Q: How does one respond: i told a guy that going to a particular coffee shop is resulting in a type of fitna, provocative dressing by Muslims, interactions that are not quite right for a Muslim, he says when you see something, it must not unfavorably affect you. Your faith must become stronger and you must do mujahada. In other words continue going and be strong. What are your thoughts on this matter? I only said what I said to improve my imaan it was not to judge the coffee place or those that attend it. Jazakallah

A: Every person must get to better understand themselves. This is the essence of muraqabah (vigilance) and self-awareness. When someone identifies a particular situation as spiritually harmful—like a place that stirs fitna in the heart and seeks to distance themselves from it, that decision should be respected and even encouraged. Recognizing one’s own weakness is not a flaw; it is a sign of sincerity. It reflects a heart that wants to please Allah (SWT) and safeguard it from potential spiritual maladies.

If someone offers the advice: ‘You should become stronger in faith’ in such a situation, that advice can be valuable if it is meant as motivation for long-term growth. We must also remember: strength of faith is a journey, not a switch. One does not become spiritually resilient overnight. There are steps—gradual and intentional steps that must be taken before a person can withstand trials without continuously faltering.

Your decision to avoid or limit yourself from that environment is not weakness; it is wisdom. In fact, it aligns more directly with the teachings of the Quran, which doesn’t merely instruct us to resist sin—but commands us to avoid the paths that lead to it. While Islam encourages mujahada—striving and strengthening our imaan in the face of trials, however, a key part of that striving includes recognizing harmful environments and protecting oneself from them. Or at the very least, being aware enough to stay spiritually alert while navigating them.

Rasool (SAW) said: Whoever among you sees an evil, let him change it with his hand. If (s)he cannot, then with his tongue. And if (s)he cannot, then with his heart—and that is the weakest level of faith. (Sahih Muslim) This hadith shows that even feeling disturbed by something and desiring good for others is part of our deen. Speaking up when something feels spiritually off is not judgment—it’s concern and should be taken as part of brotherhood, for part of brotherhood is guiding with compassion.

Different people respond to fitna differently. Not every test calls for direct confrontation. Sometimes, the strongest thing a believer can do is simply walk away. If something—whether a place, a habit, or an environment—is consistently tempting the gaze, disturbing the thoughts, or dulling the heart, then insisting on “just being stronger” while staying in that setting is like walking through fire expecting not to be burned.

Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud (رضي الله عنه) said: The believer sees his sins as if he is sitting beneath a mountain, afraid it will collapse upon him. The sinner sees his sins like a fly landing on his nose—he just brushes it away. (Adab al-Mufrad) Even the strongest of the Sahabah were cautious. They did not chase inner strength by exposing themselves to spiritual danger. Instead, they protected their hearts out of love and awe for Allah (SWT). This mindset is embedded in the Quran itself. Allah did not merely say: “Do not commit zina”—Allah (SWT) said: “Do not even approach zina.” (Surah Isra, 17:32)

The command is not just to avoid the sin, but to stay far from anything that leads to it—its paths, triggers, and environments. W are not angels. We are created emotionally fragile and physically weak in compartisn to the many other creation of the Almighty. We are also strongly influenced by what we see. We err, thus acknowledging such weakness and performing accordingly is called taqwa.

So whether you avoid certain places entirely, or choose to enter them with caution, it is not cowardice—it is intelligence. It is respect for your own spiritual fragility. This is also a noble form of mujahada. May (SWT) continue to guide you and bless you, InshaAllah, ameen.

Allah Certainly Knows Best.