Is thinking about sin without committing it considered a sin?
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The questioner : Is thinking about a sin or transgression without committing it considered a sin or forbidden?
The Shaykh : Thinking about a transgression is not considered a sin or forbidden, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Bulugh al-Maram 8:133.
However, if a person intends to do it and resolves to commit it, then he reflects on himself, fears Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and abandons it—abandoning the transgression he had intended—then a complete good deed is recorded for him for that, as established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):, meaning, for My sake.
But a person should, from the moment he thinks about a transgression, restrain himself from this thinking, because this thinking may grow and increase until it becomes a concern, then a resolve, then an action, except for whom Allah (Mighty and Majestic) protects.
The Shaykh : Thinking about a transgression is not considered a sin or forbidden, because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
Allah, the Most High, has forgiven my followers what they contemplate on within themselves (i.e. evil thoughts) as long as they do not act upon or speak about them.
إن الله تجاوز عن أمتي ما حدثت به أنفسها، ما لم تعمل أو تتكلمHowever, if a person intends to do it and resolves to commit it, then he reflects on himself, fears Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and abandons it—abandoning the transgression he had intended—then a complete good deed is recorded for him for that, as established from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):
That Allah the Exalted records it as a complete good deed and says: He only abandoned it because of Me.
أن الله تعالى يكتبها حسنة كاملة ويقول : إنما تركها من جرائيBut a person should, from the moment he thinks about a transgression, restrain himself from this thinking, because this thinking may grow and increase until it becomes a concern, then a resolve, then an action, except for whom Allah (Mighty and Majestic) protects.