Recounting One’s Past Sins

QUESTION:

I have read a Hadith wherein the Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum mentioned sitting with Raulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam after Fajr, and they would recount the days before they became Muslim. They would laugh and Nabi Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam would smile. How do I reconcile this with abstaining from discussing past sins so that it is not  الجهر بالمعصيه?

ANSWER:

The Sahaabah Radiallahu Anhum were mentioning incidents which they were all aware of their occurrence during Jaahiliyyah, with the intention of strengthening their Imaan and deepening their hatred for Kufr, Shirk and sin. To mention a sin without any valid reason, for example, asking advice on the matter, taking lessons, or cautioning others, is impermissible and sinful. What’s worse is to boast about a sin. The Hadith mentions that this is not a sin that Allah Ta’ala will overlook or treat lightly. A person will have to make sincere Taubah for such a grave sin, or spend a time in Jahannam as penance to cleanse this sin.

أي يذكرون الأعمال التي كانوا يعملونها في أيام كونهم غير مسلمين، وإنما كانوا يذكرونها، استقباحًا لها، وشُكرًا لما هداهم اللَّه عزَّ وجلَّ إليه من الدين الحنيف، وأبدلهم أعمالًا صالحة، تنفعهم في الدنيا والآخرة

(فَيَضْحَكُونَ) تعجّبًا مما سلف لهم في أيام الجاهليّة (البحر المحيط الثجاج في شرح صحيح مسلم ابن الحجاج ١٤/٤٠٧)

(إِلَّا الْمُجَاهِرِينَ) قال النوويّ رحمه الله: المجاهرون: هم الذين جاهروا بمعاصيهم، وأظهروها، وكشفوا ما سَتَر الله تعالى عليهم، فيتحدثون بها لغير ضرورة، ولا حاجة

(وَيُصْبِحُ يَكْشِفُ سِتْرَ اللهِ عَنْهُ)؛ أي: ويكون في الصباح كاشفًا ستر الله تعالى عن نفسه بإخباره للناس قبيح عمله مستخفًّا بأمر الله عز وجل (البحر المحيط الثجاج في شرح صحيح مسلم ابن الحجاج ٤٥/٢١٩)

ALLAH TA’ALA ALONE IN HIS INFINITE KNOWLEDGE KNOWS BEST!

ANSWERED BY:

Mufti Umar Farooq Rangila

Date: 18 Shawwaal 1447 / 07April 2026

CHECKED AND APPROVED BY:

Mufti Yacoob Vally Saheb