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How to Repent from Sin?

Answered as per Shafi'i Fiqh by Darul Iftaa Jordan
I have committed many sins. What do I have to do so that Allah accept my repentance? What should I do about missed prayers, vows I made but didn`t adhere to and disclosure of husband`s secrets?

Answer:

Praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds.

First: Sins are atoned for by sincere repentance for the gate of repentance is open to everybody. Allah spreads out His Hand at night to accept the repentance of those who did wrong during the day, and He spreads out His Hand during the day to accept the repentance of those who did wrong during the night. Actually, many verses of the Noble Quran encourage making repentance. For example, " "Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of God: for God forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."{Az-Zumar, 53}.

Moreover, the acceptance of repentance is subject to the condition that the person gives up the sin straight away, that he regrets what happened in the past, that he resolves not to go back to the thing he has repented from and  that he restores people’s rights or property if his sin involved wrongdoing towards others. The Prophet (PBUH) said, "He who has done a wrong affecting his brother's honour or anything else, let him ask his forgiveness today before the time (i.e., the Day of Resurrection) when he will have neither a dinar nor a dirham."{Bukhari & Muslim}.

Second: You must make up for missed prayers. The easiest method to achieve this is by repeating each obligatory prayer once, but twice is better.

Third: If the vows that you made, but didn`t adhere to, relate to different things then you must count them. If you have any doubt about their exact number then try to be on the safe side i.e. if you aren`t sure whether they are six or seven then consider them seven and make an expiation for each. 

Fourth: As for disclosing husband`s secrets, you must make sincere repentance by asking forgiveness for him, in addition to praising him before others.

Whatever the case may be, atoning one`s sins by sincere repentance and turning to Allah is a reason for gaining His mercy, so hold on to that. And Allah the Almighty knows best.

This answer was collected from the official government Iftaa Department of Jordan.

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