What Should I Do about Actions I Committed during Apostasy?
Answered by Shaykh Irshaad Sedick
Question
I once left Islam and became an atheist. I gifted my Christian friend some vinyl statues of anime characters that use magic (Naruto) or can do things like stop time (DBZ). I then returned to my religion years later. Must I reach out to him and tell him to throw those vinyl statues away? If I don’t, am I a kafir because of the content of these anime (magic and things only Allah can do)?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate. May Allah guide us to that which pleases Him, forgive us for our shortcomings, and alleviate our difficulties, Amin. We thank Allah and congratulate you for returning to the fold of Islam.
If you have the type of relationship with your friend that would enable you to demand this of him, that would be good. If you do not have such authority with him, you need not do anything beyond your repentance upon returning to Islam, and Allah knows best.
I pray this is of benefit.
[Shaykh] Irshaad Sedick
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Shaykh Irshaad Sedick was raised in South Africa in a traditional Muslim family. He graduated from Dar al-Ulum al-Arabiyyah al-Islamiyyah in Strand, Western Cape, under the guidance of the late world-renowned scholar, Shaykh Taha Karaan.
Shaykh Irshaad received Ijaza from many luminaries of the Islamic world, including Shaykh Taha Karaan, Mawlana Yusuf Karaan, and Mawlana Abdul Hafeez Makki, among others.
He is the author of the text “The Musnad of Ahmad ibn Hanbal: A Hujjah or not?” He has served as the Director of the Discover Islam Centre and Al Jeem Foundation. For the last five years till present, he has served as the Khatib of Masjid Ar-Rashideen, Mowbray, Cape Town.
Shaykh Irshaad has thirteen years of teaching experience at some of the leading Islamic institutes in Cape Town). He is currently building an Islamic online learning and media platform called ‘Isnad Academy’ and pursuing his Master’s degree in the study of Islam at the University of Johannesburg. He has a keen interest in healthy living and fitness.
