What is your opinion of one who goes with his family to Makkah to perform 'Umrah and pray in the Haram, but leaves his daughters and wife in the markets and streets? Does he sin by doing so?

The questioner : He says:The questioner : Your Eminence, what is your opinion of one who takes his family to Makkah to perform 'Umrah, and leaves his children wandering in the streets while he does not pray? In fact, even his women are wandering in the markets among the men while he prays in the Haram, but he has no control over them. Is he rewarded or does he sin?

The Shaykh : Yes. I say, and I say based on a belief founded on a principle, that he sins and is not rewarded. Why? Because he neglected a matter that Allah entrusted to him for a matter that is not obligatory. What did Allah entrust to him? The care of his family. Allah the Exalted said: And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Where is the warning of Allah (Mighty and Majestic) that we protect ourselves and our families from the Fire? And where is the care that His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) entrusted to us, while the person sits in the Sacred Mosque with all its intensity and crowding, and the sight of women and other things, and his male and female children are wandering in the markets? Where is the care? Where is the trust? So I say: he sins. If he says: If you consider me sinful for going with my family, I will leave my family in the country and I will go alone. We say: Fine, if you leave your family in the country, do they have a guardian to care for them? If he says: Yes. We say: There is no harm, go, because nothing results from his going, no lack of care, and no breach of trust. But if he says: If I go, no one remains to care for them, and they will be left to their own devices in the country, and neglect will occur, we say: Do not go, not even for 'Umrah, except that you go at the beginning of the day by plane and return at the end of the day by plane, so that the time is not wasted regarding the care of your family. And I say, and I repeat, a trust I convey to whoever Allah wills: Religion is not by emotion. Religion is limits and legislation from Allah (Mighty and Majestic). Look at your work before you do what your soul desires. Is your work in accordance with the Shari'ah or not? If it is in accordance with the Shari'ah, that is from the grace of Allah. Otherwise, do what the Shari'ah requires. If religion were by emotion, all the people of innovation would be on what? On the truth. They would be on the truth, because that is what their emotion dictates to them. The Sufis say: This is the highest rank of faith. And those who deny the names and attributes of Allah say: This is the highest rank of transcendence. And the imitators say: This is the highest rank of imitation. And so on. But religion is a specific legislation from whom? From Allah and His Messenger. If that is the case, then not everything that pleases me and enters my mind and suits my taste is Shari'ah. It is not correct. When the polytheists associate partners with Allah, is that their taste or following? Answer. It is taste. They say: And we say: This is also truth. So for a person to act according to his desire and what he tastes, and say: This is the Shari'ah, and turn away from what Allah has made obligatory upon him, this is a great error. Allah the Exalted says: What? Complete it: .