thinking: "hope". This is what destroyed most sinners.
Al-Farazdaq asked those around him once: "If I were to do something
wrong towards my parents would they throw me in a blazing
oven?" They said: "No, they would have mercy on you." He said:
''I trust my Lord's mercy more than I trust theirs."
This is utter ignorance. Allah is merciful but not in the sense of
being tender hearted. Had He been tender hearted, no bird would
be slaughtered, no child would die, and no one would enter the hellfire.
Al-Ama'I said: "I was with Abii Nawwas near the Ka'bah when
he saw a beardless boy touching the Black Stone. Abii Nawwas said:
'I am going to kiss him near the Black Stone.' I replied: 'Fear Allah!
You are in a sacred city,.near the sacred house.' He insisted and went
and kissed the boy near the Black Stone. I said: 'Do you do such a
thing in the Haram?!' He replied: 'Leave that issue alone, my Rabb
is merciful.' Then he said (in poetry):
'Two lovers had their cheeks wrap around
one another next to the Black Stone,
They gained satisfaction without sinning,
as if they had an appointment with each other."
Look at how he considered Allah's mercy but did not consider His
wrath.
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