The door of repentance is open to all and sundry until the sun rises from the west.

The door of repentance is open to all and sundry until the sun rises from the west. It is then that the door of repentance will be closed and faith will be of no avail to a soul which has not believed before.

Safwan bin Assal (r.a) narrates the Prophet (saws) as saying:
“Allah opened a door west side for seventy years for the purpose of repentance, it will not be closed until the sun will rises from the west.” (Tirmidhi)

“Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance so that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace (i.e. the one who helps and serves needy and deserving, physically and with good words). But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a Great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).” (Surah Hud; 3)

Inviting the unbelievers unto repentance, Allah SWT says:
“If they then repent, it will be better for them, but if they turn away, Allah will punish them with a painful torment in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. And there is none for them on earth as a Wali (supporter, protector) or a helper.” (At-Tawbah; 74)

Repenting from all sins is obligatory on every adult Muslim. This is emphasized by Allah SWT as: “And all of you beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful.” (An-Noor 24:31) The meaning of ‘ Tawbah’ is to turn back to Allah by abandoning all major and minor sins and to repent to Allah from all known and unknown sins. Al-Agharr Al-Muzanee narrates the Messenger (saws) as saying: “O people! Repent to Allah and seek for His forgiveness. I repent to Him in a day 100 times.” (Muslim).

A sincere repentance according to the scholars has conditions:

1. To discontinue the sin.
2. To regret over its occurrence.
3. To determine never to go back to that sin again.
4. To give back the right to whom it is due if the sin involves a man.