The result of persisting on sin, even in secret
Fatwa No: 9268

Question

It was narrated that the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam (may Allaah exalt his mention), said that some people will come on the Day of Judgment with good deeds like mountains, yet they will not be rewarded for them, because they used to disobey Allaah The Almighty when they were alone. Does this Hadeeth refer to people who commit sins but do not reveal them?
May Allaah reward you well.

Answer

All perfect praise be to Allaah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allaah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.

 

The Hadeeth in question was narrated by Ibn Maajah on the authority of Thawbaan who directly attributed it to the Prophet, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam.

It refers to those who only refrain from committing sin in public  and pretend to be righteous; but once they are alone and no one can see them, they violate the commandments of Allaah The Exalted.

In other words, it refers to people who do not care that Allaah The Exalted sees them, and they fear people more than they fear Him.

However, we hope that this threat does not apply to the person who strives to keep away from prohibitions but sometimes his weakness gets the better of him and he does not insist on committing sins.

Allaah Knows best.

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