Muslim

Hadith Commentary: Benefits and Issues:
The purpose of embracing Islam is that a person refrains from his deeds of disbelief. Therefore, by accepting Islam, all previous deeds are forgiven. If a person, even after bringing faith, does not refrain from his previous deeds, it means that he has become a Muslim only outwardly; he has not truly accepted Islam. Therefore, he will be held accountable for all his deeds.

� Understanding of the Hadith:
The meaning of this hadith, as explained by the group of scholars, is that whoever accepts Islam both outwardly and inwardly and becomes a true Muslim, all his previous sins are forgiven, as is mentioned in the hadith: «الإِسْلَامَ يَهْدِمُ، ‏‏‏‏‏‏مَا كَانَ قَبْلَهُ» [مسلم : 121]
And whoever accepts Islam outwardly but does not accept it inwardly, then such a person is a hypocrite and remains upon his disbelief. He will be held accountable not only for the sins committed after his apparent acceptance of Islam but also for the sins of the period of ignorance. [شرح مسلم للنوي : 200/2]

Hadith Commentary:
It is understood from this that Islam erases all the evil deeds of the pre-Islamic era (jahiliyyah).
After embracing Islam, one should not commit the deeds of jahiliyyah.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Sins from the period of ignorance are forgiven upon embracing Islam, as is mentioned in the hadith:
“Islam wipes out whatever came before it (of sins).”
(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Hadith: 321(121))
The statement of Allah, the Exalted, is:
“Say to those who disbelieve that if they desist, what has previously occurred will be forgiven for them.”
(Al-Anfal 8:38)
In light of this situation, the meaning of the above hadith is that if, after embracing Islam, a person persists in committing sins, then he will be reproached for the sins committed during the time of disbelief. It is as if he will be told:
Did you not do such and such when you were a disbeliever? Why did you not desist from those sins after embracing Islam? Thus, for the sins committed after embracing Islam, there will be accountability, and for those committed before, there will be reproach.

(2)
Hafiz Ibn Hajar rahimahullah states that the meaning of “evil” (isaa’ah) in Islam is to become an apostate (murtadd), because the greatest sin after embracing Islam is to adopt disbelief (kufr). If someone dies in that state, he will be held accountable for all sins.
Imam Bukhari rahimahullah has also alluded to this, as he mentioned this hadith after the hadith concerning the gravest of major sins (akbar al-kaba’ir), and he has narrated all these ahadith under the chapter heading of apostates (murtaddin).
(Fath al-Bari: 12/333)

(3)
Allamah Kirmani writes that the meaning of “evil” (isaa’ah) in Islam is that his Islam is not sound, or his faith (iman) is not sincere, but rather there is hypocrisy (nifaq) in it.
(‘Umdat al-Qari: 16/196)
According to our inclination, the meaning of “evil” (isaa’ah) in Islam is apostasy (irtidad) from the religion, and the meaning of “excellence” (ihsan) in Islam is constancy and permanence upon it, and the abandonment of acts of disobedience (ma‘asi, i.e., sins).
And Allah knows best.

Benefits and Issues:

➊ The statement of the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) is: Islam wipes out (sins) committed before it. (Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Chapter: Islam Destroys What Came Before It, Hadith: 121) Whoever accepts Islam with sincerity of heart, his sins from the time of ignorance are forgiven.

➋ Whoever, after accepting Islam, does not abandon the habits and evil deeds of the time of ignorance, it becomes evident that he has not accepted Islam with his heart. Therefore, his previous sins are not forgiven.

➌ Whoever accepts Islam with sincerity, and then, due to human nature, commits a sin, he will not be held accountable for the deeds of the time of disbelief. Because a Muslim does not become a disbeliever by committing a major sin. Those noble Companions (radi Allahu anhum ajma'in) from whom such sins were committed, the prescribed punishment (hadd) was carried out upon them, the Noble Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) performed their funeral prayer, and supplicated for their forgiveness.

➍ A Muslim should strive to become a true Muslim, so that his sins may be forgiven and he may attain a high rank in Paradise.

Benefit:
This hadith establishes the importance and virtue of righteous deeds, whether they are performed in a state of disbelief or in a state of Islam, and it establishes the condemnation of evil deeds, regardless of the state in which they are committed. The Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Islam wipes out what came before it (of sins).” (Sahih Muslim: 121) And there will be no reckoning for the sins committed during the period of ignorance (Jahiliyyah). Whoever, after accepting Islam, does not abandon the evil deeds of the period of ignorance, then such a person has not truly accepted Islam, nor is he sincere in his heart; therefore, he will be held accountable for the sins of both periods (the period of disbelief and the period of Islam). It should also be remembered here that if a person becomes Muslim and sincerely accepts Islam, but due to being human, commits a sin, then because of that sin he will not become a disbeliever. Rather, he should repent from his sin; otherwise, his matter is with Allah Ta’ala—if He wills, He may forgive him, or if He wills, He may punish him.