An inquirer says, “When I was young and did not yet know what is lawful and what is not, I committed a sin once. I have since repented sincerely. Will Allah accept my repentance and forgive me?”

Allah the Exalted is He says,
“Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins; indeed, He is the All-Forgiving, the Most Merciful” (Quran, 39:53) and “And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord and a garden as vast as the heavens and the earth, prepared for the righteous—those who spend in ease and hardship, who restrain their anger, and who pardon people; and Allah loves the doers of good. And those who, when they commit an indecency or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins—and who forgives sins except Allah? —and who do not persist in what they have done while they know” (Quran, 3:133–135). Allah Almighty also says, “Except for those who repent, believe, and do righteous deeds—for such Allah will replace their evil deeds with good. And Allah is ever Forgiving, Merciful” (Quran, 25:70). The Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “By Allah, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day” (recorded by Bukhari).

From the above texts, it becomes clear that whoever commits a sin must hasten to repent and return to Allah Almighty, seek His forgiveness in abundance, and increase their recitation of the Quran, prayers, and charity. Allah the Most High says,
“Whoever repents after his wrongdoing and reforms, indeed Allah will turn to him in forgiveness. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Merciful” (Quran, 5:39). It has been reported that such acts of devotion erase sins.

We ask Allah Almighty to accept the repentance of those who repent and to guide us all to the straight path.

And Allah Almighty knows best.