How Can One Repent from Shirk, and What Role Do Good Deeds Play?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

I fear I may have committed shirk. How can I repent for this? Does repentance require avoiding all sins, and what does “doing good deeds” mean for forgiveness in this context?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate

I hope this message finds you well. Thank you for your question.

The fact that you regret having sinned, in your case possibly shirk, is a sign of deep faith and regret. The very fact that you regret your sins is a sure sign of repentance. The Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “Remorse is repentance.” [Ibn Maja; Hakim]

The believer is balanced. We have fear in Allah Most High and hope in Allah Most High. And we know Allah is the All-Merciful (al-Rahman) and the Most Merciful (al-Rahim).

All sins require is sincere repentance. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “The one who repents from sin is like one who never sinned.” [Ibn Maja]

Good Deeds Remove Bad and Play a Role in Determining Our Future

There is no guarantee that a believer’s entry into Paradise will be direct. Our deeds will be weighed on the scale of divine justice. If evil deeds tip those scales, they may be sent to the Hellfire first for some time as compensation before entering Paradise. We would not wish anyone to spend a moment in the Hellfire.

Our deeds are, therefore, of the utmost importance because they have a role in determining our future. Since none of us can claim to be sinless, we must prepare for the Reckoning with as many good deeds as possible to make up for our faults and misdeeds. Allah says, “Indeed, beautiful actions do away with evil actions.” [Quran 11:114]

The Believer Never Despairs

And the believer never despairs–as despair is contrary to both the good opinion of Allah and of the Divine Promise:
Allah Most High says: “Say: My servants who have wronged yourselves, never despair of God’s mercy. God forgives all sins: He is truly the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” [Quran, 39:53]

Anas ibn Malik relates: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say that Allah Most High says,
“O child of Adam, any time you call upon Me or seek from Me, I will forgive you for whatever you did, without holding back.
O child of Adam, even if your sins reach the highest of the skies and you seek my forgiveness, I will forgive you.
O child of Adam, if you come to me with errors to the extent of the Earth, and then face Me without having associated partners with Me, I would face you with forgiveness to the extent of the Earth.” [Related by Tirmidhi, who said it is a sound and rigorously authentic hadith]

One of the commentators on this Hadith stated:  “In this hadith is a tremendous glad tiding, and tremendous Forbearance and Generosity—and limitless expression of Divine Grace.”

Hasan al-Basri said: “Seek much forgiveness in your houses, upon your food, when walking, in the market, in your gatherings, and wherever you may be—for you don’t know when forgiveness might descend.”

Also, remember that Allah is al-Ghaffar — the All-Forgiving: “He is the One who manifests the beautiful and conceals the ugly.” [Ghazali, 99 Names]

Two SeekersGuidance courses you’ll find of benefit
Nawawi’s 40 Hadith: The Essential Guidance of Islam
Understanding the Most Beautiful Names: The 99 Names of Allah Explained in Detail

Related
What is the Point of Doing Good Deeds? 
How Do I Stop Obsessing With Guilt and Worry about My Past Sins?
How Can I Be Sure That My Repentance Is Accepted?
How Do I Sincerely Repent for an Enormity?
Is It Pathetic To Believe That Allah’s Mercy Is Greater Than One’s Sins?
How Can I End The Cycle of Sin and Repentance?
Will Allah Accept My Supplications Despite My Sins?

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for a course on SeekersAcademy (seekersguidance.org)?

I pray this helps with your question.

Wassalam,

[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel has received traditional education in various countries. He started his schooling in the UK and completed his hifz of the Quran in India. After that, he joined an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied secular and Aalimiyya sciences. Later, he traveled to Karachi, Pakistan, and other Middle Eastern countries to further his education. Mawlana has served as an Imam in the Republic of Ireland for several years and taught the Quran and other Islamic sciences to both children and adults. He also worked as a teacher and librarian at a local Islamic seminary in the UK for 12 years. Presently, he lives in the UK with his wife and is interested in books and gardening.