Scholars said: It is necessary to repent from every sin. If the offense involves the Right of Allah, not a human, then there are three condition to be met in order that repentance be accepted by Allah:
1- To desist from committing it.
2- To feel sorry for committing it.
3- To decide not to recommit it.
Any repentance failing to meet any of these three conditions, would not be sound. But if the sin involves a human’s right, it requires a fourth condition, i.e., to absolve onself from such right. If it is a property, he should return it to its rightful owner. If it is slandering or backbiting, one should ask the pardon of the offended. One should also repent from all sins. If he repents from some, his repentance would still be sound according to the people of sound knowledge. He should, however, repent from the rest. Scriptural proofs from the Book and the Sunnah and the consensus of the scholars support the incumbency of repentance.
Allah, the, Exalted says:
“And all of you beg Allah to forgive you, O believers, that you may be successful”. (24:31)
“Seek the forgiveness of your Rubb, and turn to Him in repentance”. (11:3)
“O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance!”. (66:8)
Hadith:
Abu Hurairah (RadyAllahu anhu) reported: I heard Messenger of Allah (Sallellahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) saying: “By Allah, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day.”
[Al-Bukhari].
Commentary:
1. It is an inducement for seeking pardon and forgiveness. The Prophet (s.a.w.s.), whose past and future sins were forgiven, asked Allah’s forigveness – then how about us, who commit sins on regular basis, not to seek pardon and forgiveness from Allah?
2. Sincere and ceaseless prayer for pardon is essential so that sins committed by us unintentionally are also forgiven. The above Hadith lays great emphasis on seeking pardon.
Anas bin Malik Al-Ansari (r.a.) the servant of the Messenger of Allah narrated: Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.s.) said, “Verily, Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His slave than a person who lost his camel in a desert land and then finds it (unexpectedly)”.
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim].
In another version of Muslim, he said: “Verily, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a person who has his camel in a waterless desert carrying his provision of food and drink and it is lost. He, having lost all hopes (to get that back), lies down in shade and is disappointed about his camel; when all of a sudden he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts out: ‘O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Rubb’.He commits this mistake out of extreme joy”.
Commentary:
1. This Hadith also deals with the inducement and merit of repentance and pardon for sins. Allah is highly pleased with repentance.
2. One will not have to account for a mistake made without any purpose and intention.
3. It is permissible to take an oath to stress on one’s pardon.
4. One can quote an instance for the purpose of understanding and elaboration.
Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari (r.a.) reported: The Prophet (s.a.w.s.) said: “Allah, the Exalted, will continue to stretch out His Hand in the night so that the sinners of the day may repent, and continue to stretch His Hand in the daytime so that the sinners of the night may repent, until the sun rises from the west”.
[Muslim].
Commentary:
This Hadith confirms an essential Attribute of Allah, i.e., the Hand which He stretches out anytime He wishes without drawing similarity to it, nor interpretation. Such was the attitude of the pious predecessors with regards to all of the essential Attributes of Allah. It is deduced from this Hadith that if one commits a sin during any hour of day or night, he should immediately seek the forgiveness of Allah as a result.
**May Allah (SWT) protect us from sins and remind us to Repent whenever we fall into error. Aameen!**