Answer
Short Answer:
- Will Allah Ask Us About Sins We Repented From? To answer your question briefly if we ask forgiveness from Allah for our sins then they will be completed erased as if they didn’t happen.
- So, not only does repenting erase sins, but also performing the Islamic rituals automatically erases our minor sins. As for major sins, if we sincerely repent, ask Allah’s forgiveness, return what is due to people if applicable, and perform the kaffarah (compensation) for that sin if one is required, then Allah will surely forgive us if we don’t associate anyone with Him.
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Salam Dear Tasha,
Thank you for your question and for contacting Ask About Islam.
Will Allah Ask Us About Sins We Repented From?
To answer your question briefly if we ask forgiveness from Allah for our sins then they will be completed erased as if they didn’t happen. However, this is not the only way for our sins to be erased. Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
The five daily Salat (prescribed prayers), and Friday (prayer) to the next Friday (prayer), and the fasting of Ramadan to the next Ramadan, is expiation of the sins committed in between them, so long as major sins are avoided. (Muslim)
So, not only does repenting erase sins, but also performing the Islamic rituals automatically erases our minor sins. As for major sins, if we sincerely repent, ask Allah’s forgiveness, return what is due to people if applicable, and perform the kaffarah (compensation) for that sin if one is required, then Allah will surely forgive us if we don’t associate anyone with Him.
Good Deeds that Erase Sins
Supererogatory prayers and giving charity also erase sins. There are many other ways for us to erase our sins including sending salutation on the Prophet (peace be upon him), performing wudu (ablution), prostrating to Allah, etc. The following authentic hadiths gives us the details:
It was narrated that Abu Hurairah said:
Mention of fever was made in the presence of the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him), and a man cursed it. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: ‘Do not curse it, for it erases sin as fire removes filth from iron.’ (Ibn Majah)
Anas ibn Malik said:
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: “Whoever sends salah upon me once, Allah (SWT) will send salah upon him tenfold, and will erase ten sins from him, and will raise him ten degrees in status. (An-Nasai)
Madan [ibn Talhah] said:
I met Abu Ad-Darda, and I asked him what I had asked Thawban, so he said: ‘Perform prostrations, for I heard Allah’s Messenger saying: ‘No worshiper performs a prostration to Allah except that by it Allah will raise him a level, and erase a sin from him for it.’ (At-Tirmidhi)
The Beautiful River by The Door Metaphor
It was narrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
Do you think that is there was a river by the door of any one of you, and he bathed in it five times each day, would there be any trace of dirt left on him?” They said: “No trace of dirt would be left on him.” He said: “That is the likeness of the five daily prayers. By means of them Allah erases sins. (An-Nasai)
Basically, if you are a practicing Muslim who does not indulge in anything unlawful, you should be going to bed each night without any sins, rather with lots of rewards on your record of deeds insha’Allah (God willing). The Prophet once said:
Allah, the Almighty, says: Whosoever does a good deed, will have (reward) ten times like it and I add more; and whosoever does an evil, will have the punishment like it or I will forgive (him); and whosoever approaches Me by one span, I will approach him by one cubit; and whosoever approaches Me by one cubit, I approach him by one fathom, and whosoever comes to Me walking, I go to him running; and whosoever meets Me with an earth-load of sins without associating anything with Me, I meet him with forgiveness like that. (Muslim)
Follow these 6 Steps
However, we must keep in mind that some sins are greater than others, but there is no sin that is too big for Allah to forgive; He forgives all sins if the person follows these basic steps:
1. The person should not associate anyone with Allah when supplicating/praying to Him.
2. If the sin deals with someone’s rights, then the person must return those rights; such as taking someone’s property.
3. Some sins require a kaffara (compensation), such as fasting certain number of days, paying charity, etc. This all depends on the specific sin.
4. Repent and feel regret for that sin that he or she will not commit such a sin again.
5. Repeatedly ask Allah’s forgiveness since the Prophet (peace be upon him) used to do so at least seventy times a day.
6. Perform good deeds to erase one’s bad deeds such as praying and giving charity often.
Don’t Look Back
We also need to forget our past sins and work for the future. Satan wants us to live in our past sins and never forget them in order to despair from Allah’s mercy; we should ignore his whispers and move forward. The most important thing is not to despair. If we despair then we fall into Satan’s control. Allah says what is translated as:
{Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls, despair not of the mercy of Allah, for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”} (Az-Zumar 39:53)
Allah also says what means:
{Your Lord hath inscribed for Himself (the rule of) mercy: verily, if any of you did evil in ignorance, and thereafter repented, and amended (his conduct), lo! He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.} (Al-An`am 6:54)
There is a hadith qudsi (divine hadith) also that states:
[…] My mercy prevails over My wrath. (Bukhari, Muslim, At-Tirmidhi, Ibn Majah)
Allah’s Mercy
Now to answer your specific question, Allah will not hold us accountable for sins that we have repented from. However, He might remind us about them after being admitted into Paradise to appreciate His Mercy bestowed upon us.
We read in the hadith; narrated Hassan Ibn Atia (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
“[…] Allah will converse to each person who attends one of Allah’s gatherings in Paradise. He will say to a man: ‘Do you remember such and such a sin that you committed in this world; the man will reply: ‘Haven’t you forgiven me my Lord’. Allah will say: ‘By My infinite Mercy, if I haven’t forgiven you, you wouldn’t have reached such a status in Paradise'[…]” (Ibn Taymiah)
I hope this helps answer your question.
Salam and please keep in touch.
Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links:
https://aboutislam.net/spirituality/10-benefits-asking-gods-forgiveness/