He said: “A servant committed a sin and said, ‘My Lord, I have committed a sin, so forgive me.’ His Lord said, ‘My servant knows that he has a Lord who forgives sins and holds him accountable for them. I have forgiven My servant.’ Then he committed another sin and said, ‘My Lord, I have committed a sin, so forgive me for it.’ His Lord said, ‘My servant knows that he has a Lord who forgives sins and holds him accountable for them. I have forgiven My servant.’ Then he committed another sin and said, ‘My Lord, I have committed a sin, so forgive me for it.’ He said, ‘My servant knows that he has a Lord who forgives sins and holds him accountable for them. I have forgiven My servant, so let him do as he wishes.’”

Likewise, the authentic hadith collections report through several chains the account of the man who had never done any good and told his family, “When I die, burn me, then grind me to dust, then scatter me on a windy day”—and the hadith continues. Allah said to him, “What prompted you to do what you did?” He replied, “Fear of You, my Lord.” So Allah forgave him because of that fear.

Likewise, repentance is among the believer’s finest deeds. As the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said to al-Ghāmiriyyah, who confessed to adultery and whom he consequently had stoned: “Indeed,