Aslam

Praise be to Allah.

“Say: “O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by

committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allaah, verily,

Allaah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islamic Monotheism) to

your Lord and submit to Him (in Islam) before the torment comes upon you, (and)

then you will not be helped.

And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this

Qur’aan, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before

the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not!’”

[al-Zumar 39:53-54 – interpretation of the meaning]

I have received your letter and I was impressed with your eagerness to repent

and come back to Allaah, despite the fact that you have committed all kinds of

haraam actions, as you say, above all neglecting prayer. It is very important

that you should know that the gate of repentance is open to you. You should

think deeply about what is mentioned in the aayahs quoted above. I will also

tell you some practical steps which will show you clearly how to repent, in sha

Allah.

The word tawbah (repentance) is a great word with deep meaning. It is not, as

many people think, merely words to be uttered whilst persisting in sin. Think

about what Allaah says:

“Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance”

[Hood 11:3 – interpretation of the meaning]

You will see that repentance is something more than seeking forgiveness.

Because this is a serious matter, there have to be conditions attached. The

scholars mentioned the conditions of repentance, based on aayahs from the

Qur’aan and ahaadeeth. There follows a list of some of them:

1 – Giving up the sin immediately.

2 – Regretting what has happened in the past.

3 – Resolving not to go back to it.

4 – Making amends to those whom you have wronged, or asking for their

forgiveness.

You should not forget other important matters connected to sincere repentance,

such as:

1 – You should give up the sin for the sake of Allaah and not for any other

reason such as not being able to do it or repeat it, or being afraid of what

people will say, for example.

The person who gives up a sin because it may affect his standing or reputation

among people, or because it may cost him his job, cannot be described as having

repented.

The person who gives up sins for the sake of his health and strength cannot be

described as having repented, such as a person who gives up zinaa (adultery) and

immoral actions for fear of contagious deadly diseases, or for fear that they

may weaken his body and his memory.

The person who refrains from taking a bribe for fear that it may be being

offered by undercover officers cannot be described as having repented.

The person who gives up drinking alcohol and taking drugs because he has become

bankrupt cannot be described as having repented.

Similarly, the person who is unable to commit sin because of something that lies

beyond his control cannot be described as having repented, such as a liar who

becomes paralyzed and loses the power of speech, or an adulterer who loses the

ability to engage in intercourse, or a thief who has an accident and loses his

limbs. In such cases, a person has to feel regret and stop wishing to commit

sin, or he has to feel sorry for what has happened in the past. To someone like

this the Messenger (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: “Regret is

repentance.” (narrated by Ahmad and Ibn Maajah; Saheeh al-Jaami’, 6802)

2 – He should feel repelled by the sin and the harm it causes.

This means that sincere repentance cannot be accompanied by feelings of

enjoyment and pleasure when remembering past sins, or wishing to go back to it

in the future.

In his book al-Daa’ wa’l-Dawaa’ wa’l-Fawaa’id, Ibn al-Qayyim (may Allaah have

mercy on him) mentioned many of the harmful effects of sin, including the

following:

Being deprived of (Islamic) knowledge – feelings of alienation in the heart –

difficulties – physical weakness – being unable to do acts of worship – being

deprived of blessings – less help from Allaah – anxiety – more bad deeds –

getting used to sin – the sinner becomes insignificant in the sight of Allaah –

he becomes insignificant in the sight of people – the curse of the animals will

be upon him – he will bear marks of humiliation – his heart will be sealed and

he will come under the curse (of Allaah) – his du’aa’ will not be answered –

cause of mischief on land and sea – loss of gheerah (protective jealousy) – loss

of modesty – the blessings of Allaah will disappear – punishment will befall him

– terror in the heart of the sinner – falling into the clutches of the Shaytaan

– a bad end – punishment in the Hereafter.

Knowing these harmful effects of sin will make you want to keep away from sin

altogether, but some people may move from one sin to another for a number of

reasons, including the following:

- They think that it is less serious

- The self is more inclined towards it and the desire for it is stronger

- It is easier to commit this sin than others, unlike sins which require some

preparation; the means of doing it are readily available and widespread

- His friends and companions are committing this sin and it is difficult for him

to differ from them

- A particular sin may give a person some status among his companions, and it is

too difficult for him to lose this position, so he continues to commit that sin.

3 – He should hasten to repent. Hence delaying repentance is in and of itself a

sin for which repentance is required.

4 – You should make up the duties towards Allaah that you have missed, if that

is possible, such as paying the zakaah which you withheld in the past; and

because this is something which is the right of the poor.

5 – You should keep away from places of sin if your being there may make you

fall into sin again.

6 – You should keep away from those who helped you to commit sin.

Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“Friends on that Day will be foes one to another except Al-Muttaqoon (the

pious)”

[al-Zukhruf 43:67]

Bad friends will curse one another on the Day of Resurrection, so you should

keep away from them and break off your friendship with them, and warn others

against them if you are not able to call them (to Allaah). Do nt let the

Shaytaan deceive you or make the idea of going back to them in order to call

them to Allaah look attractive to you, for you know that you are weak and will

not be able to resist.

There are many cases in which people have gone back to sin because they resumed

relationships with their former companions.

7 – Destroy haraam things that you may have in your possession, such as

intoxicants, musical instruments, haraam pictures and movies, permissive

stories, statues and so on. They should be broken, destroyed or burnt.

It is very essential that the one who wants to repent should rid himself of all

items of jaahiliyyah. How often has it happened that keeping these haraam things

caused people who had repented to go back on their repentance and be led astray

after having been guided. We ask Allaah to make us steadfast.

8 – Choose righteous friends who will help you against your nafs (self) and who

will be an alternative to bad company. Strive to attend circles of dhikr and

gatherings of knowledge. Fill your time with beneficial things so that the

Shaytaan will not find any opportunity to remind you of the past.

9 – Focus on your body which has been fed on haraam substances and direct its

energies towards obeying Allaah. Seek out halaal substances with which to

nourish your body so that your flesh will be renewed with halaal substances.

10 – Do a lot of good deeds, for good deeds cancel out bad deeds.

If you are sincere in your repentance to Allaah, then receive the good news that

all your previous evil deeds will be changed into good deeds. Allaah says

(interpretation of the meaning):

“And those who invoke not any other ilaah (god) along with Allaah, nor kill such

person as Allaah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual

intercourse and whoever does this shall receive the punishment.

The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide

therein in disgrace;

Except those who repent and believe (in Islamic Monotheism), and do righteous

deeds; for those, Allaah will change their sins into good deeds, and Allaah is

Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful”

[al-Furqaan 25:68]

I ask Allaah to benefit you by these words, and to guide your heart. Now get up

and utter the Shahaadatyan, purify yourself (with ghusl) and pray as Allaah has

commanded you. Observe the Islamic duties regularly and give up haraam things. I

will be happy to help you in any way.

I ask Allaah to give us and you strength to do that which He loves and is

pleased with. May He accept the repentance of us all, for He is the One Who

accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.