Al-Furqaan (The Criterion)

71. “And whoever repents and does good, he verily repents toward Allah with true repentance.”

Real repentance happens when it is along with good deeds. This noble verse explains the manner of correct repentance.

It says:

“And whoever repents and does good, he verily repents toward Allah with true repentance.” (And gets his reward from Him).”

It means that not only repentance and abandonment of sin must be because of evilness of sin, but also its motivation must be to make intention sincere and to return to Allah. Therefore, for example, although stopping drinking wine or stopping lie for the harms that they have is good, the value of this stopping is when it has divine motivation.

Anyway, anyone who really and earnestly repents of his sins returns to Allah and to His countless rewards.

Some Traditions On Repentance

1. On a Friday the Prophet (S) delivered a sermon and said:

“O People! Before, you die, return to Allah and repent of your evil behaviour. And before you get involved in affairs of life, do righteous and good deeds and amend the affairs that are between you and Allah so that you get successful and happy. And pay alms a lot so that you are provided provisions.”1

2. The Prophet (S) said:

“Anyone who does not repent of the sin he has done is not believer and will not be interceded.”2

3. Imam Rida (as) said that the Prophet (S) said:

“The parable of a faithful person before Allah, is like the parable of a favorite angel, and the believer is really more preferred than this angel in the view of Allah. And before Allah nothing is more preferred and liked than a man or a woman who repents.”3

4. Imam Baqir (as) said:

“Although believer returns to Allah while he asks Allah forgiveness and repentance, Allah bestows repentance and forgives his sins, for Allah is Forgiving and Merciful. He accepts repentance and He forgives sins (and evil deeds), so be aware that you do not make believers hopeless of Allah’s Mercy (and forgiveness).”4

5. Imam Sadiq (as) said:

“Allah gets happy when His faithful servant repents and returns to Him, as one of you gets happy when he finds something he has lost.”5