Question
(#238)
salaam alaikum,
I am terminally ill and I believe this is due to my past sins.. I recently became a muslim during this illness but I am afraid its not accepted due to surah al Zumar 54 that says to repent before the punishment comes as then you won’t be helped.
Let’s say my illness is a punishment from the Almighty. Does this mean I can no longer become a muslim/repent even though I am still alive? I am very afraid because of this.. (FYI i have no treatment for my illness but im not yet lying in hospital i still might have a year or so to live)
Can you shed some light on this aya?
Thank you so much,
Answer
بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
حامدا و مصليا و مسلما
Muhtaramah
We have received your query dated 23/02/25, our response is as follows:
May our kind Allah Ta’ala grant you complete cure. Ameen.
First and foremost, when a person embraces Islam then all their past sins are wiped out.
It is mentioned that once the companion Hadrat Amr ibn Aas radiyallahu anhu presented himself in front of Nabi sallallahu alai wa sallam before accepting Islam. Hadrat Amr radiyallahu anhu requested Nabi sallallahu alai wa sallam to present his blessed hand so that Hadrat Amr radiyallahu anhu could pledge allegiance. Nabi Sallallahu alai wa sallam stretched out his blessed hand towards Hadrat Amr radiyallahu anhu (in order for him to pledge allegiance), however Hadrat Amr radiyallahu anhu pulled his hand back. Nabi Sallallahu alai wa sallam said “What has happened O Amr!”. Hadrat Amr radiyallahu anhu said “I wish to place a condition”. “What condition do you wish to place?” replied Nabi sallallahu alai wa sallam. “That I am forgiven” said Hadrat Amr radiyallahu anhu.
The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alai wa sallam said to him, ‘O ‘Amr, do you not know that Islam wipes out whatever sins came before it, and verily Hijrah (migration) wipes out whatever is before it, and verily Hajj wipes out whatever is before it’” (Mishkaatul Masabeeh quoting from Saheeh Muslim).
The above message is found in many other Ahadeeth as well. Therefore, you are an extremely special person in the eyes of Allah Ta’ala as you have a clean slate after embracing the beautiful Deen of Islam.
Secondly, we need to keep in mind that sicknesses and other trials which we experience in this world are also a mercy from Allah Ta’ala. It is an opportunity granted to us by Allah Ta’ala for us to turn back to Allah Ta’ala even more and it is time wherein we can gain closeness to Allah Ta’ala. We find in the Qur’an and the Ahadeeth in various places the enormous reward for the one that exercises Sabr (patience).
In one Hadeeth it is mentioned that Nabi Sallallahu alai wa sallam said :
“On the Day of Qiyamah (judgement), when the people who were tested (in this world) will be given their rewards, the people who were at ease (in this world), will wish that their skins had been cut off with scissors while they were in the world (so that they would also acquire such wonderful rewards in the hereafter).” (Tirmidhi No 2402)
Finally, with regards to Ayat 54 in Surah Zumar. If we turn towards the Ayat before this Ayat (Ayat 53), we will see the incredible love of Allah Ta’ala . Allah Ta’ala states:
قُلۡ يَٰعِبَادِيَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ
يَغۡفِرُٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًاۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Say (O Messenger of Allah Ta’ala!), “O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah Ta’ala forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
One of the explanations of the above Ayat has been mentioned in the amazing exegesis Bayanul Qur’an that the above Ayat refers to the disbeliever, and that he should not become despondent after accepting Islam. Allah Ta’ala will forgive all of his past sins.
Thereafter, Allah Ta’ala states:
وَأَنِيبُوٓاْ إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمۡ وَأَسۡلِمُواْ لَهُۥ مِن قَبۡلِ أَن يَأۡتِيَكُمُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ
And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.
Regarding the above Ayat and Ayat 55, it is stated in Bayanul Qur’an that the above mentioned punishment is for the one that does not accept Islam and the punishment is referring to the hereafter.[1]
Thus, do not lose hope and remember that the doors of forgiveness remain open for a person until ones last moment. Nabi Sallallah alai wa sallam has said:
“Allah accepts the repentance of His slave so long as the sound of death has not yet reached his throat.”(Ibn Majah)[2]
And Allah Ta’ala knows best
Answered by:
Muhammad Irshad Motara
28th Sha’ban 1446
28th Feb 2025
[1] Bayanul Qur’an pg. 298, VL 3 (Idara Ta’leefaat Ashrafia)
[2] And in another Hadeeth until the sun rises from west (Saheeh Muslim)
