# Isn't it better to feel guilty when sinning so that you repent?

*Isn't it better to sin with guilt and then repent?*

- URL: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/housirokbvu/s/30/
- Date: 2020-04-19 · Kind: discussion · Transcript tier: machine · Recording: Shaykh Kashif Khan | Policing thought, Pornography & Pandora's box | MindTrap with Mufti #15 (2:33:37–2:36:00)
- Status: a view quoted in order to be discussed, not a position held
- Watch from the start of the segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hOusirOkBVU&t=9217s
- Recording page: https://muftiabulayth.org/r/housirokbvu/

**Topics:** Religious guilt and scrupulosity; Sexual ethics; Guest conversations

**Summary (not a quotation; machine-made, unchecked):** The guest says most scholars hold watching pornography is haram and people should not watch it, while academically the evidence resembles Imam Ahmad's 'I dislike it but do not say it is haram'.

## Longer summary

Mufti Abu Layth puts the question that it may be better for people to do these things with guilt, so that they later seek to redeem themselves through tawbah and istighfar, rather than guilt-free. The guest says that when he talks about pornography he often says that according to most scholars it is haram to watch it, so people should not watch it, but that when discussed academically the evidence is like Imam Ahmad's statement on mut'ah, that he does not say it is haram but dislikes it, since he could find no evidence for the prohibition. He says he is not encouraging people, and mentions memes made about him by Pakistani friends. Mufti notes that if some scholars hold something is not haram, Imam al-Shafi'i's principle means one cannot impose one's view, citing those who drank nabidh, and asks whether guilt is a good thing at all, and whether Islam teaches guilt-tripping people into being good.

## Sources and names cited

- Shaykh Kashif Khan (guest)
- Imam Ahmad ibn Hanbal
- al-Shafi'i
- mut'ah
- tawbah (repentance)
- nabidh

## Transcript (machine tier, 2:33:37–2:36:00)

[2:32:58] which I was that much then he has to use shopping bag the plastic shopping bag yeah they use that they used to wrap around that those things because didn't have money for condoms and stuff like that please yes now you have provided him the photo then the question is this year people will ask that look is it not

[2:33:36] better if they do these things with guilt this is the question with killed therefore they would try to redeem themselves by asking for Tober later on and doing step far let's say they were later on or the question this way since they're doing it guilt free there's no you know a person is gonna be happy with themselves are we not just in the moment even afterwards and this is what do you say to that argument hey of course if you see of course when we about talk about pornography I often say according to the most of the

[2:34:15] scholars and according to majority of them or according to the scholars in general it is haram to watch pornography right so you shouldn't be watching it but when we discussed academically is there any evidence is then evidence is like the statement of um imam muhammad like i don't see the Muto is higher I don't say the motives around but I don't I dislike it so because he couldn't find evidence for it for the prohibition of mota so I but I'm not encouraging people

[2:34:41] to go ahead subscribe I don't in my page a lot of my Pakistani friends they are making a lot of memes on this and they often take me to the means and then I got to know by okay hiya though he's up he's he's a master he's a master chef so I wanted to say was that this thing of guilt anyway this thing of killed first

[2:35:20] of all if some scholars have said something is not Haram and you quoted Imam Shafi'i earlier on saying look when we believe something is Haram but some people don't believe that thing is Haram like let's say Nubby's an alcoholic kind of drink yeah most people believed it was Haram above honey first of Iran Authority these people didn't believe it was Haram and they used to drink it now you can't Imam Shafi saying well you can't impose your opinion on them the the thing with that in mind is killed a good thing anyway like is I mean I'm just asking what are your thoughts you know this thing on guilt this like.we

[2:35:59] guilt trip people into being good people is this the way Islam teaches that we should be guilt-tripping people to be good people I think it doesn't work and if something is not naturally declared Haram by last Juan Alcala then it's not gonna work because it's not natural otherwise it would have mentioned it straightaway in the Quran like Lena RIBA things like which are mentioned in the Quran like the principles of amiable Maru 419 and moons are mentioned by Monica's Ali he said if for Hanafy is shrinking the beef or aschoff is eating

## Cite

Mufti Abu Layth Archive, segment hOusirOkBVU/s/30. https://muftiabulayth.org/r/housirokbvu/s/30/

Not a fatwa: these answers were given to specific people at specific times. Ask a qualified scholar about your own situation.