Does seeking forgiveness expiate major sins?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Seeking forgiveness (istighfar) has great virtue and abundant good. However, istighfar coupled with repentance ()—with its conditions (remorse, ceasing the sin, and resolving not to return to it)—is what expiates major sins. As for merely seeking forgiveness without repentance from major sins, it does not expiate them, because istighfar is a request for forgiveness, while tawbah means turning away from the sin, abandoning it, and resolving not to return to it.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/162181
Where this answer came from
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- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 162181
- Added here
- . This is when the answer was added to El Fatwa, not the fatwa's date.
- Text
- Summary from Ftawy's records, reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
- Read the full ruling
- Read the full answer on Ftawy