Nasuha repentance: Provisions, signs received, and the dangers of postponement

Everyone must have fallen into sin. But the difference is not who is the least sinful, but who is the fastest to return to God.

Repentance is the door to hope that is always open, but not always we have the opportunity to enter.

Unfortunately, many people postpone him, underestimate it, even think he has repented even though he hasn’t.

This paper will discuss in full: what is repentance, what are the valid conditions, what are the danger if postponed, and what are the signs of our repentance.

Because returning to God is not just an intention, but a real struggle.

Ibnul Qayyim Rahimahullah explained that sincere repentance (repentance nasuha) contains three important elements:

First, this is a whole, large or small, hidden or bright sin. In other words, a person cannot not obey any sin that he does not regret or he will leave without repentance.

Second, the determination is round and honesty in repentance. There is no room for doubt, delay, or half -hearted. He immediately made a decision with all his desires and virtues to leave evil and return to God.

Third, purify repentance from all wrong intentions. True repentance solely for fearing God, hoping for His reward, and fearing His punishment-not because he wants to maintain a reputation, position, or power; Nor is it for the sake of getting human praise, avoiding their reproach, or because they are unable to act anymore due to age or economic conditions. All worldly intentions like this damage the purity of repentance.

In short, the first element is related to the sin that is left behind, the third is related to who is in repentance-that is God, and the second in the middle: related to repentance.

This type of repentance is truly honest, sincere, and comprehensive. It contains achievements, eliminating all sins, and is the most perfect form of repentance.

One of the biggest obstacles in repenting is delaying. Though who can guarantee that tomorrow is still there for him? Delaying repentance is like playing at the end of the cliff.

People who are not converted soon are threatened by two major dangers:

1. His heart was blackened because he was continuously covered in sin. The darkness will be thicker until it becomes a crust that is difficult to clean.
2. The pain can come suddenly, making him no longer able to improve. He even faced God in an unsafe heart. In fact, the only one who will face God with Qalbun Salīm – a clean heart.

Ulama have made a touching parable:

People who like to postpone repentance are like people who want to pull out trees. He knew that the tree was sturdy and difficult to pull out. But he said, “I just postpone, next year I just pulled out.”

Even though he knew: the longer the tree grew, the roots were stronger, and his body was getting bigger. While he – over time – was getting weaker. Isn’t that the biggest form of ignorance?

Sin that becomes a way to heaven

Ibnul Qayyim Rahimahullah said,

If God wants goodness for a servant, then He opens the path of repentance, regret, self-humiliation, a sense of need to God, and constantly praying and approaching Him. In fact, sometimes the sin he committed is the cause of God’s grace.

The devil even regretted and said, “If I leave him, he will not be in sin!”

Ibnul Qayyim also collected Salaf Speech:

“There are people who enter heaven because of their sins, and there are those who go to hell because of good deeds.”
How could that be?

Because someone can sin, then keep remembering it, crying, sorry, afraid of God, and becomes humble. The fear and despicable became because he was getting closer to God-even more useful than a lot of deeds.

Conversely, there are people who do good deeds, but he is arrogant, feels greatest, proud of himself, and ujub for his deeds. This can actually be the cause of his destruction.

If God wants a good one, he will test him to break the arrogance. But if not, God will let him fall into tricks and arrogance. That is a real form of humiliation.

Because the wise scholars agree,

That its success is that God does not come to your soul, and to deny that God who is Almighty will be above you.

Taufik is when God does not give up yourself to yourself.

Humilization is when God let you rely on yourself.

Signs of repentance received

Ibnul Qayyim Rahimahullah explained that the correct and accepted repentance has several important signs. Anything?

1. His life after repentance is better than before.

It’s closer to God, more diligent worship, and far from evil.

2. Fear God always joins.

He never felt safe from the punishment of God, not even a blink of an eye.

The fear only disappeared when his spirit was pulled out, and the angels said:

Don’t be afraid, and don’t grieve and preach to heaven

“Don’t be afraid, don’t be sad, and be happy with the promised paradise.“(QS. Fuṣilat: 30)

3. His heart crumbled because of regret.

The greater the sin, the greater the regret.

This is the meaning of this verse:

Except that their hearts were cut off

– “Until their hearts are destroyed“(Surah at-Taubah: 110), said Ibn ‘uyainah, meaning: broken by repentance.

If the heart is not destroyed by sin when in the world, it will definitely be destroyed in the hereafter when he sees the reward of obedient people and torture for sinners.

4. He feels the destruction of the heart that can only be felt by people who are truly repent.

This feeling cannot arise because of hunger, sports, or just love.

This is a total destruction: the heart that falls before God, like the son who was caught after escaping.

It is aware: His life and salvation only exist in his Lord, who knows all his sins. He is weak, God is strong. He is despicable, God is a noble.

From here, he was born from the deepest and most obedient – and this is the most preferred by God.

Then he said with sincerity:

“O Allah, for my glory and insult, compassion for me. For my strengths and weaknesses, for my wealth and wealth …

There is no place to run from You except just return to You …

This is my sinner in front of you … I am only your servant who doesn’t have someone else besides you … “

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These are signs of actual repentance.

If we haven’t felt everything in our hearts, our repentance is still not yet.

How heavy the true repentance is in reality, and how easy it is to say it.

True repentance is not just a word, but a wound that brings us back to God.

Reference: The words “Secret of Tear” in Islamweb

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Compiled on 16 Dhulhijjah 1446 H (12 June 2025)

@ Darush Sholihin Gunungkidul

Dr. Muhammad Abduh Tuasikal

Article Rumaysho.com