Has Allah closed the door of repentance in my face because of my persistence for over forty years in the sin of lusting after beautiful images, and because of an extraordinary torment that has afflicted me, making me feel as if I have disbelieved with certainty, and that the verse from Al-Ma'idah applies to me: "And whoever disbelieves among you after that—then indeed, I will punish him with a torment such as I will not punish anyone among the worlds"?

The door of repentance remains open until a person witnesses death, and Allah accepts a servant's repentance as long as they have not reached the gurgling state [of death throes]. Allah's forgiveness for those who repent sincerely (tawbah nasuha) is so immense that no sin, not even shirk (polytheism), is too great for it. Whoever repents sincerely will have their sin forgiven, no matter how great it was. Allah the Almighty says: "Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by committing sins], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'" Repentance erases all sins, and Allah loves those who repent and rejoices in their repentance, changing their evil deeds into good ones. Allah the Almighty says: "Indeed, Allah loves those who repent," and He says: "Except for those who repent, believe and do righteous deeds; for them Allah will change their evil deeds into good ones. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Most Merciful."