How Can One Repent for Posting Inappropriate Things Posted Online?

Answered by Ustadha Shazia Ahmad

Question

Question: If someone posts a photo of themselves showing their `awra for people to see, each time it’s viewed, the poster gets a sin, right? What’s a supplication to remove that? Or is there another way? If it is unclear, think sadaqa jariya but with a sin. I used to be into haram TV shows (and other haram) and commented on posts about them a lot. Now I’m worried about getting continuous sin from them, like when someone views the comment or post. I’m really worried about this, please help me. I don’t want to die with these sins and don’t want to go to Jahannam.

Answer

Thank you for your question. Allah Most High is the All-Merciful, All-Forgiving, so you should repent, intend never to repeat such sins, and leave the rest up to your Lord. If He forgives you and overlooks what you have done, nothing will harm you, by His grace.

Busy yourself with good deeds as the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), said, “Have taqwa (fear) of Allah wherever you may be, and follow up a bad deed with a good deed which will wipe it out, and behave well towards the people.“ [Tirmidhi]

Please see your answer here:

• What To Do About My Pictures Online From the Time Before I Wore Hijab?
• Should I Remove Photos Online of Me Without Hijab?
• Can Sins Become Good Deeds After Repenting From Them?
• Repenting from Sin

Ustadha Shazia Ahmad lived in Damascus, Syria, for two years, where she studied aqidah, fiqh, tajweed, tafsir, and Arabic. She then attended the University of Texas at Austin and completed her Master’s in Arabic. Afterward, she moved to Amman, Jordan, where she studied fiqh, Arabic, and other sciences. She later moved back to Mississauga, Canada, where she lives with her family.