Understanding concept of Tauba and Astaghfar (Repentance and Forgiveness) in Islam

The Arabic words Tauba and Astaghfar are commonly used together in the context of seeking mercy and forgiveness of Allah after one has sinned. However, while both Tauba (repentance) and Astaghfar (seeking forgiveness) are related to seeking Allah's mercy, they have slightly different meanings and implications. 

In the light of the Quran and Hadith, both Tauba (repentance) and Astaghfar (seeking forgiveness) are important concepts related to seeking Allah’s mercy. However, their meanings and applications have distinct differences, which can be seen more clearly through the verses of the Quran and sayings of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)

Let us try to understand the difference and how to use these two words to show one's regret after having sinned and seeking Divine forgiveness:

Tauba (Repentance)

• Definition: Tauba is a deeper, more comprehensive form of repentance. It involves turning back to Allah after committing a sin, feeling remorse for the sin, and making a strong commitment to never repeat that sin again.
• Key Elements of Tauba:
• Remorse: Truly feeling regret and sorrow for the sin committed.
• Abandonment of the sin: Stopping the sinful behavior immediately.
• Resolve not to return to the sin: Making a firm intention not to fall into that sin again.
• Seeking Allah's forgiveness: Asking Allah for His mercy and pardon.
• Tauba is a more profound process because it requires a sincere commitment to change and a transformation in one’s life. It's about not just asking for forgiveness but also turning away from the wrongdoing.

Astaghfar (Seeking Forgiveness)

• Definition: Astaghfar comes from the Arabic word "ghafara," meaning to cover or forgive. It refers specifically to asking Allah for forgiveness, typically using the phrase "Astaghfirullaha Rabbi min kulli dhambin wa atubu ilayh" (I ask Allah for forgiveness, my Lord, from every sin, and I turn to Him).
• Key Elements of Astaghfar:
• Seeking Allah's forgiveness for sins committed.
• It can be said repeatedly and often, whether or not a person is deeply committed to changing their behavior. It's a way of acknowledging human imperfection and continually turning to Allah in humility.
• Astaghfar is more general and can be used frequently, often for smaller sins or when a person is simply trying to maintain humility and avoid arrogance. It’s also a form of remembrance of Allah (dhikr).

Tauba (Repentance) in the Quran and Hadith

Tauba is a comprehensive concept that goes beyond just asking for forgiveness. Repentance requires not only seeking forgiveness but a change in behavior and the intention to avoid the sin in the future.Tauba is a deep commitment to turning back to Allah, correcting one's wrongs, and ensuring the sin is not repeated.

• Quranic References:
• Surah At-Tawbah (9:104): 
• "And know that Allah accepts repentance from His servants and takes the zakat from them and that He is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful." 
• This verse emphasizes that Allah accepts repentance, showing that turning to Allah in repentance is a process of returning to Him with sincerity.
• Surah Al-Furqan (25:70): 
• "As for those who repent, believe, and do good deeds, they are the ones whose evil deeds Allah will change into good deeds. For Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful."
• This highlights the importance of repentance (Tauba) in transforming one's evil deeds into good deeds, and the deep forgiveness that Allah offers.
• Hadith References:
• Sahih Muslim (3431): 
• The Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: "Every son of Adam sins, and the best of those who sin are those who repent."
• This hadith emphasizes the importance of returning to Allah through repentance after committing a sin, with the focus on a sincere transformation and commitment to better behavior.
• Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim Hadith 2703:
• "He who seeks repentance (from the Lord) before the rising of the sun from the west (before the Day of Resurrection), Allah turns to him with Mercy."
• Read our earlier post "Repent! Before the last time to repent arrives" for details
• Sunan Ibn Majah (4250): 
• It was narrated from Abu ‘Ubadah bin ‘Abdullah, that his father said: “The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: ‘The one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.’”
• This hadith illustrates the concept of Tauba, where the person acknowledges their sin, seeks forgiveness, and makes a sincere return to Allah.
• You may like to read our earlier post: Repentance - Tauba and listen to one of the eminent Muslim scholar Zakir Naik on the subject of how one can know that his repentance has been accepted.

Astaghfar (Seeking Forgiveness) in the Quran and Hadith

Astaghfar refers to the act of asking Allah for forgiveness for one's sins. It is a more general and frequent way to seek Allah's mercy. It can be done without necessarily having the deep commitment and resolution of Tauba but is still a way to seek Allah’s pardon for one's misdeeds.

• Quranic References:
• Surah Al-Baqarah (2:199): 
• "And when you depart from Arafat, remember Allah at Mash'ar al-Haram. And remember Him, as He has guided you..."
• This verse mentions remembering Allah, and this includes seeking His forgiveness (Astaghfar). It is a reminder to keep asking Allah for His mercy.
• Surah An-Nisa (4:110): 
• "Whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful."
• This verse shows that Astaghfar (asking forgiveness) is a means of receiving Allah’s forgiveness, and it is an act of turning to Allah in humility.
• Hadith References:
• Sahih al-Bukhari (6306): 
• The Prophet (ﷺ) said "The most superior way of asking for forgiveness from Allah is: O Allah, You are my Lord, there is none worthy of worship except You. You have created me, and I am Your servant, and I am faithful to Your covenant and promise as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me, and I admit my sins. So forgive me, for none forgives sins except You.
• This hadith indicates that Astaghfar is an essential practice in Islam. The act of asking forgiveness is always available for the believer, and it is a means of maintaining Allah’s mercy.
• Sahih Muslim (2702): 
• “The one who says, ‘SubhanAllah wa bihamdihi,’ a hundred times a day, his sins will be forgiven even if they are like the foam of the sea.”
• This hadith indicates that Astaghfar and remembering Allah often can serve as an ongoing process of seeking His forgiveness.
• Astaghfar can thus be recited frequently and is a form of asking Allah for forgiveness, which reflects a recognition of one's sins and an acknowledgment of Allah's mercy. It may not always involve the same level of commitment and change as Tauba, but it remains an essential act of seeking Allah’s pardon.

Main Differences Between Tauba and Astaghfar

• Nature of Repentance:
• Tauba is a comprehensive process that involves sincere remorse, abandoning the sin, resolving not to repeat it, and seeking forgiveness from Allah.
• Astaghfar is simply the act of asking for forgiveness and can be done frequently, even if the person does not intend to change their behavior immediately.
• Level of Commitment:
• Tauba involves a deeper commitment to change and turn away from the sin.
• Astaghfar is an expression of humility and a plea for forgiveness but may not always be accompanied by a resolution to completely abandon the sinful behavior.
• Purpose:
• Tauba aims for a complete return to Allah, transforming the heart and behavior.
• Astaghfar is a way of maintaining a constant connection with Allah and seeking forgiveness, especially for minor or repeated sins.

In light of the Quran and Hadith, Tauba and Astaghfar are both acts of seeking Allah’s forgiveness, but they differ in their depth and commitment. Tauba is a profound repentance, requiring a complete return to Allah and a commitment to change, while Astaghfar is a more general and frequent plea for forgiveness. Both are vital in Islam for maintaining a relationship with Allah and seeking His mercy.

To summaries, we need to understand that Tauba is a full repentance, which involves regret, ceasing the sin, and resolving not to return to it. Astaghfar is asking for Allah's forgiveness, often used as a way to seek mercy and acknowledge one's sins, and can be said frequently. Both are essential in Islam, and it’s encouraged to engage in both Tauba and Astaghfar to maintain a clean heart and a strong relationship with Allah.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

Photo | references: | 1 | 2 | 3 |

For more Q&A about Understanding Islam, please refer to our reference page: Understanding Islam - Frequently asked Q&A

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Two verses in Qur'an that reassure a sinner of Allah's boundless mercy and forgiveness

No one can absolve a sinner of sins so committed other than Allah. We should no live in a fallacy that anyone other than Allah can share the burden of others or has the power to write off someone's sins. Allah created everything that exists in the entire universe and He alone can alter the movement of celestial bodies or bring rain or let a child be born and a man to die as He alone wishes. And He alone exhibits His infinite mercy when a sinner earnestly repents his sins and seek Divine forgiveness. It is for such sinners that Allah reassures them of His boundless mercy and forgiveness.

With this premise in view, we share two verses from Qur'an that show us the Divine reassurance of mercy and forgiveness. The first verse is the 135th verse of Surah 3. Al-i'Imran and the second verse is from the Surah 4. An Nisa (verse 110), given herein under:

وَالَّذِيۡنَ اِذَا فَعَلُوۡا فَاحِشَةً اَوۡ ظَلَمُوۡۤا اَنۡفُسَهُمۡ ذَكَرُوا اللّٰهَ فَاسۡتَغۡفَرُوۡا لِذُنُوۡبِهِمۡ وَمَنۡ يَّغۡفِرُ الذُّنُوۡبَ اِلَّا اللّٰهُ  وَلَمۡ يُصِرُّوۡا عَلٰى مَا فَعَلُوۡا وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُوۡنَ‏ 

(3:135) These are the ones who, when they commit any indecency and wrong against themselves, instantly remember Allah and implore forgiveness for their sins - for who will forgive sins save Allah? - and who do not willfully persist in the wrong they did.

وَ مَنۡ يَّعۡمَلۡ سُوۡٓءًا اَوۡ يَظۡلِمۡ نَفۡسَهٗ ثُمَّ يَسۡتَغۡفِرِ اللّٰهَ يَجِدِ اللّٰهَ غَفُوۡرًا رَّحِيۡمًا‏ 

(4:110) He who does either evil or wrongs himself, and then asks for the forgiveness of Allah, will find Allah All-Forgiving, All-Compassionate.

These verses are reminder of Allah's boundless mercy and forgiveness. And acknowledges that human beings may make mistakes, sin, or wrong themselves. However, these also assures that if a person sincerely repents, seeks forgiveness from Allah, and turns to Him, Allah will forgive them, because He is "Oft-Forgiving" and "Most Merciful."

These verses acknowledges that people can make mistakes, whether by doing something wrong to others or by harming themselves through sinful behavior. These verses thus encourage believers to not despair from Allah's mercy, no matter the gravity of their actions, as long as they sincerely seek His forgiveness. These verses in fact reflect a broader theme in the Qur'an, which underscores Allah's mercy and compassion. It also teaches that repentance is not just a ritual but a heartfelt process of returning to Allah with sincerity.

Let’s break it down the Divine message of reassurance as given these two verses for a deeper understanding:

• Acknowledgment of sin: The verses addresses those who commit "immorality" or "wrong themselves" (i.e., they sin). The reference to "immorality" or "wrong" encompasses all kinds of sins, whether minor or major.
• Remembering Allah: After committing a sin, the believer remembers Allah, acknowledges the wrong they have done, and feels remorse. This is a key step in repentance. It's not just about seeking forgiveness, but recognizing one’s mistake and turning to Allah in humility.
• Seeking forgiveness: Herein it is stressed that a sinner must always seek Allah's forgiveness and have faith that his repentance will be accepted and forgiven. The act of seeking forgiveness is essential for anyone who sins. Allah’s forgiveness is always available for those who are sincere in their repentance.
• Who can forgive except Allah?: The verses remind the believer that no one but Allah has the ultimate authority to forgive sins. It emphasizes that forgiveness is in the hands of Allah alone, highlighting His mercy and power.
• Not willfully persisting in sin: Seeking repentance and forgiveness is just the first part. In fact it is emphasized that true repentance involves not persisting in sin. Those who sincerely repent will not continue to commit the same wrongs while they know better. This signifies a shift away from a sinful lifestyle toward righteousness.

The lessons we learn from these two verses are summed as under:

• Repentance is a process of returning to Allah with sincerity. It involves acknowledging one’s sin, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, and making a sincere commitment not to repeat the wrong.
• Allah’s mercy is boundless. Even if someone sins, as long as they genuinely seek forgiveness, Allah is always ready to forgive them.
• Avoidance of persistence in sin: True repentance requires a change in behavior. It's not just about asking for forgiveness but also striving not to fall into the same errors again.

These verses thus highlight the balance between acknowledging one’s mistakes, seeking Allah’s forgiveness, and striving to improve and not continue in the same sinful ways. The Divine reassurance thus is a powerful tool in the hands of believers to always seek repentance of Allah as soon a sin or wrong doing is committed. This pleases Allah that His servant has faith and hope in His mercy by not relying on anyone else for help. In fact no one else can help us when we sin except our Creator. Our salvation lies in having a direct communication with Allah all the time, not only in repenting when we sin, but also thanking him when we are blessed.

Remember, Allah is always there, ready to forgive and bestow His abundant grace on anyone who turns to Him in repentance. Anyone who does evil wrongs himself and others. He may wrong only himself if his sinful action affects only his own person. In any case, Allah, the Merciful, the Beneficent, receives those who seek His forgiveness at all times, and extends to them His forgiveness and mercy. There is simply no condition, no intercession and no barrier between them and Him. Whenever they turn to Him in repentance, He turns to them in acceptance and bestows on them His grace.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎)  help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may read more posts on similar theme in our series of posts related to: Forgiveness and Repentance

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Photo | Tafsir References: | 1 | 2 | 

An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs and selected verses of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. In that the exegesis of the chapters of the Quran is mainly based on the "Tafhim al-Qur'an - The Meaning of the Qur'an" by one of the most enlightened scholars of the Muslim World Sayyid Abul Ala Maududi.  

In addition, references of other sources which have been explored have also been given above. Those desirous of detailed explanations and tafsir (exegesis), may refer to these sites. For expansion of meaning and themes / contextual background help from ChatGPT is also taken.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references given above. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook. You may also refer to our Facebook  Group Islam: The Ultimate Truth for more on Islam and Da'wah.

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Seek forgiveness from whom you have wronged for its requital on Judgement Day may be very heavy

Our worldly life is awesome for here we do not feel the pain we have caused on others by our words, actions or attitude. And not everyone is in a position to repay the same coin to make good the loss incurred on him.

But then those who are least forgiving when harming others are generally unaware of the requital they may have to undergo when the most superior of Allah will be established on the Judgment Day and none will be let go unless he pays the full compensation for the harm, he did to others in one's worldly life. 

Prophet Muhammad ﷺ in one of his Hadiths have warned such fearless sinners of the requital they will have to undergo on the Judgement Day. This Hadith is mentioned Jami` at-Tirmidhi  (37 - Chapters on the description of the Day of Judgement / كتاب صفة القيامة والرقائق والورع عن رسول الله صلى الله / Chapter # 2 What Has Been Related About the Matter of the Reckoning and Requital / باب مَا جَاءَ فِي شَأْنِ الْحِسَابِ وَالْقِصَاصِ  ) as Hadith number # 2419:

Abu Hurairah narrated that the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w) said:

"May Allah have mercy upon a servant who has wronged his brother in his honor or his wealth, then he comes to him to seek his pardon before (his right) is taken, when he has no Dinar nor Dirham. Then if he has any rewards, it will be taken from his rewards, and if he has no rewards, then some of his (brothers) bad deeds will be levied upon him."

[Abu 'Eisa said:] This Hadith is Sahih [Gharib as a narration of Sa'eed Al-Maqburi]. Malik bin Anas also reported it from Sa'eed A]-Maqburl, from Abu Hurairah from the Prophet SAW, and it is similar in meaning.

Arabic Text:

حَدَّثَنَا هَنَّادٌ، وَنَصْرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ الْكُوفِيُّ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا الْمُحَارِبِيُّ، عَنْ أَبِي خَالِدٍ، يَزِيدَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ عَنْ زَيْدِ بْنِ أَبِي أُنَيْسَةَ، عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ رَحِمَ اللَّهُ عَبْدًا كَانَتْ لأَخِيهِ عِنْدَهُ مَظْلَمَةٌ فِي عِرْضٍ أَوْ مَالٍ فَجَاءَهُ فَاسْتَحَلَّهُ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُؤْخَذَ وَلَيْسَ ثَمَّ دِينَارٌ وَلاَ دِرْهَمٌ فَإِنْ كَانَتْ لَهُ حَسَنَاتٌ أُخِذَ مِنْ حَسَنَاتِهِ وَإِنْ لَمْ تَكُنْ لَهُ حَسَنَاتٌ حَمَّلُوا عَلَيْهِ مِنْ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ غَرِيبٌ مِنْ حَدِيثِ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ ‏.‏ وَقَدْ رَوَاهُ مَالِكُ بْنُ أَنَسٍ عَنْ سَعِيدٍ الْمَقْبُرِيِّ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏

Grade:  Sahih (Darussalam)

This Hadith gives out a clear warning to all of us who have wronged someone in this life to go and seek forgiveness and make the damages good before angel of death gets us. For if we do not do this, on the Day of Judgement, we will not be robbed of our goodies (if any) to make the requital possible. And if our goodies fall short, then the sins of the aggrieved will be taken away and added into our account to balance out the balance sheet. So, time is now, which is running fast, to seek forgiveness from all those whom we have wronged, lest we are left with nothing good on Judgement Day - and our punishment will be very severe. May Allah help us do this now before time runs out. Ameen.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and follow the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, which is embodiment of commandments of Allah contained in the Qur'ān. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is Our duty is only to convey to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. It will also help the Muslims to have grasp over social issues and their answers discussed in the Qur'an and other matter related to inter faith so that they are able to discuss issues with non-Muslims with authority based on refences from Qur'an.

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the Sole Creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

You may refer to our exclusive page: Collection of Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on Warnings / Cautions to read posts written on similar matters.

Please also refer to our reference page: Sunnah and Hadith of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to know more about sunnah / Hadith of Prophet of Allah. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Disclaimer: The material for this post has been collected from the references as given below. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

Photo | Source of Hadith

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Selected Verses from Al Qur'an about a Specific Subject: Repentance and forgiveness

No man is born perfect. Even if someone follows his religion diligently, he is prone to making mistakes, hurting others or committing sins, even advertently or inadvertently). Yet our Creator is ready to forgive us if we repent our mistake or crime and beseech His infinite mercifulness for forgiveness. Al Qur'an is replete with guiding supplications and invocations for believers. Therefore, we must remember Allah instantly if we sin and ask for His forgiveness. Allah promises that even the size of sins of a believer is the weight of a mountain, if he sincerely repents and asks for forgiveness, He will forgive him. But this leverage is available only till angel of death starts knocking at his door.

We in our series of posts on Understanding Al Qur'an (Quick Reference to Specific Subjects) we will focus on importance of repentance and forgiveness and quote references and even explanation of some of the verses for better understanding and hurrying up for Allah's mercy.

We have already written a post on Repentance, and shared many posts on Repentance and Forgiveness.

 

The word(s) "repentance" appears 34 time(s) in 34 verse(s) and the word(s) "forgiveness" appears 76 time(s) in 74 verse(s) in Quran (in Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation). Herein under are some of the references. We shall keep adding to this listing for complete reference on the subject in time.:

• And hasten to the forgiveness of your Lord, and paradise (Surah 3. Al-i'Imran:133)
• Remember Allah Instantly if you sin and implore forgiveness (Surah 3. Al-i'Imran:135)
• And whoever does evil, but seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (Surah 4. An-Nisaa:110)
• Allah's acceptance of repentance is only for those who commit evil and then soon repent (Surah 4. An-Nisaa:17-18)
• Seek forgiveness of Allah and turn to Him in repentance - Surely Allah is Ever Merciful, Most Loving (Surah 11 Hud verse 90)
• Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day of Reckoning  (Surah 14. Ibrahim:41)
• Allah will forgive those who guard their chastity and remember Him much (Surah 33. Al-Ahzab:35)
• The Verse of Mercy: Those who have committed excesses should not despair of Allah's Mercy - Surely Allah forgives all sins (Surah 39. Az-Zumar:53)
• Our Lord! Forgive those who repent and follow Your Path (Surah 40. Al-Mu'min:7)
• Surely your Lord is abounding in forgiveness (Surah 53. An-Najm:32)
• Believers, turn to Allah in sincere repentance; for He may expunge your evil deeds (Surah 66. At-Tahrim:8)

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

For compiled verses for more specific subjects, please refer to our exclusive reference page: "Selected verses from Al-Qurʾān about a specific subject."

In addition, for more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Note: This post is an update from our earlier post:  Understanding Al Qur'an (Quick Reference to Specific Subjects): Repentance and Forgiveness

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. 

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Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Lift yourself by sincere repentance if you fall

Man has been created very fragile and weak by Allah so that he is tested and observed whether he recovers if he falls by being lured by Satan or not. Even Prophet Adam (علي السلام) could not resist the temptation of Satan when he was enticed to eat the fruit of the forbidden tree.

“Then they both ate of that tree, and so their private parts appeared to them, and they began to stick on themselves the leaves from Paradise for their covering.  Thus did Adam disobey his Lord, so he went astray.  Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him with forgiveness and gave him guidance.” (Quran 20:121-122)

But should it mean that once a believer falls, he has no means to recover and stand again? Well Allah forgave Adam when he sincerely repented. And so, He would accept true repentance of every believer should they sincerely do so and seek forgiveness of Allah, for Allah is Al-Ghafur (الغفور) - The Forgiving, The Pardoner and Ar-Rahim (الرحيم)-The Most Merciful. Allah promises His servants that so long they keep seeking Allah's forgiveness, He will continue to forgive them till they finally see the angel of death knocking at their door.

(3:133) And hasten to the forgiveness of your Lord and to a Paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the God-fearing.

So, we must always repent and ask forgiveness when we sin or do something against the Divine commandments, and must not delay in doing so for Devil within may prompt us to delay it for better times and may lure us into more sinful activities. 

* Please read more on forgiveness/Repentance in our post on Selected Verses from Qur'an.

You may now watch an enlightening video below on the subject by one of the most eminent scholars of present times, Mufti Menk:

Ismail ibn Musa Menk (إسماعيل إبن موسى منك), generally known as Mufti Menk (born 27 June 1975), is a Zimbabwean Islamic Scholar. He is widely known internationally. Menk has been named one of The 500 Most Influential Muslims in the world by the Royal Aal al-Bayt Institute for Islamic Thought in Jordan in 2013, 2014 and 2017.

وَمَا عَلَيۡنَاۤ اِلَّا الۡبَلٰغُ الۡمُبِيۡنُ‏ 

(36:17) and our duty is no more than to clearly convey the Message.”

That is our duty to convey only to you the message that Allah has entrusted us with. Then it is for you to accept it or reject it. We have not been made responsible for making you accept it forcibly, and if you do not accept it, we shall not be seized in consequence of your disbelief, you will yourselves be answerable for your actions on Day of Resurrection.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others' lives miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the video above are those of the scholar concerned. We have shared this view as added information in better understanding of Islam. The reader may or may not agree with the view owing to their own perception. If anyone differs with the material contained in this post, one may consult the references and their authors.  If someone has more material about the subject, he/she is most welcome to share in the comments box to make the post all encompassing.

For more Scholarly views and videos, please read our reference page: Scholars' Viewpoint on Important Issues Related to Islam. You may also refer to our Reference Pages for knowing more about Islam and Quran.

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp or any means on social media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Holy Qur'an - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

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Understanding Al Qur'an (Quick Reference to Specific Subjects): Repentance and Forgiveness

No man is born perfect. Even if someone follows his religion diligently, yet he is prone to making mistakes, hurting others or committing sins, even advertently or inadvertently). Yet our Creator is ready to forgive us if we repent our mistake or crime and beseech His infinite mercifulness for forgiveness. Al Qur'an is replete with guiding supplications and invocations for believers. Therefore we must remember Allah instantly if we sin and ask for His forgiveness. Allah promises that even the size of sins of a believer is the weight of a mountain, if he sincerely repents and ask for forgiveness, He will forgive him. But this leverage is available only till angel of death starts knocking at his door.

We in our series of posts on Understanding Al Qur'an (Quick Reference to Specific Subjects) we will focus on importance of repentance and forgiveness and quote references and even explanation of some of the verses for better understanding and hurrying up for Allah's mercy.

Repentance and Forgiveness

Please read our two previous posts as a premise to Repentance and Forgiveness:

• Repentance
• Understanding concept of Tauba and Astaghfar (Repentance and Forgiveness) in Islam

The word(s) "repentance" appears 34 time(s) in 34 verse(s) and  The word(s) "forgiveness" appears 76 time(s) in 74 verse(s) in Quran (in Abdullah Yusuf Ali translation). Herein under are some of the reference. We shall keep adding to this listing for complete reference on the subject in time.:

• And hasten to the forgiveness of your Lord, and paradise (Surah 3. Al-i'Imran:133)
• Remember Allah Instantly if you sin and implore forgiveness (Surah 3. Al-i'Imran:135)
• And whoever does evil, but seeks Allah's forgiveness, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful (Surah 4. An-Nisaa:110)
• Allah's acceptance of repentance is only for those who commit evil and then soon repent (Surah 4. An-Nisaa:17-18)
• Two verses in Qur'an that reassure a sinner of Allah's boundless mercy and forgiveness (Surah 4. An-Nisaa:110 - also Surah 3. Al-i'Imran:135)
• Seek forgiveness of Allah and turn to Him in repentance - Surely Allah is Ever Merciful, Most Loving (Surah 11 Hud verse 90)
• Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents and the believers on the Day of Reckoning  (Surah 14. Ibrahim:41)
• Allah will forgive those who guard their chastity and remember Him much (Surah 33. Al-Ahzab:35)
• The Verse of Mercy: Those who have committed excesses should not despair of Allah's Mercy - Surely Allah forgives all sins (Surah 39. Az-Zumar:53)
• Our Lord! Forgive those who repent and follow Your Path (Surah 40. Al-Mu'min:7)
• Surely your Lord is abounding in forgiveness (Surah 53. An-Najm:32)
• Believers, turn to Allah in sincere repentance; for He may expunge your evil deeds (Surah 66. At-Tahrim:8)

Note: When we mention God in our posts, we mean One True God, we call Allah in Islam, with no associates. Allah is the creator of all things, and that Allah is all-powerful and all-knowing. Allah has no offspring, no race, no gender, no body, and is unaffected by the characteristics of human life.

May Allāh (سبحانه و تعالى‎) help us understand Qur'ān and help us to act upon the commandments of Allah contained therein. May Allah help us to be like the ones He loves and let our lives be lived helping others and not making others life miserable or unlivable. May all our wrong doings, whether intentional or unintentional, be forgiven before the angel of death knocks on our door. 

May Allah forgive me if my posts ever imply a piety far greater than I possess. I am most in need of guidance.

For more Selected Verses, please refer to our reference page: Selected Verses from the Qur'an. You may also refer to our Reference Pages  and Understanding Al Qur'an for knowing more about Islam and Qur'ān.

Reading the Qur'ān should be a daily obligation of a Muslim - Reading it with translation will make it meaningful. But reading its Exegesis / Tafsir will make you understand it fully. An effort has been made to gather explanation / exegesis of the surahs of the Qur'ān from authentic sources and then present a least possible condensed explanation of the surah. 

If you like Islam: My Ultimate Decision, and to keep yourself updated on all our latest posts to know more about Islam, follow us on Facebook

Follow @IslamUltimate

Please share this page to your friends and family members through Facebook, WhatsApp or any means on Social Media so that they can also be benefited by it and better understand Islam and the Qur'ān - Insha Allah (Allah Willing) you shall be blessed with the best of both worlds.

Read More