Implementing a good or evil practice in Islam
Question
I know that starting an evil act is a sin and if someone copies the act you get sin without decrease. I want to know more about this cause I really don’t understand it like for example if I buy someone a laptop then for every sin done with the laptop do I get a share in it or for every good deed done with the laptop will I get a share? if someone uses my thing like maybe a cell phone to download music, do I get a share of punishment and if someone uses my phone for good purposes, do I get a share?
Answer
A laptop is an item of multiple uses. It is not something designed specifically for Haraam. Whether it used for Haraam is dependent on the user. Hence, the sin for using the laptop incorrectly or any other similar item rests solely on the user.
Starting an evil act refers specifically to something that is intrinsically Haraam. For example, a music CD. The item is designed specifically for Haraam. In this case, if you give a music CD to anyone or share a music file with them, you will get sin for every time the person or anyone else listens to it.
Hence, there is a distinction between items whose sole purpose is Haraam and items that can be used in a Haraam should the user choose to do so. In items that can be used for Halaal and Haraam, the sin will rest solely on the user. In items that can only be used for Haraam, the sin will fall both on the user and on the person from whom the Haraam item was acquired.
From the above, we may also realise the gravity of sharing posts containing Haraam content via WhatsApp and social media or posting Haraam content on our statuses. The Haraam content may thereafter be viewed by hundreds and thousands of individuals some of whom may choose to forward the same. The sin for each and every person who views such content will fall on the person who posted it for viewing.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows Best
- Answered by
- Mufti Moosa Salie
- Checked by
- Mufti Ismaeel Bassa
Fatawa SA is an independent, read-only index of fatawa already published by Jamiatul Ulama KZN. It is not a fatwa service. For your own situation, ask the issuing Darul Ifta directly.