What is the difference between repentance (توبة) and seeking forgiveness (استغفار)?
Source: FtawySummary from Ftawy's records · added here Sep 2, 2026
Repentance includes regretting the past, abandoning the sin in the present, and resolving not to return to it in the future, whereas seeking forgiveness (Istighfar) is asking for forgiveness, covering the sin, and protection from its punishment. Repentance entails seeking forgiveness, but seeking forgiveness does not necessarily mean repentance.
Summary from Ftawy's records · added here
Reviewed by El Fatwa's sharia committee.
Read the full answer on Ftawyhttps://ftawy.com/en/questions/25765
Where this answer came from
- Source platform
- Ftawy
- Original fatwa ID
- 25765
- 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