Is it permissible for a person to be certain that Allah will forgive him?

Answer : It is not permissible for a person to be certain that Allah will forgive him. This is because he does not know whether he has fulfilled the causes of forgiveness completely or not, and because if he is certain that Allah will forgive him, he has certified his own righteousness, and because if he is certain of that, he has testified for himself that he is among the people of Paradise. All of this is contrary to what is prescribed, for Allah says and the people of the Sunnah and the community are in consensus that no one is certified for Paradise or Hellfire except for those whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) certified. However, one should hope and expect from Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) that Allah will forgive him if he fulfills the causes of forgiveness, such as seeking forgiveness, deeds that expiate sins, and the like. So a person does these things with his heart filled with hope that Allah the Exalted will forgive him. An example of this is that we have all heard and known that if a man among the people performed it and said, "I performed it with faith and seeking reward, so my previous sins will be forgiven," we would say to him, "What makes you know that you performed it with faith and seeking reward?" Perhaps there is a deficiency in your heart regarding faith, or in seeking the reward, or there is a flaw in your work. Perhaps you are praying while your heart is not present, or you are praying without having perfected the prayer in the prescribed manner, so there is a flaw. But fill your heart with hope, with hope in Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) that He will pardon your shortcomings and grant you forgiveness. And Allah (Blessed and Exalted is He) says in the Holy Hadith: O my Muslim brother, if you do what you hope will bring you a good opinion of Allah, then have a good opinion of Allah (Mighty and Majestic), for Allah