Shaykh Saalih Al-Fawzaan -حفظه الله تعالى- on the conditions of sincere Tawbah
Question:
"Tell us about Tawbah and what are it's conditions and what is the meaning of At-Tawbatun-Nasooh (the sincere repentance)?"
Answer;
"At-Tawbah is to return from the sin to the obedience, and it is compulsory. (وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعاً أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ)
This it is compulsory upon the Muslim, if he commits a sin that he rush with repent repentance to Allaah -عز وجل- and Allaah accepts the repentance of the one who repents.
(وَإِنِّي لَغَفَّارٌ لِمَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا ثُمَّ اهْتَدَىٰ)
And this is from the virtue if Allaah -عز و جل- He commanded with At-Tawbah and promised to accept the repentance of the one who repents and forgive him for his sin. But At-Tawbah is not merely with the tongue alone. At-Tawbah has condition that must be fulfilled, and these conditions are:
First Condition:
Abandoning the sin and distancing oneself from it and he doesn't say I have repented to Allaah but he doesn't move away from the sin nor does he abandon it.
Second Condition:
That he is determined not to return to the sin a second time. For if he repented to Allaah and in his intention he intends to return to the sin at another time then this repentance is merely temporary and it is not accepted by Allaah -سبحانه وتعالى-.
Third Condition:
He regrets what took place and to imagine this sin and to fear (it's recompense) and he doesn't say I've repented and that it. Thus he should be fearful of the (recompense) of that sin thus he has regret over what he did.
These are the condition of At-Tawbah and if they are meet Allaah will accept the repentance -سبحانه وتعالى- as He has promised."
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Source:
http://www.alfawzan.af.org.sa/node/15159
Translated by:
Abu 'Ukkaashah 'Abdul Hakeem Ibn James
