What is the ruling on the statement: "Either you take the religion as a whole, or you leave it, and do not adorn yourself with it," which some people repeat because of their observation of committed individuals who fall short in some areas?
The conflict between good and evil has been ongoing since the creation of Adam, and committing sins and shortcomings is inherent in human nature. The pious are those who hasten to repentance and seek forgiveness when they fall into indecency. The path of righteousness is arduous and requires struggle and patience. A Muslim must strive against Satan and whims. Whoever calls for abandoning righteousness under the pretext of inability to achieve perfection commits a grave sin and calls to immorality. A Muslim is required to enter into Islam completely and to repent when making a mistake, not to commit more sins. The transgressions committed by some righteous individuals should not lead to despair or abandoning righteousness; rather, they should serve as a lesson. The best role model is Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. Deeds are judged by their endings, and a Muslim must strive to attain Allah's pleasure and overlook people's actions, except for drawing lessons and benefiting.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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