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Continuing To Remain Sinful After Becoming Muslim | Shaykh Muḥammad Ibn Ṣāliḥ Al-ʿUthaymīn The Questioner: The disbeliever who becomes Muslim and was informed when he became Muslim of the basics of the symbols of the religion and he was an alcoholic before becoming Muslim. So then he said at the time that he became Muslim that he submitted to everything. However, as it relates to consuming intoxicants, then I believe that it is something that is unlawful in the legislation of Islām but I will continue to drink it. Is the sin of his consumption of it prior to becoming Muslim excused or is it considered along with his consumption of intoxicants after becoming Muslim? Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn: “Yes. The disbeliever if he becomes Muslim and develops good character in Islām, then he is excused from everything that preceded [his becoming Muslim]. And if he becomes Muslim and develops evil character in Islām, then he will be accountable for what he did previously and what he does. So when he becomes Muslim, Allāh erases the evil acts of associationism (shirk) and disbelief. But if he continues in Islām upon what he was upon in terms of sinfulness while he was upon disbelief, then he will not be excused for the disobedience that he used to do while upon disbelief because he did not repent from it. ” The Questioner: And what about what has been narrated concerning Islām expiating whatever preceded it? Shaykh Muḥammad ibn Ṣāliḥ al-ʿUthaymīn: “It expiates whatever precedes it so long as an individual does not persist upon sinfulness. And this has been authentically established in Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī that: ‘Whoever does evil in Islām, will be accountable for the evil that he does and whatever happened previously.’ This is because he didn't truly repent in reality. He repented from disbelief and thus he was pardoned for his disbelief. Yet he remained upon the sin of consuming intoxicants and as such is sinful for it. And it is for this reason that if a Muslim persists upon several sins but then repents from nine out of ten of them. The tenth sin will remain.” Translated By: Abul-Layth Qāsim Mutiva
