The Virtue of Seeking Forgiveness and the Conditions of Repentance
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Question:
From Mosul in Iraq, this is a letter sent by our brother, Ra'id Muhammad Ali Abdullah al-Ramla. Our brother says in one of his questions: Is it true that whoever says, "I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Great, who has no god but Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him," seven times, will have his sin forgiven, even if it were like the foam of the sea? And is there a hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding this?
Answer:
Yes, there is a hadith regarding its virtue, narrated by al-Hakim and others, encouraging these words: "I seek forgiveness from Allah, there is no deity but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him." Abundant recitation of this carries great virtue and is among the causes of the forgiveness of sins for one who is sincere in it and repents to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). It is a great seeking of forgiveness, but this great virtue is only attained by one who repents with a sincere repentance. Therefore, he said: "I seek forgiveness from Allah, there is no deity but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him." Sincere repentance comprises three matters:
The first matter: ceasing the sins and abandoning them in obedience to Allah and out of reverence for Him.
The second matter: feeling remorse for what has passed, regret and sadness for what has passed.
The third matter: the sincere resolve not to return to them. If one repents with this repentance, Allah will forgive his sins absolutely, whether they are major or minor.
There is a fourth condition if the sin involves the rights of creation. It is necessary to return the right to its owner, whether it is a debt or an injustice, meaning taking a person's money or stealing, or something similar. It is necessary to return the money to its rightful owner, or for him to be absolved of it.
The summary is that the completion of repentance regarding the rights of creation is to give them their right, or to seek their absolution. If they forgive him, their right is dropped. Thus, repentance regarding the rights of creation is not complete without giving them their right or seeking their absolution. If he forgives him, there is no harm. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
From Mosul in Iraq, this is a letter sent by our brother, Ra'id Muhammad Ali Abdullah al-Ramla. Our brother says in one of his questions: Is it true that whoever says, "I seek forgiveness from Allah, the Great, who has no god but Him, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him," seven times, will have his sin forgiven, even if it were like the foam of the sea? And is there a hadith from the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) regarding this?
Answer:
Yes, there is a hadith regarding its virtue, narrated by al-Hakim and others, encouraging these words: "I seek forgiveness from Allah, there is no deity but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him." Abundant recitation of this carries great virtue and is among the causes of the forgiveness of sins for one who is sincere in it and repents to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). It is a great seeking of forgiveness, but this great virtue is only attained by one who repents with a sincere repentance. Therefore, he said: "I seek forgiveness from Allah, there is no deity but He, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him." Sincere repentance comprises three matters:
The first matter: ceasing the sins and abandoning them in obedience to Allah and out of reverence for Him.
The second matter: feeling remorse for what has passed, regret and sadness for what has passed.
The third matter: the sincere resolve not to return to them. If one repents with this repentance, Allah will forgive his sins absolutely, whether they are major or minor.
There is a fourth condition if the sin involves the rights of creation. It is necessary to return the right to its owner, whether it is a debt or an injustice, meaning taking a person's money or stealing, or something similar. It is necessary to return the money to its rightful owner, or for him to be absolved of it.
The summary is that the completion of repentance regarding the rights of creation is to give them their right, or to seek their absolution. If they forgive him, their right is dropped. Thus, repentance regarding the rights of creation is not complete without giving them their right or seeking their absolution. If he forgives him, there is no harm. Yes.
The presenter: May Allah reward you with good.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.