๐ In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
๐ Question: What is the ruling on thinking about haraam/forbidden things? For instance when a person thinks about stealing or he/she fantasizes about committing zina (fornication/adultery) while he/she is aware that they would never do such a thing even if they were readily accessible?
๐ Answer: Whatever takes place within a person's nafs from evil thoughts, such as when contemplating about committing theft, or zina (fornication/adultery), or drinking intoxicants, and the like, and the person does not act upon those imaginations, then he/she will be excused and not be guilty of actually carrying out the sin.
Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, Allah has pardoned my nation for what occurs within themselves (indecent thoughts, imaginations, or feelings), as long as they do not speak of it or act upon it."
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6287
Sahih Muslim 127
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
Ibn Abbas RadhiAllahu 'anhuma narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Verily, Allah has recorded good and evil deeds and He made them clear. Whoever intends to perform a good deed but does not do it, Allah will record it as a complete good deed. If he intends to do it and does so, Allah the Almighty will record it as ten good deeds, up to seven hundred times as much or even more. If he intends to do an evil deed and does not do it, Allah will record for him one complete good deed. If he does it, Allah will record for him a single evil deed."
Source: Sahih Al-Bukhari 6126
Sahih Muslim 131
Grade: Muttafaqun Alayhi (Authenticity agreed upon) according to Al-Bukhari and Muslim
The meaning here is that when a Muslim leaves or abandons a sin sincerely to please Allah the Almighty, then a reward or good deed is written for him/her, whereas if one avoids a wrongdoing not for Allah's sake but for other reasons (fearing people's censure or their disapproval), then he/she doesn't earn a sin or good deed.
This is from the Mercy of Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala Who deserves all gratitude and praise, there is no true god who deserves to be worshipped but Him Only.
Allah the Most Wise knows best.
From the Fataawa of sheikh AbdulAziz Ibn Baz (May Allah have mercy on him. Ameen.)
~•~
๐ Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Some of the companions came to the Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam and they asked him, "We find within ourselves that which is too grievous to speak of." The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "You have indeed found it so?" They said "yes". The Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "That is sincere faith."
In another narration, the Prophet SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "That is (evidence or sign of) pure faith (that shaytan is trying to distract you because he sees the strength of your faith/Imaan or potential to be pious)."
Source: Sahih Muslim 132
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
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