Prophet Adam عليه السلام – The First Repentance
Adam and Hawwa (Eve) were commanded not to eat from a specific tree in Paradise. But they did—and felt immediate regret.
What They Did:They turned back to Allah with humility:
Lesson:Even the first human made a mistake. What made him special wasn’t that he never sinned—it was that he immediately turned to Allah with sincere repentance.O our Lord, we admit our wrongdoing. Without Your forgiveness and mercy, we would surely be counted among the doomed..
— Surah Al-A'raf 7:23
The Man Who Killed 99 People – Hadith
A man had taken the lives of 99 people. Hoping for forgiveness, he approached a devout monk and asked if there was any chance for repentance. The monk replied that there was none—so the man killed him too, making it 100. Later, he sought out a knowledgeable scholar and asked the same question. The scholar responded, “Who can stand between you and the mercy of Allah?”
Lesson: No sin is too big for Allah. Allah values your sincere purpose and steps forward, even if you pass away before reaching your goal.
The People of Yunus عليه السلام – A Whole Nation’s Tawbah
Assuming his people would not change, Prophet Yunus left them in anger. However, when the warning signs of Allah’s punishment became clear, the people sought forgiveness in time.
This is the only nation in the Qur’an that was spared because they repented in time.Thus, We accepted his supplication and brought him out of his grief—and this is how We help the believers.
— Surah As-Saffat 37:139-148
Lesson: It is never too late—even collective, massive sins can be forgiven when hearts turn back to Allah sincerely.
Ka‘b ibn Malik – Repentance After a Major Mistake
Ka‘b ibn Malik, a sincere companion of the Prophet ﷺ, missed the Battle of Tabuk with no legitimate reason. Instead of lying, he courageously admitted the truth. The Prophet ﷺ advised him to wait for Allah’s ruling. For fifty long days, Ka‘b and two others were shunned by the community—even their wives distanced themselves. Ka‘b recalled that those days were the most painful he had ever experienced.
Then this verse was revealed:
Lesson: True repentance involves endurance, honesty, and waiting for Allah’s timing.Allah also forgave the three who stayed behind. They felt the world closing in on them and were filled with despair. Then they turned back to Him, knowing only He could forgive them—and He did.
— Surah At-Tawbah 9:118
Even the best of people can fall short—but sincerity brings elevation.
Prophet Musa عليه السلام – Repented After Accidental Killing
Before prophethood, Musa عليه السلام killed a man by mistake while defending a fellow Israelite.
Lesson: Even accidental sins weigh heavily on the righteous. What matters most is immediate remorse and return to Allah.My Lord, indeed I have wronged myself, so forgive me.” So He forgave him. Indeed, He is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful.
— Surah Al-Qasas 28:16
Key Quranic Themes on Repentance
Allah’s door is always open:
Repentance erases sin completely:Indeed, Allah loves those who repent and purify themselves.— Surah Al-Baqarah 2:222
Despair is from Shaytan:Except for those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds—Allah will replace their evil deeds with good.— Surah Al-Furqan 25:70
How You Can Begin Your Own Spiritual ResetDo not despair of the mercy of Allah.— Surah Az-Zumar 39:53
(a) Pray 2 rak’ahs of Tawbah (Salat al-Tawbah)
(b) Say sincere du'a like:
اللهم اغفر لي وتب علي إنك أنت التواب الرحيم
“O Allah, forgive me and accept my repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepter of Repentance, the Most Merciful.”
(c)Cut off the sin completely—and replace it with a righteous act.
Keep going, even if you fall again. Repent every time. Allah loves the persistent.