An inquirer says, “In my youth, I committed certain sins and transgressions, and I now wish to repent to Allah Almighty. Is repentance still possible for me?

It is established in Islamic Law that repentance from sin is obligatory, according to unanimous scholarly agreement, as it is one of the foundational principles of Islam. Commenting on the words of Allah Almighty, Imam al-Qurtubi stated that the word repent in the verse “And repent to Allah, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed” (24:31) is a command. There is no disagreement among the Muslim community that repentance is obligatory and individually binding. According to him, one should repent, for no one is free from lapses and shortcomings in fulfilling Allah’s rights; therefore, repentance should never be abandoned in any circumstance. See: Al-Jami’ li Ahkam Al-Quran (12:238).

Thus, repentance from sins is obligatory. The sinner must hasten to repent so that they may depart this world spiritually sound — hopeful in Allah’s grace, trusting that He will admit them into Paradise and save them from the Fire. When sins involve the rights of others, it is necessary to resolve the wrong, for Allah may forgive sins against His rights, but not those against His servants unless the wronged person grants forgiveness.

Whoever among the Muslims commits a sin or an act of disobedience must repent. Allah Most High has bestowed upon His servants the blessing of accepting their repentance and forgiving their misdeeds. Whenever a sinner repents from their sin and seeks Allah’s forgiveness, Allah accepts their repentance and pardons them. Allah Almighty says, “Whoever does evil or wrongs himself then seeks Allah’s forgiveness will find Allah forgiving and merciful” (Quran, 4:110) and “He is the One who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do” (Quran: 42:25).

This is precisely what the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) informed us of in the hadith narrated by Abu ʿUbaydah Ibn ʿAbd Allah from his father (may Allah be pleased with them) who narrated that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) said, “The one who repents from sin is like one who has no sin at all” (recorded by Ibn Majah, al-Bayhaqi in Al-Sunan, and al-Ṭabarani in Al-Muʿjam Al-Kabir).

And Allah Almighty knows best.