Question:

A questioner says that he used to commit a major sin that requires a Hadd (“prescribed legal punishment”) upon the one who does it, but he has resolved to make a sincere repentance, regretted what has passed, and resolved to perform Hajj. Should he surrender himself to the Sharia court so that the hadd punishment may be carried out upon him, or is his sincere repentance sufficient and will Allah conceal him in this world and the Hereafter?

Answer:

It is obligatory upon him to repent to Allah a sincere repentance, adhere to his religion by performing the acts of worship and legal duties enjoined upon him, avoid the prohibitions that Allah the Exalted has forbidden him, and be truthful in this repentance. Allah, the Glorified and Exalted, accepts the repentance of whoever repents.

It is not incumbent upon him—so long as the hadd right does not belong to a creature (another person)—to surrender himself to the authorities to have the punishment carried out upon him. His repentance is sufficient if it is truthful, righteous, and if he remains steadfast upon the religion of Allah, believes, and does righteous deeds in the future of his life. Indeed, if Allah wills, this will suffice him, and it is not obligatory—in fact, it is not even recommended—for him to surrender himself or go to the authorities to confess to the sin that befell him. Therefore, he should conceal himself with the concealment of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, alongside sincere repentance and righteous deeds.