The Difference Between Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness
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Question:
After this, a message from a listener who preferred not to have his name mentioned. He asks a collection of questions, the first of which is: What is the difference between repentance and seeking forgiveness?
Answer:
Repentance: regretting the past, abandoning it, and resolving not to return to it. This is called repentance.
As for seeking forgiveness: it may be repentance, or it may be mere words, saying: “O Allah, forgive me,” or “I seek Allah’s forgiveness.” It is not repentance unless it is accompanied by regret, abandoning the sin, and resolving not to return to it. This is called repentance and is called seeking forgiveness. So the beneficial, fruitful seeking forgiveness is that which is accompanied by regret, abandoning the sin, and a sincere resolve not to return to it. This is called seeking forgiveness and is called repentance. This is what is intended in His saying—(Exalted and Majestic is He):[Ali 'Imran 3:135] Those are the ones whose reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow, in which they will abide forever, and excellent is the reward of the workers. [Al-Imran: 135-136].
So the point is: he is regretful and not persisting in it. That is, he speaks and says: “O Allah, forgive me,” or “I seek Allah’s forgiveness,” and at the same time, he is regretful of the evil deed. Allah knows that from his heart. He is not persisting in it, but rather he is resolved to abandon it. So if he says: “I seek Allah’s forgiveness,” or “O Allah, forgive me,” and his intention is repentance, regret, abandoning it, and guarding against returning to it; then this is valid repentance. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
After this, a message from a listener who preferred not to have his name mentioned. He asks a collection of questions, the first of which is: What is the difference between repentance and seeking forgiveness?
Answer:
Repentance: regretting the past, abandoning it, and resolving not to return to it. This is called repentance.
As for seeking forgiveness: it may be repentance, or it may be mere words, saying: “O Allah, forgive me,” or “I seek Allah’s forgiveness.” It is not repentance unless it is accompanied by regret, abandoning the sin, and resolving not to return to it. This is called repentance and is called seeking forgiveness. So the beneficial, fruitful seeking forgiveness is that which is accompanied by regret, abandoning the sin, and a sincere resolve not to return to it. This is called seeking forgiveness and is called repentance. This is what is intended in His saying—(Exalted and Majestic is He):
And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah? - and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know.
وَالَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُوا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوا أَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللَّهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوا لِذُنُوبِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا اللَّهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوا عَلَى مَا فَعَلُوا وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُونَ So the point is: he is regretful and not persisting in it. That is, he speaks and says: “O Allah, forgive me,” or “I seek Allah’s forgiveness,” and at the same time, he is regretful of the evil deed. Allah knows that from his heart. He is not persisting in it, but rather he is resolved to abandon it. So if he says: “I seek Allah’s forgiveness,” or “O Allah, forgive me,” and his intention is repentance, regret, abandoning it, and guarding against returning to it; then this is valid repentance. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good, and may He do you good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.