Fatwa ID: 08327

Written by Maulana Mohammed Aabu Saeed Miah

Question:

What advice should be given to someone who used to sell drugs and gamble, purchased his house with the proceeds and now has made taubah and is earning a low but halal income and is raising a family?

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful

Answer:

A key thing to keep in mind when pondering over one’s past is to see the light Allah has shown and be grateful of it and to think how life would be if Allah didn’t guid them. A person should not become overwhelmed by the sins of their past rather they should stay positive.

This is because the one who repents from a sin is like the one who never committed the sin itself (Sunan Ibn Majah 4250). The vices of the past mentioned in the question are the rights of Allah and not the rights of others. Therefore, it is sufficient that one does Taubah and takes no other steps.

References:

حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الدَّارِمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الرَّقَاشِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ، عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ ‏:‏ ‏ “‏ التَّائِبُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ كَمَنْ لاَ ذَنْبَ لَهُ ‏”‏ ‏.‏

Sunan Ibn Majah 4250

Only Allah knows best.

Written by Maulana Mohammed Aabu Saeed Miah

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham