[posimoka]

dear brothers and sisters, i have done many sins in my life, and knowing that we have to tell the truth, if someone asks me if i did a sin,for example smoking weed or drinking, is it ok to lie? Because if i say i sinned it might give them a reason to do the sin that i did, and if i lie to them then theyre just going to be like whatever, but then its a sin to lie no? Help please what should i do? First i told Allah of my problem now im here, so i think Allah brought me here to find answers. So help please.

[gunhijala]

dear brothers and sisters, i have done many sins in my life, and knowing that we have to tell the truth, if someone asks me if i did a sin,for example smoking weed or drinking, is it ok to lie? Because if i say i sinned it might give them a reason to do the sin that i did, and if i lie to them then theyre just going to be like whatever, but then its a sin to lie no? Help please what should i do? First i told Allah of my problem now im here, so i think Allah brought me here to find answers. So help please.

Just say "I don't want to talk about it" or "Whatever happened in the past happened in the past" or "Let bygone be bygone" or.. or.. just don't say specifically what you did. If they persist, ask them "What benefit that you have if you know whatever that I was doing back then?" or just say "Seriously?"

If they are just going to be like "Whatever" then you say "Whatever" as well. You don't need their approval to live.

[womberte]

In general, revealing your sin is haram. Lying to cover a sin that is solely between you and Allah is permissible, but it is better to avoid answering the question directly by saying something like, "Why would a Muslim drink?", "What makes you think I would do it?" etc.

But if people are being wronged by your lies, then you have to tell the truth in order to rectify the situation.

[WenPyclenoWex]

Yeah, I am pretty sure I read in Reliance of the Traveler that it's discouraged to reveal your sins so that the sin doesn't become normalized in the eyes of the community. This has a lot of wisdom in it. One of the most common refrains you hear from someone committing a sin is "but everyone does it."

If you're doing it for instructional purposes I don't think it would be such an issue. For example, say you drank heavily in the past and someone who has never really drank asks you about it. They might say stuff like "oh it's no big deal" and the like, but you, having drunk in the past, would know the perils of it. In that case, I think you'd be justified in revealing your sins. A lot of people simply won't listen to someone if that person has never had any actual experience with what they're discussing.

[WumibBesowe]

Bismihi Ta'ala,
Dear Brother,

Under no condition should you disclose your sin(s). You are not obligated to do so as far as Islamic law is concerned. If you have made repented sincerely from that sin or sins in general, then it is as if you have not committed them to begin with. With repentance, you get a clean slate, a clean record, a fresh start.

Yes, telling the truth is a salient feature of a proper Muslim, however in this situation, you are not lawfully bound to disclose your past. It is impermissible to cause harm to a Muslim. If by disclosing your past that you have repented from will cause you grief, then you do not need to disclose it as yo are also a Muslim.

That is how it should be from a legal standpoint and also a spiritual standpoint. You are not obligated to answer such silly questions aimed at you. Simply saying something like, "Look, the past is the past, and no one is perfect. I have repented from my past and I do not want to revisit it in any way even it is by remembering it. It is between Allah and me. No one else has any right to meddle in such matters." Just be upfront in this manner. If the person's feelings get hurt, well then, you will know who really cares for you and who does not.

Also, please keep me in your prayers if possible.

Wassalaam,