What happens to a person’s deeds before they embrace Islam? Are the good things they did counted? Are their sins forgiven? These are important questions, especially for new Muslims who have just embraced Islam.
New Muslims Receive Forgiveness and Reward
Words of the Prophetﷺ
Make things easy for people in matters of religion and do not make them difficult. Give them good news and do not make them run away (from Islam).
Book3Ch.5No.69
Al-Bukhari, M. (2020) Sahih Al-Bukhari. Compiled by M. Mohee Uddin.
Good Deeds Before Entering Islam Are Still Counted Narrated by Hakim bin Hizam: "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), what is your view on the deeds I did as acts of worship during the time of ignorance (Jahiliyyah), such as charity, freeing slaves, and maintaining family ties? Will they be rewarded?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "You have embraced Islam with all the good you have done in the past."
Sins Before Entering Islam Will Be Forgiven A man asked, "O Messenger of Allah (ﷺ), will we be punished for the bad things we did before Islam?" The Prophet (ﷺ) replied, "If someone does good after accepting Islam, they will not be punished for what they did before Islam. But if someone continues to do evil after accepting Islam, they will be punished for both their sins before Islam and after Islam."
Some new Muslims might overthink their past, "I used to party all the time, drink, go clubbing... Will Allah really accept me?" Yes. Allah absolutely accepts you. More than that, Allah loves you for choosing His way. Everything you did before is already forgiven. What matters now is staying consistent (istiqamah) in goodness after embracing Islam. Think of it like Allah wiping your record clean and starting you fresh, even rewarding you for whatever good you did before Islam. That's how vast His mercy is: He doesn't just forgive you, He gives you a blank page to write a completely new story.