Fatwa ID: 07560

Answered by Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam

Question:

Suppose someone has involuntary kufr images in his head that are playing with desires. He’s fighting it but once, he gave in to these images and imagined them for a few seconds before pulling himself together and pushing them away, because these images are unacceptable in his faith and he doesn’t want to indulge them any longer.

Is it kufr? If it is possible, elaborate and clearly answer the consequences of accepting the thought very briefly before rejecting it.

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

It is narrated by Abu Hurairah (ra): The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah forgives my followers those (evil deeds) their souls may whisper or suggest to them as long as they do not act (on it) or speak.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari: 6664]

From this hadith, we can deduce that it is possible for thoughts of kufr to enter our minds. However, with exerted effort, one can repel those thoughts and this is a form of a trial. In Islam, it is considered normal to have good and bad thoughts flow in and out of your mind. What incurs sin is if you act upon the bad or evil thoughts outwardly, causing yourself and others harm. If you don’t act upon them and manage to repel the thoughts in your head, then there is no sin. This form of jihad is something we deal with on a day-to-day basis. To have these recurring thoughts involuntarily and to fight the temptation and ward off the thoughts is a rewardable act and is considered a jihad of the Nafs (Battle of the Self). Of course, as the hadith relays, there is no sin so long as the thoughts are not talked about, and actions are not committed. Talking can lead to affirmation and resolute intentions to commit the forbidden action. However, to entertain such thoughts voluntarily and to then follow it up with the action subsequently is clearly haram.

In his Book of Asceticism, Piety and Worship, Ibn Taiymiyyah says, “Whatever thoughts of disbelief and hypocrisy occur to the heart of the believer, and he hates it and casts it out, his faith and certainty increase, just as whoever is tempted by sin and hates it and rejects it from himself and leaves it for Allah, his righteousness, piety, and fear of Allah increases.”

Only Allah (عز و جل) knows best.

Written by Alimah Saleha Bukhari Islam

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

References:

 والمثل الآخر مَا يُوقد عَلَيْهِ لطلب الْحِلْية وَالْمَتَاع من معادن الذَّهَب وَالْفِضَّة وَالْحَدِيد وَنَحْوه وَأخْبر أَن السَّيْل يحْتَمل زبدا رابيا وَمِمَّا يوقدون عَلَيْهِ فِي النَّار زبد مثله ثمَّ قَالَ كَذَلِك يضْرب الله الْحق وَالْبَاطِل فَأَما الزبدالرابي على المَاء وعَلى الموقد عَلَيْهِ فَهُوَ نَظِير مَا يَقع فِي قُلُوب الْمُؤمنِينَ من الشَّك والشبهات فِي العقائد والارادات الْفَاسِدَة كَمَا شكاه الصَّحَابَة الى النَّبِي صلى الله عَلَيْهِ وَسلم قَالَ تَعَالَى فَيذْهب جفَاء يجفوه الْقلب فيرميه ويقذفه كَمَا يقذف المَاء الزّبد ويجفوه وَأما مَا ينفع النَّاس فيمكث فِي الأَرْض وَهُوَ مثل مَا ثَبت فِي الْقُلُوب من الْيَقِين والايمان كَمَا قَالَ تَعَالَى وَمثل كلمة طيبَة كشجرة طيبَة الْآيَة الى قَوْله يثبت الله الَّذين آمنوابالقول الثَّابِت فِي الْحَيَاة الدِّينَا وَفِي الْآخِرَة ويضل الله الظَّالِمين وَيفْعل الله مَا يَشَاء فَكل مَا وَقع فِي قلب الْمُؤمن من خواطر الْكفْر والنفاق فكرهه وألقاه ازْدَادَ ايمانا ويقينا كَمَا أَن كل من حدثته نَفسه بذنب فكرهه ونفاه عَن نَفسه وَتَركه لله ازْدَادَ صلاحا وَبرا وتقوى وَأما الْمُنَافِق فأذا وَقعت لَهُ الْأَهْوَاء والآراء الْمُتَعَلّقَة بالنفاق لم يكرهها وَلم ينفها فانه قد وجدت مِنْهُ سَيِّئَة الْكفْر من غير حَسَنَة ايمانية تدفعها أَو تنفيها والقلوب يعرض لَهَا الْإِيمَان والنفاق فَتَارَة يغلب هَذَا وَتارَة يغلب هَذَا

ص194 – كتاب الزهد والورع والعبادة – الفصل الثامن الهم والعزم – المكتبة الشاملة