Question:
The shaytan has gotten the best of me and I have committed zina’ (fornication/adultery). I know it is a horrible crime and I would like to make tawbah (repentance). Is it possible that Allah will forgive me? I ask this because I would say I will do it then I will repent. So in this situation is there really a repentance for me?
Answer:
The doors of repentance are open until the sun rises from the west. Therefore, may forgive who ever repents to Allah with a true repentance from shirk (associating partners with Allah), so how much more so for the one that comes with less then shirk?
A sincere repentance is made up of refraining from the sins, regret from coming them, a strong resolve not to return to that sin, fear of Allah and at the same time extolling Him and hoping for His pardoning and forgiveness. Allah states in His book, {O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance!} [66:8], and {And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.} [24:31]. Also, He says, {And verily, I am indeed Forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous good deeds, and then remains constant in doing them, (till his death).} [20:82], and {Say: “O ‘Ibadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} [39:53].
The Scholars have a consensus on the fact that this verse was revealed about those that are trying to turn to Allah in repentance. They add to the three previously mentioned conditions for the acceptance of tawbah (repentance) another condition if the sin had something to do with the rights of someone from mankind. This fourth condition is give them that which they have the right to from money or other then it. This is because of the statement of the Prophet (صلى الله عليه و سلم) when he said, “Whoever wronged his brother with regard to his honor or any other matter, should seek his forgiveness today, before there are no longer any Dinars, or Dirhams; and if he has any righteous deeds, they will be taken from him, in accordance with the wrong he did; and if he has no righteous deeds, some of the evil deeds of his companion will be taken and added to his burden” (related by al Bukhari in his Sahih).
That which is obligatory on the Muslim is to beware, be warned and stay away from shirk and those things that lead to it. As well they must stay away from all different types of disobedience, because it may be that he is severely tried by that thing, then not be guided to repenting from it. This is why it is important for him to stay away from EVERYTHING that Allah has made impermissible and to ask Allah to keep him away from those things. He should not make it easy for the shaytan to fool him by having him disobey Allah with the intention of making tawbah (repentance). There is no doubt that this is from the deception of the shaytan and his beautifying disobedience by throwing in there the intention of tawbah. Don’t forget that it is possible that something could happen that will not give the slave a chance to repent. Then they will have the greatest of regrets, but it will be too late for that regret to benefit him in any way.
Allah said, {and fear none but Me.} [2:40], and {And Allah warns you against Himself (His Punishment)} [3:28]. He also said, {O mankind! Verily, the Promise of Allah is true. So let not this present life deceive you, and let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allah. Surely, Shaytan (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire.} [35:5-6]. The verses with this meaning are very many.
[Taken from Majmoo’ al Fatawah by Sheikh Bin Baaz]
[Translated by Abu Abdillah Abdul Lateef]
