Means of Assistance for One Who Sins, Then Repents, Then Returns to It
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Question:
Your Excellency the Shaykh, some people complain that they fall into sin, then repent, then fall into it again. They complain about their state and ask you, meaning, what are the means of assistance in such a situation?
Answer:
Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Whenever one sins, he repents.[Ali 'Imran 3:135] [Az-Zumar 39:53-54] So he repents to Allah and does not despair, saying, "I have sinned and there is no benefit in [repenting]." No, this is despair of the mercy of Allah, and it is not permissible. Allah (Mighty and Majestic) accepts the repentance of whoever repents. [Ash-Shuraa 42:25] So repent to Allah, no matter how often your sin recurs; repeat the repentance, then work on the means of protection from avoiding sins. Avoid bad companions and bad associates, for they convey evil to you and you are affected by them. Sit with the righteous and the people of good, listen to the remembrance of Allah, and attend the gatherings of knowledge. Maintain the obligatory prayers. [Al-'Ankabut 29:45] These are the means of protection from this evil. Yes.
The presenter:
May Allah reward you
Your Excellency the Shaykh, some people complain that they fall into sin, then repent, then fall into it again. They complain about their state and ask you, meaning, what are the means of assistance in such a situation?
Answer:
Do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Whenever one sins, he repents.
And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah?
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَن يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ(53) Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful." (54) And return [in repentance] to your Lord and submit to Him before the punishment comes upon you; then you will not be helped.
قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُواAnd it is He who accepts repentance from his servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do.
وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَand establish prayer. Indeed, prayer prohibits immorality and wrongdoing
وَأَقِمِ الصَّلَاةَ إِنَّ الصَّلَاةَ تَنْهَىٰ عَنِ الْفَحْشَاءِ وَالْمُنكَرِThe presenter:
May Allah reward you
Source
قناة «العلامة الدكتور صالح الفوزان»، محاضرات في العقيدة والدعوة-001-أثر الإيمان على الفرد والمجتمع|صالح الفوزان|كبار العلماء — youtube.com (37:18)
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.