Is the repentance of the incapable accepted, and of one who cannot commit a sin while he is ill?
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The questioner : In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : Is the repentance of the incapable accepted, and of one who cannot disobey at a time when he is ill?
The Shaykh : Yes, if this sinner who is unable to commit the sin desires it and says in his heart: "If I were able, I would have done it," then the burden of that sin is recorded for him. But if it is his custom to commit it, then the full burden of that sin is recorded against him, if it is his custom. And if it is not his custom to commit it, then the burden of the firm intention is recorded against him. The evidence for that is:.
As for if it is his custom to do it, such as if it is his custom to drink intoxicants, may Allah protect us from that, and he becomes ill and does not drink, but he wishes he were able, then we may say: the burden of the act and the intention is recorded against him, because he used to be accustomed to it. It is like the one who used to do a righteous deed and then became unable to do it due to illness; what he used to do while healthy is recorded for him.
And we may say: sins are not measured by good deeds, because good deeds are a favor and reward from Allah. And regarding this man who is unable to commit the sin he used to be accustomed to, we do not assert that the burden of the act is recorded for him because he did not do it.
In any case, it is certain that the burden of the intention is recorded against him. As for the burden of the act, I say now that I am withholding judgment on it. Yes.
Peace be upon you, and Allah’s mercy and blessings.
The Shaykh : And upon you be peace and Allah's mercy and blessings.
The questioner : Is the repentance of the incapable accepted, and of one who cannot disobey at a time when he is ill?
The Shaykh : Yes, if this sinner who is unable to commit the sin desires it and says in his heart: "If I were able, I would have done it," then the burden of that sin is recorded for him. But if it is his custom to commit it, then the full burden of that sin is recorded against him, if it is his custom. And if it is not his custom to commit it, then the burden of the firm intention is recorded against him. The evidence for that is:
That the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) mentioned the man who has wealth and spends it in other than the pleasure of Allah, and the poor man says: "If I had so-and-so's wealth, I would do so-and-so's deed with it." The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "It is by his intention, and they are equal in the burden."
أن النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم ذكر الرجل يكون عنده المال يصرفه في غير مرضاة الله ، والرجل الفقير يقول : لو أن عندي مال فلان لعملت فيه عمل فلان ، قال النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم : فهو بنيته فهما في الوزر سواءAs for if it is his custom to do it, such as if it is his custom to drink intoxicants, may Allah protect us from that, and he becomes ill and does not drink, but he wishes he were able, then we may say: the burden of the act and the intention is recorded against him, because he used to be accustomed to it. It is like the one who used to do a righteous deed and then became unable to do it due to illness; what he used to do while healthy is recorded for him.
And we may say: sins are not measured by good deeds, because good deeds are a favor and reward from Allah. And regarding this man who is unable to commit the sin he used to be accustomed to, we do not assert that the burden of the act is recorded for him because he did not do it.
In any case, it is certain that the burden of the intention is recorded against him. As for the burden of the act, I say now that I am withholding judgment on it. Yes.