The Criterion for the Doubtful Matter That Corrupts the Heart
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Question:
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, what is the doubtful matter that corrupts the heart, and what is its criterion?
Answer:
The doubtful matter of desire, and the doubtful matter of doubt itself. I mean, because fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) is of two types: the fitnah of doubt, which affects the hearts through the whispers, deviation, and straying that befall them; and the fitnah of desire, which affects the body, because it inclines toward zina (unlawful sexual intercourse), it inclines toward drinking khamr (intoxicants), and it inclines toward committing lewd acts. Yes.
He says: Honorable Shaykh, may Allah grant you success, what is the doubtful matter that corrupts the heart, and what is its criterion?
Answer:
The doubtful matter of desire, and the doubtful matter of doubt itself. I mean, because fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) is of two types: the fitnah of doubt, which affects the hearts through the whispers, deviation, and straying that befall them; and the fitnah of desire, which affects the body, because it inclines toward zina (unlawful sexual intercourse), it inclines toward drinking khamr (intoxicants), and it inclines toward committing lewd acts. Yes.
Source
شرح إغاثة اللهفان من مصائد الشيطان لابن القيم، الباب الأول في انقسام القلوب إلى صحيح وسقيم وميت — islamhouse.com (51:23)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.