I used to not care about prayer or fasting, but now I have repented to Allah. Should I fast in place of the past years to atone for what has passed, or is it sufficient...
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The questioner : I used to not care about prayer or fasting, but now I have repented to Allah with a sincere repentance, and praise be to Allah. My question is: Should I fast in place of the past years to atone for what has passed, or is it sufficient to fast on Mondays and Thursdays and the white days, since I fast on those days and also on some other days voluntarily for Allah the Exalted? Will I be rewarded for fasting on these days?
The Shaykh : It is well known that it is not permissible for a person to abandon the obligatory acts of Allah, such as prayer, fasting, zakah, or Hajj. However, if a person is afflicted and leaves off prayer for days, months, or years, and leaves off fasting for days, a full month, or years, and then Allah grants him repentance, then repentance wipes out what came before it. He is not required to make up the prayers or fasts that have passed. Rather, he should increase in voluntary acts and seeking forgiveness, and turn to his Lord (Mighty and Majestic). This is sufficient for what has passed, due to the generality of the evidence indicating that repentance wipes out what came before it.
I congratulate this questioner on the rectitude and repentance to Allah that Allah has granted him. I ask Allah the Exalted for him and for me steadfastness upon His religion, and that He not let our hearts deviate after He has guided us.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : It is well known that it is not permissible for a person to abandon the obligatory acts of Allah, such as prayer, fasting, zakah, or Hajj. However, if a person is afflicted and leaves off prayer for days, months, or years, and leaves off fasting for days, a full month, or years, and then Allah grants him repentance, then repentance wipes out what came before it. He is not required to make up the prayers or fasts that have passed. Rather, he should increase in voluntary acts and seeking forgiveness, and turn to his Lord (Mighty and Majestic). This is sufficient for what has passed, due to the generality of the evidence indicating that repentance wipes out what came before it.
I congratulate this questioner on the rectitude and repentance to Allah that Allah has granted him. I ask Allah the Exalted for him and for me steadfastness upon His religion, and that He not let our hearts deviate after He has guided us.
The questioner : May Allah bless you.