Fatwa ID: 09085
Answered by Mufti Nuski Cassim
Question:
Assalamu Alaikum,
I am reaching out because I’m struggling with a situation that has me feeling very stuck. Recently, I committed an act that I believe constitutes kufr long ago and just remembered, and I want to return to Islam and fix my relationship with Allah.
The problem is that I feel completely emotionally numb. When I say the Shahada, I know in my head that Islam is the truth and I want to be a Muslim, but I don’t ‘feel’ the weight of remorse or the ‘sweetness’ of faith right now. I just feel blank.
Does this lack of felt remorse make my Shahada or my repentance invalid? I’m worried that because I can’t ‘force’ myself to feel an emotion like sadness or regret right now, my return to Islam isn’t being accepted. Is faith based on my conviction and choice, or is it invalid if my heart feels dead/numb?
I would really appreciate any guidance you can give based on the traditional Sunni understanding. JazakAllah Khair.
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
From the outset, it should be understood that Kufr (disbelief), first and foremost, is the opposite of Iman (belief). Furthermore, kufr is categorized as either ‘apparent kufr’ (كفر العملي) or ‘actual kufr’ (كفر الاعتقادي) itself.[1]
In essence, every act that a Muslim commits which goes against the direct commands of Allah ﷻ and His Messenger ﷺ is considered an ‘act of kufr’.
However, such actions are not deemed actual kufr (كفر الاعتقادي) unless a person denies that these commands are obligatory and continues in that denial despite clarification.
A Muslim is not considered, nor does he or she become, a kafir (disbeliever) simply due to the committing of sins—whether minor or major.[2]
Having outlined the above, it is clear through reading your query that you have not in any way committed actual disbelief.
In fact, your remembering something you wrongfully committed against Allah ﷻ a long time ago—and wanting to repent as a result—is a sign of both Iman and remorse.
It is also worth noting that remorse does not always equate to a ‘feeling,’ just as faith does not always equate to a ‘sweetness.’
Your remorse towards what you committed in the past is clear through your wanting to ‘return’ to Islam and fix your relationship with Allah ﷻ.
That said, your shahada and repentance are valid, you have not deviated from Islam, and there is no need to ‘force’ yourself to ‘feel’ an emotion like sadness.
Only Allah ﷻ knows best.
Written by Mufti Nuski Cassim
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1]
وسر هذا أن الكفر قسمان: إعتقادي وعملي. فالإعتقادي مَقَرّه القلب. والعملي محله الجوارح. فمن كان عمله كفرا لمخالفته للشرع، وكان مطابقا لما وَقَّر في قلبه من الكفر، فهو الكفر الإعتقادي، وهو الكفر الذي لا يغفره الله، و يخلد صاحبه في النار أبدا، وأما إذا كان مخالفا لما وقَّر في قلبه، فهو مؤمن بحكم ربه، ولكنه يخالفه بعمله، فكفره كفر عملي فقط، وليس كفرا إعتقاديا
[موسوعة مواقف السلف في العقيدة المنهج والترتيب، ج ١٠، صفحة ٤١٠، المكتبة الإسلامية للنشر والتوزيع]
قال في العقائد النسفية: والكبائر لا تخرج العبد من الإيمان ولا تدخله في الكفر
[شرح عقيدة الإمام الطحاوي للغزنوي، صفحة ١١٧، دار الإحسان]