Answered by Muftī Yūsuf Badāt
Question:
What are the steps to an accepted repentance after sinning?
Answer:
In the Name of Allāh, The Most Merciful, The Most Kind
Thank you/ Jazāk Allāh Khayr for contacting Mathābah for your question.
Here below are the steps one should take for an accepted repentance:
- Immediately abandon the sin, for the sake of Allāh, the Almighty.
- Feel remorse, sadness and regret for committing the sin. Do not engage in glorifying or longing for committing the sin.
- Resolve to never return back to the sin.
- If the sin entailed violation of someone else’s honour, reputation, property or belongings, return the property, it’s value or replacement, and or restore the rights through apology and forgiveness, from whoever was violated. If the rights of Allāh were violated such as missing prayers or not discharging zakāh, then make up for the missed prayers and give the outstanding zakāh charity.
- Lead a righteous and honest life, away from evil, sin and bad companionship. Stay away from any place, people or triggers that incite the sin.
“Allāh loves those who are constantly repentant.” – (Qur’ān 2:222)[1]
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful. And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.” – (Qur’ān 39:53-54)[2]
“Seek forgiveness of your Lord and repent to Him.” – (Qur’ān 11:3)[3]
“Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous work. For them Allāh will replace their evil deeds with good. And ever is Allāh Forgiving and Merciful.” – (Qur’ān 25:70)[4]
Allāh’s Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “O people, seek repentance from Allāh. Verily, I seek repentance from Him a hundred times daily.” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2702)[5]
“He who seeks repentance [from the Lord] before the rising of the sun from the west [meaning before Judgment Day], Allāh will accept the repentance.” – (Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim 2703)[6]
“Every son of Ādam sins, and the best of the sinners are the repentant.” – (Tirmidhī 2499)[7]
Tafsīr Al-Qurṭubīy quotes, the knowledgeable tābi’īy (successor), Muḥammad Ibn Ka’ab Al-Quraḍhīy (may Allāh have mercy on him) as follows, “Sincere repentance incorporates four matters, seeking forgiveness verbally, abandoning sin physically, resolving to never return to the sin sincerely, and disassociating with bad association permanently.” – (Tafsīr Al-Qurṭubīy Vol 18, Page 198) [8]
And Allāh Knows Best
[1] إِنَّ اللَّهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ – البقرة ٢٢٢
[2] قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِنْ رَحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَى رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِنْ قَبْلِ أَنْ يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنْصَرُونَ – سورة الزمر٥٣
[3] وَأَنِ اسْتَغْفِرُوا رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُوا إِلَيْهِ – سورة هود ٣
[4] إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللهُ غَفُورًا رَحِيمًا – سورة الفرقان ٧٠
[5] يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ فَإِنِّي أَتُوبُ فِي الْيَوْمِ إِلَيْهِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ – رواه مسلم ٢٧٠٢
[6] مَنْ تابَ قبل أن تطلُعَ الشمسُ من مَغْرِبها تاب اللهُ عليه – رواه مسلم٢٧٠٣
[7] كُلُّ ابن آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ وخيرُ الخطائين التَّوَّابون – رواه الترمذي ٢٤٩٩
[8] قال محمد بن كعب القرظي التوبة النَّصُوح يجمعُها أربعةُ أشياء الاستغفارُ باللِّسان وإقلاعٌ بالأبدان وإضمارُ تَرْكِ العَوْدِ بالجَنان، ومهاجرة سيِّئ الخِلَّان ـ تفسير القرطبي، ج ١٨ص ١٩٨
