What is the virtue of seeking forgiveness, and are sins forgiven by it?
Machine translationRead the Arabic original
Question : From Riyadh, Amina says: What is the virtue of seeking forgiveness? Is it true that anyone who says "I seek Allah's forgiveness" is forgiven? I hope you will provide us with information.
Answer : Seeking forgiveness is among the best of deeds and among the best of supplications. This is because when Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, forgives a servant, he becomes pure from sins, safe from the harms of sins, and free from the diseases of the heart. Consistently seeking forgiveness brings the servant closer to his Lord, Mighty and Majestic, and makes him aware of himself and his errors. Abundant seeking of forgiveness is among the best of deeds, to the extent that if a person seeks Allah's forgiveness frequently, Mighty and Majestic is He, Allah opens for him doors of knowledge and understanding that he did not previously possess.
Allah the Exalted said:[An-Nisa 4:105-106] As for the fact that one who seeks Allah's forgiveness is forgiven, this is derived from the saying of Allah the Exalted: [Ghafir 40:60]. The one who seeks forgiveness.
With certainty and faith, it is hoped that he will be forgiven, especially if that is in the last third of the night, for Allah the Exalted descendsMuwatta Malik 15:32. So let a person seek the forgiveness of his Lord and hold a good opinion of Him, Exalted and Majestic is He, for He is as His servant thinks of Him. Yes.
Answer : Seeking forgiveness is among the best of deeds and among the best of supplications. This is because when Allah, Glorified and Exalted is He, forgives a servant, he becomes pure from sins, safe from the harms of sins, and free from the diseases of the heart. Consistently seeking forgiveness brings the servant closer to his Lord, Mighty and Majestic, and makes him aware of himself and his errors. Abundant seeking of forgiveness is among the best of deeds, to the extent that if a person seeks Allah's forgiveness frequently, Mighty and Majestic is He, Allah opens for him doors of knowledge and understanding that he did not previously possess.
Allah the Exalted said:
(105) Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], the Book in truth so you may judge between the people by that which Allah has shown you. And do not be for the deceitful an advocate. (106) And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful.
إِنَّا أَنزَلْنَا إِلَيْكَ الْكِتَابَ بِالْحَقِّ لِتَحْكُمَ بَيْنَ النَّاسِ بِمَا أَرَاكَ اللَّهُ وَلَا تَكُن لِّلْخَائِنِينَ خَصِيمًا وَاسْتَغْفِرِ اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ كَانَ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًاAnd your Lord says, "Call upon Me; I will respond to you." Indeed, those who disdain My worship will enter Hell [rendered] contemptible.
وَقَالَ رَبُّكُمُ ادْعُونِي أَسْتَجِبْ لَكُمْ إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَكْبِرُونَ عَنْ عِبَادَتِي سَيَدْخُلُونَ جَهَنَّمَ دَاخِرِينَWith certainty and faith, it is hoped that he will be forgiven, especially if that is in the last third of the night, for Allah the Exalted descends
to the heaven of this world when the last third of the night is still to come and says, 'Who will call on Me so that I may answer him? Who will ask Me so that I may give him? Who will ask forgiveness of Me so that I may forgive him?'
إلى السماء الدنيا حين يبقى ثلث الليل الآخر فيقول من يدعوني فأستجيب له من يسألني فأعطيه من يستغفرني فأغفر له
Source
قناة «فضيلة الشيخ محمد بن صالح العثيمين»، 2271- ما هو فضل الاستغفار وهل تغفر الذنوب به/سؤال على الهاتف 📞 /ابن عثيمين — youtube.com
The Arabic text is a machine transcription of the audio recording.