Q:

Assalamu alaikum shaikh, how we will reconcile the hadith in which Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Allah has forgiven my community for whatever crosses their mind so long as they do not speak of it or act upon it.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) and Qur’anic verse number 284 of chapter 2 which tells Allaah will take account of what is in people’s heart whether they hide it or not?
Today I’ve seen a hadith in which Marwan Al Asfar (R.A) described from Ibn Umar (R.A) that, verse 284 of 2nd chapter is abrogated. It is in Bukhari 4545, (4546). I translated from my native language to English here.

As far I can remember, after revealation of ayat 284, sahabas expressed their worry and then next two ayats were revealed and 284 number ayat was abrogated. I read this long time ago.
Please kindly clarify & help me to understand the matter. Really the verse is abrogated? I need to be sure.
And it is clear to me that there is difference between the thoughts that comes and goes on which we have no control and thoughts upon which we intentionally dwell on & nurture. Also there is difference between unwelcoming/intrusive thoughts which we don’t like & intentional thought done by us.

A:

Wa `alaykum As-Salamu waRahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.

The way of reconciling this hadith and the Quranic verse is maintained in the following hadith. It is reported on the authority of Abu Hurairah that when it was revealed to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him): To Allah belongs whatever is in the heavens and whatever is in the earth and whether you disclose that which is in your mind or conceal it, Allah will call you to account according to it. Then He forgives whom He pleases and chastises whom He Pleases; and Allah is over everything Potent” (ii. 284). the Companions of the Messenger of Allah felt it hard and severe and they came to the Messenger of Allah and sat down on their knees and said: Messenger of Allah, we were assigned some duties which were within our power to perform, such as prayer, fasting, struggling (in the cause of Allah), charity. Then this (the above-mentioned) verse was revealed unto you and it is beyond our power to live up to it. The Messenger of Allah said: Do you intend to say what the people of two books (Jews and Christians) said before you:” We hear and disobey”? You should rather say:” We hear and we obey, (we seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord! and unto Thee is the return.” And they said:” We hear and we obey, (we seek) Thy forgiveness, Our Lord! and unto Thee is the return.” When the people recited it and it smoothly flowed on their tongues, then Allah revealed immediately afterwards:” The Apostle believes in that which is sent down unto him from his Lord, and so do the believers. Each one believes in Allah and His Angels and His Books and His Apostles, saying: We differentiate not between any of His Apostles and they say: We hearken and we obey: (we seek) Thy forgiveness, our Lord! and unto Thee is the return” (ii. 285). When they did that, Allah abrogated this (verse) and the Great, Majestic Allah revealed:” Allah burdens not a soul beyond its capacity. It gets every good that it earns and it suffers every ill that it earns. Our Lord, punish us not if we forget or make a mistake.” (The Prophet said: Yes, our Lord! do not lay on us a burden as Thou didst lay on those before us. (The Prophet said: Yes, our Lord, impose not on us (burdens) which we have not the strength to bear (The Prophet said: Yes, and pardon us and grant us protection! and have mercy on us. Thou art our Patron, so grant us victory over the disbelieving people” (ii. 286). He (the Lord) said: Yes. (Muslim)

Almighty Allah Knows best.