by his own strength, forgetting Allah’s grace and kindness and that He is the One who enabled him to perform them. This is repentance from a blameworthy act and from neglecting what is commanded.

Hence it has been said: “Purifying deeds of what corrupts them is harder for those who perform them than prolonged striving.” This illustrates people’s constant need for repentance.

It has therefore been said: “Repentance is a station that the servant maintains from the moment he first enters it until the end of his life, and it is indispensable for all of creation.” Everyone must repent and persist in repentance.

Allah Most High says:

“Yet man undertook it. He was indeed unjust and ignorant.”

“So that Allah may punish the hypocrites, men and women, and the polytheists, men and women, and accept the repentance of the believers, men and women. And Allah is All-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Thus, the ultimate aim of every believer is repentance.

Allah has said concerning the best of the prophets and the best of creation after the prophets—the earliest forerunners in faith:

“Allah has certainly accepted the repentance of the Prophet, the Emigrants and the Helpers who followed him in the hour of hardship, after the hearts of a group of them had almost swerved. Then He accepted their repentance. Indeed, He is Most Kind and Most Merciful to them.”

Among the last revelations Allah sent down were His words:

“When Allah’s help comes and the victory,

and you see people entering Allah’s religion in crowds,

then glorify your Lord with praise and seek His forgiveness. Indeed, He is ever Accepting of repentance.”

It is established in the two Sahīh collections that “while bowing and prostrating, he would say, ‘Glory be to You, O Allah, and praise be to You. O Allah, forgive me,’ thereby putting the Quran into practice.”

In a version recorded by Muslim, ‘Ā’ishah said: “The Messenger of Allah (may Allah bless him and grant him peace) would frequently