Will Allah Forgive Major Sins Against Others After Sincere Repentance, Du’a, Charity, and Reform?
Answered by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
Question
After committing major sins involving the rights of others, then sincerely repenting, making du’a, giving charity on their behalf, and reforming my actions, will Allah Most High forgive me, lift the hardship, and conceal the past?
Answer
In the Name of Allah, Most Merciful and Compassionate.
The fact that you have come this far is itself a sign that Allah is guiding you back to Him. Take comfort in this. The door of His mercy is open.
Allah Most High tells our beloved Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) in the Quran:
“Say, ‘O My servants who have committed excesses against their very selves, despair not of the mercy of Allah: Verily Allah forgives all sins soever: Truly He is the All-forgiving, the All-compassionate.’” [Quran, 39:53; Keller, The Quran Beheld]
The Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) reminds us, “The one who repents from sin is like one who has no sin.” [Ibn Maja]
Yes, Allah forgives, lifts hardship, and conceals the past for the one who returns to Him with sincerity, completeness, and steadfastness.
Two Types of Sins
Our scholars explain that sins are of two types: those that relate to the rights of Allah Most High, and those that relate to the rights of His servants. Sins against Allah are settled by sincere repentance: leaving the sin, regretting it, and resolving not to return.
When it comes to the rights of Allah’s servants, our fellow humans, the Beloved Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Whoever has wronged his brother in his reputation or anything else, let him seek his pardon today, before the time when there will be neither dinar nor dirham.” [Bukhari]
Sins that involve the rights of others require three further steps:
- stop the harm,
- restore what was taken or compensate, and
- seek forgiveness from the wronged person where possible. [Khadimi/Birgivi, al-Bariqa al-Mahmudiyya Sharh al-Tariqa al-Muhammadiyya; Amasi, Tabyin al-Maharim]
If direct restitution is not possible, such as when the person cannot be found or contacting them would cause greater harm, our scholars advise what you have been doing: making abundant istighfar, giving charity on their behalf, sending the reward of recitation and worship to them, and asking Allah Most High to soften their hearts and compensate them from His bounty.
Imam Ghazali on What To Do If Restitution Isn’t Possible
Imam Ghazali mentions in the Book of Repentance of his Ihya’: If you have wronged someone and they are dead or lost, so that restitution is impossible, you must increase in good deeds and sincere supplication for them. On the Day of Resurrection, when the victim demands your good deeds as compensation, Allah—seeing your sincerity—may satisfy that person from His own limitless bounty so that you may keep your own rewards. [Ghazali, Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din]
Continue on this path. Increase your good works. Remain steadfast in the obligatory acts of worship. Remember that the forgiveness of Allah Most High is not a transaction. It is a gift He grants to those who keep returning to Him.
The Sign and Significance of Repentance
Imam Zarruq (Allah have mercy upon him) discusses the sign of acceptance: The sign that Allah has accepted your return is found in two things: a heart that finds no sweetness in the memory of the sin, and a state of being that is more focused on the Giver of the law than the law itself.
Hold firm to this. Sins that are repented from can become opportunities for turning back to Allah and renewing your relationship with Him.
Sidi Ibn Ata’illah (Allah have mercy upon him) notes in his Hikam: “A sin that bequeaths a sense of lowliness and utter neediness is better than an act of obedience that bequeaths a sense of greatness and pride.” [Ibn Ata’illah, al-Hikam]
Imam Qushayri (Allah have mercy upon him) quotes his teacher, regarding the reality of tawba (repentance):
“Repentance is a robe with which Allah clothes the one He loves. If the servant truly returns, Allah conceals their faults from the eyes of the angels and causes the very earth they walked upon to forget their misdeeds, so that they meet Allah without a single witness against them.” [Qushayri, al-Risala]
Repentance is the Fuel of the Journey to Allah
Shaykh Nuh Keller (Allah preserve him) explains in Sea Without Shore that constant return to Allah is the energy that moves a person towards Him:
“Tawba or repentance is the very fuel of the journey to Allah. The only person who does not benefit from this way is the one who has no tawba. … A valid repentance means to desist from the sin, to regret having done it, resolve never to return to it again, and if it concerns something owned by another, to restore it to him.” [Keller, Sea Without Shore]
True Repentance and Rectification
True repentance is not just words. It is shown by actively mending one’s ways: Allah Most High says, “… save those who repent, and mend their ways, and hold fast to Allah to protect them, and make their religion wholly sincere to Allah: Those shall be with believers; And Allah shall certainly give believers a mighty endless wage.” [Quran, 4:146; Keller, The Quran Beheld]
Furthermore, Allah Most High mentions His love for those who persistently return to Him in repentance:
“Verily Allah loves the oft-repentant, and loves those who keep pure.” [Quran, 2:222; Keller, The Quran Beheld]
May Allah make this difficulty a door through which you enter into mercy you have not yet seen.
And Allah knows best.
[Shaykh] Faraz Rabbani
Related
- Can One Be Forgiven for Sins Involving Others’ Rights Without Restoring Them? – Shaykh Faraz Rabbani
- What is Sincere Repentance?
- Will Allah Forgive My Major Sins?
- How Do I Overcome My Guilt Over Past Sins?
- How Do I Repent for Hurting Someone?
- Reader on Exposing and Disclosing Past Sins
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani is a recognized specialist scholar in the Islamic sciences, having studied under leading scholars from around the world. He is the Founder and Executive Director of SeekersGuidance.
Shaykh Faraz stands as a distinguished figure in Islamic scholarship. His journey in seeking knowledge is marked by dedication and depth. He spent ten years studying under some of the most revered scholars of our times. His initial studies took place in Damascus. He then continued in Amman, Jordan.
In Damascus, he was privileged to learn from the late Shaykh Adib al-Kallas. Shaykh Adib al-Kallas was renowned as the foremost theologian of his time. Shaykh Faraz also studied under Shaykh Hassan al-Hindi in Damascus. Shaykh Hassan is recognized as one of the leading Hanafi jurists of our era.
Upon completing his studies, Shaykh Faraz returned to Canada in 2007. His return marked a new chapter in his service to the community. He founded SeekersGuidance. The organization reflects his commitment to spreading Islamic knowledge. It aims to be reliable, relevant, inspiring, and accessible. This mission addresses both online and on-the-ground needs.
Shaykh Faraz is also an accomplished author. His notable work includes “Absolute Essentials of Islam: Faith, Prayer, and the Path of Salvation According to the Hanafi School,” published by White Thread Press in 2004, which is a significant contribution to Islamic literature.
His influence extends beyond his immediate community. Since 2011, Shaykh Faraz has been recognized as one of the 500 most influential Muslims. This recognition comes from the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. It underscores his impact on the global Islamic discourse.
Shaykh Faraz Rabbani’s life and work embody a profound commitment to Islamic scholarship. His teachings continue to enlighten and guide seekers of knowledge worldwide.
