107 — Hastening to Repent and Being Sincere in Repentance

We previously discussed repentance to Allah, Glorified and Exalted, its importance, and the servant’s profound need for it in order to attain success and secure happiness in this world and the Hereafter. The true essence of repentance is to return to Allah by adhering to what He loves and abandoning what He hates. It is thus a return from what is displeasing to what is beloved, and it comprises two matters: abandoning sins, regretting having committed them, and resolving never to return to them; and devoting oneself to obedience, adhering to it, and resolving to remain steadfast upon it.

For this reason, Allah, Glorified is He, made complete success contingent upon doing so when He said: “Turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, so that you may succeed.” 1 Every person who repents is successful, but no one can be successful unless he fulfils both matters together. If he falls short by committing what is forbidden or neglecting what is commanded, his share and portion of success will be diminished accordingly. By neglecting what is commanded and committing what is forbidden, he wrongs himself to that same extent. Allah says: “Whoever does not repent—it is they who are the wrongdoers.” 2 Thus, one who neglects what is commanded wrongs himself, just as one who commits what is forbidden wrongs himself. The designation of wrongdoing is removed from him only through repentance that encompasses both matters.

Repentance therefore encompasses the laws of Islam and the realities of faith, and the whole of religion falls within its meaning. This is why the repentant person merits being one whom Allah loves, for Allah loves those who constantly repent and He loves those who purify themselves.3 Indeed, it is authentically reported in a hadith from the Prophet