Verily Allah has fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in, and which he of necessity must commit. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look, and the adultery of the tongue is the licentious speech, the heart desires and yearns, which the parts may or may not put into effect.
The Book of Destiny - Sahih Muslim 2657b
Verily Allah has fixed the very portion of adultery which a man will indulge in, and which he of necessity must commit. The adultery of the eye is the lustful look, and the adultery of the tongue is the licentious speech, the heart desires and yearns, which the parts may or may not put into effect.
Commentary on Divine Decree
This profound hadith elucidates the comprehensive nature of divine decree (qadar), affirming that Allah's foreknowledge encompasses even the minutest actions of His creation. The "portion of adultery" refers not to compulsion toward sin, but to Allah's eternal knowledge of what choices His servants will make.
The Three Levels of Adultery
The hadith distinguishes between three manifestations: adultery of the eye through unlawful gazing, adultery of the tongue through indecent speech, and adultery of the heart through corrupt intentions. These spiritual transgressions precede physical acts and carry their own spiritual consequences.
Free Will and Divine Knowledge
Scholars clarify that Allah's foreknowledge does not negate human free will. Rather, He knows what choices we will make while granting us the capacity to choose. The phrase "of necessity must commit" indicates the inevitable occurrence of what Allah has eternally known, not divine compulsion to sin.
Spiritual Protection
This teaching emphasizes guarding all faculties - eyes, tongue, and heart - from spiritual corruption. The heart's desires represent the root from which actions spring, highlighting the importance of purifying intentions and controlling one's inner state as the foundation of righteousness.