Faṣl fī Tazkiyat al-Nafs - Ibn Taimiya - (33)

touch; the feet commit fornication, and their fornication is walking; the heart longs and yearns, and the private parts either confirm that or deny it." (1)

Likewise, it is recorded in the authentic collections that Allah’s words, “Indeed, good deeds erase bad deeds” (Hud 11:114), were revealed about a man who had attained from a woman everything short of intercourse, then felt remorse and came repentant, whereupon Allah Most High sent down this verse. (2)

In such matters a Muslim needs to fear Allah and restrain his soul from its caprice, as He says: “But as for him who feared standing before his Lord and restrained the soul from desire, Paradise will indeed be the refuge” (al-Nazi‘at 79:40–41). (3)

The mere inclination and craving themselves are not punishable; (4) punishment is incurred only by pursuing them and acting upon them. (5) Thus, if the soul inclines and desires something (6) but he forbids it, that very restraint is worship of Allah and a righteous deed for which he will be rewarded. (7)

(1) Reported by al-Bukhari, Sahih, no. 6243, Book of Asking Permission, chapter “The fornication of the limbs short of the genital,” and by Muslim, Sahih, no. 2657, Book of Divine Decree, from the narration of Abu Hurayra—may Allah be pleased with him. (2) Omitted in the printed edition. The hadith is also transmitted by al-Bukhari, Sahih, no. 526, Book of Prayer, chapter “Prayer is an expiation,” and by Muslim, Sahih, no. 2763, from the narration of Abd Allah ibn Masud—may Allah be pleased with him. (3) Omitted in the printed edition. (4) The printed edition reads: “bal” (“rather”). (5) The printed edition adds: “and acting upon it.” (6) Omitted in the printed edition. (7) Omitted in the printed edition.

اللمس، والرجلان تزني وزناهما المشي، والقلب يتمنى ويشتهي، والفرج يصدق ذلك ويكذبه» (١) . وكذلك في الصحيح إن قوله تعالى: {إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ} [هود: ١١٤] نزلت بسبب رجل نال من امرأة كل شيء إلا الجماع ثم ندم (وجاء تائباً فأنزل الله تعالى هذه الآية) (٢) . ويحتاج المسلم في ذلك إلى أن يخاف الله وينهى النفس عن الهوى (كما قال تعالى: {وَأَمَّا مَنْ خَافَ مَقَامَ رَبِّهِ وَنَهَى النَّفْسَ عَنِ الْهَوَى • فَإِنَّ الْجَنَّةَ هِيَ الْمَأْوَى} [النازعات: ٤٠، ٤١] ) (٣) ونفس الهوى والشهوة لا يعاقب عليه (وإنما يعاقب) (٤) على اتباع ذلك (وفعله) (٥) ، فإذا كانت النفس تهوى (وتشتهي) (٦) وهو ينهاها كان نهيه إياها عبادة لله تعالى وعملاً صالحاً (يثاب عليه) (٧) .

(١) رواه البخاري (٦٢٤٣) كتاب الاستئذان باب زنا الجوارح دون الفرج، ومسلم (٢٦٥٧) كتاب القدر من حديث أبي هريرة رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ. (٢) سقط من المطبوع. والحديث رواه البخاري (٥٢٦) كتاب الصلاة باب الصلاة كفارة، ومسلم (٢٧٦٣) من حديث عبد الله بن مسعود رَضِيَ اللهُ عَنْهُ. (٣) سقط من المطبوع. (٤) في المطبوع: بل. (٥) في المطبوع: والعمل به. (٦) سقط من المطبوع. (٧) سقط من المطبوع.