by committing something less serious than that, they remember Allah with both heart and tongue. They then ask their Lord to pardon them—“So they seek forgiveness for their sins”—for, as the Qur’an says, “And who forgives sins except Allah?” In other words, no one at all can erase sins besides Allah. If every inhabitant of earth and every dweller of heaven joined forces to remove from you a single sin, they would never be able to do so. All created beings together could not wipe away even one misdeed; only Allah forgives sins.

“And they do not persist in what they have done while they know.” That is, once they realize an act is sinful, they do not keep on committing it. If, however, they were to commit a sin and stubbornly persist in it while unaware that it is a sin, Allah—exalted is He—would not hold them accountable, for He has said, “Our Lord, do not take us to task if we forget or make a mistake” (Q 2:286).

“Such people—their recompense is forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. How excellent is the reward of those who do good” (Q 3:136). This is the reward that awaits all who possess these qualities.

Allah the Exalted also says, “Turn to Allah in repentance, all of you who believe, so that you may succeed” (Q 24:31). This command to repent comes immediately after He ordered lowering the gaze and prohibiting women from revealing their adornment; then He said, “Turn to Allah in repentance, all of you.”

Repentance to Allah is to return to Him: from disobedience to obedience, from associating partners with Him to affirming His oneness, from innovation to following the Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him). A person turns back to his Lord, regrets what he has done, resolves never to repeat it, and seeks Allah’s forgiveness