Answer
Short Answer:
- When a sin is committed Allah may cover the sin, but if the person talks about it, he has uncovered what Allah covered. This is directly opposing Allah.
- The reason for covering the sin is to minimise its impact on society and to give the sinner a chance to repent.
- Uncovering the sin creates a greater awareness of the sin and may actually encourage such sin in society.
- Killing someone falls into the category of committing a crime against society and against Allah. Justice has to be done. The debt to society must be paid and repentance and forgiveness can be sought from Allah, by sincere tawbah.
- It must be noted, any request for repentance must take place in this life. Once we die, it is too late to repent.
………….
Thank you for your question. It is a very important topic in Islam involving actions and intentions.
Allah tells us:
And establish the Prayer at the two ends of the day and in the first hours of the night (five times daily prayers). Indeed the good deeds drive away the evil deeds. This is a reminder to those who are mindful of Allah.” [Quran 11:114]
All actions are according to intentions
All actions are according to intentions. So, if a person commits sins openly and talks or boasts about them, not only are his actions wrong, but he is compounding the sin by showing he doesn’t care for the consequences. Obviously, if one cared about the consequences they would try to cover or hide the sin, and then, ask Allah for forgiveness and repent, that is, perform tawbah.
Talking or boasting about a sin is to show disregard to Allah and suggests arrogance; actions unbecoming to a Muslim. It gives the impression the action was intended. That it was not an act of forgetfulness.
Covering versus uncovering sins
When the sin is committed Allah may cover the sin, but if the person talks about it, he has uncovered what Allah covered. This is directly opposing Allah. The reason for covering the sin is to minimise its impact on society and to give the sinner a chance to repent. Uncovering the sin creates a greater awareness of the sin and may actually encourage such sin in society.
Allah tells us in the Quran:
“Say: (O Prophet) My servants who have committed excesses against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, surely, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful” [Quran 39:53].
Repentance (Tawbah)
This shows if we repent and perform tawbah sincerely even our major sins can be forgiven.
The one sin Allah will not forgive is shirk that is, the association of someone or something with Allah.
It was reported from Abu Musa that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Allah spreads out His hand at night to accept the repentance of those who committed sins during the day, and He spreads out His hand during the day to accept the repentance of those who committed sins during the night. (He will continue to do this) until the sun rises from the West.” [Muslim]
The Sin of Killing
Killing someone falls into the category of committing a crime against society and against Allah. Justice has to be done. The debt to society must be paid and repentance and forgiveness can be sought from Allah, by sincere tawbah.
I’m not sure I can agree with “rewarding the people affected”. Rather I would suggest compensating the affected people, and Allah knows best.
I’m not sure who you are referring to with your comment “Is this man of those who cause corruption on the earth and repented,” whether this applies to the example you gave or whether it is meant in general terms? Let me quote the following as an example:
He Killed 99 People and Was Still Forgiven!
It was reported from Abu Sa’eed al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said:
“Among the Children of Israel there was a man who killed ninety-nine people. Then he went out and came to a monk and asked him, ‘Can I repent?’ He said, ‘No,’ so he killed him. Then he (again) started asking, and a man said to him, ‘Go to such and such a town (because the town you live in is very bad, so go to a town with good people). But death caught up with him (before he reached his destination), so he inclined his chest towards (that town, as he was dying). The angels of mercy and the angels of punishment disputed concerning him. Allah inspired (the good town) to come closer to him, and (the evil town to move away from him). Then He said, Measure the distance between them. They found that he was closer (to the good town) by a hand-span, so he was forgiven.” (Bukhari and Muslim)
There is more than one version of this story, but it does emphasise the Mercy of Allah.
Summary
While sins are major and minor, there are sins against individuals/society and sins against Allah. For sins against society, the debt to society has to be paid (in the form of punishment).
Repentance is the most loved form of obedience for a believer, in the eyes of Allah. He loves those who repent. Repentance has a status that no other form of worship has. This is why Allah is extremely happy when a servant repents just as a desert traveler may be happy when he finds his lost camel.
“Except those who repent, have faith and do good deeds, for such people Allah will change their sins for good deeds. Certainly Allah is most forgiving and merciful.” [Quran 25:70]
Repentance must take place in this life
It must be noted, any request for repentance must take place in this life. Once we die, it is too late to repent.
Also, Allah tells us in a divine hadith, hadith Qudsi:
My Mercy precedes My Wrath.
Repentance and asking forgiveness is what gives the believer hope, that s/he can be forgiven – trusting in the Mercy of Allah..
May Allah grant us the strength and means to perform all our obligatory actions, so that we may strive to be good Muslims and benefit from Allah’s protection? If we make a mistake may He help us to be quick in sincere repentance, Ameen.
And Allah knows best.
I hope this helps.
Salam and please keep in touch.
Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links:
Why Try to Follow Islam at All, If I Can’t Follow it Completely?