“Religion is sincerity”—he said this three times. They asked, “Towards whom, O Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “Towards Allah, His Book, His Messenger, the leaders of the Muslims, and the Muslims at large.”

The foundation of religion is good intention and sincerity of purpose. Hence the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“There are three things towards which a Muslim’s heart harbours no resentment: dedicating one’s deeds sincerely to Allah, offering sincere counsel to those in authority, and remaining with the Muslim community, for their supplication encompasses them from behind.”

That is, a Muslim’s heart bears no resentment towards these three qualities; rather, it loves and approves of them.

Sincere repentance, then, is repentance free of all deceit. When repentance is truly of this kind, a servant does not return to sin: he returns only because something of it remains within his soul. Whoever has rid his heart of doubt and sinful desire will not return to the sin. This is sincere repentance, and it is obligatory because Allah Most High has commanded it.

Even if a servant repents and then returns to the sin, Allah accepts his first repentance. When he returns to it, however, he deserves punishment; if he repents, Allah again accepts his repentance. A Muslim who repents and then returns to sin must not persist in it. Rather, he must repent, even if he returns to it a hundred times a day. Imam Ahmad narrated in his Musnad, from Alī, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Indeed, Allah loves the servant who is tried by temptation and repeatedly repents.”

Another hadith states:

“No sin is minor when persisted in, and no sin is major when forgiveness is sought.”

Another hadith states:

“Whoever seeks forgiveness has not persisted in sin, even if he returns to it a hundred times a day.”