When the Time of Repentance Ends.
In Islam, the time for repentance (Tawbah) ends when
the sun rises from the west, which is a major sign of the Day of
Judgment. Until that point, Allah accepts repentance for all sins, as long
as the person is not on their deathbed.
Elaboration:
- Acceptance of Repentance:
According to Islamic teachings, Allah is Ar-Rahman
and Ar-Raheem (The Most Merciful and Compassionate) and He accepts the
repentance of those who turn to Him sincerely.
- The End of Repentance:
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) stated
that repentance is accepted until the sun rises from the west, which is a sign
that the Day of Judgment is near.
- Sincerity is Key:
The repentance must be sincere and accompanied by a
genuine desire to change one's ways and avoid repeating the sin.
- Never Too Late:
While the rising of the sun from the west marks the
end of the period of acceptance, it is never too late for a person to repent as
long as they are alive.
- Hadith Evidence:
There are numerous hadiths (sayings and actions of
the Prophet Muhammad) that emphasize the importance of repentance and its
acceptance by Allah. For example, one hadith states, "Allah accepts
the repentance of His servant so long as death has not reached his collar
bone" according to Quora.
- Importance of Seeking Forgiveness:
Islam encourages believers to seek forgiveness from
Allah regularly, even if they haven't committed any specific sin. The
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) would seek forgiveness frequently.
Referring to the commentary on G23 gy Ons € (they show repentance when their death draws near), it has been said that the time of repentance, as mentioned in it, ends with the appearance of the angel of death before the dying person. Hadrat Bakr bin ‘Abdullah (Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said that the time allowed for repentance is very long, but it ends with the appearance of the angels of death when the person also loses consciousness. (ibn Abi Dunya).
Hadrat Mua‘wiya bin Abu Sufyan (Allah be pleased with him) is reported to have said that the Holy Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) had told that among the children of Israil was a sinner who had committed 77 murders. When his conscience pricked him, he called on a priest. He made a confession that there was no sin which he had not perpetrated and, above all, he had murdered 77 innocent human beings and enquired of him whether any opportunity was left for his repentance being accepted and for his forgiveness.
The priest replied that there was little hope of his receiving forgiveness. He was so disappointed to hear it that he murdered the priest and went away. He waited upon another priest and, conféssing his previous sins to him, asked him if he could show repentance at that stage. The priest replied in the negative. In his utter disappointment, he murdered the second priest also and went away. He approached another priest and, confessing his previous sins to him, asked if his repentance could be accepted at that stage. The priest replied in the negative.
No sooner did he hear the reply than he murdered the third priest. After committing one hundred murders, he met yet another priest. He confessed his previous sins to the priest and asked if his repentance could be accepted at that stage. The priest replied that it would be wrong to say that God does not turn to those who appeal to Him for forgiveness, and urged him to ask for the forgiveness of his sins. He further advised him to mend his waysand for that purpose, he should go to a particular shrine and stay there with the God-fearing persons and worship God Almighty.
As soon as he heard it, he plucked up courage and, after repenting of his sins, made for the shrine. He had hardly gone half the way when the angels in obedience to the command of God Almighty, disembodied his soul. Soon after his death, the angels of mercy and those deputed for giving punishment came and started disputing as to who should remove the dead body. At that time, a third angel appeared on the scene and decided that they should measure the distance between his starting place and his destination. If he were found nearer to the village of the repentant, he should be counted among the righteous; otherwise, among the sinners. When the distance was measured, he was found nearer to the village of the repentant by a span. Consequently, he was granted forgiveness and was taken away by the good angels. (Abu Na‘im)
ﷺ
رضي الله عنه
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