Literal vs Intention

Here's the subject, strict interpretation....its either strict or its interpretation.....

Sometimes the oddest notions hit me in the shower and today I was pondering the aspects of law.  There are two aspects to the law that I was pondering this morning.  There is the literal meaning of the law, this is often clear cut and easy to pick out.  The second is the intent of the law, this is often more difficult to see.   Many people follow the literal interpretations feeling this protects them, however, they fail to see the intention of the law.  As I was pondering this, I started to wonder, "Which is truly more important?"

Example #1, Two sisters are both wearing Hijabs.  One sister is wearing a loose skirt, baggy t-shirt that covers all but her lower arms and sandals.  The other is wearing a tight long sleeve shirt and tight jeans.  The second is following the letter of the law as only her face and hands are seen, however, you can clearly see her curves.  The first is following the intent by obscuring her form, though you can see her lower arms, you cannot see her curves or "assets"

Example #2, There is a wealthy business man who every year pays the fullness of his zakat to a well known and respected charity.  As part of his year end audit, he writes out a single check for 2.5% of his total income for that year, to the penny.  However, there is a widow in his masjid that is suffering.  She has no male relatives and three small children.  They are living in poverty with no help.  They are not even able to afford doctors visits for the children when they are sick.  This man has fulfilled his obligation of his tithing to the Lord, but he has let a widow suffer without help.  A second man who is not as wealthy has a hard time making ends meet.  That 2.5% might not seem a lot to anyone else, but to him, it is a lot.  He's not as organized and he tries real hard.  He knows of the widows hardships, so when he goes to the grocery store every week, he buys and extra bag of groceries including a few treats for her children.  He sends his wife over with the groceries and to see if they need anything.  Her electric will be turned off.  So he scraps the money together and pays her electric bill.  At the end of the year, he has only given about 2% of his income to charity.

These are just two examples I pondered this morning during my shower.  The question becomes who will be rewarded more.  Woman #2 and Man #1 who followed the letter of the law or Woman #1 and Man #2 who followed the intention of the law.

Is Intention more important than Interpretation?

Talk Amongst yourselves....

Peace be upon you.

Both letter and intent are important. 

Essentially it seems to me that you are asking to make judgement on these people in their actions. 

Bismillah irrahman irrahim

Good topic, I personally think that intent is more important than letter of the law. But saying that if the intention is sincere you do tend to follow the letter of the law.

In second example it could be many things that made the first person give to charity like that. There is a hadith which says that a person who gives charity in hidden manner then that person earns shade of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala on day of judgement. Another thing is that not every penny earned has to count towards zakah. It is the money that is there at the end of year that you need to take 2.5% out of for the purpose of zakah. So if you see it like that then the second person who does not have much money but still helps the widow for the pleasure of Allah subhanahu wa ta'ala will inshaAllah get what he is working for.

It is a good question... the challenge is that intention is filled with layers.

It was explained to much like their are scales on either side of us.. good deeds and bad deeds.  I imagine that there are lots of things being put on these scales. And the depth at which you seek to do good it part of that. The purpose i think it to make ourslves more consious of our every action or deed.  The person who seeks good all the time may be further along then the person who does the "basics" but has not brought it to a deeper level.

Some people, honestly do not operate on a deeper level. That just may be their make-up. who knows.Of course Allah.  Some people lack the "empathy" gene.  How does that factor in? I have no idea. lol