REPENTANCE (TAWBAH) — VERSES ON RETURNING TO GOD
The Quran calls people who have sinned not to despair of God's mercy and to return to Him in sincere repentance. Surah Az-Zumar verse 53 states this plainly: "Say: O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of God. God forgives all sins; He is the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful." This verse declares that turning back from sin is possible no matter its magnitude. Sincere repentance (tawbatan nasuha) — repentance made with genuine remorse and firm resolve not to return — is a direct call the Quran addresses to believers (At-Tahrim 66:8). You can listen to the verses in this collection and reflect on repentance.
8 verses
Repentance in the Quran means recognizing a wrong, regretting it, leaving it, and returning to God. Az-Zumar 39:53 rejects despair, while the next verse calls people to turn back and submit. Sincere repentance is therefore more than a sentence spoken once. It includes a real intention to change and, when another person's rights were harmed, an appropriate effort to repair what can safely be repaired.
Verses in This Collection
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Understanding the Topic
Hope does not cancel accountability
Az-Zumar 39:53 is one of the Quran's broadest calls away from despair, but its context continues with return and obedience. At-Tahrim 66:8 asks believers for sincere repentance, and Aal Imran 3:135 describes people who seek forgiveness and do not knowingly persist in the wrong. Together these passages prevent two opposite errors: assuming that a serious failure places someone beyond mercy, or using mercy as permission to continue causing harm. Hope is meant to reopen responsible action, not erase the moral weight of what happened.
When another person's rights are involved
Private remorse does not automatically restore money, reputation, safety, or trust taken from someone else. Repayment, correction of a false claim, or an apology may be required. Yet direct contact can sometimes pressure a victim or create new danger. In cases involving abuse, harassment, crime, or complicated legal duties, qualified religious and legal advice should be sought before acting. The comfort of the person repenting does not create an obligation for the harmed person to forgive immediately, resume contact, or abandon protective boundaries.
A useful repentance plan names three things: what must stop, what can be repaired, and what support will reduce the chance of repetition. This turns hope into a responsible next step.
Sources
- QuranEnc — Az-Zumar 39:53 — English Translation — Noor International Center; hope in divine mercy
- TDV Encyclopedia of Islam — Tövbe — Turkish conceptual reference article on repentance
- Diyanet — Kur'an Yolu, Az-Zumar — Turkish tafsir context for 39:53–55
Regret, and Following a Bad Deed with a Good One
According to Abdullah ibn Mas'ud, the Prophet said: "Regret is repentance" (Ibn Majah, Asceticism, no. 4252). The brief saying shows that the essence of repentance is sincere regret for the wrong done, more than the recitation of particular words.
In the report of Abu Dharr, the Prophet advised him: "Be mindful of God wherever you are; follow a bad deed with a good one and it will wipe it out; and treat people with good character" (Tirmidhi, Righteousness, no. 1987; Tirmidhi graded it hasan sahih). Hud 11:114 likewise says: "Good deeds remove bad deeds."
Al-Furqan 25:70 states that for those who repent, believe and do righteous deeds, God will replace their bad deeds with good ones. Together these verses and reports present repentance not as dwelling on the past but as a change of direction that begins with regret and continues with good conduct.
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