Repentance is one of the important matters, closely linked to every believing individual who cares about purifying and nurturing their soul. We all need repentance due to the abundance of sins that emanate from us, whether we are aware of them or not, whether we mention them or not. If a person were to reckon the sins they commit, they would find that the sins recurring throughout their life are numerous indeed. Perhaps only the blessings of God could equal and outnumber our sins. Allah’s blessings are plentiful, yet humans often respond to these blessings with ungratefulness.
This reminds us of the supplication of Imam al-Sajjād (a), which he dictated to Abū Ḥ amzah al-Thumālī, where he says:
Our sins are before You; we seek Your forgiveness O’ Allah for them and turn to You in repentance.
You show Your affection to us by blessings, while we oppose You with sins. Your goodness towards us is continuous, and our evil towards You ascends. A noble angel is always reporting to You our ugly deeds, yet that does not prevent You from surrounding us with Your blessings and favoring us with Your bounties.47 Therefore, we always need repentance.
There is a narration in this regard, and it is authentic in its chain of transmission. The narration is reported by Muhammad ibn Muslim from Imam al-Bāqir (a) who said:
O’ Muhammad ibn Muslim, the sins of a believer, when he repents from them, are forgiven for him. So, let the believer continue with righteous deeds after repentance and forgiveness. By Allah, it is only for the people of faith.
To open a new page after seeking forgiveness and repentance, by Allah, it is only for the people of faith. This is significant for us humans.
Muhammad ibn Muslim asked, "What if one returns after repentance and seeking forgiveness from sins, and then returns to repentance?" The Imam (a) responded,
O Muhammad ibn Muslim, do you think a believing servant regrets his sin, seeks forgiveness from Allah, and repents, yet Allah does not accept his repentance?!"
This is the first condition of repentance, regret over the sin.
Muhammad ibn Muslim continued, "He repeatedly commits sins, then repents and seeks forgiveness!" The Imam (a) said,
Whenever a believer returns with seeking forgiveness and repentance, Allah responds with forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful. He accepts repentance and pardons sins. So, beware of causing despair in the hearts of the believers regarding Allah's mercy.
This is how you should believe in Allah, the Exalted!
Indeed, the mercy of Allah encompasses everything.
It is mentioned in the hadith that Allah's mercy is hoped for even by Satan!
Do you think that if a servant sins but regrets his sin, seeks forgiveness from Allah, and repents, then Allah does not forgive his sin? Allah is not like that. Will Allah not accept his repentance?
The believer may sin and repent repeatedly; they may sin, then repent and seek forgiveness from Allah. The Imam (a) tells us that Allah will continue to forgive these sins so long as the believer continues to return to Him penitently.
This principle applies universally. Allah, who is Forgiving and Merciful, accepts repentance and pardons sins. Beware of discouraging believers from the vast mercy of Allah. Do not say to another believer, "You have claimed to repent so many times, but every time you fall back into sin! Allah will not accept your repentance!"
Do not discourage believers from the vast mercy of Allah, as He accepts repentance from His servants always and forever.
Encourage them to hold onto the hope that Allah will accept their repentance if they turn back to Him. Indeed, Allah will grant them forgiveness upon their return to Him.
However, repentance is conditional upon certain factors. Is it certain that Allah accepts repentance without any issue? This is an essential and undeniable matter. Repentance is accepted so long as it is done according to its conditions. And one of its conditions, as indicated in the noble narration, is remorse and determination to abandon sin.
It is not permissible to claim repentance while not being determined to abandon sin. This is akin to mocking Allah!
Do you think that He does not see into your heart and mind, and will take your utterance of repentance at face value? No!
Repentance requires genuine remorse for past actions, verbal expression of remorse, and a firm determination to abandon sin. Surely, Allah, the Exalted, will accept the repentance of such an individual.
The concept of repentance holds a central place in Islamic teachings, embodying the idea of seeking forgiveness from Allah for one's transgressions. It is a fundamental aspect of faith and spiritual growth for every believer who seeks purification and improvement of their character.
In the Islamic tradition, it is acknowledged that humans are prone to err, to stumble along the path of righteousness. Yet, it is also emphasized that no sin is too great for Allah's mercy to encompass, as long as the sinner sincerely turns back to Him in repentance.
The Imam's words highlight a profound truth: whenever a believer turns to Allah in repentance, seeking forgiveness with sincerity and humility, Allah responds with His boundless mercy. He is described as al-Ghafūr (the Forgiving) and al-Raḥ īm (the Merciful), attributes that underscore His readiness to accept repentance and pardon sins. This assurance is intended to instill hope and encouragement in believers, reminding them not to despair of Allah's mercy, no matter how grave their transgressions may seem.
However, this divine mercy is not unconditional. Repentance must be accompanied by genuine remorse and a firm resolve to abandon sinful behavior. It is not merely a matter of asking for forgiveness verbally but entails a deep inner transformation – a turning away from disobedience towards obedience to Allah's commands.
Furthermore, our Imams cautioned against undermining the hope of fellow believers in Allah's mercy. Discouraging others by suggesting that their sins are too numerous or severe for Allah to forgive goes against the spirit of Islam. Instead, believers are urged to foster an environment of compassion, support, and encouragement, helping one another to turn back to Allah and seek His forgiveness.
Ultimately, the message conveyed is one of hope, reminding believers that Allah's mercy is vast and all-encompassing. As long as there is sincere repentance and a genuine desire to change, Allah's forgiveness is readily available to those who seek it.