that is painful in this world and the Hereafter.”

Moreover, the hypocrite is inwardly a disbeliever. When he comes to believe, his past is forgiven, so he is not required to make up those deeds, just as an open disbeliever is not required to do so upon embracing Islam.

As for whether, upon repenting, he is rewarded for his earlier deeds, his case resembles that of a disbeliever who does good deeds during his disbelief and then embraces Islam: is he rewarded for them? It is reported in the two Sahīh collections that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said to Hakīm ibn Hizām:

“You have embraced Islam with the good you did before.”

As for someone who repents of showing off, having believed all along that the deed was obligatory, his case resembles the issue we are discussing: that of someone who has not committed himself to fulfilling what is obligatory, even if he is not inwardly a disbeliever. Requiring him to make up those deeds would be a powerful deterrent to repentance.

A man may spend a long period praying without paying zakat, and perhaps without fasting either. He pays no heed to whether his wealth comes from lawful or unlawful sources, nor does he observe the limits governing marriage, divorce, and other matters. He is thus in a state of ignorance, except that he identifies as a Muslim. When Allah then guides him and accepts his repentance, if he is required to make up all the obligations he has neglected and ordered to return all that