Is there a reward for seeking forgiveness and remembering Allah with the heart?

Question:
A listener (K. A. T.) from Ta'if asks and says: Allahdoes not hold a person accountable for what passes through his mind as long as he does not act on it, but he asks about seeking forgiveness with the heart and remembering Allah with the heart: is there a reward in that or not?

Answer:
Remembering Allah with the heart carries a reward; Allah is remembered with the heart, the tongue, and the deed. As for seeking forgiveness, there is no such thing as seeking forgiveness with the heart alone; it is not called seeking forgiveness. When a servant turns to Allah (Mighty and Majestic) with his heart and feels remorse, that is called repentance. Seeking forgiveness is asking for pardon, and it is done with the tongue. What happens in the heart is remorse for the past, along with abandoning the sin and a sincere resolve; this is called repentance. If one feels remorse for a past sin and resolves in his heart to never return to it, and abandons the sin, this is called repentance, not seeking forgiveness. Yes.