Can One Incur Sins for Creating Wrong Content on Social Media?
Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel
Question
I once created a Facebook group based on comic books as we loved comics as kids, but after Allah made me realize the bad content it brings, I quit. However, the group is still active, and it has grown very big. It was very difficult to delete the group as I would need to remove every member and admin.
I posted an apology post in the group, wrote a short note about the issue, and said it’s up to their responsibility now. I repented alhamdulillah, but I’m worried that I am being burdened with the sins of others.
Do comics with superpowers promote shirk? I am very worried and depressed because of this; please help me. Is there anything else I can do? am I being burdened with others’ sins?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate
I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.
Generally, if a person initiates wrongdoing and others follow the wrongdoing because of us, one will get a share of the wrongdoing. One should openly retract, as you have done, then hope Allah (Most High) accepts one’s repentance and forgiveness.
Accountability for Enabling Sin
One can incur the sin of being a means for sin for others, too. If our actions lead to others sinning, we will also get a share of sin unless one repents, seeks forgiveness, and Allah (Most High) accepts it. This is why daily repentance, asking for forgiveness, and regular good actions are important.
Allah says: “Whoever intercedes for a good cause will have a share in the reward, and whoever intercedes for an evil cause will have a share in the burden. And Allah is Watchful over all things.” [Quran 4:85]
Good Actions and Seeking Forgiveness
Surely good deeds wipe out evil deeds. That is a reminder for the mindful.
[Quran, 11:114]
Safiyya (Allah be pleased with her) reported that Aisha (Allah be pleased with her) said, “Blessed is the one who finds many prayers for forgiveness on their record.”
[Bayhaqi, Shu‘ab al-Iman]
I would like you to go through the valuable answers and links below. You will receive guidance and direction in sha Allah.
Related Answers
- Following Others in Sin – SeekersGuidance
- Prayer of Repentance: Salat al-Tawba – SeekersGuidance
- A Reader on Tawba (Repentance) – SeekersGuidance
- How Can I End The Cycle of Sin and Repentance? – SeekersGuidance
Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org).
I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Abdul-Rahim Reasat
Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.
