The ruling on one who has been excessive in sins against himself
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Question:
I am a young man who was born a Muslim, and I used to never leave the prayer. However, (fate willed it) that I travel outside my country for a period with my family, and then without them. I left the prayer for a period of more than four years and committed many of the major sins, such as unlawful sexual intercourse, and I did not fast Ramadan for four months, and I had intercourse with my wife during the month of Ramadan. All of this was due to bad company.
Now I am repentant to my Lord and regret my actions, and I am maintaining the prayer, either alone or in congregation. Please advise me on what is obligatory for me?
Answer:
If the reality is as you have described, then sincere repentance is sufficient, and it expiates what came before it. You do not have to make up any of the prayers or fasts, nor any expiations; because leaving the prayer is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), and if he did not deny its obligation, according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. As for if he denied its obligation, it is disbelief by scholarly consensus. And a disbeliever, when he embraces Islam, does not make up any of the obligations related to the right of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He); because of the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) : [Al-Anfal: 38], and the saying of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): Riyad as-Salihin 710.
We advise you to be steadfast in your repentance, to seek forgiveness frequently, and to do good deeds. And be glad of good and a good outcome if you are steadfast in repentance and reform; because of the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He): [Ta-Ha: 82]. May Allah grant us and you steadfastness upon the truth, for He is the best of those asked.
There is a word in your question that needs to be pointed out, which is your saying: "fate willed it." The divine decree (qadar) has no will of its own. The correct thing to say is: "Allah alone willed it," or "Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) willed it," or the like. May Allah guide us and you to understanding in the religion and steadfastness upon it.
I am a young man who was born a Muslim, and I used to never leave the prayer. However, (fate willed it) that I travel outside my country for a period with my family, and then without them. I left the prayer for a period of more than four years and committed many of the major sins, such as unlawful sexual intercourse, and I did not fast Ramadan for four months, and I had intercourse with my wife during the month of Ramadan. All of this was due to bad company.
Now I am repentant to my Lord and regret my actions, and I am maintaining the prayer, either alone or in congregation. Please advise me on what is obligatory for me?
Answer:
If the reality is as you have described, then sincere repentance is sufficient, and it expiates what came before it. You do not have to make up any of the prayers or fasts, nor any expiations; because leaving the prayer is major shirk (associating partners with Allah), and if he did not deny its obligation, according to the most correct of the scholars' opinions. As for if he denied its obligation, it is disbelief by scholarly consensus. And a disbeliever, when he embraces Islam, does not make up any of the obligations related to the right of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He); because of the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) :
Say to those who have disbelieved [that] if they cease, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them. But if they return [to hostility] - then the precedent of the former [rebellious] peoples has already taken place.
قُلْ لِلَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا إِنْ يَنْتَهُوا يُغْفَرْ لَهُمْ مَا قَدْ سَلَفَ وَإِنْ يَعُودُوا فَقَدْ مَضَتْ سُنَّةُ الْأَوَّلِينَ(embracing) Islam wipes out all that has gone before it (previous misdeeds). Verily, emigration wipes out all the previous sins
الإسلام يهدم ما كان قبله والتوبة تهدم ما كان قبلهاWe advise you to be steadfast in your repentance, to seek forgiveness frequently, and to do good deeds. And be glad of good and a good outcome if you are steadfast in repentance and reform; because of the saying of Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He):
But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.
وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىThere is a word in your question that needs to be pointed out, which is your saying: "fate willed it." The divine decree (qadar) has no will of its own. The correct thing to say is: "Allah alone willed it," or "Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) willed it," or the like. May Allah guide us and you to understanding in the religion and steadfastness upon it.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.