resembles his father cannot be faulted. The Exalted said: “But man undertook it; indeed, he has always been exceedingly unjust and ignorant, so that Allah may punish the hypocrite men and women and the polytheist men and women, and so that Allah may relent toward the believing men and women. Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful.”

[The Coupling of Monotheism and Seeking Forgiveness]
For this reason, Allah pairs pure monotheism with seeking forgiveness in more than one verse. He says: “So know that there is no deity but Allah, and seek forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women.” He also says: “Therefore, turn steadfastly to Him and seek His forgiveness.” And He says: “Alif Lām Rā. A Book whose verses have been perfected and then set out in detail by One who is All-Wise, All-Aware: that you worship none but Allah. I am to you from Him a warner and a bearer of glad tidings. And seek forgiveness from your Lord, then turn to Him in repentance; He will grant you a goodly provision for a stated term.”

In the report narrated by Ibn Abī ʿĀṣim and others: “Satan says, ‘I destroyed people with sins, and they destroyed me with Lā ilāha illa Allah and with seeking forgiveness; so when…’”