Question:
What do the scholars and experts of religion say regarding my situation? When I was young and unable to differentiate between right and wrong, I committed a sin for which I have sincerely repented. Will Allah ﷻ forgive me and show mercy to me?
Answer:
All perfect praise is for Allah ﷻ, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah ﷻ, and that Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is His Messenger.
The Holy Qur’an has mentioned tawba (repentance) numerous times.
- “Say: My servants who wronged themselves, don’t be hopeless of God’s Kindness; God forgives all the sins, He is the Forgiver, the Kind.” (Surah Az-Zumar: 53)
- “Rush towards your Lord’s forgiveness and towards Paradise, which is as wide as the Heavens and the Earth, prepared for those who are mindful of God: who spend in charity in good and bad times, can control their anger and pardon people. God loves those who strive to do good. If by mistake they act indecently or wrong themselves, at once they remember God and seek forgiveness for their sins – can anyone except God forgive sins? – And never continue doing the wrong knowingly.” (Surah Ale ꜥImran :133-135)
- “Except anyone who repents, believes and does righteous deeds. For them God will turn their past sins into good deeds. God is forgiving, Most Kind.” (Surah al-Furqan: 70)
- “God turns towards him who repents after wrongdoings and reforms himself, He is Forgiving, Kind.” (Surah al-Ma’idah: 39)
Sayyiduna Abu Hurayra mentions I heard Allah’s Messenger ﷺ saying.” By Allah! I ask for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.” (Bukhari)
We learn from the above verses of the Qur’an and ahadith that it is incumbent on a person to seek forgiveness immediately after sinning. Then one must increase in recitation of the Quran, Salah, and other charitable actions.
These good deeds will obliterate one’s wrong actions. We sincerely pray that Allah ﷻ accepts the repentance of those who repent and grants us all steadfastness on the straight path.
And Allah ﷻ knows best
This Fatwa is written by Dr. Hafiz Muhammad Munir Al-Azhari
