Does Entering Places of Disobedience Diminish a Muslim’s Station of Ihsan?

Answered by Shaykh Anas al-Musa

Question

Does a Muslim diminish their station of Ihsan (excellence in worship) if they are compelled to enter places where disobedience to Allah is prevalent?

Answer

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

All praise is due to Allah, Lord of all worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the Messenger sent as a mercy to the worlds, our Master and Prophet, Muhammad, and his Family and Companions.

Maintaining Ihsan Amid Necessity

Ihsan represents the highest level of faith, where a person worships Allah as if they see Him. Entering environments of disobedience due to necessity does not, by Allah’s will, detract from this lofty station.

Avoiding Harmful Environments

Generally, Muslims should avoid places of open disobedience, as they risk inviting Allah’s displeasure and exposing one’s faith to potential harm. These places not only pose a risk to one’s station of Ihsan but can also negatively impact their level of faith. Allah (Most High) describes His servants, saying:

“(They are) those who do not bear false witness, and when they come across falsehood, they pass (it) by with dignity.” [Quran, 25:72]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) also instructed,

“Do not befriend anyone but a believer, and do not let anyone eat your food except the righteous.” [Ahmad]

When Compelled by Necessity

However, if a Muslim finds themselves compelled to enter such an environment out of necessity, their level of Ihsan remains intact, provided they maintain awareness that Allah is watching them. This is in line with the verse:

“Allah does not require of any soul more than what it can afford.” [Quran, 2:286]

And also:

“But if someone is compelled by necessity—neither driven by desire nor exceeding immediate need—they will not be sinful. Surely Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Quran, 2:173]

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) also said,

“Allah has pardoned my community for what their souls mistakenly suggest to them, as long as they neither speak of it nor act upon it, and for what they were forced to do.” [Ibn Maja]

Practical Steps in Such Situations

For those in such situations, it is important to:

• Seek Allah’s help and pray for steadfastness and protection from the temptations within these places.
• Avoid participating in any wrongdoings to the best of their ability.
• Reflect on the words of Prophet Yusuf (peace be upon him), who said: “My Lord! I would rather be in jail than do what they invite me to. And if You do not turn their cunning away from me, I might yield to them and fall into ignorance.” [Quran, 12:33]

Finally, one should ensure the necessity justifies such circumstances by consulting knowledgeable scholars, and ideally, enter with the intention of promoting goodness and refraining from wrongdoing as much as possible.

And Allah knows best.

May Allah bless the Prophet Muhammad and give him peace, and his Family and Companions.

[Shaykh] Anas al-Musa

Shaykh Anas al-Musa, born in Hama, Syria, in 1974, is an erudite scholar of notable repute. He graduated from the Engineering Institute in Damascus, where he specialized in General Construction, and Al-Azhar University, Faculty of Usul al-Din, where he specialized in Hadith.

He studied under prominent scholars in Damascus, including Shaykh Abdul Rahman al-Shaghouri and Shaykh Adib al-Kallas, among others. Shaykh Anas has memorized the Quran and is proficient in the ten Mutawatir recitations, having studied under Shaykh Bakri al-Tarabishi and Shaykh Mowfaq ‘Ayun. He also graduated from the Iraqi Hadith School.

He has taught numerous Islamic subjects at Shari‘a institutes in Syria and Turkey. Shaykh Anas has served as an Imam and preacher for over 15 years and is a teacher of the Quran in its various readings and narrations.

Currently, he works as a teacher at SeekersGuidance and is responsible for academic guidance there. He has completed his Master’s degree in Hadith and is now pursuing his Ph.D. in the same field. Shaykh Anas al-Musa is married and resides in Istanbul.