Can One Incur Sins if One Was a Means for Others?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
If someone searches for something of zina, like someone kissing someone’s cheek, etc., they imagine that same thing. Will the sin also go on that person since they posted the video of Zina or not, as the video was not encouraging them to imagine haram?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Accountability for Enabling Sin
One can incur the sin of being a means for sin for others, too. If our actions lead to others also sinning, we will also get a share of sin unless one repents, seeks forgiveness, and Allah Most High accepts it. This is why daily repentance, asking for forgiveness, and regular good actions are important.
Allah says: “Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a share in the reward, and whoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a share in the burden. And Allah is Watchful over all things.” [Quran, 4:85]
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Whoever starts a good thing and is followed by others will have his reward and a reward equal to that of those who follow him, without it detracting from their reward in any way. Whoever starts a bad thing and is followed therein will bear his and the follower’s burden (of sin) without detracting from their burden. [Tirmidhi]
Good Actions and Seeking Forgiveness
“Surely good deeds wipe out evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful.” [Quran, 11:114]
Safiyya (Allah be pleased with him) reported that Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) said, “Blessed is the one who finds many prayers for forgiveness on their record.” [Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman]
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction, in sha’ Allah.
Related:
- Following Others in Sin
- Prayer of Repentance: Salat al-Tawba
- A Reader on Tawba (Repentance)
- How Can I End The Cycle of Sin and Repentance?
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I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
