💐 In The Name Of Allah The Most Gracious The Most Merciful
💌 Imagine if you were a very wealthy executive who was planning to organize a huge gathering for some friends. You assign five of your housemaids to purchase several items for the next evening's special event, giving each of them a list of things to buy, providing clear instructions and ordering them to return home early before sunset. The first housemaid manages to arrive earlier than the rest, having bought all of the products that you've enlisted. Nothing more, nothing less.
The second housemaid also arrives on time, and she was able to get all the things you've requested. What makes her different from the first one though is she used some of her own earnings to buy you a vase of your favorite color along with a bundle of roses which you like for decoration. While you appreciate the dedication of those two housemaids, you are more impressed by the second one who did something extra. You're more likely to gift the second maid with additional favors and be more protective towards her than the first one who only did what's mandatory.
As for the third housemaid who showed up at the same time as the first two, you're somewhat disappointed in some mistakes she has made. Instead of buying you the flour which you asked for, she bought packets of cornstarch, tomatoes instead of apples, and soy sauce instead of salt. However, since you're a lenient and compassionate boss, you readily accept her apology.
You similarly forgive the fourth housemaid who, despite having purchased all the items you wanted, arrived a bit late, because it took her a while to search for the right products.
The fifth housemaid slightly angered you when she stubbornly disobeyed your commands. Rather than buying what you requested, she used the money you gave for her own personal convenience. Plus she showed up too late past midnight. Nevertheless she came back to you crying, admitting her guilt, and begging for your forgiveness, then used part of her allowance to buy in the morning what you originally expected her to get, promising she'd try her best to not repeat what she did out of getting carried away by temptation. Being the kindhearted manager that you are, you readily forgive her, willing to give her another chance to rectify instead of instantly dismissing her.
The Mercy of Allah the Almighty is even greater than your ability to pardon others, even bigger than your mother's care and affection for you. Whenever we commit a sin, whether due to forgetfulness, ignorance of its prohibition or weak level of faith/Imaan, it is our duty as Muslims to seek Allah's Forgiveness and do Tawbah/repentance as often as we can.
Even those who appear to be religious and knowledgeable of Islamic jurisprudence aren't exempted from being tempted by shaytan to sin once in a while.
If you experimented with all sorts of haraam relationships in the past, do Tawbah and still pray to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala. If you've stolen from somebody, knowingly lied to your mother, disrespectfully argued with your father, tactlessly abused a child when you lost your temper, watched random music videos for entertainment, purposely delayed an obligatory prayer, discreetly broke your fast on purpose when you were supposed to be fasting, jokingly gossiped about another Muslim, or did something that Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala and His noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam warned against, you're still Allah's servant who can return to Him the Most Kind anytime as long as you're alive and aware of your main responsibilities.
Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala doesn't expect completely flawless performance from us but that we should keep trying our utmost to be the best servants whom He wants us to be, standing up to do Tawbah whenever we fall into sin, and never denying the fact that Allah is indeed the Most Forgiving. Sinful Muslims who pray to Allah Subhaanahu wa Ta'aala are many times more fortunate than unbelievers who refuse to even perform one Sajdah for Him.
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "By Him in Whose Hand is my soul, if you did not sin, Allah would replace you with people who would sin and they would seek forgiveness from Allah and He would forgive them."
Source: Sahih Muslim 2749
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim
📖 Anas Ibn Malik RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "All of the children of Adam are sinners, and the best sinners are those who repent."
Source: Sunan At-Tirmidhi 2499
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Al-Suyuti
📖 Abu Huraira RadhiAllahu 'anhu narrated: Allah's noble Messenger Muhammad SallAllahu 'alaihi wa sallam said, "Whoever repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him."
Source: Sahih Muslim 2703
Grade: Sahih (Authentic) according to Muslim