The virtue of repentance and the obligation to repeat it when necessary
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Q: I have pledged to Allah more than once not to commit a certain act, but I have not kept this pledge. I ask for your advice, and that of those in my situation.
A: This requires a detailed explanation. If the pledge was regarding something Allah has forbidden you from doing, and you pledged to Allah not to return to it or approach it, then it is obligatory for you to repent to Allah and turn back to Him. And whoever repents, Allah accepts his repentance.
Repentance comprises three things: regret for the past sin, abandoning it, and a sincere resolve not to return to it, out of reverence for Allah and sincerity to Him (Glorified and Exalted is He). If the Muslim does this, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) accepts his repentance. And the completion of repentance is following it with righteous deeds and steadfastness, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: : [Ta-Ha: 82]. And Allah the Exalted said, when mentioning shirk (associating partners with Allah), killing, and zina (unlawful sexual intercourse) in Surat al-Furqan: the punishment will be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in humiliation except for whoever repents and believes and does righteous deeds, then those, Allah will replace their evil deeds with good ones [al-Furqan: 68 - 70].
So he informed that whoever repents and follows his repentance with sincere faith and righteous deeds, He, the Exalted, will replace his evil deeds with good ones. This includes the acceptance of the repentance. Then He, the Exalted, increased for him by making a good deed in place of every evil deed, and this is from His grace, generosity, and magnanimity. And if there is a right belonging to the created beings in the sin, such as theft, aggression upon some of the people's wealth, their blood, or their honor, then it is necessary to seek reconciliation with the owner of the right or give him his right. If he forgives him, his right is dropped.
Likewise, in the case of aggression upon honor, if the owner of the right forgives, except if he fears harm (mafsadah) due to informing him of the backbiting, then he does not inform him. But he prays for him, seeks forgiveness for him, and mentions the good he knows of him in the gatherings where he mentioned him with bad, or praises him with the good things he knows about him, until his evil deed is counterbalanced by a righteous deed.
A: This requires a detailed explanation. If the pledge was regarding something Allah has forbidden you from doing, and you pledged to Allah not to return to it or approach it, then it is obligatory for you to repent to Allah and turn back to Him. And whoever repents, Allah accepts his repentance.
Repentance comprises three things: regret for the past sin, abandoning it, and a sincere resolve not to return to it, out of reverence for Allah and sincerity to Him (Glorified and Exalted is He). If the Muslim does this, Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He) accepts his repentance. And the completion of repentance is following it with righteous deeds and steadfastness, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: :
But indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.
وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىAnd whoever does that will meet a great sin.
وَمَنْ يَفْعَلْ ذَلِكَ يَلْقَ أَثَامًا So he informed that whoever repents and follows his repentance with sincere faith and righteous deeds, He, the Exalted, will replace his evil deeds with good ones. This includes the acceptance of the repentance. Then He, the Exalted, increased for him by making a good deed in place of every evil deed, and this is from His grace, generosity, and magnanimity. And if there is a right belonging to the created beings in the sin, such as theft, aggression upon some of the people's wealth, their blood, or their honor, then it is necessary to seek reconciliation with the owner of the right or give him his right. If he forgives him, his right is dropped.
Likewise, in the case of aggression upon honor, if the owner of the right forgives, except if he fears harm (mafsadah) due to informing him of the backbiting, then he does not inform him. But he prays for him, seeks forgiveness for him, and mentions the good he knows of him in the gatherings where he mentioned him with bad, or praises him with the good things he knows about him, until his evil deed is counterbalanced by a righteous deed.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.