The Obligation of Repentance and Its Conditions, and Performing Expiations if They Are Required of Him
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This is a letter from the sender (M. A. Z.), an Egyptian national residing in Karbala, Iraq. He says: I have been married for fifteen years, but Satan tempted me and caused me to fall into several errors. I approached my wife while fasting in Ramadan, and I committed unlawful sexual intercourse both before and after marriage. However, three years ago I repented to Allah (Mighty and Majestic), and I did not return to what I used to do. What is the expiation that is obligatory upon me?
The answer: It is obligatory for you to repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from having intercourse with your wife during Ramadan, and from fornication before and after. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has commanded repentance and made it obligatory upon His servants, as He the Exalted said: [Al-Tahrim: 8]. He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: : [Al-Nur: 31]. So it is obligatory for you to repent to Allah, to feel remorse for your past evil deeds, and to resolve not to return to them. These are the conditions of repentance:
- Ceasing the sins and guarding against them out of fear of Allah and reverence for Him. This is the first condition.
- The second condition: Remorse for the past and regret for the bad deeds that occurred from you.
- The third matter: To resolve with a sincere determination not to return to those sins.
So when these three conditions are met, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will accept the repentance of the one in whom they are found and forgive his sin .
So, my brother, you must be sincere in this, and follow your evil deeds with good deeds and righteous actions. Allah accepts the repentance of those who repent, as He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: : [Ta-Ha: 82]. And He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: : [Al-Furqan: 68-69]. This is the reward for one who associates partners with Allah, or kills a soul without right, or commits fornication [Al-Furqan: 68-69]. Then He (Glorified and Exalted is He) said: [Al-Furqan: 70]. So, my brother, with sincere repentance, faith, and righteous action, Allah will accept your repentance and replace your evil deeds with good ones. So be sincere in this and adhere to repentance.
And among the conditions of repentance is a fourth: If the repentance concerns the right of another person, it is that he seeks their pardon or gives them their rights. So if the repentance is from theft, looting of wealth, betrayal, or the like, then completing the repentance requires returning the wealth to its owner by any means that delivers it to them, even if they do not know it, until it reaches them, even if they do not know it is from you. But it must reach them, or you seek their pardon from it, meaning: you ask them for pardon so that they permit you. If they permit it, what concerns them is dropped from you. And upon you, along with that, is the expiation for zihar, which is freeing a slave. If you are unable, then fast two consecutive months. If you are unable, then feed sixty poor people for your intercourse in Ramadan, just like the expiation for zihar, the same. First, freeing a slave if you are able, and there are slaves sold in Africa, a believing slave. If you are unable, you fast two consecutive months. If you are unable, you feed sixty poor people, thirty sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg), ninety kilos, each of them a kilo and a half of the sa' of dates, rice, wheat, or other staple food of the country, the staple food of your country. This is your repentance to your Lord, along with making up the day on which the intercourse occurred, making up the day on which the intercourse occurred, whether the intercourse was through unlawful sexual intercourse or with your wife. Upon you is this expiation along with repentance and making up the day. We ask Allah for guidance and sincere repentance for us and for you, and for all Muslims. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
The answer: It is obligatory for you to repent to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) from having intercourse with your wife during Ramadan, and from fornication before and after. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) has commanded repentance and made it obligatory upon His servants, as He the Exalted said:
O you who have believed, repent to Allah with sincere repentance.
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ تَوْبَةً نَصُوحًاAnd turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed.
وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ- Ceasing the sins and guarding against them out of fear of Allah and reverence for Him. This is the first condition.
- The second condition: Remorse for the past and regret for the bad deeds that occurred from you.
- The third matter: To resolve with a sincere determination not to return to those sins.
So when these three conditions are met, Allah (Mighty and Majestic) will accept the repentance of the one in whom they are found and forgive his sin .
So, my brother, you must be sincere in this, and follow your evil deeds with good deeds and righteous actions. Allah accepts the repentance of those who repent, as He (peace and blessings be upon him) said: :
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(68) And those who do not invoke with Allah another deity or kill the soul which Allah has forbidden [to be killed], except by right, and do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse. And whoever should do that will meet a penalty. (69) Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated -
وَالَّذِينَ لا يَدْعُونَ مَعَ اللَّهِ إِلَهًا آخَرَ وَلا يَقْتُلُونَ النَّفْسَ الَّتِي حَرَّمَ اللَّهُ إِلَّا بِالْحَقِّ وَلا يَزْنُونَ وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًاwill meet a penalty. (69) Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated -
يَلْقَ أَثَامًا يُضَاعَفْ لَهُ الْعَذَابُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ وَيَخْلُدْ فِيهِ مُهَانًاExcept for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allah will replace their evil deeds with good
إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُوْلَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍAnd among the conditions of repentance is a fourth: If the repentance concerns the right of another person, it is that he seeks their pardon or gives them their rights. So if the repentance is from theft, looting of wealth, betrayal, or the like, then completing the repentance requires returning the wealth to its owner by any means that delivers it to them, even if they do not know it, until it reaches them, even if they do not know it is from you. But it must reach them, or you seek their pardon from it, meaning: you ask them for pardon so that they permit you. If they permit it, what concerns them is dropped from you. And upon you, along with that, is the expiation for zihar, which is freeing a slave. If you are unable, then fast two consecutive months. If you are unable, then feed sixty poor people for your intercourse in Ramadan, just like the expiation for zihar, the same. First, freeing a slave if you are able, and there are slaves sold in Africa, a believing slave. If you are unable, you fast two consecutive months. If you are unable, you feed sixty poor people, thirty sa' (a dry measure of about 3 kg), ninety kilos, each of them a kilo and a half of the sa' of dates, rice, wheat, or other staple food of the country, the staple food of your country. This is your repentance to your Lord, along with making up the day on which the intercourse occurred, making up the day on which the intercourse occurred, whether the intercourse was through unlawful sexual intercourse or with your wife. Upon you is this expiation along with repentance and making up the day. We ask Allah for guidance and sincere repentance for us and for you, and for all Muslims. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.