Is repentance accepted in this era, and do calamities associated with scandals expiate sins? How far does God’s mercy extend to those who openly commit sins? And does immediate punishment at the site of the sin expiate a person’s actions, knowing that his condition has changed and he now detests the sin out of fear of punishment, but he does not pray in the mosque?

The door of repentance is open until the sun rises from the west. The proof of this is the saying of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him): "Whoever repents before the sun rises from its west, Allah will accept his repentance." The أهل السنة (Ahl al-Sunnah (definition)) are in agreement that repentance is accepted as long as the servant is not barred from it by the sun rising from its west.