Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question Summary
Will punishments be different and according to one’s environment in the hereafter? For example, would a person who lives in West and fornicates, where fornication is easier and openly embraced as acceptable, be the same as those in Mecca, where fornication is considered taboo and relatively more difficult?
Question Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.
May Allah guide our hearts, tongues, and deeds to that which perpetually pleases Him.
There is enough evidence to indicate that rewards and punishments may differ in the hereafter depending on time, place, and other factors. Sinning should, however, always be avoided, and one’s environment cannot be used as an excuse to sin.
Sinning in Special Times and Places
Sinning in sacred spaces is highlighted in the Qur’an and Prophetic narrations and is understood to mean that it carries weightier punishments than sinning in other spaces would. Allah says: “and whoever inclines to evil actions therein [i.e., The Sacred Precinct in Mecca (Al-Haram)] or to do wrong (i.e., sinning), We shall cause him to taste from a painful torment” [Qur’an 22:25]
Equally important to note is that good deeds are multiplied in sacred spaces in terms of their rewards compared to doing the same good deeds elsewhere.
Faith and Deeds Towards the End of Time
There are several indications that the environment of the times plays some role in how light or heavy good and evil deeds are.
Historically we know that our Master, ʿUmar Ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), ruled that there should be a decrease in some capital punishments (hadd pl. hudud) due to famine. [Bhuti, Dawabit Al-Maslaha]
The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) spoke of: “A time of patience will come to people in which adhering to one’s religion is like grasping a hot coal.” [Tirmidhi]
The Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “There are days of patience, where being patient during those days is like holding onto hot coal, the doer in those days will get the reward of fifty people who does like his work (deeds).” [Hakim, Al-Mustadrak]
Also, the Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Worship at the time of affliction is like migration to me (Hijra).” [Muslim]
These narrations refer to ‘the end of times (akhir al-zaman),’ wherein evil will be widespread and good deeds will be difficult. Due to the circumstances in those times, rewards for good deeds will be multiplied, and it can thus be deduced that evil deeds will not carry punishments as severe as they may be in other circumstances, and Allah knows best.
One should never think that one’s environment and circumstances are valid excuses to sin. Allah tests us according to our abilities. Allah says: “Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity. It will have [the consequence of] what [good] it has gained, and it will bear [the consequence of] what [evil] it has earned…” [Qur’an 2:286]
In addition, Allah sometimes tests us by making sins easily accessible. Allah speaks about pilgrims in a state of consecration (ihram), whom Allah will test by allowing hunting prey to move about within striking range, even though hunting is not permitted for pilgrims in a consecrated state. Allah says: “Oh you who have believed, Allah will surely test you through something of the game that your hands and spears [can] reach, that Allah may make evident those who fear Him unseen. And whoever transgresses after that – for him is a painful punishment.” [Qur’an 5:94]
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.