Upholding the Sharia Starts with Keeping One’s Livelihood Halal

Cases of Sharia violations have been surfacing again in Aceh, including alleged adultery involving a high-ranking official. This phenomenon raises the question of why such transgressions keep happening in the “Veranda of Mecca.” From an Islamic perspective, one factor worth reflecting on is the link between immorality and unlawfully acquired wealth. The Qur’an and hadith remind us that food, drink, and sustenance affect the heart’s condition. Wealth gained through haram means, like corruption and bribery, carries a detrimental spiritual impact. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) gave the example of a traveler whose supplication is unlikely to be answered because he consumes what is haram, showing that ill-gotten wealth blocks Allah’s mercy. Scholars explain that major sins often start with a heart grown accustomed to the haram, such that a person’s sense of shame and fear of Allah weakens. This can lead someone into moral transgressions. The cases in Aceh should prompt collective introspection, so that we don’t only focus on the perpetrators but also on the root of the problem. High positions and religious education don’t guarantee piety without guarding the halal nature of one’s livelihood. https://www.harianaceh.co.id/2026/05/31/menjaga-syariat-dimulai-dari-menjaga-kehalalan-rezeki/