What is the ruling on one who leaves off sin out of shyness of people?
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The questioner : May Allah forgive you, O Shaykh. A Muslim man is not prevented from committing a sin except by his shyness of people, not by hope in what is with Allah or fear of His punishment. What is his case?
The Shaykh : He has no reward, meaning he has no reward at all. But is there a sin upon him? This is a matter of hesitation.
It may be said that there is a sin upon him because he drew near to the created beings by obeying Allah the Mighty and Majestic, or by leaving off His sin. It may also be said that there is no sin upon him because Allah the Mighty and Majestic legislated the limits and punishments as a deterrent for the disobedient, and it is known that the sinner may be prevented from sin by fear of these punishments without the fear of Allah the Mighty and Majestic being on his mind. In any case, we call upon such a man to make his intention sincere for Allah the Mighty and Majestic, so that his obedience is a drawing near to Allah, and his leaving off sin is out of fear of Allah. Yes.
The Shaykh : He has no reward, meaning he has no reward at all. But is there a sin upon him? This is a matter of hesitation.
It may be said that there is a sin upon him because he drew near to the created beings by obeying Allah the Mighty and Majestic, or by leaving off His sin. It may also be said that there is no sin upon him because Allah the Mighty and Majestic legislated the limits and punishments as a deterrent for the disobedient, and it is known that the sinner may be prevented from sin by fear of these punishments without the fear of Allah the Mighty and Majestic being on his mind. In any case, we call upon such a man to make his intention sincere for Allah the Mighty and Majestic, so that his obedience is a drawing near to Allah, and his leaving off sin is out of fear of Allah. Yes.