Is every person who says the word "I seek forgiveness from Allah" forgiven?

The questioner : Is it true that every person who says the word "I seek forgiveness from Allah" is forgiven?

The Shaykh : The answer is that if a person says "I seek forgiveness from Allah" with a sincere intention and is truthful in seeking forgiveness, and the conditions of repentance are fulfilled for him, then Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) will accept his repentance; in fact, He loves that from him, as He the Exalted said: And the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) informed us that the joy of Allah in the repentance of His servant is like the joy of a man in finding his lost camel, on which was his food and drink. He searched for it but did not find it, so he lay down under a tree waiting for death. Then he saw the camel's bridle hanging from the tree, so he took hold of the bridle and said: "O Allah, You are my Lord and I am Your servant." He made a mistake out of the intensity of his joy. No one can estimate the magnitude of this joy except one who has been afflicted with a similar calamity. Allah the Exalted loves it when His servant repents, and He loves it when His servant seeks forgiveness. Allah the Exalted has commanded seeking forgiveness in His Book in several verses. Seeking forgiveness is asking for forgiveness, and forgiveness is covering the sin and passing over it, because it is derived from the helmet (maghfir) with which a person covers his head in battle to protect himself from arrows; in it is covering and protection. Likewise, forgiveness contains covering of sins and protection from their punishments. So if a person seeks forgiveness from his Lord with truthfulness and sincerity, while observing the conditions of repentance, then Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) will accept his repentance, and Allah forgives those who repent.