A girl plucked her eyebrows before she knew the ruling on plucking them, and when she grew up she regretted it and repented. What should she do?
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The questioner : A girl plucked her eyebrows before she knew the ruling on plucking them, and when she grew up she regretted it and repented, even though she had plucked them when she was young out of ignorance. What is the ruling in this matter?
The Shaykh : The ruling in this matter is that she owes nothing for what she did when she was ignorant at the time of committing the sin. This is a general rule for all sins: if a person commits a sin while ignorant, forgetful, or coerced, he bears no sin, no punishment, and no expiation for those sins that have an expiation. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:[Al-Baqarah 2:286] Then Allah the Exalted said: .
And based on His saying the Exalted:[Al-Ahzab 33:5] And based on His saying the Exalted regarding one who is coerced into disbelief: [An-Nahl 16:106] If disbelief, which is the greatest of sins, does not hold a person accountable in a state of coercion, then anything less than it is even more so.
And because it was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Sunan Ibn Majah 2043Sahih (Darussalam) And because there are hadiths in various cases, and indeed the Qur'an came along with the hadiths in various cases, indicating that there is no sin and no expiation for one who does not act intentionally.
Among these is His statement regarding the penalty for hunting if a person in the state of ihram kills it, where He said:[Al-Ma'idah 5:95] So Allah obligated the penalty on the one who killed it intentionally.
And regarding fasting, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sahih Muslim 1155 And in Sahih al-Bukhari, it is narrated from Asma bint Abi Bakr (may Allah be pleased with them both) that she said: Sahih al-Bukhari 5207 And she did not mention that they were ordered to make up the fast. If making up the fast had been obligatory, they would have been ordered to do so, and if they had been ordered to do so, it would have been transmitted to us.
The important point is that the general and specific texts of the Book and the Sunnah indicate that if a person commits a sin while ignorant, forgetful, or coerced, he owes nothing. This rule, which the Shari'ah indicated through the Book and the Sunnah, should be adopted by a person as a basis for all the sins he commits.
But this does not mean that a person should be negligent in asking about the ruling and say: "I do not ask so that I can act." As some of the common people do, saying:[Al-Ma'idah 5:101] This is a mistake. Rather, it is obligatory for a person to learn and know the rulings of his religion that he needs. Also, he should be mindful of what is required of him in his acts of obedience so that he does not become heedless or negligent as much as possible, based on the saying of Allah the Exalted: [At-Taghabun 64:16].
The questioner : May Allah bless you.
The Shaykh : The ruling in this matter is that she owes nothing for what she did when she was ignorant at the time of committing the sin. This is a general rule for all sins: if a person commits a sin while ignorant, forgetful, or coerced, he bears no sin, no punishment, and no expiation for those sins that have an expiation. This is based on the saying of Allah the Exalted:
Our Lord, do not impose blame upon us if we have forgotten or erred.
رَبَّنَا لا تُؤَاخِذْنَا إِنْ نَسِينَا أَوْ أَخْطَأْنَاHe has done so
قد فعلتAnd based on His saying the Exalted:
And there is no blame upon you for that in which you have erred but [only for] what your hearts intended
وَلَيْسَ عَلَيْكُمْ جُنَاحٌ فِيمَا أَخْطَأْتُمْ بِهِ وَلَكِنْ مَا تَعَمَّدَتْ قُلُوبُكُمْWhoever disbelieves in Allah after his belief... except for one who is forced [to renounce his religion] while his heart is secure in faith. But those who [willingly] open their breasts to disbelief, upon them is wrath from Allah, and for them is a great punishment;
مَنْ كَفَرَ بِاللَّهِ مِنْ بَعْدِ إِيمَانِهِ إِلَّا مَنْ أُكْرِهَ وَقَلْبُهُ مُطْمَئِنٌّ بِالإِيمَانِ وَلَكِنْ مَنْ شَرَحَ بِالْكُفْرِ صَدْرًا فَعَلَيْهِمْ غَضَبٌ مِنَ اللَّهِ وَلَهُمْ عَذَابٌ عَظِيمٌAnd because it was reported from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Allah has forgiven for me my nation their mistakes and forgetfulness, and what they are forced to do.
إن الله تجاوز عن أمتي الخطأ والنسيان وما استكرهوا عليهAmong these is His statement regarding the penalty for hunting if a person in the state of ihram kills it, where He said:
And whoever of you kills it intentionally - the penalty is an equivalent from sacrificial animals to what he killed
وَمَنْ قَتَلَهُ مِنْكُمْ مُتَعَمِّدًا فَجَزَاءٌ مِثْلُ مَا قَتَلَ مِنَ النَّعَمِAnd regarding fasting, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
If anyone forgets that he is fasting and eats or drinks he should complete his fast, for it is only Allah Who has fed him and given him drink.
من نسي وهو صائم فأكل أو شرب فليتم صومه فإنما أطعمه الله وسقاهNarrated Jabir: We used to practice coitus interrupt us during the lifetime of Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) .
أفطرنا في يوم غيم على عهد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلمThe important point is that the general and specific texts of the Book and the Sunnah indicate that if a person commits a sin while ignorant, forgetful, or coerced, he owes nothing. This rule, which the Shari'ah indicated through the Book and the Sunnah, should be adopted by a person as a basis for all the sins he commits.
But this does not mean that a person should be negligent in asking about the ruling and say: "I do not ask so that I can act." As some of the common people do, saying:
do not ask about things which, if they are shown to you, will distress you
لا تَسْأَلُوا عَنْ أَشْيَاءَ إِنْ تُبْدَ لَكُمْ تَسُؤْكُمْSo fear Allah as much as you are able
فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمThe questioner : May Allah bless you.