In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

“Allah forgives all sins…”

Allah says: “Say: O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Turn to ye Lord (in repentance), and bow to His (Will), before the Penalty comes on you: After that ye shall not be helped.” [Sûrah al-Zumar 39:53-54, Qur'an translation by A.Yusuf Ali]

This verse speaks about those who repent 'taubah'. It tells us that any sin, no matter how major, is expiated by sincere and proper repentance.

There are conditions for repentance 'taubah' to be sincere and proper.

When Allah sees this sincere repentance from one of His servants – a servant who truly turns to his Lord in fear and hope – He not only forgives the sin, but replaces those sins for good deeds to the servant’s credit. This is from Allah’s infinite grace and munificence.

Allah says: “Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds, for Allah will change the evil deeds of such persons into good deeds, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful,” [Sûrah al-Furqân 25:70, Qur'an translation by A.Yusuf Ali]

Allah says this right after mentioning the sins of polytheism, murder, and adultery. However, this blessing is only for one who has faith, whose repentance is sincere, and who strives to work righteous deeds.

Allah’s generosity is so far-reaching, that we are not only forgiven through our specific repentance for each sin that we commit, but we can attain forgiveness simply through our constant appeals Allah to forgive us.

Another way that we attain Allah’s forgiveness is through the performance of good deeds.

Allah says: “Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Good deeds annul evil deeds. This is reminder for the mindful.” [Sûrah Hûd 11:114, Qur'an translation by M.Marmaduke Picthall]

Some scholars are of the view that this verse is only speaking about the forgiveness of minor sins, and that major sins need specific repentance. They cite the following verse in support of this interpretation:

Allah says: “If ye (but) eschew the most heinous of the things which ye are forbidden to do, We shall remit out of you your evil (minor) deeds, and admit you to a Gate of great honour.” [Sûrah an-Nisâ’ 4:31, Qur'an translation by A.Yusuf Ali]

However, Ibn Taymiyah and a number of other scholars consider the verse “Good deeds annul evil deeds” to be general in meaning. It applies to all sins, major and minor. Even if a person’s good deeds do not expiate for the sin directly, there can be no doubt that those good deeds weigh in the balance of deeds on the Day of Judgment in a person’s favor. Whoever has his good deeds outweigh his evil deeds on that Day will attain salvation.

Allah says: “The balance that day will be true (to a nicety): Those whose scale (of good) will be heavy, will prosper: Those whose scale will be light, will find their souls in perdition, for that they wrongfully treated Our signs.” [Sûrah al-A`râf: 7:8-9, Qur'an translation by A.Yusuf Ali]

If one has been negligent in fulfilling their obligatory duties or prayers unto their Lord, and/or has committed the abomination of unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.....and were such a person to die in a state whereby he did not turn unto his Lord in 'taubah' and seek sincere forgiveness for his sins and amend his conduct.....it would be safe to assume that each of these evil deeds will be assigned an appropriate 'weight' and placed in their 'Scale of Justice'. If their balance of good is heavier than their balance of evil, they will be granted Paradise; and if their balance of evil is heavier than their good, they shall face the Wrath of their Lord.

If one is a sincere believer, but also happens to commit major sins (intoxication, gambling, unlawful sexual intercourse, etc.)....if the person turns unto his Lord in 'taubah' before he has tasted the element of death, seeks sincere forgiveness for his manifest transgressions, and subsequently amends his conduct....it is expected that he will find his Lord Forgiving and Merciful.

Allah also forgives our sins on account of the supplications that others make to Allah asking for our forgiveness, including our funeral prayers. We earn forgiveness through the charity we gave in our lives that continue to provide benefit to others after our deaths. We earn forgiveness if we have pious children who beseech Allah on our behalf.

Continuing Charity
Narrated Abu Hurayrah, The Messenger of Allah said, “When a man dies, his acts come to an end, but three, recurring (ongoing) charity (Sadaqah Jariyah), or knowledge (by which people) benefit, or a pious son (offspring), who prays for him (for the deceased).” [Muslim, Hadith no. 766]

 

If you have commited a sin?
There are several ways of purifying your sins (a Muslim). Allah (swt) will compensate for you and some of your sins through the Hardship you go through in Duniya (this world).

When a believer is stricken with any hardship, or pain, or anxiety, or sorrow, or harm, or distress - even if it be a thorn that has pricked him – Allah expiates some of his sins for that. [Hadith of Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

It will be very easy to come out of your sins in Duniya by making 'taubah'. Also we will earn forgiveness if we bear them patiently seeking Allah’s reward.

Above and beyond all of this is the mercy of the Most-Merciful Lord who pardons on that Day all sins as He pleases, as long as the person meets Him worshiping Him alone without ascribing to Him any partner. Allah says in the Qur’an about Shirk (associating other deities with Allah):

Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with Him; but He forgiveth anything else, to whom He pleaseth; to set up partners with Allah is to devise a sin most heineous indeed. [Sûrah An-Nisa 4:48, Qur'an translation by A.Yusuf Ali]

If one trusts, obeys, and follows the guidance and commands of Allah and His Messenger (saw), one can be assured of never ever being misled; but if one believes, obeys and follows any other guidance, other than that of Allah and His Messenger (saw), one can be assured of being led astray.

May Allah the Almighty forgive us for our shortcomings and guide us to that which He loves and is pleased with. Whatever written of Truth and benefit is only due to Allah's Assistance and Guidance, and whatever of error is of me alone. Allah Alone Knows Best and He is the Only Source of Strength. Aameen

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