If a person who used to not pray repents and returns to his Lord, is he required to pronounce the two testimonies and perform the ritual bath?
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The questioner : We conclude this session, may Allah preserve you, O Shaykh Muhammad, with a question from a listener whose code name is M M 'A. He asks: If a person repents and returns to his Lord, having previously not prayed, is he required to pronounce the two testimonies and perform the ritual bath?
The Shaykh : If a person who used to not pray repents to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and returns to his prayer, he is a Muslim by virtue of his prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because one who disbelieved in something becomes a Muslim by his action.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : And he will say in that very prayer: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.
As for the ritual bath, it is based on the obligation of the ritual bath when a disbeliever becomes a Muslim. So whoever says that it is obligatory for a disbeliever to perform the ritual bath when he becomes a Muslim says that it is obligatory for this person to perform the ritual bath when he returns to his prayer. And whoever says that the ritual bath is not obligatory for one who becomes a Muslim says that it is not obligatory for this person to perform the ritual bath. However, there is no doubt that it is better for him to perform the ritual bath to avoid the difference of opinion and to clear his conscience.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
O my beloved brothers, O my brothers.
The Shaykh : If a person who used to not pray repents to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) and returns to his prayer, he is a Muslim by virtue of his prayer.
The questioner : Yes.
The Shaykh : Because one who disbelieved in something becomes a Muslim by his action.
The questioner : Very well.
The Shaykh : And he will say in that very prayer: I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His slave and His Messenger.
As for the ritual bath, it is based on the obligation of the ritual bath when a disbeliever becomes a Muslim. So whoever says that it is obligatory for a disbeliever to perform the ritual bath when he becomes a Muslim says that it is obligatory for this person to perform the ritual bath when he returns to his prayer. And whoever says that the ritual bath is not obligatory for one who becomes a Muslim says that it is not obligatory for this person to perform the ritual bath. However, there is no doubt that it is better for him to perform the ritual bath to avoid the difference of opinion and to clear his conscience.
The questioner : May Allah reward you, O honorable Shaykh, and may Allah bless you and your knowledge, and benefit the Muslims through you.
O my beloved brothers, O my brothers.