Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh. (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

I took a non-Muslim friend of mine to a faith healer after asking me because she had no money for transportation. At first I advised her that it is no good to go to a faith healer and she won`t be cured by that faith healer, but she insisted to be taken there and so I did.

When I went back home, I told the story to my husband and he told me that it is haraam for me to be sitting in that area and because I did that my prayers won`t by accepted by Allah(subhaanah wa taala).

I know that it is haraam to go to a faith healer for myself. I did not listen to that faith healer whatever he was saying and I was just watching TV. But if it is also haraam to be sitting in that situation where faith healing is going on, it was not clear with me. I ask Allah to forgive for whatever haraam I did, it was an ignorance from my side and I really feel so sad that I did this. Please advise what to do. i really feel shame of myself before Allah. How I wish I was not one of those who were siting there.

the next day i sent an SMS message to my friend and advised her not to follow that faith healer anymore. that she should submit herself to the One true God, if she really wants to be healed. That involving oneself in this kind of activity will result to a big punishment from Allah (subhaanah wa taala).

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Witness to shirk repentance

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is none worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad (saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

72 (The true servants of the Merciful are) Those who witness no falsehood (intentionally), and if they pass by futility, they pass by it with honorable (avoidance).

Beloved sister in Islam, although it is clear you did not involve yourself in the manifestation of the abomination of ‘shirk’, your husband is indeed accurate that it simply does not behove or befit a believer who sincerely believes in Allah and the Last Day to even be a witness to the utter falsehood and abomination of ‘shirk’.

Your current state is evident that you sincerely believe in the Absolute Oneness of your Lord Creator Allah Subhanah, and it is absolutely evident from your letter that you have sincere remorse in your heart for whatever transpired in ignorance….beloved sister, if you were to turn unto your Lord Most Gracious in ‘taubah’ and seek sincere repentance for whatever transpired in ignorance in the past, it is expected that you will find your Lord Forgiving and Merciful.

The conditions or ways to seek sincere Taubah or Repentance from the Merciful Lord are:

• One is aware that he has sinned, and feels sorry and ashamed at his sin.
• Makes a solemn covenant and promise with Allah that he will not repeat his sin again.
• Turns to Allah and seeks forgiveness, before he has met with his appointment of death.
• Is a believer and does righteous good deeds thereafter.

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 39 Surah Zumur verses 53-54:

(O Prophet) say: “O My servants who have wronged their own souls….Do not despair of Allah’s Mercy! Surely, Allah forgives all sins. He indeed is the All Forgiving, All Merciful. Return to your Lord and submit to Him before the scourge overtakes you; for then you may get no help from anywhere.”

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 3 Surah Ale Imraan verse 135-136:

Allah likes such good people very much, who, if ever they commit a base deed or wrong their own soul by the commission of a sin, remember Allah instantly, and ask for forgiveness from Him for their shortcomings. For who, but Allah, can forgive sins? (And Allah loves those) who do not knowingly persist in the wrongs they did. These will be rewarded with forgiveness from Allah, and with Gardens beneath which canals flow, and they will reside therein forever! How excellent is the reward of those who do good deeds!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 25 Surah Furqaan verses 63-71:

The (true) servants of the Merciful are those who walk humbly on the earth. When the ignorant people behave insolently towards them, they say, “Peace to you”; (And those) who pass their nights in prostrating themselves and standing before their Lord and pray, “O our Lord, save us from the torment of Hell, for its torment is killing! It is an evil abode, and an evil resting place”. (And those) who, when they spend are neither extravagant, nor miserly, but keep the golden mean between the two extremes. (And those) who do not invoke any god but Allah Alone, nor kill a soul unjustly, which Allah has forbidden, nor commit adultery… He who does this shall be punished for his sin, and his torment shall be doubled on the Day of Resurrection, and he shall abide in a state of ignominy; EXCEPT THE ONE WHO MAY HAVE REPENTED (AFTER THOSE SINS), AND HAVE BELIEVED AND DONE RIGHTEOUS DEEDS. For then, Allah will change his evil deeds into good deeds, and He is very Forgiving and Merciful. In fact, one who repents and does righteous deeds, returns to Allah as one rightly should!

Allah says in the Holy Quran Chapter 6 Surah Anaam verse 54:

When those come to you who believe in Our Signs, say: "Peace be on you! Your Lord had inscribed for Himself (the rule of) Mercy. Verily if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented and amended (his conduct), Lo! He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2357 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Mas'ud

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "He who repents of a sin is like him who has committed no sin."

Al-Tirmidhi Hadith 2338 Narrated by Abdullah ibn Umar

Allah's Messenger (saws) said, "Allah accepts a servant's repentance (taubah) till he gives up his spirit in death."

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your brother and well wisher in Islam,

Burhan