As humans, we are ordered not to commit sins, but sometimes we slip and fall. What shall we do when that happens? Are we doomed because we sinned even once? Or is there a way to redeem ourselves and earn the forgiveness of our Creator? Will Allah forgive Me?!
To find our answer, we will look into the path through which Allah forgives all sins. We will also see what we should never do so that the wide-open door of mercy isn’t closed by our own hands.
Here we will learn the following:
What is a sin In Islam?
Sin is disobedience to Allah(God) our lord and master, the lord of the worlds; It’s our own choice to take a different path than the one He ordered us.
First, you have to understand something important. We are not born in sin, and there is no “Original Sin” that people inherit! Sin is every person’s choice and everyone is responsible for his own choices. This has been explained in detail in (The Original Sin In Islam – Who Sinned First? – Explore Islam)
Allah says: “No soul carries the guilt burden of another”
(Surah Fatir – 18)
وَلَا تَزِرُ وَازِرَةٌۭ وِزْرَ أُخْرَىٰ ۚ
There is no original sin, our sins are our own! Those who committed sins ages ago (Be it Adam or Iblis –Satan–) their sins are their own, just as our sins are our own. Although we didn’t inherit a sin, we can learn a lot from the story of these first sins. –To understand the nature of “sin” and the path to redemption.
Some sins get forgiven and some will never be forgiven, why?
Allah forgave Adam and his wife and made their sin as if it never was, and until the end of days, Iblis will not be forgiven. But why?
The Two Types of Sin Islam
Even though both Adam and Iblis have sinned, the nature of their sin was different, but more importantly, how they reacted to it was very different. Their attitude towards Allah made all the difference.
1. Sin out of Arrogance
See, Iblis’ biggest problem wasn’t that he sinned and didn’t obey the order of His Creator; rather it was that he defied his Creator. His arrogance, hatred, and envy caused his sin. Add to all that, never acknowledged his mistake, repented from it, or asked for forgiveness!
2. Sin out of weakness
On the other hand, Adam’s sin was due to his own weakness and the seduction of his enemy. That doesn’t make it any less of a sin, but it plays a very big role in how he reacted to it.
See, just as Adam and his wife realized they had slipped into sin, they immediately admitted their wrongs to Allah. Adam and Eve acknowledged their wrongs with remorse and regret, and then asked for the forgiveness of the Almighty, after showing their will to never disobey again.
(قَالَا رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَآ أَنفُسَنَا وَإِن لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُونَنَّ مِنَ ٱلْخَـٰسِرِينَ )
[Quran 7:23, Sahih International]
They said, “Our Lord, we have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy upon us, we will surely be among the losers.”
How to earn Allah’s forgiveness?
They asked for His forgiveness, and they were forgiven! Just like that? Yes! It’s as simple as that! They knew that no matter how grave a sin is, Allah is always greater and his mercy engulfed everything. The way to earn it is by simply returning to Him and proving genuine sincerity.
Our existence doesn’t revolve around sin. We sin, but sin is not our identity. Rather, struggling against sin is what refines our identity, faith, perseverance, and commitment to Allah. Nothing is greater than Allah, nothing is impossible for Allah, and His mercy is vaster than we could ever imagine –Glorified is He!
Will Allah forgive me?
Yes, Allah would forgie you If you repent. Allah forgives those who return to Him.
Two have sinned; one was forgiven, and the other was condemned. Allah told you their story to take heed. –not only show you that He forgives all sins and that His mercy engulfed everything, but also show you the way to get it. And now you know.
So if you ever slip and fall, know that the key to your redemption is still in your hands. It’s as simple as admitting what you did wrong, asking Allah for His forgiveness, and most importantly showing your sincerity to earn that forgiveness by repenting and doing good with your heart and limbs.
(He said: “My punishment – I afflict with it whom I will, but My mercy encompasses all things. So I will write it for those who fear Me and give zakāh and those who believe in Our signs-“)
Surah Al-A’raf – 156
(قَالَ عَذَابِىٓ أُصِيبُ بِهِۦ مَنْ أَشَآءُ ۖ وَرَحْمَتِى وَسِعَتْ كُلَّ شَىْءٍۢ ۚ فَسَأَكْتُبُهَا لِلَّذِينَ يَتَّقُونَ وَيُؤْتُونَ ٱلزَّكَوٰةَ وَٱلَّذِينَ هُم بِـَٔايَـٰتِنَا يُؤْمِنُونَ)
A. Allah knows you, so know Him
If we’re programmed to love and obey our Creator, then there is no challenge. But by choosing Him over anything else in His creation and committing to His path against all struggles and temptations we truly prove our faith and sincerity.
This is our journey. So long as we are seeking Allah, learning from Him and about Him, not neglecting Him or associating anything or anyone with Him, then He will forgive and He will forgive…
He knows each and every single one of us. He made us and made this heart and mind and He is most knowing of what goes into it. He is closer to you than this screen you’re looking at.
No one will know your heart like the One who made it, no one will show you mercy like The Origin of all Mercy, and no one will understand you like The One who gave you the ability to understand.
The One who has been with you every second of every single day from the time you were a mere drop of fluid to the time you go to your grave and beyond.
He named Himself The Oft Forgiver, Hider of Faults, Accepter of Repentance…. for us!
B. Forgiveness is the promise of Allah
Allah the Almighty has said:
O Son of Adam, as long as you invoke Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O Son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and you then asked forgiveness from Me, I would forgive you. O Son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the Earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great as it [too].”
[nawawi]
“يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ! إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتنِي وَرَجَوْتنِي غَفَرْتُ لَك عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْك وَلَا أُبَالِي، يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ! لَوْ بَلَغَتْ ذُنُوبُك عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتنِي غَفَرْتُ لَك، يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ! إنَّك لَوْ أتَيْتنِي بِقُرَابِ الْأَرْضِ خَطَايَا ثُمَّ لَقِيتنِي لَا تُشْرِكُ بِي شَيْئًا لَأَتَيْتُك بِقُرَابِهَا مَغْفِرَةً”
O My servants, who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.”
Surah Az-Zumar – 53
يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Who does Allah forgive?
Allah forgives those who return to him, repent sincerely, and turn their lives around to do good deeds after they did bad ones. .
But how can we return? How can we repent? How can we prove that we are genuinely seeking His forgiveness?
There are three simple steps:
Conditions of repentance
The conditions of repentance are:
- Stop doing the sin
- Regret what you have done
- Resolve that you never return to it
So, for those who ask:
- Will Allah forgive me for watching bad things?
- Will Allah forgive me for not praying?
- Will Allah forgive me for Zina (adultery)?
- Will Allah forgive me for drinking alcohol?
Yes, if you repented and fulfilled the conditions of repentance.
Will Allah forgive me for major sins?
Yes, with repentance there are no unforgivable sins. Allah forgives all sins, He is the oft-forgiving and the most merciful.
But pay attention, that without repentance, your major sins will be under Allah’s will. He didn’t guarantee forgiveness or punishment for everyone; rather your judgment will be individual between you and him. and what face will you have then, if you lived your whole life without repenting?!
Furthermore, without repentance, there are unforgivable sins. Sins which Allah declared He will not forgive anyone, who dies upon them without repenting. These sins are the type of sin that Iblis had fallen into defiance and equating with Allah others.
“Indeed, Allah does not forgive associating with Him, yet He forgives anything less than that for whomever He wills.”
Surah An-Nisa – 48
إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يَغْفِرُ أَن يُشْرَكَ بِهِۦ وَيَغْفِرُ مَا دُونَ ذَٰلِكَ لِمَن يَشَآءُ ۚ
So, repent to Him. Confess your wrongs to Him. You don’t need to confess it to anyone else. Allah is closer to you than your own veins, and He sees you, hears you, and knows what’s in your heart. So confess to Him! Ask Him! Be honest with Him!
Then return back to Him.
Will Allah Forgive Me for Repeated Sins?
Yes! Never lose hope. The resolve in your heart is what counts. So, even if you ended up getting weak and falling again, return again.
Allah doesn’t ask us what we can’t. He doesn’t demand to guarantee the future that none of us know.
The door is always open. Earning his mercy is as simple as submitting to Him, asking his forgiveness, and throwing away arrogance and ego.
No matter how many times you fall, never lose hope. You can always return and always ask for Allah’s forgiveness as He is the Ever hearing and the Ever forgiving.
Beware of Iblis’ Trap
However, don’t let the devil trick you into thinking you can trick your lord! If you repent and you still want to do the sin whenever you get the chance thinking you will just repent again, know that God can’t be tricked and you are only tricking yourself!
Take heed of what happened to your enemy and don’t let him lead you astray as he did your parents…… and don’t let the mercy of Allah make you forget His severe and harsh punishment.
How to Deal with Sins related to others?
Some sins may involve other people. For that type of sin, there is a 4th condition for your repentance, added to the previous three:
- Make amends to those you have wronged, and get their forgiveness.
This condition differs a lot depending on the case; sometimes they are unreachable or unwilling. But Allah only asks you to do what you can. Show Him your sincerity and rely on Him and He will respond in kind.
And so, those who ask:
- Will Allah forgive me for backbiting?
- Will Allah forgive me for hurting someone?
- Will Allah forgive me for disrespecting my parents?
- Will Allah forgive me for abortion?
Yes, if you repented and fulfilled the conditions of repentance.
Forgive Me, Allah, For I Have Sinned:
Allah’s (God’s) forgiveness is only in His hands, to earn it just ask Him for it. Those who fall into frustration or despair after falling into sin, have the biggest loss of their lives; Allah’s mercy is near! Allah’s forgiveness is easily earned! Just ask Him! Him alone!
Acknowledge your wrongs to Him, that’s the first step. Then, regretting what you did is the second –remorse and regret that don’t lead to frustration but instead lead to the last step. Have a solid determination and resolve to not do it again in the future.
And then do your best and whichever happens, know that Allah’s door is always open…. If the devil tricks you a thousand times return to Allah a thousand times!
Just raise your hands to Him, and say “Forgive me, Allah, for I have sinned.”
show Him your sincerity by doing what you can to get better and walk to Him on His path.
(And say: “My Lord, forgive and have mercy, for You are the best of the merciful.”)
Surah Al-Mu’minun
وَقُل رَّبِّ ٱغْفِرْ وَٱرْحَمْ وَأَنتَ خَيْرُ ٱلرَّٰحِمِينَ
Who can forgive sins except Allah?
Read the other article on the topic: The Original Sin In Islam – Who Sinned First?
