Tawbah in Islam
1- Those who fear death should realize that the path to Tawbah is always open and God is very forgiving and merciful. God is described some 300 times in the Quran as being Rahman, Rahim, Ghaffar, Ghafour and Wadud, (highlighting His mercy and forgiveness).
They can make a firm decision to return to God and make up for their past mistakes and know that God will accept them, because He says: “(God is) the Forgiver of sins and the Acceptor of repentance.” (Verse 3 of Surah Ghafir)
He also likes those who do Tawbah: “Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance.” (Verse 222 of Surah Al-Baqarah)
2- Tawbah is not just a moral recommendation but is a necessary obligation as the Quran has seven times ordered all people to repent.
3- Tawbah should be immediate, and repentance at the time of death is not valid because then one is forced to repent and does not do it out of true remorse. Pharaoh repented when he was about to drown, but it did not help him.
The Quran says in Verses 84-85 of Surah Ghafir: “And when they saw Our Might, they said: ‘We believe in Allah alone, and we disbelieve in that we used to associate with Him.’ But when they saw Our Might their belief did not benefit them! It is the way of Allah that has passed concerning His worshipers. There, the unbelievers shall be lost”
God also says in Verse 18 of Surah An-Nisa: “There is no forgiveness for those who commit sin and do not repent until the last moment of their lives nor for those who die as unbelievers. For these people We have prepared a painful torment.”
4- Repentance for every sin should be proportional with the sin itself. For example, if one has failed to say his prayers, his repentance should be accompanied with the Qada (compensation for those prayers that were not performed in their proper time). Or if one has violated other’s rights or done injustice to others, he must make up for it and gain their contentment.
5- The outcome of Tawbah is not just forgiving sins, as the Quran mentions other positive effects for repentance. For instance:
A: Life becomes sweet: “And ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him. He will give you enjoyment till a stated term and will give of His Bounty to those of grace. But if you turn away, I fear for you the punishment of a Mighty Day.” (Verse 3 of Surah Hud)
B: All evil deeds turn into good deeds. God says in Verse 70 of Surah Al-Furqan: “But only those who repent and believe and act righteously will have their sins replaced by virtue; God is All-forgiving and All-merciful.”
C: It causes the coming of mercy and strength. “My nation, ask your Lord to forgive you and turn to Him in repentance. From the sky He will loose an abundance (of rain) upon you; He will add strength to your strength. Do not turn away as sinners.” (Verse 52 of Surah Hud)
D: It brings more sustenance and divine help: “Ask for forgiveness of your Lord,’ I said. ‘Surely, He is the Forgiver’. He will let loose the sky upon you in abundance. and give to you wealth and sons, and provide you with gardens and rivers.” (Verses 10-12 of Surah Nuh)
6- For all these good outcomes that repentance has, if one pretends repentance, it is as if he is mocking God.
