In The Name of Allah, The Most Merciful, The Bestower of Mercy.

What is Islam’s ruling on Imtihan (testing) the people of desires and other than them?

All praise and thanks is due to Allah, and may peace and blessings be upon Allah’s Messenger, his family and companions, and those who follow his guidance. To proceed:

Indeed, there has been a lot of speech regarding the testing individuals from among the people of desires and other than them, so, I consider it imperative to clarify Islam’s ruling regarding it, based on the Qur’an, the Sunnah, and the stances and statements of the Imams of Islam and the Sunnah in this matter, so that the Muslim may be upon clear-sightedness and clarity with regards to this matter. As for the Qur’an, Allah, The Most High, said:

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِذَا جَاءكُمُ الْمُؤْمِنَاتُ مُهَاجِرَاتٍ فَامْتَحِنُوهُنَّ اللَّهُ أَعْلَمُ بِإِيمَانِهِنَّ فَإِنْ عَلِمْتُمُوهُنَّ مُؤْمِنَاتٍ فَلَا تَرْجِعُوهُنَّ إِلَى الْكُفَّارِ لَا هُنَّ حِلٌّ لَّهُمْ وَلَا هُمْ يَحِلُّونَ لَهُنَّ

O you who believe, (with respect to those with whom you made a treaty) when the believing women come to you as emigrants (from the land of disbelief), then examine them (by making them swear that they are sincere in faith and did not leave due to hatred of their spouses, or seeking marriage or the world). And if you know them to be believing women, then do not return them to the disbelievers. They (the believing women) are not lawful (wives) for them, and nor are they (the polytheists), lawful (husbands) for them. [1]

As for (in) the Sunnah, Allah’s Messenger, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, tested the slave girl. He said to her, “Where is Allah?” She replied, “Above the heaven.” He said, “Who am I?” She replied, “You are Allah’s Messenger.” So he said to her master, Muʿāwiyah ibn al-Ḥakam al-Sulamee, may Allah be pleased with him: “Free her, for she is a believer.” Therefore, he did not pass a ruling for her that she is believer or permitted her emancipation until after this test.

Shaikh Al-Islam, may Allah have mercy upon him, said:

When a person wishes to accompany a believer, or if a believer wishes to accompany anyone about whom immorality has been mentioned and it is said that he has repented from it, or if such speech is (claimed) about him, whether true or false, the indeed, he should test him in a way that reveals his righteousness or immorality, his truthfulness or falsehood. Similarly, when one intends to appoint someone to a position of authority, he should test him, as Umar Ibn Abdil Aziz commanded his boy slave to test Ibn Abee Musa when he was impressed by his behaviour. The slave said to him, ‘You know my position with the Amir Al-Mumineen; how much will you give me if I indicate to him for appointment?’ So Ibn Abee Musa offered him a large sum of wealth. Thus, Umar knew that he was not fit for leadership. Similarly, the same applies in matters of mutual dealings, and similarly regarding the chidren and slaves who are known for, or immorality has been stated about them (i.e. attributed to them), if a man wishes to purchase one of them, he should test him, for indeed, effeminate male is like the adulterous woman, and his repentance is like her repentance. Acquaintance with the conditions of the people sometimes comes through the testimony of people, sometimes through criticism and praise (jarḥ wa tadeel), and sometimes through direct testing and examination.

These (types) of tests are permissible with regard to those who have neither argue against the people of truth nor shown loyalty to the people of falsehood, so how about the people of falsehood and those who argue against the people of truth and ally with the people of falsehood? As for the pious predecessors – adherents to the Book and the Sunnah, indeed, they made testing one of their standards by which they distinguished between the people of the Sunnah and the people of Bidah and desires, and between trustworthy narrators and the liars, the heedless (negligent, inattentive, undiscerning) and the weak narrators. Among the Imams from whom such testing was reported is Imam Muḥammad ibn Seereen, may Allah have mercy on him, who said: “Indeed, this knowledge is religion, so examine (carefully) from whom you take your religion”. [Paraphrased]

To be continued…InShaAllah

ما حكم الإسلام في امتحان أهل الأهواء وغيرهم.

[1] https://www.thenoblequran.com/q/#/search/60_10