Worshipping in a Room One Commits a Sin In?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question: If one committed sins in a particular room, is there something you can do to start over and make that room a place of worship?
Answer: In the Name of Allah, the Merciful and Compassionate
I hope you’re doing well, insha’Allah.
May Allah bless you for your evident remorse–which the Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him) described as the essence of sincere repentance (tawba); and for your concern for doing things right—which is essential to sound submission to Allah.
It would be from completion and perfecting of one’s repentance to Allah to turn a place once used for sin into a place now used for the worship of Allah.
The Beloved Messenger of Allah (peace & blessings be upon him & his folk) said, “Be mindful of Allah wherever you may be; follow any wrong with good and it will wipe it out; and deal with people on through good character.” [Tirmidhi]
This is why many scholars, such as Ibn Arabi, recommended going to places one disobeyed Allah and doing a good deed in that place—so that (1) this wipes away the traces of the sin; and (2) the place then bears witness for one, rather than against one, on the Day of Judgment.
May Allah facilitate all good for you.
Useful related reading:
The SeekersHub Reader on Repentance (tawba)
Take a SeekersHub online course. All courses are completely free.
Wassalam,
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a scholar and researcher of Islamic law and translator of several Arabic works to the English language. After ten years overseas, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in the Summer of 2007. In May 2008 he founded SeekersGuidance to deal with the urgent need to spread Islamic knowledge—both online and on the ground—in a reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible manner.
