The Obligation of Believing in Divine Decree for the Sinner Along with Repentance

Question:
Many people, when they commit a sin and the hudud (fixed Qur'anic punishments) are carried out against them and they are thrown into prison, say: "This is the divine decree and destiny of Allah, praise be to Allah. Did Allah write this for me?"

Answer:
Yes, Allah wrote it, but he must repent despite that. It is divine decree and destiny, but he must repent. He should praise Allah for what He decreed, namely that he was punished for it, that the hudud were carried out against him, and that he was patient with what Allah decreed. He should be pleased with the decree of Allah. However, he must hasten to repent, feel remorse, abandon the sin, and not return to it. The decree of Allah does not make him persist in the sin or return to it. Rather, the decree of Allah consoles him, and he praises Allah for what He decreed and destined, that the hudud were carried out against him, that he repented to Allah, and that he turned back to Allah (Glorified and Exalted is He). He must not make the decree an excuse for the sin.