What advice is given to one who has repented but fears his previous sins?
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Question:
A man has been extravagant in his sins against himself, but he has repented to his Lord. Despite this, he is afraid of his previous sins, which has caused him anxiety that leads to obsessive thoughts (waswas). I hope you will guide him so that he can be rid of these obsessive thoughts.
Answer:
If a person is extravagant in his sins against himself, and then Allah guides him and bestows upon him repentance, let him praise Allah. Let him know that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) only bestowed upon him repentance out of His mercy and His grace, to purify him and wash him clean of his faults. So let him praise Allah, let him be glad of the good, and let him beware of Satan and his whispers. Satan may cause him to fall into obsessive thoughts and bad suspicions, so let him beware of that and not obey the enemy of Allah. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has informed us that if a servant repents, believes, and does good, Allah turns to him in mercy and replaces his bad deeds with good ones. He said (Glorified and Exalted is He): [20:82]. And in the authentic hadith: Sunan Ibn Majah 4250Da’if (Darussalam). So for the one who repents, Allah forgives his bad deeds and erases his mistakes.
So, my brother, you must repent and stick to it, and beware of the obsessive thoughts and bad suspicions that Allah has forbidden for you.
A man has been extravagant in his sins against himself, but he has repented to his Lord. Despite this, he is afraid of his previous sins, which has caused him anxiety that leads to obsessive thoughts (waswas). I hope you will guide him so that he can be rid of these obsessive thoughts.
Answer:
If a person is extravagant in his sins against himself, and then Allah guides him and bestows upon him repentance, let him praise Allah. Let him know that Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) only bestowed upon him repentance out of His mercy and His grace, to purify him and wash him clean of his faults. So let him praise Allah, let him be glad of the good, and let him beware of Satan and his whispers. Satan may cause him to fall into obsessive thoughts and bad suspicions, so let him beware of that and not obey the enemy of Allah. Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) has informed us that if a servant repents, believes, and does good, Allah turns to him in mercy and replaces his bad deeds with good ones. He said (Glorified and Exalted is He):
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 اهْتَدَىThe one who repents from sin is like one who did not sin.
التَّائِب من الذنب كمَن لا ذنبَ لهSo, my brother, you must repent and stick to it, and beware of the obsessive thoughts and bad suspicions that Allah has forbidden for you.
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.