Making Up the Prayers of the Repentant Person Who Neglected Some of Them
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From 'Abd al-'Aziz ibn 'Abd Allah ibn Baz to the honorable recipient, may Allah protect him from the whispers of Satan and guide him to what is best for his religion and his worldly affairs. After this:
I received your letter, which included: an explanation of things that happened to you and whose ruling was unclear to you. You feared the consequences of them. We had previously answered you on 13/7/1390 AH by requesting your presence, but that did not work out. We are now answering you, if Allah wills, regarding what is in your letter:
First: You mentioned that you pray at some times and leave the prayer at other times. You sometimes resolve to repent, then you return from that. Perhaps this laxity led you to neglect the remaining pillars. You have resolved to make a sincere repentance and a complete abandonment of the sin. Will your repentance be accepted, or will you be among those about whom Allah said: [Al-Nisa: 137]? Is it a condition for repentance to pronounce the two testimonies in the hearing of a scholar? Is it necessary to perform the full ritual bath and pray two units... and so on?
A: Allah has clarified in His great Book that He, the Exalted, accepts the repentance of His servants no matter how varied or numerous their sins are. As He, the Exalted, said: [Az-Zumar: 53]. The scholars have agreed that this verse is about those who repent. In it, He, the Exalted, informed that He forgives all their sins if they are sincere in their repentance to Him; through regret, abandoning the sins, and resolving not to return to them. This is repentance. He, the Exalted, forbade them from despairing of His mercy, which is hopelessness, no matter how great or numerous the sins are. The mercy of Allah is vast, and His pardon is greater. He, the Exalted, said: [Ash-Shura: 25]. And He said regarding the Christians: [Al-Ma'idah: 74]. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: Riyad as-Salihin 710. The verses and hadiths in this meaning are numerous.
Therefore, it is obligatory for you to abandon all sins, to be cautious of them, and to resolve not to return to them, along with regret for what has passed; sincerely for the sake of Allah, revering Him, and fearing His punishment, while having good expectations of Him, the Exalted. It is authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:Riyad as-Salihin 1435. And he, peace and blessings be upon him, said in another hadith: Sahih Muslim 2877c, narrated by Muslim in his Sahih.
So fear Allah, O 'Abd Allah, and have good expectations of your Lord. Repent to Him with a sincere repentance; to please Him, the Exalted, and to humiliate Satan. Be glad that He, the Exalted, will accept your repentance and expiate your past sins if you are sincere in your repentance. He, the Exalted, is truthful in His promise and merciful to His servants.
As for the testimony in the hearing of a scholar, that is not a condition. Rather, repentance is by acknowledging what you denied and doing what you left. If the disbelief was by leaving the prayer, then repentance is by performing the prayer from now on, regretting what has passed, and resolving not to return. You do not have to make up the prayers you left. Because repentance demolishes what came before it.
As for if you left the two testimonies, or doubted them, then repentance from that is by reciting them, even if you are alone. You say: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," with faith and truth that Allah is your true worshipped Lord with no partner, and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the servant of Allah and His Messenger to all the two groups of creation. Whoever obeys him enters Paradise, and whoever disobeys him enters the Fire.
As for the full ritual bath, it is prescribed. Some scholars made it obligatory for one who embraces Islam after his original disbelief, or apostasy. You should perform the full ritual bath, which is by pouring water over your entire body with the intention of entering Islam and repenting from the past disbelief. As for praying two units after the full ritual bath, it is not obligatory, but it is recommended for every Muslim when he purifies himself with the ritual purity prescribed by the Shari'ah to pray two units; due to hadiths that came regarding that.
And as for His, the Exalted, saying: [Al-Nisa: 137], its meaning is not: that if one increases his disbelief or it repeats, Allah will not accept his repentance. Rather, its meaning according to the people of knowledge is: his continuation in disbelief until he dies. As Allah, the Exalted, said in the other verse in Surat al-Baqarah: [Al-Baqarah 2:161] "abiding therein, the punishment will not be lightened for them, nor will they be respite" [Al-Baqarah: 161-162]. And He, the Exalted, said in Surat Ali 'Imran: [Ali 'Imran: 90]. And He also said in Surat al-Baqarah: [Al-Baqarah: 217]. Thus, Allah, the Exalted, has clarified in these three verses that the occurrence of punishment, the curse, the non-acceptance, and the nullification of deeds, all of that is conditioned by dying upon disbelief.
The scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, have agreed that the disbeliever, no matter how varied his disbelief and no matter how many times he apostatized, his repentance is accepted by Allah if he repents with a sincere repentance. This includes: abandoning the disbelief, resolving not to return to it, and regretting what has passed. They differed regarding the ruling in the Shari'ah in this world for one whose apostasy has repeated: is it accepted from him and he is saved from being killed, or is it not accepted from him and he is killed? This is the place of disagreement. As for what is between him and Allah, the Exalted, there is no disagreement in its acceptance if it is a sincere repentance, as mentioned above.
I hope that what we have mentioned to you is convincing and sufficient. It is obligatory for you to hasten with sincere repentance, to supplicate to Allah, the Exalted, and to persist in asking Him to accept from you, to keep you firm upon the truth, and to protect you from the stings and whispers of Satan. He is the clear enemy who wants to destroy you and others, as Allah, the Exalted, said: [Fatir: 6]. So hasten to humiliate him with sincere repentance, and be glad of the good and the good outcome, and safety from the Fire, along with the acceptance of repentance if you are sincere in that. I advise you to increase in the remembrance of Allah, His glorification, and His praise, and to increase in seeking forgiveness and sending prayers and blessings upon the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him). Among the best of that is to increase in the word of tawhid: Muwatta Malik 20:131, and the following words: .
We also advise you to increase in reciting the Noble Qur'an and reflecting on its verses, for in it is guidance to all good and warning from all evil. We also advise you to read what is available of the well-known books of hadith, such as: (Riyad as-Salihin) and (Bulugh al-Maram), for in them is what benefits you and helps you in good, if Allah wills. As for voluntary fasting; such as Mondays, Thursdays, and fasting three days of every month, it is a nearness and obedience, and in it is a great reward and expiation for sins. But if your mother is not pleased with that, do not upset her, for the right of the mother is great, and being dutiful to her is among the most important obligations. Perhaps she fears for you laziness if you fast, and not fulfilling the obligation in seeking provision and attending to the needs of the house. It is known that seeking lawful provision to sustain the family and the people of the house is among the best nearnesses, indeed among the most important obligations, and it is better than devoting oneself to voluntary fasting and voluntary prayer.
In any case, what I advise you is: to listen to her and obey her in such matters. And if you see an opportunity in the future to ask for her permission, ask her permission to fast if the fasting does not prevent you or weaken you from the important matters mentioned above.
And Allah is the One to be asked to grant you understanding in the religion, to guide you to His straight path, to bestow upon us and you sincere repentance, and to protect us and you and the rest of the Muslims from the stings of Satan, the evil of the self, and bad deeds. He is the Generous, the Noble.
And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon His servant and our Prophet Muhammad, and his family and his Companions.
Deputy President of the Islamic University of Madinah al-Munawwarah
I received your letter, which included: an explanation of things that happened to you and whose ruling was unclear to you. You feared the consequences of them. We had previously answered you on 13/7/1390 AH by requesting your presence, but that did not work out. We are now answering you, if Allah wills, regarding what is in your letter:
First: You mentioned that you pray at some times and leave the prayer at other times. You sometimes resolve to repent, then you return from that. Perhaps this laxity led you to neglect the remaining pillars. You have resolved to make a sincere repentance and a complete abandonment of the sin. Will your repentance be accepted, or will you be among those about whom Allah said:
Indeed, those who have believed then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, and then increased in disbelief - never will Allah forgive them
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ آمَنُوا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ ازْدَادُوا كُفْرًا لَمْ يَكُنِ اللَّهُ لِيَغْفِرَ لَهُمْA: Allah has clarified in His great Book that He, the Exalted, accepts the repentance of His servants no matter how varied or numerous their sins are. As He, the Exalted, said:
Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُAnd it is He who accepts repentance from his servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do.
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَSo will they not repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.
أَفَلا يَتُوبُونَ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَهُ وَاللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَحِيمٌ(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 قبلهاTherefore, it is obligatory for you to abandon all sins, to be cautious of them, and to resolve not to return to them, along with regret for what has passed; sincerely for the sake of Allah, revering Him, and fearing His punishment, while having good expectations of Him, the Exalted. It is authentic from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said:
Allah the Exalted says: 'I am as my slave expects me to be, and I am with him when he
يقول الله تعالى أنا عند ظن عبدي بي وأنا معه إذا دعانيNone of you should die but hoping only good from Allah
لا يموتن أحدكم إلا وهو يحسن الظن باللهSo fear Allah, O 'Abd Allah, and have good expectations of your Lord. Repent to Him with a sincere repentance; to please Him, the Exalted, and to humiliate Satan. Be glad that He, the Exalted, will accept your repentance and expiate your past sins if you are sincere in your repentance. He, the Exalted, is truthful in His promise and merciful to His servants.
As for the testimony in the hearing of a scholar, that is not a condition. Rather, repentance is by acknowledging what you denied and doing what you left. If the disbelief was by leaving the prayer, then repentance is by performing the prayer from now on, regretting what has passed, and resolving not to return. You do not have to make up the prayers you left. Because repentance demolishes what came before it.
As for if you left the two testimonies, or doubted them, then repentance from that is by reciting them, even if you are alone. You say: "I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah," with faith and truth that Allah is your true worshipped Lord with no partner, and that Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) is the servant of Allah and His Messenger to all the two groups of creation. Whoever obeys him enters Paradise, and whoever disobeys him enters the Fire.
As for the full ritual bath, it is prescribed. Some scholars made it obligatory for one who embraces Islam after his original disbelief, or apostasy. You should perform the full ritual bath, which is by pouring water over your entire body with the intention of entering Islam and repenting from the past disbelief. As for praying two units after the full ritual bath, it is not obligatory, but it is recommended for every Muslim when he purifies himself with the ritual purity prescribed by the Shari'ah to pray two units; due to hadiths that came regarding that.
And as for His, the Exalted, saying:
Indeed, those who have believed then disbelieved, then believed, then disbelieved, and then increased in disbelief
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ آمَنُوا ثُمَّ كَفَرُوا ثُمَّ ازْدَادُوا كُفْرًاIndeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - upon them will be the curse of Allah and of the angels and the people, all together,
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُولَئِكَ عَلَيْهِمْ لَعْنَةُ اللَّهِ وَالْمَلائِكَةِ وَالنَّاسِ أَجْمَعِينَ Indeed, those who disbelieve and die while they are disbelievers - never would the [whole] capacity of the earth in gold be accepted from one of them if he would [seek to] ransom himself with it. For those there will be a painful punishment, and they will have no helpers.
إِنَّ الَّذِينَ كَفَرُوا وَمَاتُوا وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ فَلَنْ يُقْبَلَ مِنْ أَحَدِهِمْ مِلْءُ الْأَرْضِ ذَهَبًا وَلَوِ افْتَدَى بِهِ أُولَئِكَ لَهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيمٌ وَمَا لَهُمْ مِنْ نَاصِرِينَAnd they will continue to fight you until they turn you back from your religion if they are able. And whoever of you reverts from his religion [to disbelief] and dies while he is a disbeliever - for those, their deeds have become worthless in this world and the Hereafter, and those are the companions of the Fire, they will abide therein eternally.
وَلا يَزَالُونَ يُقَاتِلُونَكُمْ حَتَّى يَرُدُّوكُمْ عَنْ دِينِكُمْ إِنِ اسْتَطَاعُوا وَمَنْ يَرْتَدِدْ مِنْكُمْ عَنْ دِينِهِ فَيَمُتْ وَهُوَ كَافِرٌ فَأُولَئِكَ حَبِطَتْ أَعْمَالُهُمْ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَالْآخِرَةِ وَأُولَئِكَ أَصْحَابُ النَّارِ هُمْ فِيهَا خَالِدُونَThe scholars, may Allah have mercy on them, have agreed that the disbeliever, no matter how varied his disbelief and no matter how many times he apostatized, his repentance is accepted by Allah if he repents with a sincere repentance. This includes: abandoning the disbelief, resolving not to return to it, and regretting what has passed. They differed regarding the ruling in the Shari'ah in this world for one whose apostasy has repeated: is it accepted from him and he is saved from being killed, or is it not accepted from him and he is killed? This is the place of disagreement. As for what is between him and Allah, the Exalted, there is no disagreement in its acceptance if it is a sincere repentance, as mentioned above.
I hope that what we have mentioned to you is convincing and sufficient. It is obligatory for you to hasten with sincere repentance, to supplicate to Allah, the Exalted, and to persist in asking Him to accept from you, to keep you firm upon the truth, and to protect you from the stings and whispers of Satan. He is the clear enemy who wants to destroy you and others, as Allah, the Exalted, said:
Indeed, Satan is an enemy to you; so take him as an enemy. He only invites his party to be among the companions of the Blaze.
إِنَّ الشَّيْطَانَ لَكُمْ عَدُوٌّ فَاتَّخِذُوهُ عَدُوًّا إِنَّمَا يَدْعُو حِزْبَهُ لِيَكُونُوا مِنْ أَصْحَابِ السَّعِيرِThere is no god but Allah, alone, without any partner. To Him belong the Kingdom and praise, and He has power over everything
لا إله إلا الله وحده لا شريك له، له الملك، وله الحمد، وهو على كل شيء قديرGlory be to Allah, and praise be to Allah, and there is no deity except Allah, and Allah is the Greatest, and there is no power and no strength except by Allah. Glory be to Allah and His praise, Glory be to Allah the Magnificent. I seek forgiveness from Allah, there is no deity except He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him. There is no deity except You; glory be to You, indeed I have been of the wrongdoers. O Allah, indeed I have wronged myself with much wrongdoing, and none forgives sins except You, so grant me forgiveness from You and have mercy upon me, for You are the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.
سبحان الله، والحمد لله، ولا إله إلا الله، والله أكبر، ولا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله، سبحان الله وبحمده، سبحان الله العظيم، استغفر الله الذي لا إله إلا هو الحي القيوم وأتوب إليه، لا إله إلا أنت سبحانك إني كنت من الظالمين، اللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلما كثيرا ولا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت فاغفر لي مغفرة من عندك وارحمني إنك أنت الغفور الرحيمWe also advise you to increase in reciting the Noble Qur'an and reflecting on its verses, for in it is guidance to all good and warning from all evil. We also advise you to read what is available of the well-known books of hadith, such as: (Riyad as-Salihin) and (Bulugh al-Maram), for in them is what benefits you and helps you in good, if Allah wills. As for voluntary fasting; such as Mondays, Thursdays, and fasting three days of every month, it is a nearness and obedience, and in it is a great reward and expiation for sins. But if your mother is not pleased with that, do not upset her, for the right of the mother is great, and being dutiful to her is among the most important obligations. Perhaps she fears for you laziness if you fast, and not fulfilling the obligation in seeking provision and attending to the needs of the house. It is known that seeking lawful provision to sustain the family and the people of the house is among the best nearnesses, indeed among the most important obligations, and it is better than devoting oneself to voluntary fasting and voluntary prayer.
In any case, what I advise you is: to listen to her and obey her in such matters. And if you see an opportunity in the future to ask for her permission, ask her permission to fast if the fasting does not prevent you or weaken you from the important matters mentioned above.
And Allah is the One to be asked to grant you understanding in the religion, to guide you to His straight path, to bestow upon us and you sincere repentance, and to protect us and you and the rest of the Muslims from the stings of Satan, the evil of the self, and bad deeds. He is the Generous, the Noble.
And may Allah send prayers and blessings upon His servant and our Prophet Muhammad, and his family and his Companions.
Deputy President of the Islamic University of Madinah al-Munawwarah
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.