Doing Haram and seeking forgiveness in Islam

Doing Haram and seeking forgiveness in Islam

Doing Haram, seeking forgiveness

"Say: O Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful" (Quran 39:53)

Whether it's watching porn, lying, backbiting or other vices, our sins accumulate daily.

We may try to hold our tongues, lower our gaze, not disrespect our parents or avoid a myriad of sins God has ordered us to avoid, but as humans we are weak, and we can and do make mistakes.

But while God is just and holds us responsible for our actions, the doors to His forgiveness are always open; doing Haram and seeking forgiveness in Islam is always there. No matter how awful our sin, Allah is always ready to hear and accept our repentance, provided it is sincere and results in change for the better, so never stop making dua for forgiveness.

In the Quran, God repeatedly reminds us that He is the Forgiving and the Merciful.

Read Quranic verses from sura Al-Furqan (Quran 25: 63-73) for a better understanding of these issue. Here is a translation of some Quranic verses and its commentary (Quran 25: 68- 70):

"Who invoke no other deity along with Allah, nor take any life which Allah has forbidden save justly; who do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse and whoso does that shall meet its penalty;

His torment shall be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide in it in ignominy

Unless he repents and reaffirm his believes and does righteous works.(1) For such, Allah will change their evil deeds to good deeds.(2) Allah is Ever Forgiving, Most Compassionate."

(1).  This is good news for those whose life has been stained with various kinds of sin in the past but who later repent and firmly decide to amend their behavior.  The present verse amounts to a proclamation of general amnesty, which for millions of sinners provided a ray of hope and prompted them to reform themselves.

The extent to which this provision of repentance saved the Arabs who were otherwise given to many a vice is evident from a number of incidents during the life of the Prophet (Peace be upon him).  Let us consider the following example, narrated by Tabari on the authority of Abu Hurayrah who said: "One night when I returned from the Prophet's Mosque after offering Isha Prayers, I saw a woman standing outside my door. I said 'Peace be on you' and went into my room, closed the door, and began to offer nafl (supererogatory) Prayers.  After some time, she knocked at the door. I opened the door and asked her what she wanted.  'I have come to ask you a question. I committed adultery and became pregnant.  Then a baby was born and I killed him. Now I have come to ask you if there is any chance that my sin be forgiven?'  I said: 'Absolutely not'.  At this she went away grief-stricken, exclaiming: 'Alas, this piece of beauty was created for the Hell-fire.'

"The next day, after the Fajr prayers, I narrated the whole incident to the Prophet (peace be on him).  He said: 'How wrong an answer you gave, O Abu Hurayrah!  Have you not read those verses in the Quran: "Those who invoke no other deity along with Allah nor take the life which Allah has forbidden – save justly; who do not commit unlawful sexual intercourse – and whoso does that shall meet its penalty, his torment shall be doubled for him on the Day of Resurrection and he shall abide in it in ignominy – unless he who repents and believes and does righteous works.  For such Allah will change their evil deeds to good deeds.  Allah is Ever Forgiving, Most Compassionate.  Whosoever repents and does good, he returns to Allah in the manner he should" (Al-Furqan 25:68-70).  Upon hearing this answer from the Prophet (Peace be on him), I went out and searched for the woman.  I met her after Isha Prayers and told her what the Prophet (peace be on him) had said.  She prostrated herself and said, 'Thanks be to God, Who has opened the door of forgiveness for me.' Then she repented and freed a female slave and also the son of that slave." (See Tabari, 'Tafsir', comments on Surah al-Furqan 25:68-70 Ed.)

(2).  Doing Haram and seeking forgiveness in Islam, this has two meanings.  One, that when a person repents and gives up his evil actions and begins to perform vitreous deed, in this new phase of life, of Faith and righteous conduct, his good deeds will replace the evil deeds of his past. Second, that as a result of his repentance, not only are the evil deeds which he committed during this period of disbelief and sinful living forgiven, but each person will be awarded for having given up a life of disbelief and transgression and for replacing it with obedience and Faith.  Moreover, for as many times as such people feel ashamed of their past evil deeds, they will be rewarded that same number of times for having asked for forgiveness from God.  Feeling ashamed of one's sins and asking for forgiveness is, in itself, a good deed.  In this manner, all of one's evil deeds will eventually be replaced by good deeds and one will not only be saved from punishment, but will also be amply rewarded.

Commentary from Towards Understanding the Quran with some abbreviation

Comments

lately i have been at my worst, i started talking to alot of girls, stealing , drinking, even smoked weed once, but worst of all i had a girlfriend, and i did something i regret so much and it is awakening me right now.i have done wrong with her, and i have been praying to god that i did not get her preganant, although it was for a couple seconds and did not ejaculate, i regret everything, i feel so ashamed of my life. i am only 15 turning 16 in a month, i do many haram things that i do not wanna talk about. i need help, badly , and i want to stop. today i prayed and was asking allah for forgiveness from the bottom of my heart since a very very long time.i do not know what to do anymore, i feel like i could have ruined my life completly, how can i look at my parents and family the same? i really hope with the bottom of my heart that she did not get pregnant or my life is over. i feel like my whole life has been a bad dream and i am starting to wake up right now.i feel like their would be no point in living if i made her pregnant, how am i suppose to tell my mom? how can i sleep at night, knowing i have done this to my life and more importantly ruined my moms happiness

Location

ontario

The fact that you are starting to realize that all you have done is wrong, is a HUGE step. Starting to realize what you did was bad is the hardest thing (for someone who commits sins) to do. The next step is to pull yourself closer and closer to Allah. Pray, read the Quran, give charity, listen to Muslim scholars on YouTube and learn more about Islam, etc. Even if your sins are bigger than this world, Allah will always forgive you. And honestly you're young. You're also a human. We make mistakes, especially in our teen years. We are not meant to be perfect. So even if you acknowledge what you did is wrong and keep repenting, Allah will forgive you and make everything better. And I'm hoping that the girl did not get pregnant and I hope you are guided on the right path! May Allah bless you brother.

Location

Canada

Hastfulilah, I have committed a very bad sin and ask people to help pray and ask of Allah (SWT) i made fun of the prophet Muhammed (PBUH) in a game. I'm sorry Allah and please forgive me, thanks for the interesting article.

Location

THE WORLD

Plz help i try to limit myself stop myself but cant stop reading or watching sexual content..... Im only 14..... What do i do, will i be forgived----- marriage is not an opt im 13 :(

Location

Pakistan

you don't have to get married because you watched or read those things. you will be forgiven but just pray and stop watching and reading those things. Distract yourself from such stuff. instead of reading that read the quran or even a funny book. you are young. you have a long and happy life ahead of you inshallah. surround yourself with your family and you will see that you dont need any of those things.

You need to try to stop. Think of how it might feel good for the first few moments of watching and then how the guilt will last for the rest of the day/week/month, etc. What you need to do is pray. Ask for forgiveness over and over and just keep yourself away from it. Allah will forgive you. Block any content like that on your device and try to replace with cool science videos or other DIY's to keep you distracted. And you are young and you're a human. We are not meant to be perfect. So just ask for forgiveness and read at least a page of Quran in the morning (the devil will stay away for three mornings) and at least 1 page at night (the Devil will stay away for three nights). The devil is the reason we commit sins but you have to fight it and must not let it win. Keep fighting and inshallah everything will be okay and you will stop this bad deed.

Location

Canada

Thank you for your kindly advice. I have committed very serious sins and I want to repent to Allah SWT, while also avoiding and not repeating the situation again. This answers my problem perfectly.

Location

United States

Thank you for this post. I committed a haram sin today and it has made me feel ashamed. Thank goodness for Allah's (SWT) forgiveness and opportunity to renew and reshape oneself toward what is right and just. Surely, we all need help through Allah (SWT) for our salvation throughout our lives.

Location

Orlando

Its all true story of Islam Because Allah(SWT) said that always Muslim people have to pray for forgiveness and have to pray in their mind as the Quran to read it the most to always and always remember all of them in their hearts mashallah and alhamdulillah, then have to also never think all about doing the bad things or Allah(SWT) the mighty and the powerful greatest God will Punish who ever always do dirty, haram, swearwords that are bad and slang words that are 100 present always haram that effect the other good Muslim people of Islam for real and truth. assalamualaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh

Location

London

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