Do I Have To Remove Immoral Comments Online?

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Question:

When I was young, I used to read immoral books, and I would promote these books with extensive praise and comments on forums. Should I go back and delete all of these comments?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

The past is the past, and we should never allow ourselves to be caught in a trap of guilt.

That said, if you think that your comments are still being read and you can remove them within a few hours, I would go ahead and delete them. Otherwise, you should not go to extremes and just assume that no one will read your comments any more.

One of the great scholars of the past visited another scholar and found him very disturbed. He asked him what was wrong and he replied, “‘A young man just came to me asking about the true nature of repentance. I told him that it was to never forget the sins that you had done.’ He objected and said, ‘Rather, repentance is that you forget your sins!'” [Al-Risala al-Qushayriyya]

This means that repentance requires that you have to feel remorse for what you did. This means that you never forget the fact that you did bad things and that you are shy before Allah. At the same time, you have to forget your sin and never go back to in order to really repent, and you cannot keep digging yourself into a hole of depression thinking about how bad you once were. We should repent, make amends, and get on with life. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Someone who repents from sins is like someone who does not have any sins to begin with.” [Ibn Majah]

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

 

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.

Will I Go to Hell for Not Marrying?

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Question:
Will I go to Hell for not marrying?
Answer:
Dear questioner,
May Allah bless you and increase you in good.
Going to Hell or Heaven is not merely in one action. It can be, but this is not how we should look at matters.
The Ruling of Marriage 
In general, Marriage is a sunna. Meaning it is our Prophet’s practice (Allah bless him and give him peace); if one intends to follow him in it, this is good and rewarded.

The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Marriage is part of my sunna, and whoever does not follow my sunna has nothing to do with me. Get married, for I will boast of your great numbers before the nations. Whoever has the means, let him get married, and whoever does not, then he should fast for it will diminish his desire.”

 

Sin and Repentance 
Any sin you commit, you must make ask for forgiveness for that wrong. Afterwards, believe that Allah has accepted your repentance. Never look at any sin as being the sole reason you are going to Hell.
“The one who repents from sin is like the one who never committed it.” [Ibn Majah]
Remember that it doesn’t mean you are going to Hell; it means you need to repent and then move on with life.
See this answer on staying single for some more details;
[Imam] Yama Niazi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Is It Necessary To Return the Income I Earned From a Skill Learned Though Haram Means?

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Question:

Is it necessary to return the income I earned from a skill learned though haram means?

Answer:

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

May Allah, Most High reward you for your desire to increase in knowledge.

The income acquired from a (permissible) skill that was learned from a stolen phone is permissible to keep and use.

The phone or the monetary value of the phone must be returned to its lawful owner.
Allah, Most High says, “You who believe, do not wrongfully consume each other’s wealth but trade by mutual consent.” (Qur’an: 4:29)

You must repent to Allah, Most High from stealing and be certain to never fall into it again.

Remember that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The one who repents from sin is like the one who never sinned.” [Ibn Majah]

And Allah alone knows best,

[Ustadh] Omar Popal

 

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Was My Repentance Accepted?

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Question:
Was my repentance accepted?
Answer:
Dear questioner,
May Allah bless you.
Repentance
Alhamdulillah, by the mercy of Allah, all sins can be forgiven through repentance.
Allah, Most High says in the Quran, “Turn to Allah in repentance all together, O believers, so that you may be successful.” [Qur’an 24:31]
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, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” [Qur’an 39:53]
These verses prove to us that Allah forgives all sins, and we should have a good opinion that He has forgiven us. We must know that the conditions of repenting are three according to imam al-Nawawi;
(1) leaving the sin altogether,
(2) having remorse over having sinned, and
(3) firmly resolving never to return to the sin.
Making Up Fasts
Your repentance is sound even though you have not made up those fasts yet. However, it is important to make up one’s fasts as soon as possible to clear one’s debt to Allah.
Caution About Missed Fasts 
Make sure that you make a plan on how you will make up those fasts. Take my advice that life can go by very quickly, therefore do take life very serious. With noble intentions to repent and draw near to Allah, He will facilitate its completion.
May Allah allow us to meet Him, having fulfilled all of our obligations.
[Imam] Yama Niazi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Is My Forgiveness Accepted?

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Question:

Is my forgiveness accepted?

Answer:

Dear questioner,

May Allah, Most High bring ease in your life and clarity to your heart.

 

Question on Forgiveness:

You should thank Allah, Most High for placing forgiveness in your heart, whether it was due to forgetfulness or not. Be certain that your forgiveness was accepted, and try your best to repel any thoughts about recanting your initial forgiveness.

Whenever the thought of recanting your forgiveness comes to you, remember the following:

Allah, Most High says: “We have not created the heavens and the earth and everything in between except for a purpose. And the Hour is certain to come, so forgive graciously.” [Quran, 15:85]
The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) said: “Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to mankind.” [Bukhari, Al-Sahih]
The great companion, Umar ibn al Khattab (Allah be pleased with him) said: “Anyone who does not show mercy will not be shown mercy. Anyone who does not forgive will not be forgiven. Anyone who does not pardon will not be pardoned or protected.” [Bukhari, Adab al-Mufrad]

Forgiveness is a pillar of the religion and an absolute sunnah of the Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace). The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) forgave those who used to harm, slander, and attack him like Abu Sufyan Ibn Harb and Wahshi ibn Harb.

 

Question on Black Magic

Being affected by black magic is a tribulation and a test.

It is not befitting for a Muslim to declare that a particular difficulty is a punishment from Allah, Most High. Only Allah, Most High knows what is reward and punishment.

With that said, The various difficulties that we experience in this world can be considered as tribulations. Allah, Most High says:
“We will certainly test you with a touch of fear and famine and loss of property, life, and crops. Give good news to those who patiently endure.” [Quran, 2:155]

From the verse above we understand that as long as we are patient during the difficulty, Allah, Most High will reward us. This is the nature of our lives in this world.

“The world is the abode of tribulation & The afterlife is the abode of ease.”

Please see: Black Magic

And Allah knows best,

[Ustadh] Omar Popal
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Can I Repent From Incorrect Beliefs?

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Question: Is it true that someone who has errant beliefs (mubtadi’) can never repent?

Answer:

Wa alaykum assalam wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,

Dear questioner,

Thank you for your important question.

To repent from heretical beliefs (kufr), one simply enters Islam. For example, to repent from being an Isma’ili, one simply enters Islam.

To repent from errant beliefs (bid’a) that are wrong but do not constitute disbelief, such as personal simply learn Sunni creed, and abandons ideas that are not Sunni.

If such a person did not leave such beliefs and was not excused due to ignorance, they would meet Allah in sin, even if they repented from other sins.

Please see:
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/how-to-deal-with-sectarian-differences/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/who-or-what-is-a-salafi/
https://seekersguidance.org/answers/islamic-belief/human-actions-bida-shirk-related/

It is worth noting that even though having errant beliefs (bid’a) is sinful, there does not seem to be any sound hadiths that mention that the repentance or actions of someone with errant beliefs will not be accepted. One such hadith has come in Ibn Majah and Ilal Ibn Abi Hatim and it reads, “Allah has refused to accept the deeds of someone of errant beliefs (sahib bid’a) until he leaves his errant beliefs.” This hadith, among others like it, is weak. [Ilal Ibn Abi Hatim; al-Ilal al-Mutanahiya, Ibn al-Jawzi; Sunan Ibn Majah, ed. Shaykh Shu’ayb al-Arna’ut]

While the concept is true, it seems like such hadiths are actually the words of  Hasan al-Basri, Sufyan, and other early Muslims. [al-Shari’a, al-Ajurri; al-Sunna, Lalkai]

I pray this helps.

[Ustadh] Farid Dingle

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Ustadh Farid Dingle has completed extensive years of study in the sciences of the Arabic language and the various Islamic Sciences. During his studies, he also earned a CIFE Certificate in Islamic Finance. Over the years he has developed a masterful ability to craft lessons that help non-Arabic speakers gain a deep understanding of the language. He currently teaches courses in the Arabic Language.

How Can I Overcome My Negative Thoughts?

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Question:  I have been feeling so anxious for the last 6-7 months that I start feeling guilty for a certain thing, and then I go into loops of it.  It escalated, and I cannot deconstruct it. I just feel like I have done something wrong. How do I get out of it?

Answer:

Assalamu alaykum,

Thank you for your question. I am sorry that you are feeling this anxiety and guilt for no reason, and I pray that you can get out of this. Convincing yourself that you have done something wrong clearly means that the Devil has taken hold, and you must expel him.

 

Resources

Please see this excellent article about feeling guilt and apply the steps of action and sincere repentance mentioned therein.
https://seekersguidance.org/articles/general-artices/overwhelmed-by-guilt/

Start changing the narrative in your mind. Whenever a feeling of guilt overcomes you, ignore it, and make dhikr, and immediately thank Allah for one of your blessings. Allah, Most High, reminds us, “So, (O mankind and Jinn,) which of the bounties of your Lord will you deny?“ [Qur’an, 55:13]
See this link about gratefulness over guilt.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9tzjqtSYvA

 

Thought Control

No one is perfect; one cannot always control what comes, but do cast the thought out as soon as it comes and say “A’udhu biLlahi min ash-Shaytan ir-rajeem“. The Shaytan will eventually tire of giving you these thoughts because you just end up remembering Allah. It will take practice but you will get it; make a sincere intention to not let these thoughts lounge around, but throw them out, seek refuge from the Devil, and make dhikr. Eventually, the thoughts will go, trust me.

Ask Allah genuinely to help you get rid of these thoughts and for guidance and aid through the Prayer of Need and by making du’a before dawn. He will surely come to your aid, and you must be absolutely certain that He will. Please see the answers at the link below. May Allah give you the best in this world and the next.

https://seekersguidance.org/tag/thoughts/

[Ustadha] Shazia Ahmad

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

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

What Should I Do If I Am Overwhelmed By My Sins?

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Question: What do I do if I am overwhelmed by my sins and feel that I am going to Hell?

Answer:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate,

May Allah truly bless you for your sincere question.

 

Do Not Despair

The first and most important thing you must not lose sight of is that Allah Most High commands us in the Qur’an never to lose hope in His mercy.

He says, “Say, O Prophet, that Allah says, “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins.1 He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Qur’an; 39:53]

Anyone who sincerely repents to Allah Most High is forgiven without any shadow of a doubt.

 

Conditions Of a Sound Repentance

However, in order for the repentance to be sincere and sound one must fulfill the following conditions:
(1) Sincere remorse for the sin
(2) Immediately leaving the sin
(3) Firm resolve never to repeat the sin
[Nawawi, Riyadh al-Salihin]

Remorse

There is no doubt, from the sound of your question, that you are remorseful for your condition and that you truly seek a way out.

 

All Sound Repentance Is Accepted
Imam al-Ghazali said, “Know that if one makes sincere repentance there remains no doubt of its acceptance. Just as no thirst remains after taking a drink of water. [Ghazzali, Ihya ‘Ulum al-Din]
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The one who repents (sincerely) from a sin is like one with no sin.” [Ibn Majah, Tabarani in al-M’ujam al-Kabir, and Bayhaqi in Sh’ib al-Iman]

The First Step

In order to rectify your situation, you must start praying again. The five daily prayers do not take very long to perform, but they are the greatest connection between the servant and Allah Most High. Leaving the prayer brings upon us the wrath of Allah, severe ignominy, a feeling of distance, anxiety, and worldly and next worldly tribulations.

Allah Most High says, “But they were succeeded by generations who neglected prayer and followed their lusts and so will soon face the evil consequences. – As for those who repent, believe, and do good, it is they who will be admitted into Paradise, never being denied any reward.” [Qur’an; 19:60]

We see from the above, the dangers of leaving the prayer; we also see the importance of repentance.

 

Heaven and Hell

It is right for you to fear the Hell-Fire. However, this fear, if healthy, should motivate you to live according to the obedience of Allah Most High as best you can.

You are striving to live a life of obedience and returning to repentance whenever you slip is the ultimate proof of your being of the people destined for Paradise.

The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Verily Allah created Adam… and brought forth from his loins (some of) his progeny, then said, ‘I created these for Paradise and by the deeds of the people of Paradise they act.’ Then he brought forth (the rest of) his progeny and said, ‘I created these are for the Fire and by the deeds of the people of the Fire they act.'” [Ahmad]

 

Allah Wants To Forgive Us – Having a Good Opinion Of Allah
It is important to always have a good opinion of Allah Most High. Allah Most High says, in a Hadith Qudsi, “I am as My slave thinks of Me.” [Bukhari and Ahmad]
In the narration of Imam al-Darami is an additional, “so let them think of Me as they wish.” [Sunan al-Darami]
Allah Most High tells us in the Qur’an that He wants to forgive us. He says, “And Allah wants to accept your repentance, and those who follow (their) lusts want you to go far astray.” [Qur’an; 4:27]

Summary

Do not lose hope. If you are sincere, Allah will forgive you and rectify your state. Start with the prayer. Strive to perform the prayers, properly and on-time. After each prayer, supplicate to Allah Most High from the bottom of your heart and know that He will certainly respond.

Please see:
Hope this helps
And Allah knows best
[Shaykh] Yusuf Weltch

Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Shaykh Yusuf Weltch is a graduate from Tarim; a student of Habib Umar and other luminaries; and authorized teachers of the Qur’an and the Islamic sciences

How Do I Overcome My Guilt Over Past Sins?

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Question: I committed many serious sins when I was young, and now, I feel despair as to whether I will be punished for them. How do I move forward?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate,

Walaikum assalam,

I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.

The fact that you have regret is a sign that you have repented. The Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and grant him peace) said, “Whoever repents from sin is like one who never sinned.” [Ibn Maja]

Allah Most High says: “Say: My servants who have wronged yourselves, never despair of God’s mercy. God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” [Qur’an, 39.53]

Please see: https://seekersguidance.org/answers/general-counsel/a-reader-on-tawba-repentance/

 

Remain On Remembrance

Strive to follow the Prophetic sunna to, “Keep your tongue moist with the remembrance of Allah.” [Tirmidhi] In your walking, work, and rest. Engage your tongue, heart, and mind with the remembrance of Allah.

One way is to repeat the “lasting good deeds” the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) recommended: Subhana’l Llah; Alhamdu li’l Llah; la ilaha illa’l Llah; and Allahu Akbar. These can be recited in order or individually. Stay constant on them, and you will find peace of heart and increasing presence with Allah.

And Allah alone gives success.

Wassalam,

[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani

 

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani spent ten years studying with some of the leading scholars of recent times, first in Damascus, and then in Amman, Jordan. His teachers include the foremost theologian of recent times in Damascus, the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas (may Allah have mercy on him), as well as his student Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi, one of the leading Hanafi fuqaha of the present age. He returned to Canada in 2007, where he founded SeekersGuidance in order to meet the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge–both online and on the ground–in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner. He is the author of: Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School (White Thread Press, 2004.) Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been named one of the 500 most influential Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center.

Will Allah Forgive My Worst Sins?

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Question: Is there hope in the mercy of Allah after major sins?

Answer:

Dear questioner,

May Allah bless you and forgive you all your sins.
The fact that you have asked about this is a good sign that you are moving towards good. You are moving towards mercy and change. You are moving towards a righteous path, and meanwhile, you are already moving away from the wrong.
The Mercy Of Allah Is Always Near
Allah Most High says, “Turn towards Allah, O believers, every one of you, so that you may be successful.” [Qur’an, 24:31]
And He says, “Ask your Lord for forgiveness and then turn in repentance to Him,” [Qur’an, 11:3] and He says, “O you who believe! Turn in sincere repentance to Allah.” [Qur’an, 66:8]
The Prophet (Allah bless him & give him peace) said, “The one who repents from sin is like the one who never sinned.” [Ibn Maja (3240)] He also said, “Remorse is repentance.” [Ibn Maja (4242) and Ahmad (3387)]
You can see that it is never too late to change and repent. There is no doubt that our beautiful religion teaches that Allah forgives all sins. As long as any human being is still alive they always have an opportunity to be forgiven. This is the beauty of Islam.
Conditions Of Repentance 
The conditions for repentance are well known:
1. Leaving the sin;
2. Remorse over having committed the sin;
3. Resolve never to return to the sin;
4. (If it relates to the rights of another person, then to) Return the rights or property one wrongly took.  [al-Bariqa fi Sharh al-Tariqa; Riyad al-Salihin]
Moving Forward
I encourage you to make a strong resolve and do not lose this great opportunity to make a change. If however God-forbid, it happens again, do not give up and quit. Keep trying and trying to repent and intend a righteous path. You must work hard to achieve this goal.
Strive to establish your daily prayers, and remember Allah as much as you can. Surround yourself with a good support team, perhaps good friends who will remind you of Allah.  You will find in your striving to be a good person, you will find a better version of yourself and you may discover that true love and joy is in obedience and nearness to Allah Most High.
Love Allah and His Messenger 
Focus on more love for Allah and His beautiful Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace)
This video is on that topic and may help you to increase your aspiration for change.
We as human beings all make mistakes, but we can all repent and change and try again and again until we succeed. That is what is special about human beings. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “All of the children of Adam are sinners, and the best sinners are those who repent.”
[Tirmidhi]
May Allah grant you success and true repentance. There are many people in Islamic history who were committing major sins but then ended up changing and becoming leaders in righteousness and spirituality.
[Imam] Yama Niazi
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani