Is a Person Judged as a Muslim If They Committed Kufr and Then Said the Shahada Before Passing?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
If a Muslim commits an act of kufr intending to repent later but dies after taking the shahada without explicitly repenting for their previous kufr. Will they be judged as a Muslim or a disbeliever?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah alleviate our difficulties and guide us to what pleases Him. Amin.
If a Muslim commits an act of kufr (disbelief), then takes the shahada before passing away without explicitly repenting for their previous act of kufr, they will be judged as a Muslim. This ruling is based on several principles:
Returning to Islam by the Shahada
When someone sincerely recites the shahada, it reaffirms their faith and brings them back into the fold of Islam, regardless of whether they explicitly repent for a specific act of disbelief. The shahada encompasses repentance, as it is the ultimate affirmation of faith.
Allah’s Mercy and Acceptance
Allah (Most High) states, “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, He is the Forgiving, the Merciful” [Quran, 39:53]. This verse is emphasized by the immense mercy of Allah and the willingness to forgive those who turn back to Him.
Intention and Deeds
The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Actions are judged by their intentions” [Bukhari; Muslim]. If the individual sincerely repents and their shahada is genuine, their ultimate judgment lies with Allah, who knows what is in their hearts.
The Status at Death
In Islam, one of the main determining factors for judgment is the state of a person at the time of death. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Indeed, actions are judged by their endings” [Bukhari]. If the person passes away after sincerely declaring the shahada, they are to be regarded as a believer.
Final Judgment
Thus, the individual would be judged as a Muslim, and their prior sins—including disbelief—fall under the mercy of Allah, contingent upon their sincerity and ultimate state at death. However, it is always recommended for Muslims to hasten repentance and not delay, as delaying repentance is a dangerous gamble with the unknown timing of death.
Sinning with the Intention to Repent
The idea of knowingly committing a sin with the intention of repenting later reflects a dangerous misunderstanding of Allah’s mercy and justice. While repentance is a divine gift and a way for believers to return to Allah (Most High), deliberately sinning with the assumption that one can simply repent later is a form of arrogance and manipulation of divine forgiveness.
In Sura Yusuf, the brothers of Sayyidina Yusuf (peace be upon him) exemplify this mindset when they plot to harm their brother. They say, “Kill Joseph or cast him out to some [distant] land so that the favor of your father may be yours alone. Then after that, you can be righteous people” [Quran, 12:9]. This verse reveals their calculated plan to sin while intending to “make up for it” later. This attitude exposes a flawed understanding of piety, as true righteousness does not involve premeditated disobedience to Allah.
Consequences of Such Thinking
- Playing with Allah’s Mercy: Assuming repentance can be delayed is spiritually risky because it disregards the sincerity required for true repentance (tawba). Allah (Most High) says, “And those who do not knowingly persist in what they have done while they know” [Quran, 3:135], emphasizing that ongoing or premeditated sinfulness contradicts genuine faith.
- Life’s Uncertainty: Deliberately delaying repentance assumes one will live long enough to seek it. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Repent to Allah before death overtakes you” [Tirmidhi]. None of us is guaranteed another moment to turn back to Allah.
- Disrespect to Allah’s Justice: Treating repentance as a license to sin reflects a lack of reverence for Allah’s commands and undermines the seriousness of disobedience.
Lessons from Suraa Yusuf
Despite their flawed intentions, Sayyidina Yusuf’s brothers eventually seek forgiveness, and Allah accepts it, as His mercy encompasses all sins when repentance is sincere. However, the story highlights the turmoil and regret that sin causes, both spiritually and socially.
Advice to Believers
True believers should aim to obey Allah and refrain from sinning out of love for Him and fear of His displeasure and punishment. Repentance should stem from genuine regret, not premeditated intentions to exploit divine mercy. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) taught us to live between hope in Allah’s mercy and fear of His punishment, striving for sincerity in all our actions.
I pray this is of benefit and that Allah guides us all.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Mohammad Abu Bakr Badhib
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and has completed his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
