Q:

A couple of years ago, I was going through an extremely tough time and was slightly emotionally unstable for a few days. In a fit of rage, I ripped up a Qur’an and threw it on the ground a couple of times, and destroyed some other items as well. This was happening during Ramadan, which I think added to my stress because of fasting (and possibly my sin as well). I know I said I was emotionally unstable when I tore the Qur’an, but I still did indeed have a good amount of control over myself at the time of this incident, so I know I wasn’t exempt from the great amount of sin I gained. My mother told me that there was a certain kind of repentance I needed to make for doing something as severe as that, but I wasn’t able to find it on this site or anywhere else online. So what exactly should I do as repentance for tearing up the Qur’an? I still have all the torn pages as well as the damaged book in a basket.

A:

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.

All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.

Thank you for your good question.

May Allah Almighty forgive you and accept your repentance. You need to maintain sincere repentance by regretting what you did and resolving not to do it again. Sincere repentance wipes away all sins. So, never lose hope in Allah’s mercy and forgiveness.

Allah Almighty says, “O My servants who have wronged against their souls! Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. For Allah forgives all sins; for He is indeed Forgiving, Compassionate.” (Az-Zumar 39:53) And, He says, “Whoever commits a sin or wrongs himself, then (repents and) seeks Allah’s forgiveness, will find Allah Forgiving, Compassionate.” (An-Nisa’ 4:110)

Try to frequently make istighfar (seek Allah’s forgiveness), make dhikr, and do as much as you could of optional acts of worship such as prayers, fasts, and charities.

May Allah accept your and our good deeds, ameen.

Almighty  Allah knows best.