8. INCLINATION (HAMM) AND DETERMINATION (‘AZM)
Question: what do the noble Scholars say about someone who is absolutely determined to commit a sin like adultery, theft, or drinking wine, but fails to commit it because of death or something else? Has he sinned just by having determination or not? If you say yes, what is the reply to those who say that he is not sinful and prove their case by the hadith: “When My servant is inclined towards doing an evil deed but does not do it, it is not written against him” and also: “Allah has over- looked for my nation that which their souls tell them as long as they do not act or speak”
They approach this from two angles:
The first angle: The Prophet told us that the whispering of the soul (hadith al-nafs) is overlooked, and this general statement includes determination which is the same as inclination ,(hamm). This was stated by Ibn Sida. The second angle’.They say that this overlooking (mentioned in the hadith) covers everything that does not transform into speech or action, so anything that comes before that is overlooked. As for the Prophet’s words: “When two Muslims confront each other with their swords, both the slayer and the slain are in the Fire,” they claim that there is no proof therein to state otherwise because the reason the slain is in the Fire is that he confronted his brother; and confrontation is an action, not just an intention.
They also negate any evidence in the hadith that relates the words of a man: “If only I had money, I would do such and such,” and the Prophet says about him: “They are equal in sin and equal in reward. They hold that this hadith proves nothing because the man spoke, and the Prophet said: “As long as they do not act or speak.”
There has been a lot of talk about this issue, so an elaborate and exhaustive clarification is needed.
The Answer: Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah, may Allah sanctify his spirit and illuminate his grave, answered:
All praise is for Allah. Before speaking about the ruling of this and other similar matters, we must have a good understanding of it first, for the inconsistency of the people regarding these issues is mainly due to two things:
By Shaykhu’l-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah
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