How sound is the Hadith: "Indeed, Allah has withheld repentance from every innovator until he abandons his innovation"? What is the extent of its comprehensiveness regarding the acceptance of an innovator's repentance, and does it include all people of innovation, those with malicious intent and those who are deluded, as well as minor and major innovations? Is the intention that repentance is withheld from him for his innovation, or for all his sins?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
In summary, the innovator (mubtadi') usually does not consider repentance because he believes his innovation is an act of worship (qurbah). However, if he repents, Allah will accept his repentance, due to the general evidence for the acceptance of repentance. The repentance of an innovator is by admitting that what he is practicing is an innovation, abandoning it, and believing the opposite of what he used to believe concerning it.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Ftawy
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- 139811
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- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
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- Read the full answer on Ftawy