Ads by Muslim Ad Network

The Concept Of Sin And Atonement In Islam

13 September, 2023
Q Hello, my question is how do I overcome worry grief guilt and depression? I grew up in a Muslim household and for 8 years I was slacking and didn’t really understand Islam . I was just told do this do that and I used to rebel not knowing the beauty and true meaning of Islam, but fast forward after I graduated high school I started taking my deen seriously for the past 6 months( I am 21 now ) I started praying properly, reading books for knowledge, watching lectures etc everything I could do to change I started and each time I discovered something new about Islam I felt happiness and love for the deen that my heart changed and I became spiritually at peace and I felt my eman came back to me and I started using my time for voluntary acts of worship, duas, Quran etc but recently after August I started going downhill, I realized my past was still following me because I would watch Islamic lectures about “ raising pious children” and the things like imams/scholars telling parents needing to be careful at the early stages of their children or they will turn out as bad Muslims or they will waste their youth and destroy working for their afterlife. Them giving examples of how they taught their kids grow up with the teachings of Islam and the sunnah etc. and I see these little kids memorizing Quran, hadiths by 8,10 not being exposed to fitnah and internet etc and being so pious and then I started feeling bad because when I read hadiths about wasting your youth and how precious it is I started feeling so sad I was the example of a bad Muslim child like in those lectures, because as a kid I didn’t didn’t do those things I grew up playing, watching shows, trying to have friends and just being distracted and I wondered how my life would be if I had a dad ( he passed away when I was 11 so it’s only me and my mom and brothers ) when I asked once i am so old.... people younger then me are achieving so much and learning and here I am struggling with praying properly and gaining knowledge,struggling to even read Quran basically things I should have done/known as a child and I was told you the best was done to try to raise you and you were told to pray and the deen but you didn’t want to listen and decided to play etc so basically it’s all my fault since I was young I messed myself up. And now I feel so bad I am told I am being ungrateful because I am so depressed all the time with really bad thoughts I read dua for ease , pray , fast, do thikr I wanted to be close to Allah(swt) but I feel far and I am afraid because I am a bad person I am feeling like this ...I constantly ask forgiveness but I feel low heartbroken cuz I want to be pious aswell and when I look at ppl of knowledge, scholars(youth and older) and righteous good doers aswell as the companions and valued they are in the afterlife. I feel I won’t attain the level of jannah(firdous) because it’s for the ppl with really high eman and who are close to Allah(swt). I am to the point now I can’t really watch lectures or read stories, or want to pick up an books to read I feel so bad because I feel those activities remind me of the past that I missed out on so much and that all this knowledge idk how to properly gain it the right way and everything I have to learn from the start so double the work compared to the ones young ppl who grow up doing learning these things early on. I am having questions and messing up simple things I am unable to understand and I feel It will take me so long to learn the laws of Islam and what is forbidden etc the best advice scholars give is To seek the guidance of a knowledgeable person who follows the law and the sunnah but I am a female and I can’t just go to the mosque and sit down with an scholar and ask him to teach me and guide me (I wish) /: therent really any female scholars I can so down and that so usually that advice is for males I guess who to want learn the deen in the correct manner because you can’t study these topics on your own and online websites you don’t know if they contain bidah etc i am scared I am falling into the devils whispers because I think about not being worth anything not wanting to continue on just sitting there wanting for it to be over . I feel because iam not a good person my mood and everything changed I still do my prayers and make dua but I feel my heart changed from the way it was when I first got into reading about Islam . I think it was because I never actually that about the past till I saw the lectures and the Hadith about time, youth, the rewards, The difference between a strong believer and a weak one. I also worry about the questions on the day of judgement etc. when I ask someone i know they say just do the 5 pillars and read Quran (laws ), stay away from major sins and your done you hopefully make it to jannah doesn’t matter ifs the low level but i just feel I wanted more like to to extra and reach with the ppl of righteousness and their statutes in the eyes of Allah(swt). So I still can’t just turn away and say okay I pray 5 times a day I don’t do major sins. That’s it. I just feel I wanted to attain something more but how iam feeling and all that iam lacking I feel so discouraged and worthless. I apologize for the long paragraph but yes I wanted to know if I feel this way because I am going astray and I am among those that are blinded and hindered from the truth?

Answer

Short Answer: 

  • Allah is teaching us that nothing in life is constant. Faith will never stay constant. It wavers from time to time. At times one has a very strong faith and sometimes our desires get the best of us.
  • Hence, sister, there is no need to feel guilt or even grieve when you make that sin, then stop everything and make a u-turn towards Allah. Allah is our Creator and His love for us, His creation, is ten folds of a mother’s love.
  • How can you not turn to Him? How can you despair of His mercy? Never, don’t let go. Allah is there to accept all your mistakes and forgive you. On the condition of your sincerity.

………….

Walaikumassalam warahmatullah wabarakatahu. Jazakallahu khair for contacting us with your serious question.

Human Weakness and Allah’s Mercy

First and foremost, Allah has said in the Quran that humans have within them weaknesses. It is out of this trait of ours that we humans end up committing sins. Even the best of humans to walk the earth had made errors. Then what about simple laymen?

We may make mistakes left and right, openly and silently. Sister your concern and worry show us that you have much goodness inside of you. Keep seeking Allah and give it your best. It is by God’s infinite mercy that He pardons us over and again. Allah loves His slaves who commit wrong and then turn back to Him. The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:

Ads by Muslim Ad Network

“By the One in Whose hand is my soul, if you did not commit sin Allah would do away with you and bring people who would commit sin then pray for forgiveness.”

Narrated by Muslim, 2749.

Allah’s forgiveness is vast. At the end of the tunnel, there is still a flicker of hope for a believer, and nothing can extinguish it. Don’t lose confidence in God’s mercy. Anas narrated that Allah’s Messenger (pbuh) said:

“All the sons of Adam are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent often.”

Related by At -Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah.

Concept of Sin

Many religions have different aspects and thoughts about sin and forgiveness. Such as in Christianity. The Concept that every Christian is born into sin makes it difficult for that certain individual to do good and be a positive person. From early childhood, Christians believe that they are sinners and that Prophet Jesus died on the cross to compensate for their sins.

Islam, on the contrary, teaches mankind that every individual shall carry their own burden. Which means that all of humanity will be judged upon their own deeds. God is just and it is out of His Justice and Mercy that every single individual will be judged upon his/her own deeds. This concept will help an individual take ownership of his/her actions. A person will have to work hard towards his own salvation.

Having said that, Allah has stressed the importance of staying away from sins.  Evil doings such as killing, being disrespectful towards one’s parents, and above all taking partners with Allah are among major sins. One must stay clear of this evil at all times. Allah says,

“if you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden from committing, We will forgive and wipe away from you your [lesser] sins and make you enter a noble entrance Paradise.” (Quran 4:31)

Infinite Forgiveness

Have you ever observed how the moon passes through 28 different phases? Have you noticed the way it waxes and wanes? If you pay particular attention to the new moon stage, the moon disappears and you cannot even see a speck of it. However, is it really gone? No- it’s still there but is hard to see with the naked eye.

Allah is teaching us that nothing in life is constant. Faith will never stay constant. It wavers from time to time. At times one has a very strong faith and sometimes our desires get the best of us. Hence, sister, there is no need to feel guilt or even grieve when you make that sin, then stop everything and make a u-turn towards Allah.

On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah say: Allah the Almighty said:

O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.

It was related by at-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound.

Seeking Pardon

As a parent or a person who has subordinates, when that subordinate or child under your care errors, and comes to ask your pardon, don’t you forgive him/her? Most likely, you will forgive a sincere apology.

Allah is our Creator and His love for us, His creation, is ten folds of a mother’s love. How can you not turn to Him? How can you despair of His mercy? Never, don’t let go. Allah is there to accept all your mistakes and forgive you. On the condition of your sincerity.

There are three conditions for repentance a person must meet. A fourth condition steps in when the sin committed is in regards to another human being. Firstly, when you realize it’s a sin, give it up.

Second, a person must feel remorse within the heart. Third is to make a genuine promise to Allah that he will not repeat the sin.

Fourth, to repay the other person. For instance, if you stole money, then you shall return it back, if you spoke ill of him you should ask pardon from the person.

Acceptance of Repentance

When these conditions are fulfilled by the person who is repenting, then there is hope that his repentance will be accepted, by Allah’s leave. After that, he should not worry about whispers suggesting that his repentance is not accepted. That doubt is from the Shaytaan and is contrary to what Allah and His Messenger have told us. Which is that repentance is accepted if it is sincere.

“Will they not turn with repentance to Allah and ask His forgiveness? For Allah is Oft‑Forgiving, Most Merciful” (Quran 5:74)

As long as you seek the truth with sincerity Allah will guide and protect you. Don’t let the whispers of shaytan hinder you from the correct path.

Life is a struggle for a believer. Somewhere on the path you will fall and have to pick yourself up. You will break down so have the courage to put yourself together. This is the test of a believer. Allah says,

“And certainly, We shall test you with something of fear, hunger, loss of wealth, lives and fruits, but give glad tidings to As-Saabiroon (the patient).” (Quran 2:155)

Hang in there, hope this helps.

And Allah knows best.

I hope this helps.

Salam and please keep in touch.

Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links:

The Messiah in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

How Does Islam View Salvation?

Does Islam Teach Innocence or Original Sin?