The difference between the words اجتنبوا (Ijtaniboo (avoid)) and اتركوا (Utrukoo (leave))

بسم الله والحمد لله والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله ، وبعد 

QUESTION: When it came to Major Sins, why did Allaah تعالى say: اجتنبوا (Ijtaniboo (avoid)), and He تعالى did not say: اتركوا (Atrukoo (leave))?

Examples: Allaah تعالى said:

إِن تَجْتَنِبُوا كَبَائِرَ مَا تُنْهَوْنَ عَنْهُ نُكَفِّرْ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَنُدْخِلْكُم مُّدْخَلًا كَرِيمًا

{If you avoid the great sins which you are forbidden to do, We shall remit from you your (small) sins, and admit you to a Noble Entrance (i.e. Paradise).}

[Surah al-Nisaa (4): 31]

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا إِنَّمَا الْخَمْرُ وَالْمَيْسِرُ وَالْأَنصَابُ وَالْأَزْلَامُ رِجْسٌ مِّنْ عَمَلِ الشَّيْطَانِ فَاجْتَنِبُوهُ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

{O you who believe! Intoxicants (all kinds of alcoholic drinks), gambling, Al-Ansaab, and Al-Azlaam (arrows for seeking luck or decision) are an abomination of Shaitaan's (Satan) handiwork. So, avoid (strictly all) that (abomination) in order that you may be successful.}

[Surah al-Maaidah (5): 90]

وَالَّذِينَ اجْتَنَبُوا الطَّاغُوتَ أَن يَعْبُدُوهَا وَأَنَابُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ لَهُمُ الْبُشْرَىٰ ۚ فَبَشِّرْ عِبَادِ

{Those who avoid al-Taaghoot (false deities) by not worshipping them and turn to Allaah in repentance, for them are glad tidings; so announce the good news to My slaves}

[Surah al-Zumar (39): 17]

الَّذِينَ يَجْتَنِبُونَ كَبَائِرَ الْإِثْمِ وَالْفَوَاحِشَ إِلَّا اللَّمَمَ ۚ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ وَاسِعُ الْمَغْفِرَةِ

{Those who avoid great sins (see the Qur’aan, Verses: 6:152, 153) and Al-Fawaahish (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) except the small faults, verily, your Lord is of vast forgiveness.}

[Surah al-Najm (53): 32]

ANSWER: Shaikh Saaleh al-`Usaymee حفظه الله:

When it comes to prohibited things, the way the Sharee`ah deals with them is: ❝the command to distance one from the prohibited things along with the prohibition to act upon them❞.

The Shar`ee principle in regard to prohibited things is: “The Sharee`ah commands one to distance themselves from the prohibited things along with the prohibition to act upon them.”

Example:  A person comes to a place where wine is served and he sits with his friends, and he says: “I do not drink wine (or any other intoxicants).”

Does the Sharee`ah permit him to sit in such places?

The answer is: No!

Why?

The Sharee`ah wants to protect him! The Sharee`ah not only prohibits him from consuming intoxicants but it also commands him to keep distance from the places where it is served.

He should not sit on a table where intoxicants are served, as has been mentioned in the authentic Ahaadeeth of the Prophet ﷺ.

[Translators Note:

Narrated Jaabir رضي الله عنه that the Prophet ﷺ said: ❝Whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, then he is not to enter the Hammam (public bathouse) without an Izar (lower garment). And whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, then he is not to let his wife enter the Hammam (at all). And whoever believes in Allaah and the Last Day, then he is not to sit at a tablecloth in which Khamr (alcohol) is being passed around (served).❞

[Sunan al-Tirmidhee (2801) and graded as “Hasan” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. The same is narrated in Musnad Ahmad (125) from the narrations of `Umar Ibn al-Khattaab رضي الله عنه and graded as “Saheeh li ghairihee” by Shaikh al-Albaanee in al-Irwaa (1949)]

Narrated `Abdullaah Ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما: “The Messenger of Allaah ﷺ forbade two kinds of food: to sit at a tablecloth on which wine is drunk (i.e., being served), and forbade that a man should eat while he is lying on his stomach.”

[Sunan Abu Dawood (3774) and graded as “Saheeh” by Shaikh al-Albaanee. See also al-Saheehah (2394)]]

This is a beneficial principle in rectifying (and purifying) one’s Nafs (self)!

There are many people who try to distance themselves away from prohibited things by not doing them, but in reality, they do not keep themselves away from them. You would find one of them going around places where prohibited things take place and he exposes himself to these prohibited things. Soon it may happen that he gets trapped in one of the traps set by the callers to (or the doers of) these prohibited things.

Example: you will find people following websites and channels on the internet (and social media) which raise doubts (about the Deen and try to confuse the people). They say: “Alhamdulillaah! We do not believe in such things! (Or such things do not affect us!)”.

But (do you not realize that) these things leave a mark and linger in the heart, then how will you protect yourselves from them? The Sharee`ah prohibits you from this (i.e., exposing yourself to evil and prohibited things).

[Translators Note:

The Khlaeel of Allaah, Ibraaheem عليه السلام supplicated, saying:

وَإِذْ قَالَ إِبْرَاهِيمُ رَبِّ اجْعَلْ هَٰذَا الْبَلَدَ آمِنًا وَاجْنُبْنِي وَبَنِيَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الْأَصْنَامَ ‎* رَبِّ إِنَّهُنَّ أَضْلَلْنَ كَثِيرًا مِّنَ النَّاسِ

{And (remember) when Ibraaheem said: “O my Lord! Make this city (Makkah) (a place) of peace and security; and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols. O my Lord! They have indeed led astray many among mankind…”}

[Surah Ibraaheem (14): 35-36]

Not only did Ibraheem عليه السلام seek Allaah’s protection from ever worshiping the idols, but he also said:

وَاجْنُبْنِى وَبَنِىَّ أَن نَّعْبُدَ الاٌّصْنَام

{(O Allaah!) …and keep me and my sons away from worshipping idols}

He sought Allaah’s help from ever coming closer to them (or places where they are worshiped), even though he was the one who broke the idols.]

This is why the Salaf (the pious predecessors) had written extensively, warning from listening to (or reading) the statements of Ahl al-Bid`ah (the religious innovators). Why?!

Imaam al-Dhahabee رحمه الله mentioned a very beautiful statement. He said: “because the hearts are weak, and the doubts cling to them like a hook!”

[Siyar A`laam al-Nubalaa (7/261)

The hearts are weak, and the doubt pierces the heart and clings on to it.

Similar to this is exposing oneself to Shahwah (desires, lust). So, as long as a man – in following his desires – comes closer to things that are prohibited, like watching porn, or attending places where prohibited food and drinks are served, then he has exposed himself to evil!

This is why the Sharee`ah came with the prohibition from doing a forbidden thing along with the command to distance oneself away from it.

This is why one would find in the Sharee`ah (Kitaab and Sunnah) different ways in which we have been addressed to stay away from evil things, for example, اجتنبوا Ijtaniboo (avoid), ولا تقربوا wa laa taqraboo (do not come near). Such statements not only confirm that these things are prohibited, but they also emphasize and command you to stay away (and maintain distance and not expose yourself) to the things which have been made forbidden.

[Translators Note:

Allaah تعالى said:

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا الْفَوَاحِشَ مَا ظَهَرَ مِنْهَا وَمَا بَطَنَ

{Come not near to Al-Fawaahish (shameful sins, illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) whether committed openly or secretly}

[Surah al-An`aam (6): 151]

And He تعالى also said:

وَلَا تَقْرَبُوا مَالَ الْيَتِيمِ إِلَّا بِالَّتِي هِيَ أَحْسَنُ حَتَّىٰ يَبْلُغَ أَشُدَّهُ

{And come not near to the orphan’s property, except to improve it, until he (or she) attains the age of full strength}

[Surah al-An`aam (6): 152]]

[From Shaikh Saaleh al-`Usaymee’s lecture while explaining Kitaab al-Tawheed]

Link: https://youtu.be/fzp6fOnJaQ4