Title: Is Man Accountable for His Thoughts? Question: Thanks a lot for your nice site and insha'Allah you will be rewarded for your hard work by Allah sobhanaho wa ta'alaa . I have a lot of questions I want to ask you and I wasn't ready to submit my questions until now. I guess that I really need answer for these questions so please help me, jazakAllah khaeran . The question is, are we going to be judged on what we think and if we cant stop thinking about bad thoughts, what can we do? Is it haraam to think about doing something wrong and you know that you are not going to do it, you are just thinking about it because it makes you feel good. Do you think thinking about making love to a girl is haraam ? Even though you know that you are not going to do. People say that its going to lead you to do the haraam thing but if it doesn't lead to anything, is it haraam ? That is all for tonight and insha'Allah you will be able to email the answer soon. Jazak Allah khair Answer: It is indeed a great mercy of the Almighty that He does not hold us accountable or punish us for our evil thoughts or desires, till the time that such thoughts or desires are translated into action. In my personal capacity, I would not recommend indulging in evil thoughts, as it has a definite effect on the personality of the individual. We must remember that God's mercy does not end at not punishing us for our evil thoughts, but extends to rewarding our good thoughts even if we are unable to translate them into action. Thus, even though we are not punished for our evil thoughts or ideas, we lose the credit, which we could so easily have earned by just positive, noble and pious thinking. My dear brother, a truly godly person is concerned not just with avoiding sin but also with earning more credits for the hereafter. This is exactly what the Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said in one of the narratives ascribed to him. Nomaan ibn Basheer says that the Prophet said: The prohibitions and allowances have been clearly specified. However, between these two limits, lie things, which are neither clearly prohibited nor allowed, which can create doubts in your minds. Whoever desists from the things which are not clearly prohibited, and about which he has doubts, is more likely to stay away from the clear prohibitions of the Shari`ah . While a person who does not save himself from things about which he has doubts, is more likely to cross the limits set by God. ( Bukhari, Kitaab al-Buyoo ) The afore cited narrative as well as the general moral teachings of the prophets of God have been to the effect that if something is prohibited in the Shari`ah , then even the path which has a chance of leading us into that sin should be avoided. This is exactly what the Prophet (pbuh) has implied in one of the narratives ascribed to him. The Prophet (pbuh) is reported to have said that a lustful look at a woman is the fornication of the eye and vulgar speech is the fornication of the tongue etc. and this is what Jesus (pbuh) implied in the following words ascribed to him: You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew, 5: 27 - 28) My dear brother, a person who not only believes but practically keeps the thought of God's omniscience and omnipresence alive in his mind would not like to indulge in anything, however trivial it might seem, that God does not like. The life of a godly person is like a prayer that is offered in God's presence. Our minds can only be occupied with either the good or the evil thoughts. We should always try to keep our mind filled with the former. I would, therefore, suggest that an evil thought may come to mind but a person who holds God's love dear to him, should not intentionally try to keep his mind occupied with evil thoughts. May the Almighty help us all in living a life of His liking. 24 th October 1999