Profiles of simplification for new Muslims

Dr. `Abdullah ibn Abraham Al Luhaydan

Types of simplification are multiplied in Shari`ah and hardly confined to one branch or to one person, however new Muslims have the greatest portion of that simplification.

Of these kinds of simplification is:
Easiness and not rebuking new Muslims when they make a mistake. Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated: While we were in the mosque with Allah's Messenger (peace be upon him) a Bedouin came and stood up and began to urinate in the mosque. The Companions of Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) said: Stop, stop, He said: The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Do not interrupt him; leave him alone. They left him alone, and when he finished urinating. Allah's Messenger (may peace be upon him) called him and said to him: "These mosques are not the places meant for urine and filth, but are only for the remembrance of Allah (may He be Glorified and Exalted), Salah, and the recitation of the Qur'an." In another narration: The Messenger (peace be upon him) said: "Leave him alone and pour a bucket of water over his urine because you have been sent as lenient for people and not harshers."

Of these simplifications on new Muslims: A person should not ordain what is not obligatory on himself such as making up for the acts of worship that he missed before Islam because he is not bound to compensate those acts and such obligation for compensation might make him hate Islam, moreover no scholar has ever said that. Al Suyuty (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) was asked about the issue of infidels when one of them becomes a Muslim and wants to compensate for the Salah, fasting, and Zakah that he missed during disbelief time; should he do that? Has it been confirmed that anyone from the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) did that when he became a Muslim?

He said: The answer is: yes, he may do that because that was proven from the speech of the Companions whether in general or in details. As for the general speech, An-Nawawy said in "Sharh Al Muhadh-dhab": Our Companions have agreed that it is not incumbent on infidels to compensate for Salah, Zakah, fasting, Hajj (pilgrimage), and other obligatory acts of Islam. The meaning is: They are not asked to compensate for them in the world as long as they are disbelievers and when one of them becomes a Muslim, it is not incumbent on him to compensate for the past acts of worship. So, the meaning negated obligation but left the door open for permissibility. The wordings of "Al Muhadh-dhab" are: If he becomes a Muslim, he is not asked to compensate for them because of Allah's Saying: "Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven. But if they return (thereto), then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded (as a warning)." [Surat Al Anfal: 38] because if we had obligated this on him, it will make him hate Islam, therefore, he was pardoned. So, they negated the obligation, but left the door open for permissibility and desirability.

Ibn `Uthaimain (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) said: As for infidels, fasting is not obligatory and is not permissible for them because —in the state of disbelief— they are not asked to do any acts of worship. However, when they become Muslims during Ramadan, they are not asked to compensate the previous days because of Allah's Saying: "Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven. But if they return (thereto), then the examples of those (punished) before them have already preceded (as a warning)." [Surat Al Anfal: 38]. However, if a person becomes a Muslim during a day of Ramadan, he should fast the rest of the day because he became a Muslim and Islam entails that a Muslim fasts, but he is not obliged to compensate because he was not a Muslim when the fasting began.

Hence:
A new Muslim should understand the rulings of Islam and know its easiness and kindness.

Callers for Islam should realize that simplification is one of the principles of Islam. Furthermore, it is one of the main means in holding new Muslims firm on Islam. As for strictness and hardship, they are not from the Prophet's style because it averts a Muslim from Islam.