Question Summary:
Tawbah for leading friend to homosexuality

Question Detail:

salam,
when I was teenager I had a friend who was syed.  I was naughty and as prank put him in a situation where someone had sex with him. Since homosexuality is great sin and I feel guilty for putting my friend through it.  Even though I was also framed by person who wanted to do it to bring my friend with me.  And i left my friend there who later told me what happened.   Anyway i did not do anything myself.  Now my friend is deceased.  I want to know what I can do for his forgiveness and for my forgiveness.  I feel more guilty since he was syed.  Please tell me a way that we both feel free of this sin.  Thanks

Answer :

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.
As-salāmu ‘alaykum wa-rahmatullāhi wa-barakātuh.
Homosexuality is a grave sin. Allah speaks about the nation of Lut (عليه السلام) who were involved in this wretched act;
وَلُوطًا إِذْ قَالَ لِقَوْمِهِ أَتَأْتُونَ الْفَاحِشَةَ مَا سَبَقَكُمْ بِهَا مِنْ أَحَدٍ مِنَ الْعَالَمِينَ {80} إِنَّكُمْ لَتَأْتُونَ الرِّجَالَ شَهْوَةً مِنْ دُونِ النِّسَاءِ ۚ بَلْ أَنْتُمْ قَوْمٌ مُسْرِفُونَ {81} وَمَا كَانَ جَوَابَ قَوْمِهِ إِلَّا أَنْ قَالُوا أَخْرِجُوهُمْ مِنْ قَرْيَتِكُمْ ۖ إِنَّهُمْ أُنَاسٌ يَتَطَهَّرُونَ {82} فَأَنْجَيْنَاهُ وَأَهْلَهُ إِلَّا امْرَأَتَهُ كَانَتْ مِنَ الْغَابِرِينَ {83} وَأَمْطَرْنَا عَلَيْهِمْ مَطَرًا ۖ فَانْظُرْ كَيْفَ كَانَ عَاقِبَةُ الْمُجْرِمِينَ {84}
Translation: And remember Lut when he said to his people, “Do you commit such immorality which none before you have ever committed?
Indeed, you approach men with lust, instead of women. Rather, you are a transgressing people.”
Their only response was to say, “Evict them from your city! Indeed, they are men who keep themselves pure.”
So We saved him and his family, except for his wife; she was of those who remained (with the evildoers).
And We rained upon them a rain (of stones). Behold, how was the outcome of the criminals!
If one influences another to commit a sinful act, they both will receive the sin of that action. The sinner will be responsible due to his commitment of that action and the influencer will receive the sin in relation to his encouragement. Simply by not participating does not absolve one from the sin of that action.
Rasulullah (صلي الله عليه وسلم) says,
مَنْ سَنَّ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ سُنَّةً حَسَنَةً، فَلَهُ أَجْرُهَا، وَأَجْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا بَعْدَهُ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أُجُورِهِمْ شَيْءٌ، وَمَنْ سَنَّ فِي الْإِسْلَامِ سُنَّةً سَيِّئَةً، كَانَ عَلَيْهِ وِزْرُهَا وَوِزْرُ مَنْ عَمِلَ بِهَا مِنْ بَعْدِهِ، مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يَنْقُصَ مِنْ أَوْزَارِهِمْ شَيْءٌ (صحيح مسلم ١٠١٧)
“He who sets a good precedent in Islam, there is a reward for him for this (act of goodness) and reward of that also who acted according to it subsequently, without any deduction from their rewards.
He who sets in Islam an evil precedent, there is upon him the burden of that, and the burden of him also who acted upon it subsequently, without any deduction from their burden.”
However, we commend your acknowledgement of the sin and your attempt to remedy the situation. Allah (سبحانه وتعالي) with His infinite mercy and love has given you this chance for redemption.
We advise you to beseech Allah and seek His forgiveness for yourself and on behalf of your friend. Completely disassociate yourself from that sin and vow never to return to it. Alongside that, be mindful in performing your daily prayers. Give charity and recite Quran on behalf of your friend as well.
May Allah forgive you and your friend and grant him Jannah. Ameen.
And Allah Ta’āla Knows Best
Saad Haque
Student Darul Iftaa
New Jersey, USA
Checked and Approved by,
Mufti Husain Kadodia.