Learn the Islamic way of sincere repentance and discover how Allah's mercy and forgiveness are always available to those who turn to Him with pure hearts.
Tawbah (repentance) is the act of turning back to Allah after committing a sin. It's one of the most beautiful aspects of Islam - Allah's infinite mercy allows every believer to seek forgiveness and return to His grace, no matter what they've done.
"Say: 'O My servants who have transgressed against their souls, do not despair of Allah's mercy. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'" - Quran 39:53
Feel genuine sorrow for having disobeyed Allah. This regret should come from recognizing that you've disappointed your Creator, not just because of worldly consequences. True remorse is the foundation of sincere repentance.
Ask Allah for forgiveness through sincere dua. Use the beautiful words of istighfar:
أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ الْعَظِيمَ الَّذِي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّومُ وَأَتُوبُ إِلَيْهِ
"Astaghfirullaha al-'Azeem alladhi la ilaha illa Huwa al-Hayyu al-Qayyumu wa atubu ilayh"
(I seek forgiveness from Allah the Mighty, whom there is no god but He, the Living, the Eternal, and I repent to Him)
Cease the sinful behavior immediately. You cannot ask for forgiveness while continuing to commit the same sin. This shows your sincerity and commitment to change. If the sin involves others' rights, work to make amends.
Make a sincere intention never to return to that sin. This doesn't mean you'll be perfect, but you must have a genuine resolve to avoid it. If you slip again, repeat the process - Allah's mercy is infinite.
اللَّهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّي لَا إِلَٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ خَلَقْتَنِي وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ وَأَنَا عَلَىٰ عَهْدِكَ وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ أَعُوذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ أَبُوءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوءُ بِذَنْبِي فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ
"O Allah, You are my Lord. There is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant. I am keeping my promise to You as much as I can. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessing upon me, and I acknowledge my sin. So forgive me, for none forgives sins except You."
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever says this during the day with firm belief and dies that day will enter Paradise."
Arabic: أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللَّهَ
Transliteration: "Astaghfirullah"
Meaning: "I seek Allah's forgiveness"
Recommended: 100 times daily
While you can repent at any time, these moments are especially blessed:
Don't despair if you fall back into sin. Allah's mercy is infinite, and you can repent as many times as needed. The key is to never give up on Allah's forgiveness. Each time you repent sincerely, Allah forgives you completely. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "All the sons of Adam are sinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent."
"And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself, then seeks forgiveness from Allah, he will find Allah Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." - Quran 4:110
Find daily duas, istighfar reminders, and spiritual guidance to help you maintain a close relationship with Allah.