Fatwa ID: 08020
Answered by: Mawlana Abdurrahman Mohammad
Question:
How do I deal with doubts regarding the validity of my repentance, specifically the fear that because I think it is likely I will commit the sin again I feel unable to make a firm resolve to not commit the sin I am repenting for. Is my Tawba valid?
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
Answer:
Allah (SWT) is Al-Ghafoor (The Most-Forgiving) and Al-Raheem (The Most-Merciful). We are only human and are bound to make mistakes, but this should not make us despair and lose hope in the mercy of Allah. Allah SWT says in the Quran:
Say, ˹O Prophet, that Allah says,˺ “O My servants who have exceeded the limits against their souls! Do not lose hope in Allah’s mercy, for Allah certainly forgives all sins. He is indeed the All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.[1]
It has been narrated that the Prophet (ﷺ) said:
Every son of Adam commits sin, and the best of those who commit sin are those who repent.[2]
True repentance (Tawbah) involves acknowledging one’s mistake, feeling genuine regret, seeking forgiveness from Allah, making amends, and having a firm resolve to never repeat the sin.
When a person sincerely repents, they should always have hope that Allah (SWT) will accept their repentance and forgive them, even if it is a repeated sin. Every time Allah SWT accepts Tawbah, that sin is wiped from their record. It has been narrated that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
The one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.[3]
If a person falls into the same sin again, they should not despair but instead repent to Allah again. In a narration from Sahih Muslim, Allah (SWT) describes a scenario where a servant repeatedly sins and asks for forgiveness:
O Allah, forgive me my sins, and Allah (the Exalted and Glorious) said: My servant committed a sin and then he came to realise that he has a Lord Who forgives the sins and takes to account (the sinner) for the sin. He then again committed a sin and said: My Lord, forgive me my sin, and Allah, the Exalted and High, said: My servant committed a sin and then came to realise that he has a Lord Who would forgive his sin or would take (him) to account for the sin. He again committed a sin and said: My Lord, forgive me for my sin, and Allah (the Exalted and High) said: My servant has committed a sin and then came to realise that he has a Lord Who forgives the sins or takes (him) to account for sin. O servant, do what you like. I have granted you forgiveness. ‘Abd al-A’la said: I do not know whether he said thrice or four times to do” what you desire”.[4]
Having the firm resolve to not repeat a particular sin is required in Tawbah. It is not a condition that you actually stop the sin immediately. Some bad habits are tough to break. As long as you feel remorse and are determined to never repeat that action, have hope in Allah’s mercy. Do not let despair or the whispers of Satan lead you astray. Shaytan is trying to discourage you, making you feel that repentance is useless or that your sins are too great to be forgiven. Remember that as long as you are sincere in your repentance, you can have hope that Allah (SWT) will forgive you. Keep your faith strong and think well of Allah (SWT). It has been narrated that:
Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said, “Allah said, ‘I am to my slave as he thinks of Me, (i.e. I am able to do for him what he thinks I can do for him).’”[5]
Only Allah (عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ) knows best.
Written by Mawlana Abdurrahman Mohammad
Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah
Darul Ifta Birmingham
References:
[1] قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
(Surah Az-Zumar 39:53)
[2] حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ مَنِيعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا زَيْدُ بْنُ الْحُبَابِ، حَدَّثَنَا عَلِيُّ بْنُ مَسْعَدَةَ، عَنْ قَتَادَةَ، عَنْ أَنَسٍ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ : “ كُلُّ بَنِي آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ وَخَيْرُ الْخَطَّائِينَ التَّوَّابُونَ ” .
(Sunan Ibn Majah 4251, Book 37, Hadith 152)
[3] حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ سَعِيدٍ الدَّارِمِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ الرَّقَاشِيُّ، حَدَّثَنَا وُهَيْبُ بْنُ خَالِدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ، عَنْ أَبِي عُبَيْدَةَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، عَنْ أَبِيهِ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ـ صلى الله عليه وسلم ـ : “ التَّائِبُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ كَمَنْ لاَ ذَنْبَ لَهُ ”
(Sunan Ibn Majah 4250, Book 37, Hadith 151)
[4] حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى بْنُ حَمَّادٍ، حَدَّثَنَا حَمَّادُ بْنُ سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ إِسْحَاقَ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، بْنِ أَبِي طَلْحَةَ عَنْ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنِ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فِيمَا يَحْكِي عَنْ رَبِّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ قَالَ ” أَذْنَبَ عَبْدٌ ذَنْبًا فَقَالَ اللَّهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي . فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِي ذَنْبًا فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ . ثُمَّ عَادَ فَأَذْنَبَ فَقَالَ أَىْ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي . فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى عَبْدِي أَذْنَبَ ذَنْبًا فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ . ثُمَّ عَادَ فَأَذْنَبَ فَقَالَ أَىْ رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِي ذَنْبِي . فَقَالَ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِي ذَنْبًا فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ وَاعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكَ ” . قَالَ عَبْدُ الأَعْلَى لاَ أَدْرِي أَقَالَ فِي الثَّالِثَةِ أَوِ الرَّابِعَةِ ” اعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ ” .
(Sahih Muslim 2758a, Book 50, Hadith 33)
[5] حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الْيَمَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا شُعَيْبٌ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو الزِّنَادِ، عَنِ الأَعْرَجِ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ “ قَالَ اللَّهُ أَنَا عِنْدَ ظَنِّ عَبْدِي بِي ”.
(Sahih al-Bukhari 7505, Book 97, Hadith 130)
