We seek advice for a student of knowledge who commits some sins, then repents, then returns to the sin?
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The questioner : A questioner says: I am a student of knowledge who has been excessive with myself in sins. I have been afflicted with some sins such that whenever I repent from them, I return to them, until my soul tells me that there is no benefit in it, that you cannot escape from them.
The Shaykh : Yes, I say that if one is sincere with Allah in repentance and has a strong resolve, then it is the norm that he will not return. And he should, when he repents, stay away from mixing with those who commit this evil. For example, if he repents from smoking and then remains abstaining from it for a few days and then returns, we say: restrain your soul and bear the hardship, and the outcome is for the righteous. Stay away from the places of those who smoke, for that is among the causes of abstaining from it. And with this, we say that as long as a person, when he repents, resolves not to return, if his soul overcomes him in the future and he returns, let him renew his repentance. Allah will accept it, no matter how much you sin and repent to Allah with sincere repentance, for Allah will accept your repentance. Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said:[Az-Zumar 39:53] Yes.
The questioner : May Allah reward you with good.
The Shaykh : Yes, I say that if one is sincere with Allah in repentance and has a strong resolve, then it is the norm that he will not return. And he should, when he repents, stay away from mixing with those who commit this evil. For example, if he repents from smoking and then remains abstaining from it for a few days and then returns, we say: restrain your soul and bear the hardship, and the outcome is for the righteous. Stay away from the places of those who smoke, for that is among the causes of abstaining from it. And with this, we say that as long as a person, when he repents, resolves not to return, if his soul overcomes him in the future and he returns, let him renew his repentance. Allah will accept it, no matter how much you sin and repent to Allah with sincere repentance, for Allah will accept your repentance. Allah Blessed and Exalted is He said:
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."
قل يا عبادي الذين أسرفوا على أنفسهم لا تقنطوا من رحمة الله إن الله يغفر الذنوب جميعاً إنه هو الغفور الرحيمThe questioner : May Allah reward you with good.