The ruling on one who commits a sin and calls others to it, then repents from it

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Question:
He also asks and says: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

Whoever introduces a bad practice in Islam, he will bear its sin and the sin of whoever works by it until the Day of Resurrection

من سن سنة سيئة؛ فعليه وزرها، ووزر من عمل بها إلى يوم القيامة

As-Sunan al-Kubra lil-Nasa'i 12:118

Then he says: I did not know that this was a bad practice, and I taught it to others, but I could not find this person. So, is the burden of its sin and the sin of those I taught it to upon me? And if I knew that this act was among the sins, and I taught it to others, then I repented from this act, but I am unable to find the person who learned this sin from me, does his burden and the burden of those he taught attach to me until the Day of Resurrection, despite my repentance? Please clarify this for us. May Allah reward you with good.

Answer:
The authentic hadith from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) is that he said:

Whoever introduces a good practice in Islam, he will have its reward and the reward of whoever works by it after him, and that will not diminish their rewards in any way. And whoever introduces a bad practice in Islam, he will bear its sin and the sin of whoever works by it after him, and that will not diminish their sins in any way

من سن في الإسلام سنة حسنة؛ كان له أجرها، وأجر من عملها من بعده، لا ينقص ذلك من أجورهم شيئًا، ومن سن في الإسلام سنة سيئة؛ كان عليه وزرها، ووزر من عمل بها من بعده، لا ينقص ذلك من أوزارهم شيئًا

But when he repents, turns back to Allah, and feels remorse, repentance erases what came before it. If he finds the person, he should inform him of his repentance and tell him that he made a mistake. If he does not find him, Allah excuses him. Allah says:

So fear Allah as much as you are able

فَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُمْ

[Al-Taghabun: 16]

Allah does not charge a soul except [with that within] its capacity

لا يُكَلِّفُ اللَّهُ نَفْسًا إِلَّا وُسْعَهَا

[Al-Baqarah: 286].
So, shirk, which is the greatest of sins, if the servant repents from it, Allah accepts his repentance. And Allah the Exalted says:

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 اهْتَدَى

[Ta-Ha: 82] And He the Exalted says:

And turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.

وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

[Al-Nur: 31] And He the Exalted says:

O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance.

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًا

[Al-Tahrim: 8] the verse. And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:

The one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.

التائب من الذنب كمن لا ذنب له

Sunan Ibn Majah 4250Da’if (Darussalam)

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So, O Abdullah, you must feel remorse, cease the sin, and resolve not to return to disobedience, and be cautious of it. You must also alert the one you guided to the sin and made it attractive to him, alerting him that you made a mistake, that you were wrong, and that you repented to Allah; perhaps he will repent, and perhaps he will turn back if you are able to reach him. But if you are not able to reach him, you are excused.

The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.

Source binbaz.org.sa

The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.

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