Ablution and Prayer as Commanded by Allah

📖Sunan al-Nasā’ī 144
Abu Ayyub reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Whoever performs ablution and prayer as he has been commanded, he will be forgiven for his previous misdeeds.”

This hadith teaches that when a Muslim performs ablution properly and prays sincerely as Allah has commanded, Allah forgives his past misdeeds – meaning minor sins such as bad speech, laziness, neglect, or small mistakes committed out of weakness. It does not mean that major sins such as rape, adultery, murder, theft, or knowingly rejecting Allah’s commands are automatically forgiven without sincere repentance. Major sins require true repentance, stopping the act, regretting it, and seeking Allah’s mercy.

Quranic Context:

📖Quran 11:114
Establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds erase misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.
Good deeds like prayer remove misdeeds, but this applies to minor sins. Major crimes cannot be erased by prayer alone if done knowingly.

📖Quran 5:6
O you who have believed, when you rise to [perform] prayer, wash your faces and your forearms to the elbows, and wipe over your heads and wash your feet to the ankles…
This verse shows the command of ablution, without which prayer is incomplete.

So, the hadith reminds us that prayer with proper ablution cleanses the soul from minor sins, and the Qur’an confirms that prayer is a shield against wrongdoing – but deliberate major sins demand sincere repentance and accountability.

📖Quran 4:48
Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him, but He forgives what is less than that for whom He wills. And whoever associates others with Allah has certainly fabricated a tremendous sin

Note: Repeated minor sins can turn into major sins if done persistently without regret.

 What About Major Sins?

Major sins include: murder, adultery, rape, theft, interest, and oppression.

• If someone commits such crimes, they must repent sincerely and face the prescribed worldly punishment if proven.
• Allah can forgive any sin if repentance is sincere before death:

Qur’an 39:53
Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.

• Forgiveness from Allah does not remove the requirement for justice in this world.

Qur’an 5:45
And We prescribed for them in it: a life for a life, an eye for an eye, a nose for a nose, an ear for an ear, a tooth for a tooth, and for wounds [equal] retribution. But if anyone remits it by charity, it is expiation for him.

Context

• This law was prescribed to the Children of Israel and similarly in Islam for justice.
• Who applies it? The victim or the victim’s family has the right to demand retribution (Qisas).
• Optional forgiveness: If the victim or family chooses to forgive, it is considered an act of charity and reward, and the perpetrator is not punished in the worldly sense.
• Purpose: This ensures justice and fairness, prevents personal vengeance, and allows mercy to be exercised consciously.

Qur’an 2:178
“O you who have believed, prescribed for you is legal retribution for those murdered—the free for the free, the slave for the slave, and the female for the female. But if any remission is made by the brother [i.e., the victim’s family], then grant any reasonable demand and compensate them with good conduct. This is an alleviation from your Lord and a mercy.

Qur’an 5:38-39
As for the thief, the male and female, amputate their hands in recompense for what they committed as a deterrent from Allah. And Allah is Exalted in Might and Wise. But whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, indeed Allah will turn to him in forgiveness.”

• These verses show that worldly punishments must be applied to maintain justice, while Allah’s forgiveness remains open for sincere repentance. Related article: Punishment for Theft in Islam

Qur’anic Context

Surah Hud 11:114
“Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember.”

Surah An-Nisa 4:31
If you avoid the major sins which you are forbidden, We will remove from you your lesser sins and admit you to a noble entrance.”

Surah Az-Zumar 39:53
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’”

These verses show that minor sins are easily forgiven through acts of worship, including prayer.

Lesson for Today

• Focus on praying sincerely and mindfully, even for small daily sins.
• Avoid thinking forgiveness is automatic for repeated negligence – intention and awareness matter.
• Minor sins can be erased easily, motivating believers to maintain consistency in prayer and dhikr.

Forgiveness for Past Crimes of New Muslims

When a person reverts to Islam, their previous actions – committed before embracing Islam – are generally forgiven by Allah, provided they sincerely repent and embrace the faith.

1. Acts Committed Under Ignorance or Falsehood

• Non-Muslims follow laws, customs, and social norms outside the guidance of Allah.
• Actions done under these systems – whether theft, deception, or other minor crimes – are considered sins of ignorance or error, not deliberate rebellion against Allah.

2. Fear of Allah and Repentance

• Upon accepting Islam, the new Muslim acknowledges Allah’s authority, repents, and intends to follow His guidance.
• This sincere fear of Allah and obedience allows Allah to forgive past sins.

3, Accountability of Those Who Misled Them

• People who misled or deceived them into committing crimes are responsible for influencing them to follow falsehood.
• Allah holds these deceivers accountable for leading others astray.

What are Major Sins in Islam?

• Shirk (associating partners with Allah) – Quran 4:48
• Murder (killing without right) – Quran 17:33
• Practicing magic/witchcraft – Quran 2:102
• Abandoning prayer (Salat) – Quran 19:59
• Not paying Zakat – Quran 9:34-35
• Breaking fast of Ramadan without excuse
• Not performing Hajj when able – Quran 3:97
• Disobeying parents – Quran 17:23
• Consuming interest (riba) – Quran 2:275
• Consuming the wealth of orphans – Quran 4:10
• Stealing – Quran 5:38
• Drinking alcohol/intoxicants – Quran 5:90
• Gambling – Quran 5:90
• Adultery and fornication (zina) – Quran 17:32
• False accusation of adultery – Quran 24:4
• Homosexual acts – Quran 7:80-81
• Theft from war booty – Quran 3:161
• Fleeing from battlefield – Quran 8:15-16
• Hypocrisy – Quran 4:145
• Lying about Allah and His Messenger – Quran 39:60

These are Major Sins in Islam
Some of them may be forgiven depending on why someone committed them, whether they repented, or if they received punishment in this world. If they did them by mistake, the ruling differs from doing them knowingly. To fully understand, read all the hadith from our site – we have already explained each case in other articles.