Repentance (Tawbah)

Tawba (Arabic: توبة‎ alternatively spelled: tevbe or tawbah, Turkish: tövbe) is the Islamic concept of repenting to God due to performing any sins and misdeeds. It is a direct matter between a person and God, so there is no intercession. There is no original sin in Islam.

133676

Garden . Repentance (Tawbah) . Dunya

I feel that Prophet Adam (as) should have been taken back to the garden if he went against an advice and then repented after facing the consequences. Why was he not, and what is the purpose and reason for our stay in this world?

Amina Inloes, Amina Inloes is originally from the US and has a PhD in Islamic Studies from the University of Exeter on Shi'a hadith. She is the program leader for the MA Islamic Studies program at the... Answer updated 1 month ago

It seems that when Allah created Adam, and gave him the human nature, Allah understood what Adam would do and that eventually Adam would come to this world, and that this was part of the plan of the creation of the human being, as well as something for us to learn from about our own nature.

Otherwise, if this process had not continued, and human beings were still living in the garden, we would not be dealing with the complexities of this world that enable it to fulfil its spiritual function for us - for instance, refining the soul, learning about things and their opposites (such as mercy and lack of mercy, knowledge and ignorance), developing the soul, testing the soul, and overall experiencing the world of matter and the material world. We would just be like children in the womb who are provided for and are secure but who are not growing beyond their confines.

Perhaps, one can also learn from this that our actions change us. Even if Adam's repentance was accepted, he was still a different person after what he did and therefore had a different life path.

Also, Allah says in the Qur'an that Allah loves those people who repent/turn back to Him (2:222). It is narrated that the Prophet (S) said: “Had you not committed sins and sought the forgiveness of Allah, He would have created others who commit sins and then seek His forgiveness so that He will forgive them. A believer commits sins frequently, but repents to Allah very frequently."

So it seems that the human being was created in such a manner that it is expected that we will need to continually turn back to Allah, even though of course we should not be making mistakes intentionally.

As for the overall purpose of life in this world, this of course is a question that people have debated since the beginning of time. From the Qur'an and hadith, one can understand that the purpose of being in this world includes cognizance and worship of Allah, learning about greater realities, growth, and testing the soul.

One can also consider that there is an overall purpose of existence of humanity in general, and each of us may also have our own individual purposes; for instance, I am sure that my purpose in life is not to become an Olympic runner (at least, I have not yet shown any talent in this area), but perhaps my personal purpose is something else.

Garden . Repentance (Tawbah) . Dunya

Sayyed Mohammad Al-Musawi, Sayyed Mohammad al-Musawi is originally from Iraq and heads up the World Ahlul Bayt Islamic League in London. Other than being involved in various humanitarian projects, he frequently responds to... Answered 1 month ago

Allah's Knowledge is unlimited, as well as His Wisdom and Mercy. Allah The Glorious Knows why he send Adam from Paradise to this world and we are here now. Allah Has promised pious human being to return to the Paradise, but evil people will be away from the Paradise.

We have to be realistic as we have very limited knowledge, and refrain from suggesting on Allah (SWT) what He should do.

Wassalam.

127844

Grave . Qiyama . Sin . Repentance (Tawbah)

Do we still get punished in the grave and on the day of judgment for the sins for which we have repented?

Allah is The Most Merciful Who showers His Mercy on us all the times. He wants us to avoid sinful acts and never insist on wrong, so that He forgives our sins when we sincerely repent and seek forgiveness. Sinners who insist on doing wrong and never care to repent, will face the results of their own deeds. Allah's Mercy does not allow punishment for sins we have repented, nor repeating a punishment which has already been given.

The Mercy and Forgiveness of Allah, is above our imagination. His Mercy and Forgiveness will be on The Day of Judgement for almost every one except the enemies of Allah, the Prophet and Ahlul Bayt. Enemies of Allah will be facing the results of their crimes in their graves and in the Day of Judgement as well, but sinners who are not enemies of Allah will not suffer twice. Grave for some believers is a place of purification so they suffer in the grave to go pure in The Day of Judgement.
We need to have more hope in Allah's Mercy and keep ourselves away from sins and seek forgiveness.

Wassalam.

123622

Sin . Oath . Repentance (Tawbah) . Qur'an

If I commit a sin but then sincerely repent for it, can I take a false oath by the Quran to save my honour by denying that I committed that sin?

Zaid Alsalami, Shaykh Dr Zaid Alsalami is an Iraqi born scholar, raised in Australia. He obtained a BA from Al-Mustafa University, Qom, and an MA from the Islamic College in London. He also obtained a PhD from... Answered 7 months ago

Bismihi ta'ala

Repenting from a sin is very important, and that's very good that you have sincerely repented from it, but it does not mean you are able to deny having committed it if confronted about it. Taking a false oath is a major sin, and worse than that is swearing a false oath on the holy Quran.

As for saving your honour, you need to weigh out what the situation is, and what kind of consequences there will be for revealing this sin, or whether there will be detremental damage to you, or harm.

It might be advisable that you somehow change the scenario, or do tawriyah, to avoid severe backlash, if that is what the situation will be.

With prayers for your success.

121542

Hijab . Du'a (Supplication) . Repentance (Tawbah)

Would the Dua that I made when I was not wearing a Hijab get accepted if I would repent and start wearing it?

Hijab is not a precondition for the acceptance of du'a. However, anything we do with a sincere intention for the sake of Allah should, God willing, bring us closer to Allah.

However it does not guarantee acceptance of a specific du'a, especially since some things are kept from us because it is in our best interest, there is some wisdom behind it, or we are meant to follow a different path in life.

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God (Allah) . Punishment . Sin . Repentance (Tawbah)

Does Allah punish us for the sins we have repented for?

Allah is The Most Merciful, The Forgiver. Those who repent their sins and sincerely seek forgiveness with giving back the rights of others and firm decision not to commit the sin again have been promised by Allah in Quran: Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves (by sinning), Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, Verily, Allah forgives all sins, Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Sura 39, Verse 53).

The Hadeeth says: The repenting believer from his sin is like a person with out sin. التائب من الذنب كمن لا ذنب له.

Repenting and sincerely seeking forgiveness and fulfilling the missed rights have definite effect in our life and spirituality.

Wassalam.

112419

God (Allah) . Sin . Repentance (Tawbah)

I have promised Allah not to go back to my sins again but I keep failing many times. How can I give a sincere repentance to Allah?

Zoheir Ali Esmail, Shaykh Zoheir Ali Esmail has a Bsc in Accounting and Finance from the LSE in London, and an MA in Islamic Studies from Middlesex University. He studied Arabic at Damascus University and holds a PhD... Answered 1 year ago

Bismillah

Thank you for your question. Just keep trying and don't lose hope in the day in which you will overcome these relapses. Some sins are sticky. They may be habitual or you may not have truly realised the damage that they are causing. If you keep trying you will succeed eventually. Learn to disparage your sins, to see them as stemming from ignorance and understand that their pleasure stops you from having a healthy soul and fulfilling your potential as a human. Sins are like poison that take time to get rid of, and every new sin is a new dose and more time lost.

May you always be successful

102393

Zakat . Repentance (Tawbah) . Du'a (Supplication) . Sadaqa (Charity)

How do we repent in Islam? Is there any Dua or prayer that we should perform? Is paying Zakat or any charity counted as repentance if that was our intention?

The most important conditions of Tawbah (repentance) are:

1. To really repent the sinful act and,feel sad and sorry about it.

2. To firmly decide not to do it again,

3. Immediately returning the rights of others if the sin involved rights of others. No Tawbah can be granted with out these conditions which are obligatory and compulsory.
It is very important to seek the Waseela of the Prophet (SAWA) and Ahlul Bayt (AS) in getting our supplication and Tawbah accepted by Allah, as we read in Quran Sura 4, Verse 64 (Had they when they did wrong, come to you, and begged Allah for forgiveness, and the Prophet prayed for their forgiveness, they should have found Allah accepting their repentance and Merciful). No doubt, when the Prophet is no more among Muslims,BT heir real successors Ahlul Bayt are in his place.
Giving Zakat and Khums is obligatory on those who have. Giving charity is always good and helps in purifying ourselves from sinful acts.

Wassalam.

111333

Repentance (Tawbah)

How should we do Tawbah? Is it like how we make Dua? Do we have to praise Allah and send salutations upon the Prophet (s) and then ask Allah for forgiveness?

Yes but that is the recommended acts before any supplication to praise Allah (SWT) then salute Muhammad and his Progeny, the pray for our Imam Al-Mahdi (AS), then for your parents and believers, then to pray for yourself.

But the most important condition of Tawbah is to:

1. To really repent the sinful act and,

2. To firmly decide not to do it again,

Wassalam.

103270

Pork . Repentance (Tawbah) . God (Allah) . Forgiveness

I once ate candy that had pork ingredients in it and I knew it. I was about 12 to 14 years old at the time and have since repented. Will Allah forgive me?

Allah knows who is entitled to be forgiven according to the degree of his sincerity and real decision not to commit the sin again. Allah (SWT) said in Quran (Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves (in committing sins) : Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins, truly He is The Oft-Forgiving, The Most Merciful) Sura 39, verse 53.

We need to always seek forgiveness and repeat that whenever we remember our sins.

Wassalam.

106534

Barzakh . Dunya . Repentance (Tawbah) . Qiyama

Do we have to be punished for what we do in this world in Barzakh even if we repent in our lifetime? Or is our repentance in this world only useful for Qayamat?

Those believers who repent doing wrong, and sincerely seek forgiveness, after giving back the right of others, should not be punished neither in the Day of Judgement nor in Barzakh , after they have been forgiven by Allah (SWT).

Wassalam.

104577

Forgiveness . Repentance (Tawbah) . God (Allah) . Gheebah . Backbiting

How do I repent from Ghibah? Do I need to ask forgiveness of the people I have backbitten even if they do not know about it, or just seek forgiveness from Allah?

You need to seek forgiveness and pardon from them. If you are unable to do that then seek forgiveness from Allah to forgive you and them and keep praying for them.

Wassalam.