Does masturbation annul one’s good deeds?

QUESTION:

When i was 12 years old i didn’t have a clue about puberty or anything like that so one day i masturbated without realising what i had done. I continued this for about 2 years and it has always been a constant issue in my life. Little did i know that i had started my account of deeds and would be punished for all my sins. I now realised that every prayer fast and other etc would not count so every day i have a deep regret that i would go to jahannam and it gives me depression please help me imam i just want to live an islamic life so one day i can go to jannah and be happy. Jazakallah for listening may allah reward you for helping me ameen.

ANSWER:

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

As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.

We ask Allah to grant you happiness and keep you protected from all sins. Āmeen.

In principle, although this sin is great, this does not mean that one’s good deeds will not count. Nevertheless, the severity of sin is greater if done whilst fasting; and the fast will break if ejaculation occurs, necessitating a qadha (replacement) fast [but no kaffarah]. [1] Similarly, the salah is valid unless no ghusl was performed after ejaculation.

Furthermore, we must note that the forgiveness of Allah is greater than the sins we may have committed. Allah Ta’āla states in the Holy Qur’ān:

۞ قُلۡ یَـٰعِبَادِیَ ٱلَّذِینَ أَسۡرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰۤ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ یَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِیعًاۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِیمُ﴾ [الزمر ٥٣]﴿

Say, “O My servants who have wronged their souls, never lose hope of the mercy of Allah. Verily, Allah forgives all sins. Undoubtedly, He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” [39: 53]

To have regret and remorse over the actions one has committed has also been classed as repentance in numerous narrations by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ). The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) has said:

الندم توبة

Regret is repentance.” (Sunan Ibn Majah 4252) [2]

Similarly, whatever struggle it may be, one must always ask Allah for help as He is the Best of helpers. We seek Allah’s help in trying to stay away from sins and remaining steadfast on good and sincere repentance.

Sincere repentance requires:

• Abandoning the sin totally;
• Regretting committing the sin;
• And a firm intention to never return to the sin.

(Imam Nawawi; Riyadh ‘s-Salihin; Dar al Salam 1991; page 25) [3]

If one does perchance slip and end up back in the sin, one must repent again. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

ما أصر من استغفر ولو فعله في اليوم سبعين مرة

“He who seeks forgiveness has not been persistent in sin, even if he does it seventy times in a day.” (Jami’ al-Tirmidhi 3559) [4]

Also, Allah will wipe sins out due to a person following a bad deed with a good one. Allah states in the Holy Qur’ān:

إِنَّ ٱلۡحَسَنَـٰتِ یُذۡهِبۡنَ ٱلسَّیِّـَٔاتِۚ

”Surely good deeds wipe out evil deeds” [11-114] [5]

Not only this, but Allah is delighted with the repentance of His slave. The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:

“Verily, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a person who has his camel in a waterless desert carrying his provision of food and drink and it is lost. He, having lost all hopes (to get that back), lies down in shade and is disappointed about his camel; when all of a sudden he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts out: ‘O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your lord’. He commits this mistake out of extreme joy”. (Sahih Muslim 2747) [6]

May Allah keep us all steadfast upon His pleasure. Āmeen

And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best

Ahmed Dawood

Concurred by:
Hanif Yusuf | Mubasshir Talha

Posted in Sawm & Ramadhaan (Fasting)Miscelleaneous on 16th Nov 2021 by Our Imam | 1433 Views