What Do We Lose Out On If We Can Repent From a Sin Anyway Later?

Answered by Mawlana Ilyas Patel

Question

What do we lose out on if we can repent from a sin anyway? Of course, we are taking the risk of dying after the sin and not being able to repent. But does it lower our status with Allah to where we can never achieve the same level again due to sin? I say this because a thought comes to go ahead and do the sin. After all, we might be able to repent anyway, and we don’t lose out on anything because we can repent and please Allah. I don’t know how to counter it with knowledge. Can you please help?

Answer

In the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful and Compassionate.

I pray you are in good faith and health. Thank you for your question.

This is a thought many encounters and goes through a person’s mind. This is the work of Shaytan and our ego. However, if one does not repent from sins, it does not mean he can’t achieve the same status or higher again.

However, thinking this way is wrong, as every moment will ultimately count. One will lose out on a tremendous opportunity to get closer to Allah and His Prophet and the spiritual pleasure one gains in trying to do so through spiritual works. The greatest joy and pleasure that anyone experiences in this world, righteous scholars say, is the heart’s knowing (marifa) Allah Most High.

Regret of Not Remembering Allah More

Mu’adh Ibn Jabal (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “The people of Paradise will have no regrets, except for moments that passed by them in which they did not remember Allah.” [Tabarani, al-Mu‘jam al-Kabir]

People of Paradise will be Grieved by Forgetting Allah.

Abu Hurayra (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “No people sit in a gathering in which they did not remember Allah, nor send blessings upon the Prophet, but that it will cause them grief on the Day of Resurrection, even if they are rewarded with entry into Paradise.” [Ahmad]

As you mentioned, we are taking the risk of dying after the sin without repenting, and this is a greater risk. You have taken the right direction by connecting yourself to us and reminding us, too, as we are on the same journey with the same challenges.

Every Believer is Tested

Ibn’ Abbas (Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said, “There is no believing servant but that he has a sin he habitually commits from time to time, or a sin abiding over him that he does not abandon until he departs the world. Verily, the believer was created to be tested, repenting, and forgetful. If he is reminded, he will remember. [Tabarani, Al-Mujam al-Kabir]

Be in Good Company, Always

I would advise you to start seeking knowledge, continue working on increasing your acts of worship, always repenting if you fall into sin, attend the daily prayers as much as you can, perform them in the congregation, recite a daily portion of the Quran and Salawat on the Prophet, seeking religious knowledge, and attend circles of remembrance of Allah.

Go through the valuable links and watch the Path to Muhammad (Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained) series below.

May Allah give you every success and put ease in your life and increase you in knowledge, guidance, faith, and good works, amin.

Related:

• Will I Regret My Heedlessness in the Afterlife No Matter What I Do?
• How Can I Find Inspiration in Seeking Knowledge?
• Devil’s Tricks – The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained. [Video]
• Satanic Tactics: Seven Tricks of the Devil
• The Path of Muhammad: Birgivi’s Manual of Taqwa Explained [Series]
• Prayer of Repentance: Salat al-Tawba

Why not begin your search for knowledge by signing up for Islamic Studies Curriculum and taking each step at a time?

I pray this helps with your question.
Wassalam,
[Mawlana] Ilyas Patel
Checked and Approved by Shaykh Faraz Rabbani

Mawlana Ilyas Patel is a traditionally-trained scholar who has studied in the UK, India, Pakistan, Syria, Jordan, and Turkey. He started his early education in the UK. He went on to complete the hifz of the Quran in India, then enrolled in an Islamic seminary in the UK, where he studied the secular and ‘Aalimiyya sciences. He then traveled to Karachi, Pakistan. He has been an Imam in Rep of Ireland for several years. He has taught hifz of the Quran, Tajwid, Fiqh, and many other Islamic sciences to children and adults onsite and online extensively in the UK and Ireland. He taught at a local Islamic seminary for 12 years in the UK, where he was a librarian and a teacher of Islamic sciences. He currently resides in the UK with his wife. His interest is a love of books and gardening.