Q 2: Is the way to Tawbah (repentance to Allah) open for people at any time, regardless of the types of misdeeds? A person may commit a sin that he fears to be disgraced with and later repents of this sin, observes Salah (prayer), Zakah (Obligatory Charity) and Sawm (Fast), and awfully regrets doing it. He spends the night crying and blaming himself and trying to escape from his anguished soul. However, he does not try to commit suicide to relieve himself from that disgrace, for he has strong faith in Allah and hopes that Allah will not expose his secret evils. Can the repentance of such a person be accepted? Is it possible that Allah will conceal his faults and not disgrace him by concealing what this person has done? Can he be sure of this?

A: A person should be sincere in his Tawbah, even if it is from Shirk (associating others with Allah in His Divinity or worship), Zina (sexual intercourse outside marriage), murder or ill-gotten money, regretting it and returning the rights back to their owners, or asking their forgiveness, then following this by doing virtuous deeds, will make Tawbah acceptable by Allah. In addition, Allah will replace the bad deeds with good ones in the records of deeds. Allah (Exalted be He) says, describing the characteristics of His righteous servants, And those who invoke not any other ilâh (god) along with Allâh, nor kill such person as Allâh has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse - and whoever does this shall receive the punishment. The torment will be doubled to him on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein in disgrace; Except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allâh will change their sins into good deeds, and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. And whosoever repents and does righteous good deeds; then verily, he repents towards Allâh with true repentance. (Part No. 24; Page No. 296) He (Exalted be He) also says, Say to those who have disbelieved, if they cease (from disbelief), their past will be forgiven. , Say: "O ‘Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh: verily, Allâh forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. He (May he be Exalted) confirmed the saying of Ya`qub (Jacob) to his sons, ...and never give up hope of Allâh’s Mercy. Certainly, no one despairs of Allâh’s Mercy, except the people who disbelieve. In addition, there are other Ayahs and Hadith to the same effect encouraging Tawbah and having hope in Allah's Mercy and Forgiveness. The door of Tawbah will always be open until the sun rises in the west, or until death.Thus, whoever commits a sin should repent to Allah, regret their past deeds, return the rights back to their owners or acquire their forgiveness. They should also have great hope in Allah and seek His Mercy, even in the case of major sins; Allah's Mercy is much more extensive and His Forgiveness is much more (Part No. 24; Page No. 297) all-encompassing. Furthermore, a person should avoid talking publicly about his misdeeds, hoping that Allah will conceal them and not expose them for Allah is the sole source of support.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.