Is sincere repentance accepted, and are sins covered without their perpetrator being exposed after repentance, despite the abundance of previous transgressions, including participation in taking a life?
A Muslim must repent and conceal past sins, and avoid returning to them, with certainty that Allah is Forgiving and Merciful and accepts the repentance of His sincere servants. Fear of the punishment of the grave and the Hereafter is one of the strongest motivations to abandon sins, and a balance must be struck between fear and hope. To be protected from scandal, it is advisable to maintain regular adhkar (remembrance of Allah) such as the supplication: "O Allah, conceal my flaws and calm my fears." If the environment is unsuitable, one can travel to another place to avoid bad company and seek righteous companions. A woman can perform Hajj and stay in the Two Holy Mosques to draw closer to Allah and expiate sins. For sins related to the rights of Allah, sincere repentance and good deeds are sufficient. As for material rights of people, they must be returned, and for moral rights, such as marital infidelity, concealment and general seeking of forgiveness are required. Regarding the killing of a soul, its type (intentional or accidental) must be determined to specify the necessary expiation.
Summarized from the full answer at Ftawy · reviewed Sep 2, 2026
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