Mu' meneen Brothers and Sisters,

As Salaam Aleikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.  (May Allah's Peace, Mercy and Blessings be upon all of you)

One of our brothers/sisters has asked this question:

We know as a fact that masturbation, cyber sex and watching

pornographics movies, etc. are completly forbidden in islam; now my question is that if by any chance somebody fall into these sins does it as a consequence to this act our prayers won`t be exepted (either before the act or after it)?and what if some of the chat had to be leading to homosexuality too?

Just to clear the question...they say that if you believe in horoscopes in these other similar things ure daily prayers won`t be accepted for 40 days... is it similar to this?

I hope you can answer me back as soon as possible

thanks 

(There may be some grammatical and spelling errors in the above statement. The forum does not change anything from questions, comments and statements received from our readers for circulation in confidentiality.)

Answer:

Are prayers not accepted if in sin?

In the name of Allah, We praise Him, seek His help and ask for His forgiveness. Whoever Allah guides none can misguide, and whoever He allows to fall astray, none can guide them aright. We bear witness that there is no one (no idol, no person, no grave, no prophet, no imam, no dai, nobody!) worthy of worship but Allah Alone, and we bear witness that Muhammad(saws) is His slave-servant and the seal of His Messengers.

There are indeed some sins where the Messenger of Allah (saws) has specifically mentioned that ones prayer will not be accepted by the All Mighty for forty days, etc.

A sin is a sin; and sins will eat into one’s good deeds! Although there is no particular declaration in the Quran and Sunnah that specifically says that the prayers of the one who commits the sins of illegal sex, or masturbation, etc. will not be accepted; it still remains a grave sin in the sight of Allah Subhanah.

Unless and until one seeks sincere repentance and forgiveness from Allah Subhanah, amends his conduct, and does righteous good deeds thereafter; these sins will decrease the weight from his balance of good deeds; and that would indeed be a great and manifest loss.

Allah Says in the Holy Quran Chapter 25 Surah Furqan verses 68-71:

68 (The true servants of the Merciful are) Those who invoke not with Allah any other god, nor slay such life as Allah has made sacred except for just cause, nor commit ‘zina’; and any that does this (not only) meets punishment

69 (But) the Penalty on the Day of Judgment will be doubled to him and he will dwell therein in ignominy

70 Unless he repents believes and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil of such persons into good; and Allah is Oft-Forgiving Most Merciful

71 And whoever repents and does good has truly turned to Allah with an (acceptable) conversion

Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah’s Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength.

Your Brother in Islam,

Burhan