What should one do who has delayed repentance until it is too late, and will it be accepted, and how does one repent from delaying repentance, and how does one know if their repentance is purely for the sake of Allah or out of fear of punishment, and will their repentance be answered or not?
The time for repentance does not expire until the soul reaches the throat, according to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him: "Indeed, Allah accepts the repentance of a servant as long as he has not gargled." Delaying repentance is another sin that necessitates a general repentance encompassing all known and unknown sins, as mentioned by Ibn al-Qayyim. The servant must be sincere in his repentance and dedicate it purely to Allah Almighty, seeking His countenance. If repentance fulfills its conditions, it is certainly accepted and answered.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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