Chapter: What One Should Say and Do After Committing a Forbidden Act
Allah the Exalted says, “And if an evil suggestion from Satan stirs you, seek refuge in Allah.” (Q 41:36)
He also says, “Indeed, those who are mindful of Allah—when a suggestion from Satan touches them, they remember, and at once they see clearly.” (Q 7:201)
And He says, “Those who, when they commit an obscenity or wrong themselves, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins—who but Allah forgives sins?—and who do not persist in what they did knowingly: their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow, abiding therein forever. How excellent is the reward of those who act.” (Q 3:135–136)
And He, Most High, says, “Turn to Allah in repentance, all of you, O believers, so that you may succeed.” (Q 24:31)
- Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “Whoever swears an oath and says, ‘By al-Lāt and al-ʿUzzā,’ should immediately say, ‘There is no god but Allah.’ And whoever says to another, ‘Come, let us gamble,’ must give charity instead.” Agreed upon.
[Commentary]
The compiler—may Allah have mercy on him—entitles this chapter of Riyāḍ al-Ṣāliḥīn “What one should say and do when he has committed something unlawful,” for no human being is free from sin. Everyone slips, as the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: “All the children of Adam are sinners, and the best of sinners are those who repent.”