Thursday 22 March 2012

His friends have some pictures of him and he has asked them to destroy them, but they refused

Some of my friends have pictures of me and I asked them for these pictures so that I could destroy them, fearing the punishment of Allaah. Some of them gave them to me but others refused, saying that the sin will be on them and not on me. Is this correct? I hope that you can advise me.

Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah erases sin by means of sincere repentance from sin, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful”

[al-Noor 24:31]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam destroys that which came before it [of sin], and repentance destroys that which came before it [of sin].” You have to destroy the pictures that you have, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to ‘Ali (may Allaah be pleased with him): “Do not leave any image without blotting it out and do not leave any elevated grave without leveling it.” Narrated by Imam Muslim in his Saheeh. With regard to the pictures of you that other people have, if you ask them to return them and they refuse, then you are free from any blame and your sincere repentance includes these pictures too; the sin is on those who are keeping them. May Allaah guide us all.

Persisting in sin

What will happened to that person doing same sin again and again ?.

Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:

If a person commits sin time after time, his sin is forgiven every time if he follows his sin with repentance – if his repentance each time is sincere. The evidence that it is permissible to repent time after time is the fact that those who apostatized from Islam at the time of Abu Bakr were brought back to Islam by Abu Bakr and he accepted that from them, although he knew that they had been kaafirs, then they entered Islam, then they went back to kufr, then they came back to Islam. All the Sahaabah accepted their repentance despite the fact that what the apostates had done was worse than what a sinning Muslim does. So the repentance of a sinning Muslim, even if he sins repeatedly, is more likely to be accepted than repentance on the part of a kaafir time after time.

But what we are saying is subject to the condition that the first and subsequent cases of repentance be sincere and from the heart, not simply an outward show of repentance.

What we are saying should not be understood to mean that we are encouraging sin and that it may be committed time after time, and that the Muslim should take the mercy of Allaah and the fact that Allaah accepts repentance as an excuse to commit sin. No, our intention is to encourage the sinner to repent time after time. We want to put the mind of the Muslim who wants to come back to Allaah at rest, and tell him that the gate of mercy is open, and that Allaah’s forgiveness is greater than his sin, so he should not despair of the mercy of Allaah and he should keep turning to Him.

Al-Bukhaari (7507) and Muslim (2758) narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that his Lord said: “My slave commits sin, then he says, ‘O Allaah, forgive me my sin.’ Then Allaah says, ‘My slave has committed a sin, but he knows that he has a Lord Who forgives sin and takes away sin. So I forgive My slave.’ Then he commits sin again, and says, ‘O Allaah, forgive me my sin.’ Then Allaah says, ‘My slave has committed a sin, but he knows that he has a Lord Who forgives sin and takes away sin. So I forgive My slave.’ Then he commits sin again, and says, ‘O Allaah, forgive me my sin.’ Then Allaah says, ‘My slave has committed a sin, but he knows that he has a Lord Who forgives sin and takes away sin. So I forgive My slave.’ …”

Al-Haafiz Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali said:

Ibn Abi Dunya narrated with his isnaad that ‘Ali said: “The best of you is every tempted one who repents (i.e., every time he is tempted by this world, he repents).” It was said, “What if he sins again?” He said, “He should ask Allaah for forgiveness and repent.” It was said, “What if he sins again?” He said, “He should ask Allaah for forgiveness and repent.” It was said, “What if he sins again?” He said, “He should ask Allaah for forgiveness and repent.” It was said, “For how long?” He said, “Until the Shaytaan is defeated.”

Ibn Maajah narrated a marfoo’ report from Ibn Mas’ood which says: “The one who repents from sin is like the one who did not commit sin.” (Classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah, 3427).

It was said to al-Hasan: Shouldn’t one of us feel too shy to ask his Lord to forgive his sin, then do it again, then ask for forgiveness, then do it again? He said: The Shaytaan wishes that you would have this attitude, so do not tire of asking for forgiveness.

And it was narrated that he said: I do not think this is anything other than the attitude of the believers, i.e., every time a believer sins, he repents.

‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez said in his khutbah: O people, whoever commits sin, let him seek the forgiveness of Allah and repent. If he does it again, let him seek the forgiveness of Allah and repent, and if he does it again, let him seek the forgiveness of Allah and repent. For it is sin which hangs around a person’s neck, and doom comes from persisting in sin.

What this means is that a person will inevitably commit the sins that it is decreed he will commit, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Every son of Adam has his share of zina (adultery) written for him, and that will inevitably catch up with him.” (Narrated by Muslim, 2657).

But Allaah has given people a way out from the sins they commit and sin is erased by repentance and seeking forgiveness. If they do that then they will get rid of the evil of sin, but if they persist in sin, then they will be doomed.

Jaami’ al-‘Uloom wa’l-Hakam, 1/164-165.

And Allaah knows best.

A woman attempted to kill herself but she repented before she died

I had a sister who was married and had three children. She was always having arguments with her husband, and she also had a disagreement with her father. The reason was that her husband treated her very harshly, which made her leave the house and go to the house of her mother, who was divorced and was married to someone else. Her mother’s husband also treated her badly. I – her brother – went and got her an apartment where she could live with me, but she often used to go to her mother. One time her mother’s husband forced her to go and leave her children with her husband, and she did that just to please her mother. One day there was an argument between her and her mother’s husband, and she went to her apartment, very upset about the calamities that had befallen her and the fact that her children had been taken away. She went and took some pills from the fridge and swallowed them all in an attempt to end her life. I took her to the hospital and had her treated. Before she died, she realized that she was about to die and she repented and started to pray a great deal for forgiveness for what she had done. She asked us to pray for forgiveness for her. Allaah willed that she should pass away. What is her situation now? Is it permissible for me to give charity and perform Hajj on her behalf? Please note that I vowed to do these actions all my life in sha Allah.

Praise be to Allaah.
So long as your sister repented to Allaah for what she did of trying to commit suicide, there is the hope that she may be forgiven. Repentance wipes out what came before it, and the one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin at all, as was narrated in saheeh ahaadeeth from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him). If you give in charity on her behalf or pray for forgiveness for her or make du’aa’ for her, that is good; it will benefit her and you will be rewarded for it. You have to fulfil the vows you made to do those acts of worship, because Allaah has praised those who fulfil their vows in the verse in which He praises the righteous:

“They (are those who) fulfil (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil will be wide-spreading”

[al-Insaan 76:7 – interpretation of the meaning]

And the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever vows to obey Allaah, let him obey Him, and whoever vows to disobey Allaah, then he should not disobey Him.” (Narrated by Imam al-Bukhaari in his Saheeh)

Ruling on using cameras after repenting

A man has a studio in which there were cameras. He has learned that making pictures is haraam, so what should he do with them so that he will be safe from financial loss? If he sells them to a Muslim, will that not be helping to spread sin? What is the ruling on what he earned from that? Is it permissible for him to spend it on himself and his family?.

Praise be to Allaah.
This matter is subject to further discussion.

Studios may make permissible or forbidden pictures. If the pictures that are made are of permissible things, such as cars, planes, mountains and other inanimate objects, there is nothing wrong with selling them and making images of these things which people may need and which are inanimate. But making pictures of animate beings, whether humans, animals or birds, is not permissible unless that is for a necessary purpose, such as making pictures that people need, such as identity photos. The same applies to passports and certificates which can only be issued with a photo; or making pictures of criminals so that they may be known and people may be warned against them; and so on. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“He has explained to you in detail what is forbidden to you, except under compulsion of necessity”

[al-An’aam 6:119]

What is meant is that he should only use it for permissible things. If he sells it to people, there is nothing wrong with that, because it may be used for good purposes or bad. This is like a person selling a sword or knife etc., which may be used for good or for evil. The sin is on the one who uses it for evil purposes. But if the vendor knows that the one who buys the knife or sword will use it for evil purposes, then it is haraam to sell it to him.

What should a man who is a partner is a camera shop do?

There is a man who is a partner with another in a shop selling cameras. He has repented, so how can he end his partnership in such a way that he will not lose out? What is the ruling on the money he earns from this shop?.

Praise be to Allaah.
He should end the partnership by evaluating the worth of the shop contents and agreeing a deal with his partner. Whatever he gets from this deal is permissible for him, unless that includes pictures of animate beings or any other haraam images, in which case it is not permissible for him to keep that money, rather he should give it in charity.

How can we repent from shirk?

Will Allah forgive us for syirik? Can we repent from syirik? How do we repent. Is there any special prayers we must offer (any duas)?.

Praise be to Allaah.
Shirk is the greatest of sins, because Allaah has told us that He will not forgive the one who does not repent to Him from it, but in the case of lesser sins the matter is subject to His will: if He wills, He will forgive the one who meets Him with that sin unrepented for, and if He wills, He will punish him. This means that we should fear shirk greatly, as it is so serious before Allaah.

Fath al-Majeed, p. 58.

Hence we must repent from all kinds of shirk, whether it is major shirk or minor shirk. If a person repents sincerely then Allaah will accept his repentance and forgive him his sins.

After mentioning shirk in the verse in which He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allaah”
[al-Furqaan 25:68]

and stating that its people will abide forever in Hell, Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allaah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allaah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[al-Furqaan 25:68-70]

Repentance from shirk means giving it up and submitting to Allaah alone, regretting one's neglect of Allaah’s rights and resolving never to go back to it. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven”

[al-Anfaal 8:38]

“If they cease” means, give up their kufr, by submitting to Allaah alone with no partner or associate. Tafseer al-Sa’di.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Islam destroys that which came before it” – i.e., of sins. Narrated by Muslim 121.

The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that the gate of repentance remains open so long at the death rattle has not reached a person’s throat. He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah will accept His slave’s repentance so long as the death rattle has not yet reached his throat.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 3537; see also Saheeh al-Jaami’, 1425.

Whoever commits major shirk that puts a person beyond the pale of Islam must repent sincerely from that, put his actions straight and correct his intention. It is also prescribed for him to do ghusl after repenting, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) commanded Qays ibn ‘Aasim to do that when he became Muslim. (Narrated by Ahmad, Abu Dawood, al-Tirmidhi and al-Nasaa’i; classed as saheeh by Ibn al-Sakan.

Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah, 5/317

With regard to minor shirk, the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) warned us against it, fearing that his ummah might fall into it. He (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The thing I fear most for you is minor shirk.” (Narrated by Ahmad, 23119. al-Albaani said in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah (951): its isnaad is jayyid). And he said: “Shirk among you is more subtle than the sound of the footsteps of an ant on a rock. Shall I not tell you of something which, if you do it, it will take that away from you, both minor and major forms of it. Say: Allaahumma inni a’oodhu bika an ushrika bika wa ana a’lam wastaghfiruka lima laa a’lam (O Allaah, I seek refuge with You from associating anything with You knowingly, and I seek Your forgiveness for that of which I am unaware).”

Saheeh al-Jaami’, 2876.

He has recently started to pray regularly

Only recently have i started reading my 5 daily prayers and i don't have much knowledge in islam.

Praise be to Allaah.
Congratulations on your repentance, congratulations on your repentance.

Allaah rejoices greatly over the repentance of His believing slave.

Al-Bukhaari (6309) and Muslim (2747) narrated that Anas ibn Maalik (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah rejoices more over the repentance of His slave when he repents than any one of you would rejoice over his camel that ran away from him in the wilderness, carrying his food and drink, and he despaired of it so he came to a tree and lay down in its shade, having given up on his camel. Then while he is like that, suddenly he sees it standing in front of him, so he takes hold of its reins and says, because he is so happy, ‘O Allaah, You are my slave and I am Your lord!’ – making this mistake because he is so happy.”

We ask Allaah to make us and you steadfast in adhering to Islam until death.

You should also do a lot of good deeds, especially during this blessed month.

Adhere to fasting and praying Taraaweeh, and reading Qur’aan. And give a lot of charity, because charity is one of the means of forgiveness of sins.

With regard to acquiring knowledge, you could set aside time for yourself each day to read some useful booklets and listen to lessons via the internet or on tapes.

See also question no. 22330, 14082.

You could also read some of the answers on this site, especially those that have to do with the rulings that every Muslim needs to know, such as the rulings on tahaarah (purity), wudoo’, ghusl, prayer, etc.

If you find any matter difficult to understand, we would be happy to hear any questions you may have.

May Allaah help you to do that which He loves and which pleases Him.

And Allaah knows best.

Following note from Learning Quran online Blog

Learn holy Quran online which it self states in it that only those who are learn quran and pure should touch the holy text: This is indeed a Quran in Arabic in a book well-guarded, which none shall touch but those who are clean (56:77-79).  One should make formal ablutions before handling or Quran reading and this the quran tutor should tell in his quran teaching when quran for kids lessons are going on. After intercourse or menstrual bleeding one should not touch the holy Quran or do quran recitation and also not do quran memorization until after bathing non-Muslim should not handle the sacred text, but may listen to Quran online or read quran translation or exegesis. With all these things in mind when one is not reading or reciting holy Quran it should be closed and stored in nice and clean place, it should never be placed on floor or in a bathroom and Muslim should focus on reading quran the tajweed quran and its rules with a proper institute.
End of the note by holy Quran reciter

He has repented from dealing with a riba-based bank but he does not know what his capital was

I have a friend who used to deal with riba-based banks, and he took a loan and engaged in other riba-based transactions – we ask Allaah to keep us safe and sound. Allaah blessed him with guidance and he stopped all his dealings with the banks. Now he does not know his original capital, and he cannot separate it from the loans and the interest. He wants to purify himself and his wealth from previous years. What should he do? Please advise us, may Allaah reward you.

Praise be to Allaah.
Your friend should contact the bank to find out how much the interest was that was added to his capital, then he should get rid of this interest by spending it on charitable causes. See question no. 292 and 2370.

If he does not know how much it is exactly, he should pay what he thinks is most likely to be the amount of interest that he took, and Allaah does not burden any soul beyond its scope.

With regard to the interest-based loans that he took and has paid off, that belongs to him. It is sufficient for him to repent and regret what he has done, and to resolve not to repeat such haraam actions.

We praise Allaah for helping him and guiding him away from these haraam interactions, and we ask Him to bless him in his wealth and to provide for him of His bounty.

And Allaah knows best.

There is no expiation for a false oath except sincere repentance

I heard that the one who swears a false oath (yameen al-ghamoos) will be immersed (taghmis) in Hell, and that there is no expiation for it. Does this mean that there can be no repentance from this sin?
Will Allaah forgive all sins if the repentance is sincere?.

Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:

Yameen ghamoos refers to a false and evil oath, such as that in which a person unlawfully consumes the property of another. It is called ghamoos because it immerses (taghmis) the one who does that in sin and then in Hell. This was stated by Ibn al-Atheer in al-Nihaayah (3/724).

Secondly:

It says in al-Mawsoo’ah al-Fiqhiyyah (35/41):

The fuqaha’ differed concerning the necessity of expiation in the case of a false oath. There are two points of view:

1 – That it is not obligatory to offer expiation for a false oath. This is the view of the majority of fuqaha’: the Hanafis, Maalikis and Hanbalis.

2 – That it is obligatory to offer expiation for a false oath. This is the view of the Shaafa’is.

Each group offered evidence to support its view. End quote.

See: Badaa’i’ al-Sanaa’i’ (3/3), al-Taaj wa’l-Ikleel (3/266) and Kashf al-Qinaa’ (6/235).

It says in Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (23/133):

Yameen ghamoos is a major sin, for which no expiation is sufficient because it is such a grave sin. No expiation is required for it according to the more correct of the two scholarly opinions; rather what is required is repentance and prayers for forgiveness. End quote.

Whether one says that expiation is required or not, the expiation does not expiate the sin of a yameen ghamoos. Rather it is essential to repent sincerely.

Hence Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah said in Majmoo’ al-Fataawa (34/139), after mentioning the difference of scholarly opinion concerning expiation for a false oath:

But they are agreed that the sin is not erased merely by offering expiation. End quote.

Thirdly:

A false oath, like other sins, may be expiated by sincere repentance. There is no sin for which repentance cannot be accepted, for Allaah has opened the door of repentance to every sinner, and Allaah accepts the repentance of the one who repents.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say: O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily, Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[al-Zumar 39:53]

Ibn Katheer (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

This verse is a call to all sinners, kaafirs and others, to repent and turn to Allaah. It tells us that Allaah forgives all sins for the one who repents from them and turns away from them, no matter what they are, no matter how many they are, even if they are like the foam of the sea. There are many verses on this topic. End quote.

See also the answer to question no. 46683 for more information.

And Allaah knows best.

He took some of his friend’s money without his knowledge and he wants to return it and more

A person has given me money to put it in my saving account in an Islamic bank, and then he will take the profits. I needed some of this money and my intention was to estimate the amount of profit of the amount of money I used, and add it to the profits will be given by the bank when time of distributing profits in 3 months comes, and give it all to him. Is that permissible? Does it include Riba at all? This person does not know anything about this, and I am giving this to him happily considering it a gift?.

Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:

You did wrong when you took the money without your friend’s knowledge, because it was a trust (amaanah) that was given to you, so it was not permissible for you to transgress against it. By transgressing against the trust you became liable for it, so you have to return the same amount, but you do not have to give anything more than that, unless you took the money and profited from it, in which case the profit must be given to the owner of the money according to the view of some fuqaha’ who think that the profit on usurped wealth and that which comes under the same ruling should not be taken by the usurper, rather it belongs to the owner of the money. You may tell the owner of the money what has happened, then agree on the way in which the profits are to be shared out.

See also the answer to question no. 87695.

If you took the money and did not make any profit from it, then you must return the same amount, and there is nothing wrong with giving something extra as a gift.

Secondly:

You have to repent to Allaah for transgressing against this trust. The conditions of repentance include resolving not to do that again, because repentance is not valid if you continue taking your friend’s wealth without his knowledge.  You also have to tell your friend and ask for his forgiveness, unless you are afraid that telling him will lead to negative consequences, such as his cutting you off, in which case it is sufficient to return the money only.

And Allaah knows best.

He went to a practitioner of witchcraft to undo a spell – can he repent?

Pain squeezes my heart and I am becoming insane. I do not know what is right and what is wrong anymore. I have done things I always avoided doing. I moreover did things which I fear are shirk. I fear that all my deeds are in vain. I feel that my salaah, fasting, hajj and every deed that might be good is fruitless. Whenever I read this ayah “If you join others in worship with Allah, (then) surely, (all) your deeds will be in vain” it breaks my heart by Allah. What I am saying now is not of riyaa’, it is really what I feel.
  Going to pray has become heavy on me. I cannot open the Quran; I feel that the Quran is cursing me because I did not implement what I have memorized. Even when I start reading I feel unable to continue, so I just close it. I ask myself how I will be able to stand in front of Allah and say (Wa Eyyaka nasta’een) “You (Alone) we ask for help (for each and everything).” Where has this “seeking help” gone? I used before to depend only on Allah and ask His help. I used to make du’a and persist in it; I always felt I am close to Allah, even after this spell matter I used to make much du’a but I did not have patience. I feel that Allah has tested me and I failed this test due to lack of patience.
  I feel that all my deeds are not accepted. I almost hear a sound saying to me: “why do anything when it will not be accepted? After what you have done all your deeds are not, nor will be accepted, all your deeds are in vain”.
What I have done in brief is that I went to a magician to counteract a spell that was put on me after marriage. For more than one month he has been giving me things that are not understandable while I feel hatred to be with him. I hatefully took them while I was like heedless. Is not this a type of shirk that makes all deeds in vain and nullifies his Islam? Did not the prophet (PBUH) say: “Incantations, amulets and being attached to tangible things are shirk.”? And said also: “Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and believes what he says, is kaafir of what has been revealed on Muhammad”?
  Please help me; I am in pain by Allah. I have no luck in this life, nothing of my wishes has become true, and I fear I have a bad end so I lose everything in life and hereafter.

Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:

Your feeling that you have sinned, and the pain that you feel in your heart because of that, indicate that your faith is sound and that your heart is pure. This is a blessing that Allaah has bestowed upon you, for those whose hearts are truly alive are those who are affected by sin and who flee to Allaah in repentance and seeking forgiveness. As for those whose hearts are deadened, they are not affected by commission of sins, as it is said: The dead feel no pain.

Allaah says concerning the people of faith (interpretation of the meaning):

“Verily, those who are Al-Muttaqoon (the pious), when an evil thought comes to them from Shaytaan (Satan), they remember (Allaah), and (indeed) they then see (aright)”

[al-A’raaf 7:201]

What is meant is that they commit sins, then they remember the punishment of Allaah and His great reward, and His promises and warnings, so they repent and turn to Him, and they seek refuge with Allaah, and come straight back to Him. “and (indeed) they then see (aright)” i.e., they realize the error of their ways and set themselves straight. End quote from Tafseer Ibn Katheer.

All you have to do is repent and seek forgiveness, and remember that you are turning to a Lord Who is Most Merciful, Who rejoices over the repentance of His slave and accepts it from him, and turns his bad deeds into good deeds, no matter what these bad deeds were.

It is as if you do not realize that Allaah accept the repentance of kaafirs, atheists, evildoers and sinners if they repent and turn back to Him, so how can He not accept the repentance of believers if they fall into sin, when they are the ones who love Him and turn to Him, who bow and prostrate, who do wudoo’ and purify themselves, and know that no one can forgive their sins except Him, and no one can help them to mend their ways except Him; so they hasten to regret (their sin) and seek His forgiveness, and say: Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will be among the losers. The Most Merciful says to His angels: My slave knew that no one forgives sins except Me. I bear witness to you that I have forgiven him. Then his sorrow and worry disperse, and contact with Allaah is re-established and he feels comforted. By Allaah, how sweet is the joy of the penitents and how beautiful is the return of the sinners.

The Most Merciful Lord says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Know they not that Allaah accepts repentance from His slaves and takes the Sadaqaat (alms, charity), and that Allaah Alone is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful?”

[al-Tawbah 9:104]

“And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allaah, nor kill such person as Allaah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse __ and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.

69. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace;

70. Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allaah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allaah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[al-Furqaan 25:68-70]

al-Bukhaari (7507) and Muslim (2758) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) say: “A man committed a sin and said: ‘O Lord, forgive me.’ His Lord said: ‘Does My slave realize that he has a Lord Who forgives sin, and calls people to account for sin? I have forgiven My slave.’ Then as much time passed as Allaah willed, then he sinned again and said: ‘My Lord, I have sinned again, please forgive it.’ [Allaah] said: ‘Does My slave realize that he has a Lord Who forgives sin, and calls people to account for sin? I have forgiven My slave.’ Then as much time passed as Allaah willed, then he sinned again and said: ‘My Lord, I have sinned again, please forgive it.’ [Allaah] said: ‘Does My slave realize that he has a Lord Who forgives sin, and calls people to account for sin? I have forgiven My slave.’”

And Muslim (2749) narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if you did not commit sin, Allaah would dispense with you and create people who would commit sins then ask Allaah for forgiveness, then he would forgive them.”

So hasten to repent, regret your sin and seek forgiveness, and do a lot of righteous deeds, and receive glad tidings of goodness and success.

Secondly:

One of the tricks of the shaytaan is to make sin appear attractive to a person, so as to make him fall into it, then make him despair of repenting; he gives him false advice: How can you return to Allaah when you have done what you did? Do you not feel ashamed before Him? Do you think He will accept it from you? A person’s sin may be major, such as zina, then he leads him through that into something that constitutes kufr, such as not praying. So think about how the shaytaan toys with this man.

As for the believer, the shaytaan has no way to reach him in this manner, because he knows what we have stated above, about repentance being essential and about his Lord rejoicing over it, and how He honours those who repent and turns their bad deeds into good deeds.

Thirdly:

It is not permissible to go to practitioners of witchcraft, soothsayers or fortune-tellers, even if that is in order to undo a spell, which is called nushrah. Rather spells are to be treated with Qur’aanic verses and Prophetic du’aa’s, and by turning to the Creator of mankind, may He be glorified and exalted. See the answer to question no. 11290 and 48967.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days.” Narrated by Muslim (2230).

And he said: “Whoever has intercourse with a menstruating woman or with a woman in her back passage, or goes to a fortune-teller and believes what he says, has disbelieved in that which Allaah revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).”

Narrated by Ahmad (9779), Abu Dawood (3904), al-Tirmidhi (135) and Ibn Majaah (936); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Majaah.

This is to be understood as referring to minor kufr, according to many scholars, unless he believes that the practitioner of witchcraft or fortune-teller has knowledge of the unseen.

Shaykh Ibn ‘Uthaymeen (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “…and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty days” – the apparent meaning of the hadeeth is that just asking him something means that his prayer will not be accepted for forty days, but this is not absolute. Asking a fortune-teller and the like falls into several categories:

1 – Asking him a question. This is haraam because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever goes to a fortune-teller …” The fact that punishment is confirmed when asking him indicates that it is haraam, because there is no punishment except for doing a haraam action.

2 – Asking him and believing him, and paying attention to what he says. This is kufr because believing that he has knowledge of the unseen is disbelieving the Qur'aan, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say: None in the heavens and the earth knows the Ghayb (Unseen) except Allaah”

[al-Naml 27:65].

3 – Asking him in order to test him and find out whether he is telling the truth or lying, not in order to follow what he says. There is nothing wrong with this and it is not included in the hadeeth. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) asked Ibn Sayyaad: “What am I hiding from you?” He said: Al-dukh (referring to Soorat al-Dukhaan).

He said: “Be off with you! You will never go beyond your rank.” The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) was asking about something that he was concealing from him in order to test him, and he told him of it.

4 – Asking him in order to show up his inability and lies, so he tests him with things. This may be obligatory or essential.

Undoubtedly, disproving the sorcerer’s statements is something essential, and it may be obligatory. So asking questions of the fortune-teller is not haraam in all cases, rather it depends on what is indicated by the shar’i evidence.  End quote from al-Qawl al-Mufeed (2/49).

Based on this, if you did not believe that this practitioner of witchcraft had knowledge of the unseen, then you are safe from major kufr, praise be to Allaah.

Some scholars are of the view that it is permissible to undo witchcraft with witchcraft, but this is a weak view, that opens the door to evil and encourages practitioners of witchcraft to carry on with their falsehood and encourages others to learn witchcraft on the grounds that they will benefit people.

Wearing an amulet in the belief that it can bring benefit or cause harm is major shirk. Believing that it has some effect is minor shirk. See question no. 34817.

We ask Allaah to accept your repentance and to erase your sins, and to give you well being in your religious and worldly affairs.

And Allaah knows best.

I have read on your website that a repenting person should hope that his repentance will be accepted but he cannot be sure it will be accepted. Can one hope his repentance may be accepted if he disbelieved then returned to Islam and asked for Allah’s forgiveness, especially that his apostasy was due to practicing witchcraft? If the answer is that he should just hope, then is he hoping that his repentance is accepted similar to the doubt in hypocrites’ hearts especially that this doubt is regarding faith, not regarding repentance being accepted or not of any sin but disbelieving. Please answer my question quickly; I am too afraid that, by Allah, I cannot sleep. Praise be to Allaah. If a person falls into kufr or apostasy, then repents to Allaah and comes to Islam sincerely, Allaah will accept his repentance and turn his bad deeds into good deeds, as He has promised, and Allaah does not break His promise. It is not right for a person to doubt this. A number of scholars have clearly stated that repentance from kufr is definitely accepted, unlike repentance from sins, as some said it is definitely accepted and some said it may or may not be accepted. Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Sharh Muslim: The repentance of the kaafir from his kufr is definitely accepted, but is any other kind of repentance definitely accepted or likely to be accepted? There is a difference of opinion among Ahl al-Sunnah concerning that, and Imam al-Haramayn was of the view that it is likely, and this is the more correct view. And Allaah knows best. End quote. Al-‘Iraqi said in Tarh al-Tathreeb (8/40): Repentance expiates for major sins, and there is consensus on that. But is its expiation definite or likely? With regard to repentance from kufr, it is definite, but with regard to other major sins, the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah disagreed. Al-Nawawi said: The strongest view is that it is likely. The Mu’tazilah were of the view that repentance should be accepted on the basis of reason (as it was their way to refer everything to reason). Abu’l-‘Abbaas al-Qurtubi said: What I say is that the one who studies sharee’ah on the basis of Qur'aan and Sunnah, and follows what is in them with regard this topic knows for certain that Allaah accepts the repentance of those who are sincere. End quote. Ibn ‘Ashoor said in al-Tahreer wa’l-Tanweer (1/914): The scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah fall into two groups: One group is of the view that repentance is definitely accepted because there are reports to support that. The large number of reports indicates that this is definitive. End quote. To sum up: the one who repents from kufr and apostasy should be optimistic, because Islam erases whatever came before it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allaah be pleased with him): “Do you not know that Islam destroys whatever came before it?” Narrated by Muslim (121). Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “How shall Allaah guide a people who disbelieved after their Belief and after they bore witness that the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) is true and after clear proofs had come unto them? And Allaah guides not the people who are Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers). 87. They are those whose recompense is that on them (rests) the Curse of Allaah, of the angels, and of all mankind. 88. They will abide therein (Hell). Neither will their torment be lightened, nor will it be delayed or postponed (for a while). 89. Except for those who repent after that and do righteous deeds. Verily, Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” [Aal- ‘Imraan 3:86-89] This includes one whose kufr involved the practice of witchcraft. If he repents to Allaah, Allaah will accept his repentance. This is a matter that is between him and his Lord. As for acceptance of the magician’s repentance in this world, that is subject to further discussion, as has been explained in the answer to question no. 69914. With regard to hoping that repentance is accepted without being certain of it, that has to do with repentance from sins that are less serious than kufr. This means that the person still fears that his repentance may not have been accepted, but he hopes that his Lord will accept it. That does not mean that he should doubt that his faith is accepted or that his doubt is like the doubt of the hypocrites, rather he is certain of his faith, but he fears that Allaah may punish him for his sins if He does not accept his repentance. What you should do is turn to Allaah and keep yourself busy with obeying and worshipping Him, and think positively of Him. You should know that He accepts those who repent to Him and He honours those who obey Him, and He loves those who seek His forgiveness; He rejoices over those who come back to Him, and He draws them close to Him and grants them happiness and opens their hearts and fills their hearts with light; He endears to them obedience and remembrance of Him. So strive to be one of them, and do not pay any attention to the whispers of the shaytaan, because he wants to put people off from repenting and make them despair, so that they will carry on in their misguidance. He says to people: how can Allaah accept your repentance when you did such and such? Why make it hard on yourself when you are going to be rejected anyway? This is part of his lies and tricks and misguidance. Allaah is more merciful towards His slave than a mother is towards her child. Hence He has made it easy to repent and has increased the reward of the penitent, and He stretches forth His hand by night to accept the repentance of the one who sinned during the day, and He stretches forth His hand during the day to accept the repentance of the one who sinned during the night. So repent to Allaah and be optimistic of goodness and success. May Allaah increase us and you in guidance, help, prosperity and success. And Allaah knows best.

I have read on your website that a repenting person should hope that his repentance will be accepted but he cannot be sure it will be accepted. Can one hope his repentance may be accepted if he disbelieved then returned to Islam and asked for Allah’s forgiveness, especially that his apostasy was due to practicing witchcraft? If the answer is that he should just hope, then is he hoping that his repentance is accepted similar to the doubt in hypocrites’ hearts especially that this doubt is regarding faith, not regarding repentance being accepted or not of any sin but disbelieving. Please answer my question quickly; I am too afraid that, by Allah, I cannot sleep.

Praise be to Allaah.
If a person falls into kufr or apostasy, then repents to Allaah and comes to Islam sincerely, Allaah will accept his repentance and turn his bad deeds into good deeds, as He has promised, and Allaah does not break His promise.

It is not right for a person to doubt this. A number of scholars have clearly stated that repentance from kufr is definitely accepted, unlike repentance from sins, as some said it is definitely accepted and some said it may or may not be accepted.

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Sharh Muslim: The repentance of the kaafir from his kufr is definitely accepted, but is any other kind of repentance definitely accepted or likely to be accepted? There is a difference of opinion among Ahl al-Sunnah concerning that, and Imam al-Haramayn was of the view that it is likely, and this is the more correct view. And Allaah knows best. End quote.

Al-‘Iraqi said in Tarh al-Tathreeb (8/40): Repentance expiates for major sins, and there is consensus on that. But is its expiation definite or likely? With regard to repentance from kufr, it is definite, but with regard to other major sins, the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah disagreed. Al-Nawawi said: The strongest view is that it is likely. The Mu’tazilah were of the view that repentance should be accepted on the basis of reason (as it was their way to refer everything to reason).

Abu’l-‘Abbaas al-Qurtubi said: What I say is that the one who studies sharee’ah on the basis of Qur'aan and Sunnah, and follows what is in them with regard this topic knows for certain that Allaah accepts the repentance of those who are sincere. End quote.

Ibn ‘Ashoor said in al-Tahreer wa’l-Tanweer (1/914): The scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah fall into two groups: One group is of the view that repentance is definitely accepted because there are reports to support that. The large number of reports indicates that this is definitive. End quote.

To sum up: the one who repents from kufr and apostasy should be optimistic, because Islam erases whatever came before it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allaah be pleased with him): “Do you not know that Islam destroys whatever came before it?” Narrated by Muslim (121).

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“How shall Allaah guide a people who disbelieved after their Belief and after they bore witness that the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) is true and after clear proofs had come unto them? And Allaah guides not the people who are Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers).

87. They are those whose recompense is that on them (rests) the Curse of Allaah, of the angels, and of all mankind.

88. They will abide therein (Hell). Neither will their torment be lightened, nor will it be delayed or postponed (for a while).

89. Except for those who repent after that and do righteous deeds. Verily, Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[Aal- ‘Imraan 3:86-89]

This includes one whose kufr involved the practice of witchcraft. If he repents to Allaah, Allaah will accept his repentance. This is a matter that is between him and his Lord. As for acceptance of the magician’s repentance in this world, that is subject to further discussion, as has been explained in the answer to question no. 69914.

With regard to hoping that repentance is accepted without being certain of it, that has to do with repentance from sins that are less serious than kufr. This means that the person still fears that his repentance may not have been accepted, but he hopes that his Lord will accept it. That does not mean that he should doubt that his faith is accepted or that his doubt is like the doubt of the hypocrites, rather he is certain of his faith, but he fears that Allaah may punish him for his sins if He does not accept his repentance.

What you should do is turn to Allaah and keep yourself busy with obeying and worshipping Him, and think positively of Him. You should know that He accepts those who repent to Him and He honours those who obey Him, and He loves those who seek His forgiveness; He rejoices over those who come back to Him, and He draws them close to Him and grants them happiness and opens their hearts and fills their hearts with light; He endears to them obedience and remembrance of Him. So strive to be one of them, and do not pay any attention to the whispers of the shaytaan, because he wants to put people off from repenting and make them despair, so that they will carry on in their misguidance. He says to people: how can Allaah accept your repentance when you did such and such? Why make it hard on yourself when you are going to be rejected anyway? This is part of his lies and tricks and misguidance. Allaah is more merciful towards His slave than a mother is towards her child. Hence He has made it easy to repent and has increased the reward of the penitent, and He stretches forth His hand by night to accept the repentance of the one who sinned during the day, and He stretches forth His hand during the day to accept the repentance of the one who sinned during the night.

So repent to Allaah and be optimistic of goodness and success.

May Allaah increase us and you in guidance, help, prosperity and success.

And Allaah knows best.

From learning Quran online Blog.
And notably& note that we want to discourse and share with you it is about Reading quran and doing Quran recitation online to appreciate it, Ramadan is the month when the divine Holy Quran has been brought out. A miracle by the Lord of the worlds, Allah (SWT) Should we not spiritualize him by reading Quran the natural endowment he has sent down for us and we should learn Arabic Quran by heart to have the power of it and we as Moslem should try to Learn Quran with translation to comprehend it while we do quran memorization and let our heart fill will teardrops of glory and wash away our sins in the month of Ramadan many people teach quran and we should participate in teaching quran as much as we could. important note to before starting to read Koran after social intercourse or menstrual bleeding one must not touch the holy Quran or do quran recitation and also not do quran memorization until after bathing non-Muslim should not handle the religious writing, but may listen up to Quran online. In relation to all these things in your thoughts when one is not reading or reciting holy Quran it must be closed and stored in nice and clean situation, it should never be placed on floor or in a privy and Muslim will require to focus on reading quran  the tajweed  quran and its normals with a proper institute.

End from online Quran reciter blog.

Can the repentance of a practitioner of witchcraft and one who fell into apostasy be accepted?

I have read on your website that a repenting person should hope that his repentance will be accepted but he cannot be sure it will be accepted. Can one hope his repentance may be accepted if he disbelieved then returned to Islam and asked for Allah’s forgiveness, especially that his apostasy was due to practicing witchcraft? If the answer is that he should just hope, then is he hoping that his repentance is accepted similar to the doubt in hypocrites’ hearts especially that this doubt is regarding faith, not regarding repentance being accepted or not of any sin but disbelieving. Please answer my question quickly; I am too afraid that, by Allah, I cannot sleep.

Praise be to Allaah.
If a person falls into kufr or apostasy, then repents to Allaah and comes to Islam sincerely, Allaah will accept his repentance and turn his bad deeds into good deeds, as He has promised, and Allaah does not break His promise.

It is not right for a person to doubt this. A number of scholars have clearly stated that repentance from kufr is definitely accepted, unlike repentance from sins, as some said it is definitely accepted and some said it may or may not be accepted.

Al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said in Sharh Muslim: The repentance of the kaafir from his kufr is definitely accepted, but is any other kind of repentance definitely accepted or likely to be accepted? There is a difference of opinion among Ahl al-Sunnah concerning that, and Imam al-Haramayn was of the view that it is likely, and this is the more correct view. And Allaah knows best. End quote.

Al-‘Iraqi said in Tarh al-Tathreeb (8/40): Repentance expiates for major sins, and there is consensus on that. But is its expiation definite or likely? With regard to repentance from kufr, it is definite, but with regard to other major sins, the scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah disagreed. Al-Nawawi said: The strongest view is that it is likely. The Mu’tazilah were of the view that repentance should be accepted on the basis of reason (as it was their way to refer everything to reason).

Abu’l-‘Abbaas al-Qurtubi said: What I say is that the one who studies sharee’ah on the basis of Qur'aan and Sunnah, and follows what is in them with regard this topic knows for certain that Allaah accepts the repentance of those who are sincere. End quote.

Ibn ‘Ashoor said in al-Tahreer wa’l-Tanweer (1/914): The scholars of Ahl al-Sunnah fall into two groups: One group is of the view that repentance is definitely accepted because there are reports to support that. The large number of reports indicates that this is definitive. End quote.

To sum up: the one who repents from kufr and apostasy should be optimistic, because Islam erases whatever came before it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to ‘Amr ibn al-‘Aas (may Allaah be pleased with him): “Do you not know that Islam destroys whatever came before it?” Narrated by Muslim (121).

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“How shall Allaah guide a people who disbelieved after their Belief and after they bore witness that the Messenger (Muhammad صلى الله عليه وسلم) is true and after clear proofs had come unto them? And Allaah guides not the people who are Zaalimoon (polytheists and wrongdoers).

87. They are those whose recompense is that on them (rests) the Curse of Allaah, of the angels, and of all mankind.

88. They will abide therein (Hell). Neither will their torment be lightened, nor will it be delayed or postponed (for a while).

89. Except for those who repent after that and do righteous deeds. Verily, Allaah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[Aal- ‘Imraan 3:86-89]

This includes one whose kufr involved the practice of witchcraft. If he repents to Allaah, Allaah will accept his repentance. This is a matter that is between him and his Lord. As for acceptance of the magician’s repentance in this world, that is subject to further discussion, as has been explained in the answer to question no. 69914.

With regard to hoping that repentance is accepted without being certain of it, that has to do with repentance from sins that are less serious than kufr. This means that the person still fears that his repentance may not have been accepted, but he hopes that his Lord will accept it. That does not mean that he should doubt that his faith is accepted or that his doubt is like the doubt of the hypocrites, rather he is certain of his faith, but he fears that Allaah may punish him for his sins if He does not accept his repentance.

What you should do is turn to Allaah and keep yourself busy with obeying and worshipping Him, and think positively of Him. You should know that He accepts those who repent to Him and He honours those who obey Him, and He loves those who seek His forgiveness; He rejoices over those who come back to Him, and He draws them close to Him and grants them happiness and opens their hearts and fills their hearts with light; He endears to them obedience and remembrance of Him. So strive to be one of them, and do not pay any attention to the whispers of the shaytaan, because he wants to put people off from repenting and make them despair, so that they will carry on in their misguidance. He says to people: how can Allaah accept your repentance when you did such and such? Why make it hard on yourself when you are going to be rejected anyway? This is part of his lies and tricks and misguidance. Allaah is more merciful towards His slave than a mother is towards her child. Hence He has made it easy to repent and has increased the reward of the penitent, and He stretches forth His hand by night to accept the repentance of the one who sinned during the day, and He stretches forth His hand during the day to accept the repentance of the one who sinned during the night.

So repent to Allaah and be optimistic of goodness and success.

May Allaah increase us and you in guidance, help, prosperity and success.

And Allaah knows best.

He embezzled public funds and still has some of them; how should he repent?

Several years ago, I gathered much of public money in illegal ways through bribes and embezzlement. I repented to Allah, and want to know what I shall do with this money, as I cannot return it to the individuals in charge because they are thieves, plus this will create a scandal for me. Most of my home contents are from this money, gold, lands, cars, even the clothes I wear and the computer by which I am sending this question by a brother’s help, and many other things. I used this money in trade, it increased and decreased, and spent a lot of it for my brother’s and my cousin’s marriage, and my own marriage as well. I spent a lot of it buying many things, not haram things; normal things for home, etc. I gave charity out of it for relatives and needy people. Am I permitted to keep some of this money with me because the monthly salary is not enough for our needs, and life is expensive and difficult here? Please enlighten me as I live in a nightmare. I fear I die before I correct this great sin.

Praise be to Allaah.
It is not permissible to transgress against public wealth by stealing, embezzling and so on. The one who does that is transgressing against the Muslims as a whole, not only against the state, and the one who takes any such thing does not own it, and he has to give it back to the bayt al-maal (state treasury), because of the report narrated by Ahmad (20098), Abu Dawood (3561), al-Tirmidhi (1266) and Ibn Majaah (2400) from Samurah ibn Jundub (may Allaah be pleased with him) who said that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The hand that takes is responsible for what it has taken until it returns it.” al-Tirmidhi said: A saheeh hasan hadeeth. Shu’ayb al-Arna’out said in Tahqeeq al-Musnad: it is hasan li ghayrihi (hasan because of corroborating evidence).

Ibn Qudaamah (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: Once this is established, the one who embezzled something must return it if it still exists, and there is no difference of scholarly opinion as far as we know. Al-Mughni (5/38).

Returning it is part of repenting properly. In order for repentance to be accepted, it is essential that property and rights be restored to their owners, along with regret, asking for forgiveness and resolving not to do it again.

But if it cannot be returned to the bayt al-maal, then what is left of the money should be given in charity to the poor and needy, but if he is poor it is permissible for him to take from it as much as he needs. As for that which has already been consumed, spent and disposed of, we hope that Allaah will forgive him for that.

See also the answer to question no. 85266 and 81915.

And Allaah knows best.

"She has put on hijaab ad repented from having haraam relationships - will Allaah forgive her?"

if someone who use to go out with boys and now wants to change and has asked for forgiveness and has started to wear a hijaab.will they get forgiven?

Praise be to Allaah.
Undoubtedly this action which you used to do is one of the forbidden things which are not pleasing to Allaah. Please see question no. 1114.

But the Bounty of Allaah is immense and He is the Most Merciful of those who show mercy. He is more merciful than a mother towards her child. Hence repentance wipes out whatever came before. If a person repents sincerely to Allaah, then Allaah will forgive him. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Turn to Allaah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will expiate from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise)”

[al-Tahreem 66:8]

Ibn Katheer said, [the phrase] ‘it may be’ in the case of Allaah means that He will definitely [do that].

And it says in the hasan hadeeth which was narrated by Ibn Maajah from Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn ‘Abd-Allaah from his father that he said: “The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: ‘The one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.’” (al-Zuhd, 4240; classed as hasan by al-Albaani in Saheeh Sunan Ibn Maajah, no. 3427). Undoubtedly when the Muslim turns back to Allaah and repents to Him, this is something which fills the heart with gladness. How can it be otherwise, when Allaah Himself rejoices over that? It says in the hadeeth which was narrated by Imaam Muslim in his Saheeh from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “By Allaah, Allaah rejoices more over the repentance of His slave than one of you who finds his lost camel in the wilderness.” (Kitaab al-Tawbah, 4927). So praise Allaah for helping you to repent and for guiding you to the right path. Beware of returning to misguidance after having been guided. You have to remain steadfast and not take lightly any forbidden thing that you did before you repented.  Keep away from bad friends, and be patient and persevere in doing so, because bad friends will do their utmost to hold you back and make you doubt that Allaah has forgiven you. Do not pay attention to anything of that kind, rather strive to draw closer to Allaah by obeying and worshipping Him. Try to find alternative friends among righteous women so that they can help you to follow the path of guidance. We ask Allaah to help you adhere firmly to His religion and His way.

And Allaah knows best. May Allaah bless our Prophet Muhammad.

She repented from a haram relationship in which she lost her virginity. Should she marry who fornicated with her?

I am in a relationship with a man who took my virginity. I repented from such evil deeds and ask Allah to accept my repentance. This man proposed to me, but he is not religious, he smokes cigarettes and hashish and drinks alcohol. What should I do, he knows my matter. Or shall I leave him and have a hymen repair operation done and marry a religious man? I was pregnant and I aborted the baby. Allah knows how sincere my repentance is.

Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:

Zina (fornication or adultery) is a major sin. Allaah has forbidden doing the things that lead to it and has prescribed the hadd punishment for the one who does it, and He has warned adulterers of punishment in the Hereafter.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Faahishah (i.e. anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin), and an evil way that leads one to hell unless Allaah forgives him”

[al-Isra’ 17:32].

Ibn Jareer al-Tabari (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

“And come not near” O people

“to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Faahishah (i.e. anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin)”. Zina (translated here as “unlawful sex”) is a great sin.

“and an evil way” i.e., the way of zina is an evil way, because it is the way of the people who disobey Allaah and go against His command; what a bad way is the way that leads a person to the fire of Hell.

Tafseer al-Tabari (17/438).

Shaykh ‘Abd al-Rahmaan al-Sa’di (may Allaah have mercy on him) said:

The prohibition on approaching it is more eloquent than a simple prohibition on doing it, because that includes the prohibition on all the things that lead to it and promote it, because “the one who grazes his flock around a protected areas will soon transgress upon it,” especially in a matter of this nature when the motive is very strong. Allaah describes zina as abhorrent, as He says “it is a Faahishah (i.e. anything that transgresses its limits: a great sin)”, i.e., it is a sin which is abhorrent according to sharee’ah, reason and common sense, because it is a transgression against Allaah, and against the woman and her family or husband, and it leads to immorality, confusion of lineages and other evil consequences.

“and an evil way” means: what an evil way is the way of the one who dares to commit this grave sin.

Tafseer al-Sa’di (p. 457).

See also the answers to questions no. 76060, 20983 and 95754.

Secondly:

With regard to the abortion, if the soul had been breathed into the foetus, then this is another crime in addition to the crime of zina. If the soul had not yet been breathed into the foetus then it is less serious.

For a detailed discussion on that, please see the answers to questions no. 11195, 13319, 13331 and 90054.

Thirdly:

We praise Allaah for having enabled you to repent, and we hope that it is sincere repentance. The conditions of sincere repentance include: regretting the sins that you have committed, and immediately giving up that immoral action, and everything that leads to it such as contact, correspondence and dates. The conditions of repentance also include resolving not to return to this deed.

You also have to do a lot of righteous deeds, such as prayer, reading Qur’aan and fasting, so as to strengthen your faith and piety. Good deeds erase bad deeds and sincere repentance erases that which came before it, and turns bad deeds into good deeds. Allaah says – after mentioning the sins of shirk (associating others with Allaah), murder and zina – (interpretation of the meaning):

“Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allaah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allaah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[al-Furqaan 25:70].

Fourthly:

With regard to marrying that criminal, you should understand that in order for the marriage of a man and woman who had committed zina to be valid, it is essential that they repent sincerely. It seems to us from your questions that he has not repented from what he did, rather he had added to the first calamity the other bad things that he is doing, such as smoking hasheesh and drinking intoxicants. What we think is that one who is like this also does not pray. If this is indeed the case, then it is definitely not permissible to accept him as a husband, because not praying is kufr that puts a person beyond the pale of Islam, and it is not permissible for a Muslim woman to marry a kaafir.

For a more detailed discussion on the issue of marrying a zaani (one who commits fornication or adultery), please see the answers to questions no. 85335, 87894 and 96460.

Fifthly:

With regard to having an operation to repair the hymen, this is haraam, because it is deceiving the one who marries you.

For a detailed discussion of this matter, please see the answer to question no. 844.

With regard to telling your future husband that you lost your virginity in this haraam relationship, that is not permissible, because it is exposing your faults, and the Muslim is required to conceal his faults. You can use double entendres in your speech. It is well known that the hymen may be broken by means of something other than intercourse in some cases, so you can make the most of that by using a double entendre.

See the answer to question no. 42992.

But if it is possible to encourage this person to repent sincerely and pray regularly, and he shows sincerity and signs of repenting and praying regularly, then there is nothing wrong with accepting him as a husband. Undoubtedly this solution would be easier for you, and more concealing for you, but how could one believe a person like that?!

We ask Allaah to accept your repentance and set your affairs straight, and to conceal our faults and yours in this world and in the Hereafter.

And Allaah knows best.

He has repented but he cannot restore people’s rights because he is poor

The Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “The one who is bankrupt is the one who will come on the Day of Resurrection having wronged this one and reviled that one…” What is the ruling on one who repents but he cannot restore people’s rights because he is poor?.

Praise be to Allaah.
The basic principle with regard to people’s rights among themselves is that it is based on setting things straight with them. It is not waived just because one repents, rather rights must be restored to people or the person must ask them to let him off. If a person repents sincerely to Allaah from having transgressed people’s rights and he is unable to restore them to them because he is too poor or because he does not know who or where they are, then Allaah will accept his repentance and make them let him off on the Day of Resurrection by compensating them with whatever He wills. But if he is able to restore their rights to them in this world or ask for their pardon, then he must do that, and his repentance is not complete otherwise, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And all of you beg Allaah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful”

[al-Noor 24:31]

“So keep your duty to Allaah and fear Him as much as you can”

[al-Taghaabun 64:16].

And Allaah is the Source of strength; may Allaah send blessings and peace upon our Prophet Muhammad and his family and companions. End quote.

Standing Committee for Academic Research and Issuing Fatwas

He acquired some wealth by means of haraam shares; how should he get rid of it?

I bought shares in a company that is not permissible according to sharee’ah, and I want to take out my capital; how should I get rid of the profits?.


Praise be to Allaah.

Wealth that is acquired by investing in haraam shares or via riba-based banks, must be gotten rid of by spending it on various charitable causes. It may be given to the poor and needy, or spent on the general interests of the Muslims, such as building hospitals or schools, or paving roads, or it may be given to seekers of knowledge and the like.


The scholars of the Standing Committee for Issuing Fatwas were asked: 


What is the ruling on buying shares in companies and banks? Is it permissible for a person who has bought shares in a company or bank to sell the shares after subscribing to a broker who buys and sells shares, and it is possible that they may be sold for more than the value for which the person bought them? What is the ruling on the interest that the shareholder takes every year on the value of the shares he holds? 


They replied:


Buying shares in banks and companies that deal with riba is not permissible. If the shareholder wants to get rid of his riba-based shares, he may sell his shares at the current market value, and take his original capital only; he should spend the rest on charitable causes, and it is not permissible for him to take any of the interest or profits of his shares. But if the shares were in a company that does not deal in riba, then the profits are permissible. End quote. 


Fataawa al-Lajnah al-Daa’imah (13/508). 


It also says (14/299): The basic principle is that it is permissible to buy shares in any company if it does not deal in haraam things such as riba and so on, but if it deals in haraam things such as riba, then it is not permissible to buy shares in it. Based on this, if any of the shares mentioned are in a company that deals with riba or any other haraam things, then he must withdraw from it and get rid of the profits by spending them on the poor and needy. End quote. 


And Allaah knows best.

From learning Quran online Blog. 

And notably& note that we want to discourse and share with you it is about Reading quran and doing Quran recitation online to appreciate it, Ramadan is the month when the divine Holy Quran has been brought out. A miracle by the Lord of the worlds, Allah (SWT) Should we not spiritualize him by reading Quran the natural endowment he has sent down for us and we should learn Arabic Quran by heart to have the power of it and we as Moslem should try to Learn Quran with translation to comprehend it while we do quran memorization and let our heart fill will teardrops of glory and wash away our sins in the month of Ramadan many people teach quran and we should participate in teaching quran as much as we could. important note to before starting to read Koran after social intercourse or menstrual bleeding one must not touch the holy Quran or do quran recitation and also not do quran memorization until after bathing non-Muslim should not handle the religious writing, but may listen up to Quran online. In relation to all these things in your thoughts when one is not reading or reciting holy Quran it must be closed and stored in nice and clean situation, it should never be placed on floor or in a privy and Muslim will require to focus on reading quran  the tajweed  quran and its normals with a proper institute.


End from online Quran reciter blog.


Benefiting from experience acquired in a haraam job

I worked in the customs, and I heard that this work is haraam because of the mukoos (levies), but I continued in this job for a while, because I was hesitant. Then I made up my mind and left the job. Now I am wondering, is it permissible for me to benefit from the experience acquired in this job to seek provision by means of it in a permissible job, such as being employed by somebody who works in import and export, so that I can take care of clearing the goods in customs, which are permissible goods. In other words, is it permissible to benefit from experience which was gained through a haraam job in a permissible job?.

Praise be to Allaah.
There is nothing wrong with you benefiting from this experience and using it in a permissible job.

Similarly, if a person deals in haraam things, and benefits from that experience in business and handling money, then there is nothing wrong with him using this experience in permissible jobs. Islam brought the command to give up riba, deceit, cheating and other haraam things but it does not forbid any of those who have repented -- or even those who have not repented – from working in permissible fields benefiting from that experience.

As for working in the customs, the ruling on that has been explained in the answer to question number 39461.

We ask Allaah to accept your repentance, make the consequences good for you and to grant you provision by His grace.

And Allaah knows best.

If a slanderer repents, can his testimony be accepted?

If a slanderer repents from his slander and mends his ways, can his testimony be accepted or not?.

Praise be to Allaah.
Allaah has stipulated three punishments for slander. They are: the hadd punishment; rejection of testimony; and describing the slanderer as an evildoer (Faasiq).

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And those who accuse chaste women, and produce not four witnesses, flog them with eighty stripes, and reject their testimony forever. They indeed are the Faasiqoon (liars, rebellious, disobedient to Allaah).

5. Except those who repent thereafter and do righteous deeds; (for such) verily, Allaah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[al-Noor 24:4-5].

With regard to the hadd punishment, the fuqaha’ are unanimously agreed that the hadd punishment for slander is eighty lashes if the slanderer is a free person [i.e., not a slave], man or woman, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“flog them with eighty stripes”

[al-Noor 24:4].

As for his testimony not being accepted, the scholars are unanimously agreed that the testimony of the slanderer should not be accepted so long as he has not repented, because he has committed a major sin, namely slander, and has not repented from it, so he cannot be described as being of good character, and good character is a condition of testimony being accepted; and because he is a liar and an evildoer according to the text of the verse: “They indeed are the Faasiqoon (liars, rebellious, disobedient to Allaah).”

“Why did they not produce four witnesses? Since they (the slanderers) have not produced witnesses! Then with Allaah they are the liars”

[al-Noor 24:13].

The testimony of the evildoer and liar cannot be accepted, because Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning): “And take as witness two just persons from among you (Muslims)” [al-Talaaq 65:2]. So it is stipulated that the witness should be of good character, and the evildoer and liar are not of good character.

If he repents from slander and admits that he was lying, then the majority of scholars (Maalik, al-Shaafa’i and Ahmad) are of the view that his testimony may be accepted. They said:

1.     Because repentance erases the sins that came before it, so if he repents his sin and its effects are erased completely, and non-acceptance of testimony is one of the effects of that sin.

Imam al-Shaafa’i said in al-Umm (7/94):

If he admits that he lied, his testimony may then be accepted, but if he does not do that then his testimony cannot be accepted, until he does that, because the sin for which his testimony is rejected is slander, but if he admits that he was lying then he has repented. End quote.

2.     Because the expression “forever” in the verse applies so long as he persists in evildoing. Hence after that the verse mentions after the ruling that he is an evildoer: “and reject their testimony forever. They indeed are the Faasiqoon (liars, rebellious, disobedient to Allaah).” If the description of evildoer ceases to apply to him, then the reason for rejecting his testimony also ceases to exist.

3.     It was narrated from ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) that he said to those who had slandered al-Mugheerah ibn Shu’bah, after he had carried out the hadd punishment of flogging on them: “Whoever repents, his testimony will be accepted.” Narrated by al-Bukhaari in a mu’allaq majzoom report.

His repentance means that he admits that he was lying about the slandered person whom he accused of zina. Hence the words of ‘Umar according to Ibn Jareer were, “Whoever admits that he was lying, his testimony will be accepted.”

If the slanderer repents and mends his ways, his testimony will be accepted, like any other Muslim of good character.

Al-Mughni (12/386); al-Majmoo’ (22/98-101).

And Allaah knows best.

Repentance

I have committed many sins which no one knows of except Allaah. What do I have to do so that Allaah will accept my repentance?

Praise be to Allaah.

A Muslim’s faith may become weak and he may be overwhelmed by his desires. The Shaytaan may make sin attractive to him, so he wrongs himself (commits sin) and falls into that which Allaah has forbidden. But Allaah is Kind to His slaves, and His mercy encompasses all things. Whoever repents after doing wrong, Allaah will accept his repentance, for Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful.

“But whosoever repents after his crime and does righteous good deeds (by obeying Allaah), then verily, Allaah will pardon him (accept his repentance). Verily, Allaah is Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful [al-Maa’idah 5:39 – interpretation of the meaning]

Allaah is Forgiving and Generous. He commands all His slaves to repent sincerely so that they may gain the mercy of Allaah and His Paradise. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Turn to Allaah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will expiate from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise)” [al-Tahreem 66:8]

The gate of repentance is open to His slaves, until the sun rises from the west. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah spreads out His Hand at night to accept the repentance of those who did wrong during the day, and He spreads out His Hand during the day to accept the repentance of those who did wrong during the night. (This will continue) until the sun rises from the west.” (Narrated by Muslim, no. 2759)

Sincere repentance is not merely the matter of words spoken on the tongue. Rather, the acceptance of repentance is subject to the condition that the person gives up the sin straight away, that he regrets what has happened in the past, that he resolves not to go back to the thing he has repented from, that he restores people’s rights or property if his sin involved wrongdoing towards others, and that he repents before the agony of death is upon him. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Allaah accepts only the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and foolishness and repent soon afterwards; it is they whom Allaah will forgive and Allaah is Ever All-Knower, All-Wise.

And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: ‘Now I repent;’ nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment” [al-Nisaa’ 4:17-18]

Allaah accepts repentance and is Merciful. He calls sinners to repent, so that He might forgive them:

“…your Lord has written (prescribed) Mercy for Himself, so that if any of you does evil in ignorance, and thereafter repents and does righteous good deeds (by obeying Allaah), then surely, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-An’aam 6:54 – interpretation of the meaning]

Allaah is Kind to His slaves and loves those who repent. He accepts their repentance, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins, and He knows what you do”[al-Shooraa 42:25]

 “Truly, Allaah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves”[al-Baqarah 2:222]

When a kaafir becomes a Muslim, Allaah turns his bad deeds (sayi’aat) into good deeds (hasanaat), and forgives him all his previous sins, as He says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven” [al-Anfaal 8:38]

Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful, and He loves the repentance of His slaves. He commands them to repent so that He might forgive them. But the devils among mankind and the jinn want to turn people away from the truth and make them incline towards falsehood, as Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Allaah wishes to accept your repentance, but those who follow their lusts, wish that you (believers) should deviate tremendously away (from the Right Path) [al-Nisaa’4:27]

The mercy of Allaah encompasses all things. If a person’s sins are very great and he has wronged himself very much, but he then repents, Allaah will accept his repentance and will forgive his sins no matter how great they are. Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Say: O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily, Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”[al-Zumar 39:53]

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Our Lord comes down to the lowest heaven when one-third of the night remains, and says, ‘Who will call upon Me so that I may answer him? Who will ask Me so that I may give to him? Who will seek My forgiveness so that I may forgive him?’” (Narrated by Muslim, no. 758)

Man is weak. If a person sins then he has to repent and seek forgiveness every time. Allaah is Forgiving and Merciful, and He is the One Who says (interpretation of the meaning):

“And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but afterwards seeks Allaah’s forgiveness, he will find Allaah Oft Forgiving, Most Merciful” [al-Nisaa’ 4:110]

The Muslim is vulnerable to making mistakes and sins. So he has to repent and seek forgiveness repeatedly. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “By Allaah, I seek the forgiveness of Allaah and I turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times each day.” (Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 6307)

Allaah loves the repentance of His slaves, and accept it. Indeed, He rejoices over it, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “When a person repents, Allaah rejoices more than one of you who found his camel after he lost it in the desert.” (Agreed upon. Narrated by al-Bukhaari, no. 6309)

Questions about haraam wealth and benefiting from it before and after repenting

I have a brother who works in a foreign country. He has a disco and two restaurants, but he sells alcohol in them and he wants to repent to Allah.
The first question is: what is the ruling on the money that he used to send to his mother and two sisters, noting that one of his sisters has a job and is able to spend on the household. As for me, I am still studying and I cannot spend on them.
The second question is: he has a brother who is married and has a family of six; he wanted to start a halaal business and needed some of the money, so (the first brother) gave him some and they became equal partners in this venture. What is the ruling on the money generated by this business?
The third question is: we can say that all of his wealth comes from the disco and the two restaurants. What must he do with the money after he repents? Please note that he is married to a foreign woman and he has a son aged twelve. Is it permissible for him to use the money and spend it on his family?
The fourth question is: is it permissible to borrow some of this money without interest in order to set up a halaal business, then pay off the loan with money earned through this business?
The fifth question is: he used to give charity from his wealth to some poor families in his city and he set aside monthly living expenses for some families. What is the ruling on this money for these families who received it? Will he have hasanaat (the reward for good deeds) from this wealth?.

Praise be to Allaah.
It is haraam to set up discos and work in them, as it is also haraam to sell alcohol. The wealth that is earned from that is evil, haraam earnings, because when Allah forbids a thing, He also forbids its price. The Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stated that alcohol is cursed, as are the one who sells it, the one who drinks it and the one who carries it, as it says in the hadeeth narrated by Abu Dawood (3674) and Ibn Maajah (3380). It was narrated that Ibn ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allaah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: “Allaah has cursed khamr and the one who drinks it, the one who pours it, the one who sells it, the one who buys it, the one who squeezes it, the one for whom it is squeezed, the one who carries it and the one to whom it is carried.”

Classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Abi Dawood.

It was also narrated by at-Tirmidhi (1295) from Anas ibn Maalik (may Allah be pleased with him) who said: The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) cursed ten with regard to wine: the one who squeezes (the grapes etc), the one who asks for it to be squeezed, the one who drinks it, the one who carries it, the one to whom it is carried, the one who pours it, the one who sells it and consumes its price, the one who buys it and the one for whom it is bought.

What is required of one who has fallen into any of that is to repent to Allah, may He be exalted, gave up the sin, regret what has happened in the past and resolve never to go back to it. As for the wealth that he acquired by haraam means, whatever he has consumed or spent, he does not have to do anything about it. Whatever he still has with him, he had to get rid of it according to the most correct of the scholarly opinions. So he should spend it on the poor and needy, and other charitable good causes.

If he is in need of the money, then he may take of it whatever will suffice him, and get rid of the rest. There is nothing wrong with him taking some of it as capital for business or permissible work.

Shaykh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyah (may Allah have mercy on him) said: If this prostitute and wine maker repent and they are poor, it is permissible to give them as much of this money as they need. If he is able to engage in trade or to do a craft such as weaving and spinning, he may be given some of the money as capital.

End quote from Majmoo‘ al-Fataawa, 29/308

We praise Allah, may He be exalted, for having guided your brother to think of repentance, and we ask Him, may He be glorified, to accept it from him and to forgive and pardon him.

It must be pointed out that what he is required to do is to get rid of the haraam wealth only, and not all the wealth that your brother has earned. No doubt the two restaurants served some halaal foods, as well as haraam things such as alcohol. What he has to do is to work out how much of the profits came from haraam things, and get rid of that money. As for the profits that came from selling halaal foods, that money is permissible for him and there is nothing wrong with him benefiting from it; he does not have to get rid of it.

As for your questions, the answers to them are as follows:

Firstly:

With regard to the money that your mother and others took and benefited from it, they do not have to do anything about it. The same applies to whatever they still have of it; they may benefit from it. The basic principle concerning that is that money that is haraam because of the way in which it was acquired is haraam for the one who acquired it only. As for the one who took it from him in a permissible way, such as if he gave it as a gift or spent it on his family, and the like, it is permissible for him. So there is no blame on your family for what they have taken of this money.

Similarly there is no blame on the one who took a loan from it, because the sin has to do with the one who acquired the money in a haraam way only; there is no sin on the one who borrowed it from him.

Secondly:

Partnership with a person in whose wealth there is any haraam element is valid, although it is better not to get involved in it, and any profits resulting from this venture are halaal in sha Allah. But your brother has to get rid of the haraam wealth, as stated above.

Thirdly:

Among the ways of getting rid of haraam wealth is to give it to a poor person who needs to get married or who needs accommodation, or the one who will set up a business from which he will spend on himself, and the like. It is permissible to put this money into a fund from which needy people may borrow, but the wealth cannot come back to your brother and he cannot regain possession of it, because he is obliged to get rid of it, as stated above.

Fourthly:

Whatever your brother has given to the poor of maintenance and regular income is something praiseworthy and he will have a reward commensurate with the proportion of halaal wealth in what he gave. Perhaps these good deeds were a cause of his having been guided and it may be the result of sincere prayers by those needy people. He should set aside some of this money that he has to get rid of, and give it to these poor people, and he will be rewarded for doing so.

We ask Allah to help and guide us and you, and to make us all steadfast.

And Allah knows best.

Doing Hajj with money he earned by working in a company that produces tobacco

I work as an engineer in a company that produces molasses tobacco. My wife works in the same company as well. There is an association that helps others who can’t afford able to do Hajj; I have participated in it long time ago. Alhamdulillah now we are able to go. We do not have any other source for living apart from our salaries from the tobacco company; we both are now over 50. Is it halal for us to perform hajj using this money? All our income is just from this work. My wife and I have received the tickets for hajj and we cannot return them. Please answer quickly, and do not be eager to make it haram, for everything is in the hands of Allah.

Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:

Smoking tobacco and shisha (hookah, hubble-bubble) is haraam, because they are harmful and filthy. This has been discussed in the answer to question no. 45271.

If it is haraam to consume or use a thing, it is not permissible to manufacture or sell it, or to help with that.

Based on that, working in a company that produces tobacco is haraam work, and the salary that results from that is also haraam.

What you must do is repent to Allaah and give up this job, regret what has happened in the past and resolve not to do it again in the future.

If you did not know that consuming tobacco is haraam, or you were following a mufti who is lenient on this issue, then we hope that there will be no blame on you for what is past, and the wealth that you have is permissible for you.

But if you knew that consuming tobacco is haraam, then you have to get rid of this wealth by spending it on charitable causes and in the public interests of the Muslims, unless you need it, in which case you may take as much as you need. See the answer to question no. 78289.

Secondly:

If a person wants to do Hajj, his money must be pure and halaal. There is the fear that if a person does Hajj with haraam wealth, Allaah may not accept his Hajj, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Allaah is Good and does not accept anything but that which is good.” Narrated by Muslim (1015).

But if you have already obtained permission to go for Hajj and tickets that you cannot return, then we think that you should do Hajj, and regard this money as a loan and pay an equivalent amount on charitable causes when Allaah blesses you – even if it is after a while. Thus we hope that your Hajj will be accepted. You must also repent to Allaah and resolve to give up the haraam work.

It is no secret to you that provision is in the hand of Allaah, and that He gives to His righteous slaves and close friends who fear Him. Place your hopes in that which is with Allaah. We ask Allaah to accept your repentance and your Hajj, and to grant you more of His bounty and kindness.

And Allaah knows best.

He committed a sin and does not know what he should do now

A person who has commited sin[who knew he is commiting sin -at the time]....now that same person feels such guilt that cant be expressed. What should this person do?.

Praise be to Allaah.
The Muslim does not have to tell anyone of his sin, rather it is not recommended that he should do that. He should conceal his sin and not expose it. The Muslim should feel disturbed about his sin so that he will be motivated to repent sincerely. It is not sufficient for the Muslim to recognize that he has committed a sin, rather he should remember that Allaah is always watching, so that he will not do it at all. If the Shaytaan makes him fall into one of his traps, he must regret committing this sin and he has to give it up and resolve not to return to it.

In this way the Muslim will have done what Allaah requires of him, namely sincere repentance. The Muslim must not despair of the mercy of Allaah or think that He is unlikely to forgive his sin or guide him to repentance. For the Shaytaan is eager to make the Muslim fall into sin and then he is eager to close the doors of repentance in his face.

After he repents sincerely, the Muslim becomes better than he was before he committed this sin. Sincere repentance may alert him to things that he was careless about, so he gives up bad companions who help him to commit sin, and he stops travelling to immoral countries where he committed sin, and he stops watching and listening to things that Allaah has forbidden, namely singing, musical instruments and movies.

Perhaps he has been careless about these matters but the sincere repentance that Allaah has enjoined awakens him to that.

The Muslim may forget that Allaah is always watching before he commits the sin, because if he was aware of that he would not have done it. But if he had forgotten, then he should try to remember whilst he is committing the sin that Allaah can see him, and that the noble angels can see him, and that Allaah may decree that he should die whilst he is committing this sin – so how would he meet his Lord in the Hereafter?

If the Shaytaan manages to ensnare the Muslim before and during the sin, then let him remember afterwards that Allaah stretches forth His hand at night to accept the repentance of those who sinned during the day, and He stretches forth His hand during the day to accept the repentance of those who sinned at night, and that Allaah rejoices over the repentance of His slave even though He is the one Who guided him to repent and made it easy for him, and He has no need of the repentance of this person.

The Muslim must fear Allaah his Lord and regret what he has done; he must also resolve not to return to it and to do a lot of acts of worship. He must change his environment and friends, looking for something better. It is not permissible for him to mention his sin to anyone, and he should make his repentance sincerely for the sake of Allaah alone. He should also be eager to pray in congregation in the mosque and attend study circles.

We ask Allaah to help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him, and to make it easy for us to do good.

And Allaah is the Guide to the Straight Path.

He went to a fortune teller then he repented, but he found that what the fortune teller told him is coming true, day after day!

One of my friend did a big mistake, he went to a furtune teller before starting his medical studies. After that he got knowledge and he repented sincerely towards Allah, and made Taubah for his sin. But the problem here is that whatever the Fortune teller informed him is coming true day by day. He want to remove his thinkings from this but unable to act such. He started offer praying. Whats the solution for such problems according to Islam. What you advice him about this.

Praise be to Allaah.
Firstly:

It is not permissible to go to soothsayers and fortune tellers, because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and asks him about something, his prayer will not be accepted for forty nights.” Narrated by Muslim (2230).

And he (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Whoever has intercourse with a menstruating woman or with a woman in her back passage, or goes to a fortune teller and believes what he says, has disbelieved in that which Allaah revealed to Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him).” Narrated by Abu Dawood (3904), al-Tirmidhi (3904) and Ibn Majaah (936); classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in Saheeh Ibn Maajah.

The kufr mentioned in the hadeeth is to be understood in the sense of minor or lesser kufr, according to many scholars, unless he believes that the witch or soothsayer has knowledge of the unseen or he believes his claims to have knowledge of the unseen.

For more information please see the answer to question no. 8291.

The one who has fallen into any of these matters must repent to Allaah, by regretting what he has done and resolving not to do it again.

Secondly:

As for what the fortune teller told him coming true day after day, this doesn’t matter, and it does not affect the shar’i ruling in such cases at all. This may be due to one of two things:

1 – That the fortune teller used general words and phrases that reflect things that happen to all people, such as saying “you will go through some trials, then you will find relief” or “you will be blessed with some wealth” or “you will get married” and so on, and the person thinks that the fortune teller is telling the truth because of that.

2 – The fortune teller told him of something true that would happen in the future, then it happened as he said it would. This is something that the shaytaan snatched for him from the heavens, then passed it on to the fortune teller, who added lies and false things to it. If the incident that he spoke of happens, people believe everything he said. This is what the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) pointed out when he explained this matter. Al-Bukhaari (6213) and Muslim (2228) narrated that ‘Aa’ishah (may Allaah be pleased with her) said: Some people asked the Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) about soothsayers. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said to them: “They are nothing.” They said: O Messenger of Allaah, sometimes they tell us something that turns out to be true. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “That is a word from the jinn that the jinni snatches, and he cackles it into the ear of his familiar as a hen cackles, but they mix more than a hundred lies with it.”

al-Bukhaari (4701) narrated from Abu Hurayrah (may Allaah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said:  “When Allaah decrees a matter in heaven, the angels beat their wings in submission to His words, making a sound like a chain striking a rock. When the fear is banished from their hearts, they say, What is it that your Lord has said? They say: The truth, and He is the Most High, the Most Great. Then the one who is listening out hears that, and those who are listening out are standing one above the other” – Sufyaan [one of the narrators] demonstrated with his hand, holding it vertically with the fingers outspread. – “So he hears what is said and passes it on to the one below him, and that one passes it to the one who is below him, and so on until it reaches the lips of the soothsayer or fortune-teller. Maybe the meteor will hit him before he can pass anything on, or maybe he will pass it on before he is hit. He tells a hundred lies alongside it, but it will be said, Did he not tell us that on such and such a day, such and such would happen? So they believe him because of the one thing which was heard from heaven.” i.e., he is believed because of the one true word that was heard from heaven and passed on to the fortune teller.

If we assume that the fortune teller told him something that did actually happen, such as if he told him about where a lost item was to be found, or some such, and this is what happened, if the questioner did not know it, then it is not “unseen” in absolute terms, rather it was “unseen” to the one who did not see it or know it. The fortune teller is able to see such things, either by himself or with the help of his helpers among the devils of mankind and the jinn, as is well known.

To sum up: So long as your friend has repented to Allaah, then he should not pay any attention to what the fortune-teller said or be afraid of what he said. Some of the things he mentioned may happen, or they may not. Usually they do not happen, because the ratio of truth – if the fortune teller receives information from the jinn – is no more than 1%.

For more information please see the answer to question no. 32863.

And Allaah knows best.

Does he have to marry his female relative whom he touched in a haraam manner?

I am in a horrible situation. I have commited a sin by touching a unmarried women in our relatives. I didn't had exual intercourse but I have touched this lady and she also touched me. Now since this lady is relative ( my mothers brothers daughter) I am scared that this lady will tell others. I have so far led my life as per islamic shariah and people respect me a lot. I am unmarried and I am going to get married to a pios muslimah. Should I am liable to marry this woman whom I have touched? I am very scared of this woman who is neighbour to my family. What should I do to get out of this situation? I know that I have commited a sin. I am preying allah to forgive my sin. I can't imagine marrying this women who always used tricks to attract me. Now I am trapped. Should I tell my parents about it? Do I need to tell the girl whom I am gonna marry about this? Can the girl whom I have touched force me to marry her by islamic law?

Praise be to Allaah.
You have to ask Allaah for forgiveness and repent to Him for what you have done, and you have to resolve never to go back to that. The fact that you touched this woman does not mean that you are obliged to marry her; there is nothing in Islam that compels a sane adult to marry any woman whom he does not want to marry. No marriage is valid unless it meets the necessary conditions, one of which is the consent of the husband who is accountable.

 You do not have to tell your parents or the girl you are going to marry about what happened; rather you are obliged to conceal what you have done, and to repent, and this is between you and your Lord. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Avoid this filth that Allaah has forbidden. Whoever does any such thing, then let him conceal it with the concealment of Allaah.” (Narrated by al-Bayhaqi; classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in al-Silsilah al-Saheehah, no. 663).

 “Filth” means evil actions and bad speech that Allaah has forbidden. Subul al-Salaam, 3/31

And Allaah knows best.

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