[5] The Degrees of Repentance

  Committing mistakes/sins is inevitable for all human beings; to be human is to err; yet, true monotheistic believers who desire to avoid entering into Hell in the Hereafter readily repent and make their sincere repentance accompanied with atonement and making amends by performing many good deeds. The Lord God says the following in the Holy Quran: "Except for those who repent, and believe, and perform good deeds. These - God will replace their bad deeds with good deeds. God is ever Forgiving and Merciful."  (25:70). The timing of repentance if of vital importance; it is as important as sincerity within one's repentance. The best repentant ones are those who readily repent sooner while they are still young adults; i.e., during their youth. "Repentance is available from God for those who commit evil out of ignorance, and then repent soon after. These - God will accept their repentance. God is Knowing and Wise." (4:17). This early repentance deemed acceptable by the Lord God means that one should repent sincerely any time before reaching the age of forty: "We have enjoined upon man kindness to his parents. His mother carried him with difficulty, and delivered him with difficulty. His bearing and weaning takes thirty months. Until, when he has attained his maturity, and has reached forty years, he says, “Lord, enable me to appreciate the blessings You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to act with righteousness, pleasing You. And improve my children for me. I have sincerely repented to You, and I am of those who have submitted/Muslims.” Those are they from whom We accept the best of their deeds, and We overlook their misdeeds, among the dwellers of Paradise - the promise of truth which they are promised." (46:15-16). Thus, when one reaches the age of forty or the middle age, one should judge one's soul regarding its past misdeeds while resolving to start reaching a higher level of piety in order to get nearer to the Lord God within the rest of one's lifetime. Reaching the age of forty, repentant people should inwardly confess their sins and weep in private within sincere repentance and while vowing to better themselves and to atone and make amends within their performing many good deeds; e.g., acts of worship, donating charity/Zakat money, and obeying the Lord God's Quranic commands; this way, the repentant monotheists will make up for the time lost. The Lord God in such cases will accept their repentance: "Others have confessed their sins, having mixed good deeds with bad deeds. Perhaps God will redeem them. God is Forgiving and Merciful. Receive contributions from their wealth, to purify them and sanctify them with it; and pray for them. Your prayers are comfort for them. God is Hearing and Knowing." (9:102-103). Hence, donating contributions of money to the categories of the needy, mentioned in the Quranic text, is one of the major signs of sincere repentance. In some cases, some people repent only during their old age after their youth has declined and after their bodies suffer ailments; the Lord God will either accept their repentance (and their fate is Paradise forever) or not accept it (and their fate is Hell for eternity); there is no in-between position in the Hereafter: "Others are held in suspense, awaiting God’s decree, as to whether He will torment them, or accept their repentance. God is Aware and Wise." (9:106). The disobedient sinners (even when they label themselves as 'Muslims') who have led a life of sin until their dying moments will never escape Hell and therein they abide for eternity (and not temporarily) like all disbelievers: "But repentance is not available for those who commit evils, until when death approaches one of them, he says, “Now I repent,” nor for those who die as disbelievers. These - We have prepared for them a painful torment." (4:18).

  Committing mistakes/sins is inevitable for all human beings; to be human is to err; yet, true monotheistic believers who desire to avoid entering into Hell in the Hereafter readily repent and make their sincere repentance accompanied with atonement and making amends by performing many good deeds. The Lord God says the following in the Holy Quran: "Except for those who repent, and believe, and perform good deeds. These - God will replace their bad deeds with good deeds. God is ever Forgiving and Merciful."  (25:70). The timing of repentance if of vital importance; it is as important as sincerity within one's repentance. The best repentant ones are those who readily repent sooner while they are still young adults; i.e., during their youth. "Repentance is available from God for those who commit evil out of ignorance, and then repent soon after. These - God will accept their repentance. God is Knowing and Wise." (4:17). This early repentance deemed acceptable by the Lord God means that one should repent sincerely any time before reaching the age of forty: "We have enjoined upon man kindness to his parents. His mother carried him with difficulty, and delivered him with difficulty. His bearing and weaning takes thirty months. Until, when he has attained his maturity, and has reached forty years, he says, “Lord, enable me to appreciate the blessings You have bestowed upon me and upon my parents, and to act with righteousness, pleasing You. And improve my children for me. I have sincerely repented to You, and I am of those who have submitted/Muslims.” Those are they from whom We accept the best of their deeds, and We overlook their misdeeds, among the dwellers of Paradise - the promise of truth which they are promised." (46:15-16). Thus, when one reaches the age of forty or the middle age, one should judge one's soul regarding its past misdeeds while resolving to start reaching a higher level of piety in order to get nearer to the Lord God within the rest of one's lifetime. Reaching the age of forty, repentant people should inwardly confess their sins and weep in private within sincere repentance and while vowing to better themselves and to atone and make amends within their performing many good deeds; e.g., acts of worship, donating charity/Zakat money, and obeying the Lord God's Quranic commands; this way, the repentant monotheists will make up for the time lost. The Lord God in such cases will accept their repentance: "Others have confessed their sins, having mixed good deeds with bad deeds. Perhaps God will redeem them. God is Forgiving and Merciful. Receive contributions from their wealth, to purify them and sanctify them with it; and pray for them. Your prayers are comfort for them. God is Hearing and Knowing." (9:102-103). Hence, donating contributions of money to the categories of the needy, mentioned in the Quranic text, is one of the major signs of sincere repentance. In some cases, some people repent only during their old age after their youth has declined and after their bodies suffer ailments; the Lord God will either accept their repentance (and their fate is Paradise forever) or not accept it (and their fate is Hell for eternity); there is no in-between position in the Hereafter: "Others are held in suspense, awaiting God’s decree, as to whether He will torment them, or accept their repentance. God is Aware and Wise." (9:106). The disobedient sinners (even when they label themselves as 'Muslims') who have led a life of sin until their dying moments will never escape Hell and therein they abide for eternity (and not temporarily) like all disbelievers: "But repentance is not available for those who commit evils, until when death approaches one of them, he says, “Now I repent,” nor for those who die as disbelievers. These - We have prepared for them a painful torment." (4:18).