A person who repents of disbelief and sins may be superior to someone who never fell into disbelief or sins. If he may be superior, then the superior person is more deserving of prophethood than someone who does not equal him in virtue. Allah has recounted the sins of Joseph’s brothers, yet they are the Asbāt (the Tribes) whom Allah Most High made prophets. Allah Most High also says:

“So Lot believed him, and he said, ‘I am emigrating to my Lord.’”

Lot thus believed Abraham, peace be upon him, and Allah Most High subsequently sent him to the people of Lot. Allah Most High says in the account of Shuʿayb:

“The arrogant chiefs among his people said, ‘We will certainly expel you, Shuʿayb, and those who believe with you from our town, unless you return to our religion.’ He said, ‘Even if we are unwilling? We would indeed be fabricating a lie against Allah if we returned to your religion after Allah has saved us from it. We cannot return to it unless Allah, our Lord, wills. Our Lord encompasses all things in His knowledge. In Allah we put our trust. Our Lord, judge between us and our people in truth, for You are the best of judges.’”

Allah Most High also says:

“Those who disbelieved said to their messengers, ‘We will certainly expel you from our land unless you return to our religion.’ Their Lord then revealed to them, ‘We will surely destroy the wrongdoers and settle you in the land after them. This is for whoever fears standing before Me and fears My warning.’”

Once it is understood that what counts is the perfection attained at the end, and that this perfection is attained only through repentance and seeking forgiveness, it follows that every servant must repent. Repentance is obligatory upon all, from the earliest generations to the latest. As Allah Most High says:

“So that Allah may punish the hypocritical men and women and the men and women who associate partners with Him, and turn in mercy to the believing men and women. Allah is ever All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”