If a person who commits a major sin repents, will they be forgiven?

Dear Brother / Sister,

The decree about fornication/adultery in Islam is clear. Judgment is given about a person who confesses his/her crime in the presence of the judge four times separately and wants to be punished or a person whose crime is confirmed by four witnesses. If that person is married, he/she is stoned; if he/she is not married, he/she receives one hundred lashes.  

However, if a person does not confess or nobody has seen him/her and has not complained about him/her, what he/she needs to do is to regret his/her sin and repent with a determination not to commit it again.

Besides, even if a person who commits such a crime confesses it today, there is no authority to punish him/her. Then, there are two things to do. In case of violation of other people's rights, it is necessary to find those people and ask for forgiveness. In case of violation of Allah's rights; it is necessary to repent, ask for forgiveness from Allah and not to commit that sin again.

Man has been created in a way that can do both good deeds and bad deeds. Therefore, he may sometimes commit sins willingly or unwillingly. The following is stated in the Quran regarding the issue: 

“Allah forgiveth not that partners should be set up with him; but He forgiveth anything, else to whom He pleaseth." (an-Nisa, 4/48,116)

Allah can forgive any sins if He wishes.

It is stated in our religious books that a sincere repentance is accepted by Allah. As a matter of fact, Allah states the following in the Quran:

“O ye who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance: in the hope that your Lord will remove from you your ills and admit you to Gardens beneath which rivers flow.” (at-Tahrim, 66/8)

Thus, He states that repentances will be accepted. The sincere repentance (tawbatun- nasuha) mentioned in the verse is as follows:

1. To know that one has committed a sin against Allah, to take refuge in Allah due to this sin and to regret.
2. To feel sorry due to committing such a crime. To feel disturbed in his/her conscience because of committing such a crime against the Creator.
3. To be determined not to commit such a crime again.
4. To ask forgiveness from the person(s) if he has violated any individual rights.

"The sincere repentance" is described as follows in a narration:

"- Regretting sins.
- Performing fard worshipping.
- Not committing oppression and hostility.
- Making up with the people who are offended and resentful.
- Being determined not to commit that crime again." (see Kanz al-Ummal, II/3808)

If we fulfill those conditions, we hope Allah will accept our repentance.

However, man needs to be fearful and hopeful. We cannot rely on and boast of our worshipping; nor can we feel hopeless due to our sins. It is wrong to say, "I am very good; I have coped with this issue." Similarly, it is also wrong to say, "I am finished; Allah will not accept me." Besides, it is a big deed of worshipping to understand one's crime, to repent and to take refuge in Allah.

Questions on Islam