How Do I Return to Islam After Leaving and Praying to Other Deities?

Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Question

After a religious trauma, I left Islam, briefly took up another faith, and prayed to other deities — how do I repent and return, and is sincere repentance enough, or must I formally recite the testimony of faith again?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

Welcome home. The very fact that you are asking this question is a sign that Allah is calling you back. Allah does not turn away a heart He calls.

Whatever you have done, His door is wider than it.

Hear His own words to you: “Say, ‘O My servants who have committed excesses against their very selves, despair not of the mercy of Allah: Verily Allah forgives all sins soever: Truly He is the All-forgiving, the All-compassionate.’” [Quran 39:53; Keller, The Quran Beheld]

All sins soever — without exception, and that includes what you fear most.

The Door of Repentance Is Wide Open

Returning to Allah asks two things of you, and both are within your reach. The first is sincere repentance (tawba): feeling regret for what has passed, leaving it now, and resolving not to return to it.

The second is to reaffirm the testimony of faith (shahada): that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace).

Renewing the shahada from your heart is enough. You do not need to perform any public ceremony or stand before others. Say it privately, between you and your Lord. You are received by Him.

Allah has promised this plainly: “Whoever commits an ill deed or wrongs himself, then even at length asks forgiveness of Allah while there is still time, shall find Allah all-forgiving, all-compassionate.” [Quran 4:110; Keller, The Quran Beheld]

He promises more than erasure — He promises exchange: “Save he who repents and believes, and works righteous deeds: For those shall Allah change their bad deeds for good.” [Quran 25:70]

And He names the repentance He seeks, a sincere turning: “Repent to Allah from the utter depths of your conscience.” [Quran 66:8]

The Early Believers Stumbled, and Were Received Back

You are not the first to leave and return. Among the early Muslims was Abdullah ibn Sad ibn Abi Sarh. He embraced Islam, then left it and fled to Mecca. When Mecca was conquered, Uthman ibn Affan (Allah be pleased with him) brought him to the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) to seek his return.

The Prophet accepted his pledge, and his Islam thereafter remained sound. He went on to serve the community for years. If the door was open to him, then it is open to you now.

Allah Rejoices at Your Return

This is not a reluctant pardon.

The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) described Allah’s joy at a returning servant as greater than the joy of a man who lost his mount in a barren wasteland, with all his food and drink upon it, and gave up every hope of life, then suddenly found it standing beside him. [Muslim]

That is the joy your return brings.

And His mercy keeps its hands open through the day and the night.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said that Allah “extends His hand by night so that the one who did wrong by day may repent, and extends His hand by day so that the one who did wrong by night may repent” — and that He continues until the sun rises from the west. [Muslim] You have not run out of time.

Your Practical Next Steps

If you are able, take a ritual bath (ghusl). This is recommended for one returning to Islam, as a fresh start, though it is not a condition. Then, pronounce the shahada from your heart.

Pray two cycles (rak‘as) of the Prayer of Repentance (salat al-tawba), expressing your remorse and hope before Allah in your own words.

After that, connect yourself to believers. Find a local masjid, a teacher, or a study circle, so you are not walking this path alone.

If you experience lingering doubts or unwelcome thoughts afterward, do not let them disturb you.

The Companions once told the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) that they found in themselves thoughts too grave to utter, and he answered: “That is pure faith.” [Muslim] Recoiling from such whispers is itself a sign of faith. Brush them aside and continue on your path.

There is a well-known saying: “The one who repents from sin is like one who has no sin.” [Ibn Maja]

Hadith scholars consider its chain weak, so we do not rely on it as a proof. Yet its meaning is affirmed by the clear verses and reports above. Step through the door. It was never closed to you.

And Allah knows best.

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

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Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.

Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.

In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.

Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.

Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School.” This book, published by White Thread Press in 2004, is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.

His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.