The first thing that should be present in the repentance of a Muslim, regardless of how it is being done is remorse. A Muslim must realize and feel remorse for whatever sin he or she has committed. If one commits a sin and then stays arrogant about it and does repentance as a formality without any remorse on what he or she has done, then the chances of that repentance being accepted are minimal. Allah says:
وَالَّذِينَ عَمِلُواْ السَّيِّئَاتِ ثُمَّ تَابُواْ مِن بَعْدِهَا وَآمَنُواْ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِن بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ
“But those who committed misdeeds and then repented after them and believed – indeed your Lord, thereafter, is Forgiving and Merciful.” (Surah Al-A’raf: 153)
Islam realizes that humans make mistakes and intentionally or unintentionally they commit sins. Islam does not expect humans to not commit sins, rather what it wants from them is to realize their mistakes and repent upon their sins. Therefore, Islam does not expect humans to become angels, rather it expects them to be themselves and repent on whatever mistake that gets committed by them. Allah says:
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ
Say, “O Those who have transgressed against themselves, (do), not despair of (the) Mercy (of) Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives sins all. Indeed He, He (is) the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” (Surah Az-Zumar 39:53)
We are human beings sent into this world (Dunya) by Allah. As humans, we are flawed when we come into this world because Allah did not make us for this world. We were made for Jannah which is perfect. But when we are sent by Allah to this world, we make mistakes, we do mischief and we generally act ‘human’ because that is who we are in this world. Human. Flawed. But Allah also put us a spectacular quality. The ability to repent. To make mistakes and ask for forgiveness.
Here are some repentance and the forgiveness of sins:
- Allah’s mercy is all-encompassing and includes sinners
- Islam teaches us the importance of a healthy balance
- Sinning can become the basis of losing one’s honour
- Belittling one’s sins leads one to think they need
- Tawba begins with regret over one’s behaviour
- Sin is committed that violated another’s rights
- Assuming that one has attained Allah’s Mercy
- Tawba is the means of reviving one’s heart
- Sincerity within him that led him to embark
- God’s truth eventually takes root and leads
- Reparation is a practical aspect of tawba
- Tawba is initiated within the heart
- Deeds are considered by their intentions
- A believer, humility requires living a balance
- Beliefs rely at least in part on a fear of humiliation
- Islam emphasises one’s direct connection to Allah
- A believer is acutely aware of Allah’s presence in his life
- Reparation when it comes to sins involving disobedience
- One of the most destructive obstacles to tawba is despair
- To have faith is to accept as true that sins are a deadly poison
Repentance is a means to the infinite mercy of Allah and it is a shelter for the individual servant. Repentance should be made immediately, losing no time and should never be delayed. Lots of glad tidings are covenanted to those who repent and ask Allah for pardon. This is the greatest glad tiding for those who repent and combine their repentance with faith and good deeds. Allah says:
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ
“And it is He who accepts repentance from his servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do.” (Surah Ash Shuraa: 25)
Allah is Forgiving and Merciful, and He loves the repentance of His slaves. He commands them to repent so that He might forgive them. But the devils among mankind and the jinn want to turn people away from the truth and make them incline towards falsehood, as Allaah says:
إِنَّ اللّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ
“Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.” (Surah Al-Baqarah: 222)
Islam emphasizes justice and punishment of the wrongdoers, but it equally strongly emphasizes mercy, kindness, and love. Justice, law, and order are necessary for the maintenance of social order, but there is also a need for forgiveness to heal the wounds and to restore good relations between the people.
Allah Almighty says in The Holy Quran:
- “And He wishes to forgive you” (Quran 4:146)
- “Do not despair of God’s mercy; He will forgive you of all your sins.” (Quran:39:53)
- “Surely, Allah loves those people who constantly repent to Him (do Tawbah to Him).” (Quran, 2:222)
- “Allah wishes to accept your repentance, but those who follow their lusts, wish that you (believers) should deviate tremendously away (from the Right Path).” (Al-Nisaa’4:27)
- “Except for those who repent, have faith and good deeds, those Allah will change their sins for good deeds. Certainly, Allah is most forgiving and merciful.” (Quran 25:70)
- “And said, ‘Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver.” (Surah Nuh, 71:10)
- “Those who avoid major sins and acts of indecencies and when they are angry they forgive.” (Quran 42:37)
Repentance is extremely important in Islam since the beginning of the creation of mankind when Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden tree, and that by itself was a sin and they repented to Allah Azza Wa Jal. That is why the Almighty descended them to Earth with the promise that if they do well and their descendants they will go to Paradise. Allah says:
إِنَّمَا التَّوْبَةُ عَلَى اللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ السُّوءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ فَأُولَٰئِكَ يَتُوبُ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًا
“Repentance with Allah is only for those who do evil in ignorance, then turn (to Allah) soon, so these it is to whom Allah turns (mercifully), and Allah is ever Knowing, Wise.” (Surah Nisa, 4:17)
Repentance is the noblest and beloved form of obedience in the eyes of Allah. He loves those who repent and it is because of His love for His creation that He tests them with sins so that He may shower His blessings and favours upon them after they repent. Repentance is a feeling of regret for bad deeds in the past, then aim your heart to Allah. for the rest of your life and control yourself to do bad deeds. Allah says:
إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا
“Except for those who repent, have faith and good deeds, those Allah will change their sins for good deeds. Certainly, Allah is most forgiving and merciful.” (Surah Al-Furqan 25:70)
Repentance has a status that no other form of worship has. This is why Allah is extremely happy when a servant repents just as a traveller is happy when he finds his lost mount in the desert. Allah says:
وَاللّهُ يُرِيدُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيْكُمْ وَيُرِيدُ الَّذِينَ يَتَّبِعُونَ الشَّهَوَاتِ أَن تَمِيلُواْ مَيْلاً عَظِيماً
“Allah wants to accept your repentance.” (Surah An-Nisa: 27)
We must always exercise extreme vigilance and caution against all types of sins, both major and minor. We must develop the habit of repenting in the prescribed manner and expiate for our sins by consistently engaging in good works as best as we can. May Allah help us all to protect the purity of our hearts, and may He grant us forgiveness and mercy. Ameen.
