Is merely intending to commit sacrilege in the Haram sufficient to incur punishment, even if the act is not carried out?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
The questioner:
May Allah reward you. He says: What is meant by His saying[Al-Hajj 22:25] Is it merely the intention within the Haram, even if the act is performed outside the Haram?
The Shaykh:
Yes, the warning applies to him whether he is inside the Haram or outside it, even if he is in Sana'a or far away or in Sham, and he intends to commit sacrilege in the Haram. Then Allah will strike him with painful punishment, for Allah knows intentions and knows what is in hearts. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh:
So those who want to harm the pilgrims now, who organize demonstrations or worse, who do things like arson or create artificial crowds in which people die—these people, may Allah protect us from them, will suffer painful punishment. This is if they carry it out; how much more so if they do carry it out, for the matter is more severe. But merely the intention, even if it is not carried out, if he does not repent and turn back from his intention, he will be struck with painful punishment, may Allah protect us from it. Merely the intention, even if it is not carried out, if he is unable to do so or does not manage to, but he remains with his intention, he will be struck with painful punishment.
May Allah reward you. He says: What is meant by His saying
and [also] whoever intends [a deed] therein of deviation [in religion] or wrongdoing - We will make him taste of a painful punishment.
وَمَن يُرِدْ فِيهِ بِإِلْحَادٍ بِظُلْمٍ نُّذِقْهُ مِنْ عَذَابٍ أَلِيمٍThe Shaykh:
Yes, the warning applies to him whether he is inside the Haram or outside it, even if he is in Sana'a or far away or in Sham, and he intends to commit sacrilege in the Haram. Then Allah will strike him with painful punishment, for Allah knows intentions and knows what is in hearts. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you.
The Shaykh:
So those who want to harm the pilgrims now, who organize demonstrations or worse, who do things like arson or create artificial crowds in which people die—these people, may Allah protect us from them, will suffer painful punishment. This is if they carry it out; how much more so if they do carry it out, for the matter is more severe. But merely the intention, even if it is not carried out, if he does not repent and turn back from his intention, he will be struck with painful punishment, may Allah protect us from it. Merely the intention, even if it is not carried out, if he is unable to do so or does not manage to, but he remains with his intention, he will be struck with painful punishment.
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، [3436/1092] هل مجرد نية الإلحاد في الحرم تُوجب العذاب حتى لو لم يُنفَّذ الفعل؟ - الشيخ صالح الفوزان — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.