View source for Repentance in Islam

{{Short description|Islamic concept of repenting to God (Allah)}}
{{For|the Quranic surah|At-Tawbah}}
{{over-quotation|date=October 2017}}
{{Islam}}
{{Usul al-Fiqh}}
'''''Tawba'''''{{efn|alternatively spelled as '''''tawbah''''' or '''''taubah'''''.}} ({{langx|ar|توبة}}) is the [[Islam]]ic concept of [[Repentance|repenting]] to [[God in Islam|God]] due to performing any [[sin]]s and misdeeds. It is a direct matter between a person and God, so there is no intercession. There is no [[original sin]] in Islam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2355|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825074412/http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2355|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 25, 2018|title=Tawbah - Oxford Islamic Studies Online|website=www.oxfordislamicstudies.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-25|quote=See Repentance}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130325150535/http://www.oxfordislamicstudies.com/article/opr/t125/e2004|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 25, 2013|title=Repentance - Oxford Islamic Studies Online|website=www.oxfordislamicstudies.com|language=en|access-date=2018-08-25|quote=Arabic tawbah. A major theme of the Quran, mentioned over seventy times and with an entire surah (9) titled for it. Usually described as turning toward God, asking forgiveness, and being forgiven. Islam has no concept of original sin, need for atonement, or ecclesiastical confession. Repentance and forgiveness are a direct matter between the individual and God, requiring no intercession. In cases of sin against another person, restitution is required. In cases of sin against God, repentance, remorse, and resolution to change one's behavior are considered sufficient. Although classical scholars emphasized the individual dimension of repentance, many revivalists and reformists have tied individual actions to larger issues of public morality, ethics, and social reform, arguing for reimplementation of the Islamic penal code as public expiation for sins. Sufis understand repentance as a process of spiritual conversion toward constant awareness of God's presence. Muhammad reputedly requested God's forgiveness several times daily.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Islam#ref69144|title=Islam {{!}} religion|work=Encyclopedia Britannica|access-date=2018-08-25|language=en|quote=In order to communicate the truth of Divine Unity, God has sent messengers or prophets to human beings, whose weakness of nature makes them ever prone to forget or even willfully to reject Divine Unity under the promptings of Satan. According to the Qurʾānic teaching, the being who became Satan (Shayṭān or Iblīs) had previously occupied a high station but fell from divine grace by his act of disobedience in refusing to honour Adam when he, along with other angels, was ordered to do so. Since then his work has been to beguile human beings into error and sin. Satan is, therefore, the contemporary of humanity, and Satan’s own act of disobedience is construed by the Qurʾān as the sin of pride. Satan’s machinations will cease only on the Last Day.<br>Judging from the accounts of the Qurʾān, the record of humanity’s acceptance of the prophets’ messages has been far from perfect. The whole universe is replete with signs of God. The human soul itself is viewed as a witness of the unity and grace of God. The messengers of God have, throughout history, been calling humanity back to God. Yet not all people have accepted the truth; many of them have rejected it and become disbelievers (kāfir, plural kuffār; literally, “concealing”—i.e., the blessings of God), and, when a person becomes so obdurate, his heart is sealed by God. Nevertheless, it is always possible for a sinner to repent (tawbah) and redeem himself by a genuine conversion to the truth. There is no point of no return, and God is forever merciful and always willing and ready to pardon. Genuine repentance has the effect of removing all sins and restoring a person to the state of sinlessness with which he started his life.}}</ref> It is the act of leaving what God has prohibited and returning to what he has commanded. The word denotes the act of being repentant for one's misdeeds, atoning for those misdeeds, and having a strong determination to forsake those misdeeds (remorse, resolution, and repentance). If someone sins against another person, restitution is required.<ref>{{cite book |last=D. Beaulieu |first=Peter |title=Beyond Secularism and Jihad?: A Triangular Inquiry Into the Mosque, the Manger, and Modernity |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XAb6ZH5xjH8C&pg=PA88 |year=2012 |publisher=University Press of America |isbn=978-0-7618-5837-9 |page=88}}</ref>

==Etymology==
The literal meaning of the [[Arabic]] word ''tawba'' is "to return" and is repeated in the [[Quran|Qur'an]] and ''[[hadith]]'' (sayings of the Islamic prophet [[Muhammad]]). In the context of Islam, it means to turn or to retreat from past sinful and evil activities, and to firmly resolve to abstain from them in future.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=November 2006|title=Crime, Punishment, And Justice Among Muslim Inmates (The Meaning of Crime and Punishment to Muslim Inmates and Its Policy Implications)|url=https://www.umes.edu/uploadedFiles/_WEBSITES/AJCJS/Content/vol2%202%20ammar%20final.pdf|url-status=live|journal=African Journal of Criminology and Justice Studies|volume=2|page=74|eissn=1554-3897|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180825042254/https://www.umes.edu/uploadedFiles/_WEBSITES/AJCJS/Content/vol2%202%20ammar%20final.pdf|archive-date=25 August 2018|access-date=25 August 2018|quote=Repentance or Tawbah in Arabic literally means 'to return'. In an Islamic context, it refers to the return to the right way which is the way God commanded and to abandon what God has prohibited (Bahnasi, 1989). Many Qur’anic verses about repentance refer to Allah as the source of forgiveness. For instance, “Whosoever repents after his crime and does righteous good deeds [by obeying Allah], then verily, Allah will pardon him [accept his repentance]. Verily, Allah is Often Forgiving, Most Merciful (Al-Ma’idah 5:39). Another more general Qur’anic verse states: “Our Lord! Thy Reach is over all things, in Mercy and Knowledge. Forgive, then, those who turn in repentance, and follow Thy Path; and preserve them from the Penalty of the Blazing Fire "And grant, our Lord! That they enter the Gardens of Eternity, which Thou hast promised}}</ref><ref name="Shafi">{{cite book
| author=Mufti
| author-link=Mufti
| title=Ma'ariful Quran
| publisher = Translated by Maulana Ahmed Khalil Aziz & [[Taqi Usmani]]. Vol. 8; p.525
| year=2004}}</ref><ref name="Qirbi61">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vuVZAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA61|title=Mothers for Peace|author=Heyam Qirbi|publisher=Trafford Publishing|year=2014|isbn=978-1-4907-0547-7|page=61}}</ref><ref name="Silverstein 2011 124">B. Silverstein ''Islam and Modernity in Turkey'' Springer 2011 {{ISBN|978-0-230-11703-7}} page 124</ref> In {{qref|66|8|b=y}}, the word ''tawba'' has been associated with the word {{Lang|ar|نصوح}} (''nasūh'') which means "to make pure or sincere". Thus, ''tawba'' signifies sincere and faithful repentance, free from pretense and hypocrisy.<ref name="Shafi" />

== In Islamic scripture ==

===Quran===
In the [[Quran]], there is a complete [[Sura|''surah'']] (chapter) titled [[At-Tawba]], which means "The Repentance".<ref name=":0" /> As with other topics, the act of atoning (for one's misdeeds) and seeking God's forgiveness has also been discussed in the [[Qur’an]], and given much importance. For those believers who have wronged themselves, the Qur'an asks them to become repentant, seek Allah's forgiveness, and make a sincere tawba. It assures them that if they do this, God will forgive them, and exonerate them from their misdeeds:{{Original research inline|date=August 2018}}

{{Quote|...Turn to Allah in repentance all together, O  believers, so that you may be successful.|{{qref|24|31|c=y}}}}

{{Quote|O believers! Turn to Allah in sincere repentance, so your Lord may absolve you of your sins and admit you into Gardens, under which rivers flow, ...|{{qref|66|8|c=y}}}}

{{Quote|...Surely Allah loves those who always turn to Him in repentance and those who purify themselves."|{{qref|2|222|c=y}}}}

{{Quote|Allah only accepts the repentance of those who commit evil ignorantly ˹or recklessly˺ then repent soon after—Allah will pardon them. And Allah is All-Knowing, All-Wise.<br>
However, repentance is not accepted from those who knowingly persist in sin until they start dying, and then cry, "Now I repent!" nor those who die as disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful punishment.|{{qref|04|17-18|c=y}}}}

The Qur'an also addresses the disbelievers and urges them to turn to God, upon which God promises to pardon them:{{Original research inline|date=August 2018}}

{{Quote|Their punishment will be multiplied on the Day of Judgment, and they will remain in it forever, in disgrace.<br>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.<br>
And whoever repents and does good has truly turned to Allah properly.|{{qref|25|69–71|c=y}}}}

===''Sunnah''===
Like Quran, the ''hadith'' also mentions and stresses the importance of ''tawba'':<ref name="HC">{{cite book |last1=Henderson |first1=Amanda |title=Holy Chaos: Creating Connections in Divisive Times |date=2020 |publisher=Chalice Press |isbn=978-0-8272-1516-0 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8oXgDwAAQBAJ&q=tirmiji+2499&pg=PT84 |access-date=4 June 2020 |language=ar}}</ref><ref name="IAA"/><ref name="ABI"/>
* In [[Sunan al-Tirmidhi]], a Hadith is narrated:{{Quote|Allah's apostle said, "Every son of Adam sins, the best of the sinners are those who repent."|[[Sunan al-Tirmidhi]], Hadith no. 2499<ref name="HC"/>}}
*  [[Jami` at-Tirmidhi]] (In-book reference	 : Book 40, Hadith 20). Narrated Abu Hurairah: Mohammed (ﷺ) said: "The adulterer is not a believer while he is committing adultery, and the thief is not a believer while he is stealing, but there is a chance for repentance; (if he repents, Allah will accept the repentance)." 
* In [[Sahih al-Bukhari]], [[Anas ibn Malik]] narrates:
{{Quote|Allah's Apostle said, "Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which he had lost in the desert."|{{Hadith-usc|bukhari|usc=yes|8|75|321}}<ref name="ABI">{{cite book |last1=Ibrahim |first1=I. A. |last2=Ibrāhīm |first2=ʻIzz al-Dīn |last3=Abu-Harb |first3=Ibrahim Ali Ibrahim |title=A Brief Illustrated Guide to Understanding Islam |date=1997 |publisher=[[Darussalam Publishers]] |isbn=978-9960-34-011-1 |page=53 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MgbVSWaX8KEC&q=bukhari+6309&pg=PA53 |access-date=4 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref>}}
* In [[Sahih Muslim]], [[Abu Ayyub al-Ansari]] and [[Abu Huraira]] narrate:
{{Quote|Allah's apostle said,"By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace (you by) those people who would commit sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them."|{{Hadith-usc|muslim|usc=yes|37|6621}}<ref name="IAA">{{cite book |last1=Cook |first1=Abu Bakr Sirajuddin |title=Ibn 'Ata' Allah, Muslim Sufi Saint and Gift of Heaven |date=2017 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars Publishing |isbn=978-1-4438-7387-1 |pages=111, 112 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wVwpDwAAQBAJ&q=muslim+6621&pg=PA112 |access-date=4 June 2020 |language=en}}</ref>}}
* In [[Sahih Bukhari]], [[Abu Said Al-Khudri]] narrates:<ref>{{Cite book|last=AL-HANBALI|first=AL-HAFIZ IBN RAJAB|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HR9LDwAAQBAJ&q=muslim+2766&pg=PA132|title=THE ISLAMIC MONTHS (A DETAILED TREATISE ON THE MERITS, VIRTUES AND PRACTICES FOR THE MONTHS OF THE ISLAMIC YEAR): لطائف المعارف فيما لمواسم العام [انكليزي]|date=2014-01-01|publisher=Dar Al Kotob Al Ilmiyah دار الكتب العلمية|isbn=978-2-7451-7653-0|pages=132|language=en}}</ref>
{{quote|The Prophet said, "Amongst the men of [[Israelites|Bani Israel]] there was a man who had murdered ninety-nine people. Then he set out asking (whether his repentance could be accepted or not). He came upon a monk and asked him if his repentance could be accepted. The monk replied in the negative and so the man killed him. He kept on asking till a man advised to go to such and such village. (So he left for it) but death overtook him on the way. While dying, he turned his chest towards that village (where he had hoped his repentance would be accepted), and so the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment quarrelled amongst themselves regarding him. Allah ordered the village (towards which he was going) to come closer to him, and ordered the village (whence he had come), to go far away, and then He ordered the angels to measure the distances between his body and the two villages. So he was found to be one span closer to the village (he was going to). So he was forgiven."|Sahih Bukhari 3470}}
* In [[Sahih al-Bukhari]] and [[Sahih Muslim]] narrated [[Abdullah ibn Masud]],
{{Quote|A man kissed a woman (unlawfully) and then went to the prophet and informed him. Allah revealed: "And offer prayers perfectly At the two ends of the day And in some hours of the night (i.e. the five compulsory prayers). Verily! good deeds remove (annul) the evil deeds (small sins)." (11:114).<ref>{{qref|11|114|t=y|c=y}}</ref> The man asked Allah's messenger, "Is it for me?" He said, "It is for all my followers."|{{Hadith-usc|bukhari|usc=yes|1|10|504}}, {{Hadith-usc|muslim|usc=yes|37|6655}}, {{Hadith-usc|muslim|usc=yes|37|6658}}}}
* In [[Sahih Muslim]] narrated [[Anas ibn Malik]],
{{Quote|A person came to Allah's Apostle said: Allah's messenger, I have committed an offence which deserves imposition of haad, so impose it upon me according to the Book of Allah. Thereupon he said: Were you not present with us at the time of prayer? He said: Yes. Thereupon he said: You have been granted pardon.|{{Hadith-usc|muslim|usc=yes|37|6660}}}}
{{quote|On the authority of Abu Umama (RA), the Messenger of Allah, may God bless him and grant him peace, said, "Surely the angel of the left holds the pen over a sinner or a criminal Muslim for six hours."  Then if he repents of his sin and seeks forgiveness from Allah, then he ignores it.  Lest a sin is written."|Tabarani Kabir 7667, Baihakbir Shuabul Iman 7051, Sahih al-Jame'/2097, Silsilatus Sahiha 1209}}

==Theological viewpoints==
Since the issue of ''tawba'' or repentance arises from [[Islam]]ic religious context, it can be understood well when discussed from that perspective.

===Repentance to Allah alone===
Islam does not view any human being as being infallible. Any human being can be subject to errors, Allah being the only perfect one. Thus the sole authority for the forgiveness of any human being corresponds to Allah. Muslims deny the authority of men to listen to another person's confessions and then pronounce him forgiven of his sin. Likewise repenting to anyone besides [[Allah]] is forbidden.<ref name=":0" /> The Quran states:{{Original research inline|date=August 2018}}

{{Quote|Verily those whom ye call upon besides Allah are servants like unto you. |Quran |Sura 7 (Al-Araf), ayah 194<ref>{{qref|7|194|t=y|c=y}}</ref>}}

=={{transliteration|ar|Tawbah}}==
==={{transliteration|ar|Tawbah}} and the benevolence of Allah===
Sincere {{transliteration|ar|tawbah}} is always accepted by Allah. In the Qu'ran, it is written:

{{Quote|Verily, He is One Who forgives (accepts repentance), the Most Merciful. |Quran |Sura 2 (Al-Baqara), ayah 37<ref>{{qref|2|37|c=y}}</ref>}}

In numerous verses of the Quran, Allah describes himself as being extremely generous, merciful, and forgiving towards his creations. In verse 22 of [[sura]] [[Al-Hashr]], for example, he assures: "He is Allah besides Whom there is no God; the Knower of the unseen and the seen; He is the Beneficent, the Merciful".<ref>{{qref|59|22|c=y}}</ref>

The use of the verse "In the name of Allah, the Benevolent, the Merciful" at the beginning of every {{transliteration|ar|surah}} (except one) further testifies to this fact. According to the [[Quran]] and [[Hadith]], Allah's overarching mercy permits even the gravest sins to be pardoned by him, provided the wrongdoer intends a sincere {{transliteration|ar|tawbah}}.{{Citation needed|date=October 2018}}

{{transliteration|ar|[[Shirk (Islam)|Shirk]]}} is an unforgivable sin if one dies without repenting from it:<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thoughtco.com/shirk-2004293|title=To shirk, or worship others along with Allah, is a big sin that Allah may forgive: he is the one who forgives, the Most Merciful. .|last=Dodge|first=Huda|work=ThoughtCo|access-date=2018-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012002336/https://www.thoughtco.com/shirk-2004293|archive-date=2018-10-12|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/islam-forbids-visual-portrayals-of-muhammad|title=Islam Forbids Visual Portrayals of Muhammad|date=2015-03-25|work=Fox News|access-date=2018-10-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012002326/https://www.foxnews.com/story/islam-forbids-visual-portrayals-of-muhammad|archive-date=2018-10-12|url-status=live|agency=[[Associated Press]]|language=en-US|quote=In the Quran, "shirk" (Arabic for "partnering" or "associating" anything with God) is the one unforgivable sin: "God does not forgive the joining of partners with him: anything less than that he forgives to whoever he will, but anyone who joins partners with God is lying and committing a tremendous sin" (4:48).}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2445&context=open_access_etds|title=Conflict Resolution in Islam: Document Review of the Early Sources|last=Vehapi|first=Flamur|date=2013-09-27|publisher=Portland State University|page=vii|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012002704/https://pdxscholar.library.pdx.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2445&context=open_access_etds|archive-date=2018-10-12|url-status=live|access-date=2018-10-12|quote=''Shirk:'' Associating others with God, the only unforgivable sin in Islam if the person dies in such a state}}</ref>

{{Quote|Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating others with Him in worship, but forgives anything else of whoever He wills. And whoever associates others with Allah has indeed committed a grave sin. |Quran |Sura 4 (An-Nisa), ayah 48<ref>{{qref|4|48|t=y|c=y}}</ref>}}

As such, becoming hopeless of the mercy of Allah is prohibited. The Quran declares:

{{Quote|Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. |Quran |Sura 39 (Az-Zumar), ayah 53<ref>{{qref|39|53|t=y|c=y}}</ref>}}

Again, God says to the believers in a {{transliteration|ar|[[Hadith qudsi|Hadith Qudsi]]}}:<ref name=":1">''Hadith Qudsi'' contained in [[Jami` at-Tirmidhi|''Jami At-Tirmidhi'']] and [[Musnad Ahmad ibn Hanbal|''Musnad Ahmad Ibn Hanbal'']], #34 on http://cmje.usc.edu/religious-texts/hadith/qudsi.php</ref>

{{blockquote|O son of [[Adam (Bible)|Adam]], so long as you call upon Me, and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth, and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it.<ref name=":1" />}}

===Conditions of {{transliteration|ar|tawbah}}===
According to Islamic [[Sharia]], when an act of {{transliteration|ar|tawbah}} is performed by a Muslim, Allah generally accepts it.<ref name=Leaman-535-536>{{cite book |author=Oliver Leaman |title=The Qur'an: An Encyclopedia |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=isDgI0-0Ip4C&pg=PA535 |year=2006 |publisher=Taylor & Francis|isbn=978-0-415-32639-1 |pages=535–6}}</ref> However, that {{transliteration|ar|tawbah}} should be sincere and true. [[Islamic Scholar|Islamic scholars]] agree upon the fact that if a person is not ashamed of their past misdeeds, or does not intend to forsake those, then their verbal announcement of {{transliteration|ar|tawbah}} is an open mockery of repentance.<ref>{{cite book|title=Ma'ariful Quran |volume=2 |page=569}}</ref>

Mere verbal repentance does not account for a true {{transliteration|ar|tawbah}}. A sincere {{transliteration|ar|tawbah}} has some criteria. [[Ali]] was asked as to what is {{transliteration|ar|tawbah}}, and he replied that {{transliteration|ar|tawbah}} consists of six elements:<ref name="Shafi" />

# to regret one's past evil deeds;
# to carry out divine duties ({{transliteration|ar|[[fard]]}}, {{transliteration|ar|[[wajib]]}} etc.) that were missed;
# to return the rights/properties of others that were usurped unjustly;
# to ask forgiveness of a person who has been wronged by him, physically or verbally;
# to make a firm resolve of avoiding the sin in future; and
# to employ oneself in Allah's obedience, as he previously employed himself in Allah's disobedience.

In Islamic [[sharia]], {{transliteration|ar|tawbah}} is a twofold approach: a person first should be able to recognize and forsake their sins upon which Allah promises to forgive them. Islam expects Muslims to realize their mistakes and shortcomings, and to seek his forgiveness. Forgiveness for one's sins is not something that comes automatically; it is something that must be sought for, with sincereness and true devotion. Becoming indifferent to one's sins is seen as dangerous.{{Original research inline|date=September 2018}} Muhammad said:

{{Quote|A believer sees his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain which, he is afraid, may fall on him; whereas the wicked person considers his sins as flies passing over his nose and he just drives them away like this (and he moved his hand over his nose in illustration). |{{Hadith-usc|bukhari|usc=yes|8|75|320}}}}

Another important perspective on repentance in Islam is that a person should always seek God's forgiveness even when they are not apparently guilty of any particular sin.<ref name=Leaman-535-536/> This is because there are many subtle natures of sin involving immorality which escape notice, and also because it is a Muslim's duty to turn towards God.<ref name=Leaman-535-536/>
* In ''hadith'', [[Muhammad in Islam|Muhammad]] asked people to seek Allah's forgiveness: "O people, seek repentance from Allah. Verily, I seek repentance from Him a hundred times a day."<ref>{{Hadith-usc|muslim|usc=yes|35|6523}}</ref>
* In Islamic sharia, submission to Allah is necessary not only for achieving God's forgiveness, but also for being worthy of entering into paradise.{{Original research inline|date=August 2018}} Muhammad said: "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and receive good news because one's good deeds will not make him enter Paradise." The companions asked, "Even you, O Allah's Apostle?" He said, "Even I, unless and until Allah bestows His pardon and Mercy on me."<ref>{{Hadith-usc|bukhari|usc=yes|8|76|474}}</ref>

===Turning away from ''tawba''===
# Postponement of ''tawbah'' according to Islam was seen as a great sin.<ref>{{cite book|title=Salvation Through Repentance (An Islamic View)|author=Bilal Philips|first=Abu Ameenah|pages=28–31}}</ref>
== Opinions of scholars ==
[[:ar:عبد الرزاق البدر|Shaykh Abdur Razzaq Al-Badr]] said, [[Ibn Qayyim]] says: "Sins inevitably take away blessings. No servant commits a sin except that a blessing from Allah is taken away from him in proportion to that sin. If he repents and returns to it, it or something similar is returned to him. But if he persists in it, it is not returned to him. Sins continue to take away one blessing after another until all blessings are taken away. Allah the Almighty says: "Indeed, Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in themselves." ([[Ar-Ra'd]]: 11) In short, sins are the fire of blessings, devouring them just as fire devours wood."<ref>https://www.emaanlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/How-to-Escape-Sins-Shaykh-Abdur-Razzaq-Al-Badr.pdf</ref><ref>[https://ar.islamway.net/article/95503/%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%82%D9%8A%D9%85-%D8%B9%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%85#:~:text=%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B0%D9%86%D9%88%D8%A8%20%D8%AA%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%84%20%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%85%20%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%20%D8%A8%D8%AF,:11%5D%20.... ]</ref><ref>[https://www.islamweb.net/ar/library/content/120/57/%D9%81%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%85] [http://web.archive.org/web/20241219012629/https://www.islamweb.net/ar/library/content/120/57/%D9%81%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%8A-%D8%AA%D8%B2%D9%8A%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%B9%D9%85 archive]</ref>

==See also==
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
* [[Glossary of Islam]]
* [[Taqwa]]
* [[At-Tawbah]]
* [[Salat al-Tawbah]]
* [[Sin in Islam]]
* [[Ihsan]]
* [[Index of Islam-related articles]]
* [[Islah]]
* ''[[Itmam al-hujjah]]''
* [[Islamic views on sin]]
* [[Islamic views on piety]]
* [[Istighfar]]
* [[Metanoia (theology)|''Metanoia'' (theology)]]
* [[Muslim theology]]
* [[Outline of Islam]]
* [[Qalb]]
* [[Tazkiah]]
* ''[[Teshuva]]'', a similar concept in [[Judaism]]
}}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://lasjan.page.tl/Tawbah.htm 'Tawbah' (Repentance) in Islam]

[[Category:Islamic terminology]]
[[Category:Repentance]]