Question
A man who is a community leader is a faasiq. He shaves his beard, wears his trousers below his ankles and generally engages in sinful acts in public. He argues that Allah Ta'ala will judge him on his intention, not on his appearance. He says that his heart and intention are clean. Is this line of reasoning correct?
Answer
Niyyat is of no benefit if actions are in conflict with Allah's orders. Allah Ta'ala orders His servant: "Keep a beard!". The servant responds: 'My intention is clean. I shall not keep a beard." The logical consequence of such insolence and disobedience is companionship with Iblees in Jahannum. Allah Ta'ala will not overlook haraam and evil deeds on the basis of professed 'clean heart' and 'good' intention. Furthermore, the claim of the faasiq/faajir that his heart is 'clean' despite his commission of major sins, is utterly false. On the contrary, his heart is dirty – dirtier than a sewer drain flooded with filthy sewerage. A Muslim whose heart is clean will not flagrantly violate Allah's commands and justify it in exactly the same way as Shaitaan had justified his transgression when Allah Ta'ala ordered him to make Sajdah. Shaitaan responded like this miserable 'leader of the community'. He said: 'I shall not make sajdah because You have created me from fire and Aadam from sand." He implied that his heart was 'clean', hence he had justification to sin and be insolent like this vile 'community leader'.
- Source
- themajlis.co.za
- Published in
- The Majlis Vol 20 No 09
- PDF page
- 5
Appears under Questions and Answers (approximate).