Justifying the Committing of Sins, by Appealing to One’s “Good Intentions”

Imam al-Ghazali in his Ihyaa ‘Ulum ud-Deen said:

المعاصي، وهي لا تتغير عن موضعها بالنية، فلا ينبغي أن يفهم الجاهل ذلك من عموم قوله عليه السلام: «إنما الأعمال بالنيات» فيظن أن المعصية تنقلب طاعة بالنية، كالذي يغتاب إنسانًا مراعاة لقلب غيره، أو يطعم فقيرًا من مال غيره، أو يبني مدرسة أو مسجدًا أو رباطًا بمال حرام، وقصده الخير، فهذا كله جهل، والنية لا تؤثر في إخراجه عن كونه ظلمًا وعدوانًا ومعصية، بل قصده الخير بالشر على خلاف مقتضى الشرع،

“The status of sins do not change [from their sinfulness] on mere account of [change in] intentions. The ignoramus must not infer and understand this from the statement of the Prophet (peace be upon him), “Actions are according to intentions,” and subsequently presume that sins transform into righteous deeds merely via intention. This is similar to the case of a person who backbites out of concern for someone else or feeds the poor by using someone else’s money [without his permission] or builds a school or masjid or ribat by using haram money. All the while, his intention is good. This is sheer ignorance. Mere intention does not impact changing the reality of such actions from being oppressive, antagonistic, and sinful. Intending good by committing evil is contrary to the requisites prescribed by the Shariah.”

Ibn Amir al-Hajj in Al-Madkhal said:

الأفعال الشرعية ثلاثة: واجب، ومندوب، ومباح، والحرام والمكروه لا يتقرب بهما إلى الله تعالى

“Validated actions of the Shariah are three: Wajib (compulsory), Mandub (recommended), and Mubah (permitted). As for haram and makruh, one does not seek nearness to Allah All-Mighty via such means.”

Imam an-Nawawi in his commentary of the forty hadeeth said:

قال الحارث المحاسبي: ولا إخلاص في محرم ولا مكروه، كمن ينظر إلى ما لا يحل له النظر إليه، ويزعم أنه ينظر ليتفكر في صنع الله تعالى

“Al-Harith al-Muhasibi said: There is no sincerity in committing haram and makruh actions. This is similar to the one who gazes at that which he is not permitted to and then asserts that he is only looking [at that thing or person] in order to ponder upon [the beauty and magnificence of] Allah’s creation.”