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....

interesting.

i get more "intentions" than literal but some people don't believe you when you try to explain, I'm sure the girl who is wearing tight jeans has good intentions but then again..and also...until you know her...

I myself don't see anything wrong at all with the first girl.

I think this is like some muslim women who wear the full covering and is always flowing, and the eye part is the only opening and some don't.

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. 

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

No that is not it.

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.

I misunderstood the way Zakah is calculated.  Sister Herjihad explained it to me a few days ago.  In the LDS Church, we give 10% of our increase or Income to tithing.  We also give charity and fast offerings.

Tithing is 10% of any money or commodity we earn.  Thus, I was mistaken in thinking Zakah was 2.5% of what you earn and not just what you have at the end of the year.

Fast offerings that we give are closer maybe.  We fast one day a month where we are required to miss at least two meals.  We are to take the money we would have spent on the food and give it to charity.  This money is where the LDS Church gets the money for our programs to feed and cloth the poor regardless of religious affiliation.

I had this same conversation with my in laws a few weeks ago.  We discussed the letter versus the law.  For us, they are both equally important.  Obedience is key, but the purpose of the obedience is also important.

God wants us to obey him.  If we do so to please him and with sincere intent to do good and with a whole-hearted desire, then the rewards are great.  If we do so only for selfish reasons, then the rewards won't be as great.

There was a talk given by a general authority in our Church over the weekend about being 80/20 members of the church.  That if you are good 80%, its not okay to be bad 20% of the time.  Its 100% or nothing.  That goes with intention. 

If you are only following the laws so that you look pious versus someone who is pious, then the rewards will be different.  We all know that person (all faiths have them) that seem to shout, "Look at me, Look how faithful I am."  They do it for the attention.  We all also know that man or woman who's quiet in church, mosque or synagogue.  The one who quietly meditates on the sermon and gives a smile and handshake to his fellows.  The man or woman who when they pass on, people realize the loss at the little things that person did that no one realized. 

My grandmother is going to be one of these people. She tries to do one good deed a day that no one knows about.  She's taught each of us grandchildren to do the same.  I'm ashamed to say, I fail more than I succeed. 

One of my favorite passages comes from Mark Chapter 12

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

My understanding is that Zakat was established with Abraham as 2.5% of income and is to be paid whenever that income has been received (or at the time of harvest).  Any further charity is recommended and is a portion of what can be spared and as appropriate to circumstances.  Please refer to your Quran if you have doubts.  The website http://www.submission.org - www.submission.org explains this well.

God is the most gracious and does not burden us.

La elaha ellah allah.

Praise God.

Peace.

Assalamualaikum

Sahih Bukhari

Volume 1, Book 1, Number 1:

Hayfa wrote

 "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. 

I really have nothing else to say that will top this one.  Bravo Bravo Bravo.  You have summarized it all.

That's a tricky one.  In my faith, your fast would not be valid.  The whole point of a fast is to remember through sacrifice.  If you forgot your fasting, then you failed to remember.  In our belief, its better to desire to fast and fail because of illness or weakness.  I cannot fast due to my health issues, however, I observe the prayerfulness of the fast each month with my husband and pay my fast offerings as if I missed the meals.

Since intention is key (in my belief) then forgetfulness in a way is part of that intention.  Its better to remember and desire to do the good act, then to forget and ignore it.

For example, (my opinion) it would be better for a Muslim to remember Asr prayer and desire to go to it. But, if he were prevented to go on time by a meeting, emergency or doctor's visit, he still at least remembered and can make it up later.  However, if you just simply forget about your prayers, something you should be doing daily.  Then what does that say about your priorities and intentions.

Its a tough call, as with anything, there are definitely times where forgetting is forgivable.  If you're in an accident and you're dealing with the tow truck, the police office, EMS, and the insurance company, stuff gets forgotten.  However, I really would say in that case circumstances of the forgetfulness would have to be looked at carefully.