| Answer: When a person is forced to do some evil and he has
no other option, it is hoped that the Almighty would forgive him. In your case
also, it seems that circumstances are such that inspite of wanting to remain
away from evil you are forced into it; you seem to have no other option but to
continue. But keep asking for the forgiveness of Allah and also keep praying to
Him to help you in finding a way out.
One must remember that the Almighty always holds a person
accountable according to his circumstances. We have one very clear precedent
from the Qur’ān which shows how extenuating circumstances affect the extent of
accountability. We know that during the Prophet’s times, there were people who
forced their slave girls to prostitution. They would compel them into this
heinous crime and thereby earn money. If we look at the conditions of slavery
which prevailed in the Prophets times, it becomes clear that it was so very
rampant in that society, and there were dozens of slaves owned by a single
person. All these slaves, whether men or women, were totally dependent on their
masters for their livelihood, and, the way things were in Arabia at that time,
it was very difficult for them to think of any other economic activity
independently. So the Qur’ān never demanded from these slave girls forced to
prostitution to run away from their masters. Instead, it comforted them by
saying that if in spite of wanting to refrain from this abomination and having a
severe dislike and aversion for it, they were driven into it by their masters,
the Almighty shall forgive them:
But if anyone compels them, Allah will be Forgiving and
Merciful to them. (24:33) |