[Modest-Muslimah]

Salaam

Islam says that if a person commits sin and then truely repents to Allah then he inshallah is forgiven.

My question is how is a person meant to know that Allah has forgiven him? Do you just truely repent the once and put your trust in Allah that He has forgiven you? Or what if sins from a person's past continue to haunt a person's memory and they have even repented over and over again, they cannot wipe this memory as it's full of regret, What must one do then?

Can a sinner ever be content that Allah has forgiven him? if so, then is it a bad thing to continuously, even after years, feel regret for the sins that were committed in a persons past?

Or is it just as simple as one should recognise their sinful ways, repent to Allah, vow to never do it again, and simply move on?

Would be grateful for anyone's input.

Jazakallah

[Imran.]

Ulema state that if one sins and then repents vowing to never do it again, and  actually succeeds in never doing it again (and transforms for the better), he/she should should take it as a sure sign that they have been forgiven.

[Just_Ahsun]

Alaikum assalam !
The answer lies somewhere in the middle. A sincere repentance entails that one abstains from the sin and seek Allah's forgiveness, knowing that He is Al-Rahman, Al-Raheem. So, if one does have doubts that he/she isn't forgiven then, according to my limited knowledge, this might correspond to saying that one has doubts in the above two names of Allah. Let me be clear that this is different to getting into a habit of doing things wrong and then expecting to be forgiven whilst your heart has rusted into an abyss of desires and egoistic approach towards others. The state of your heart is important, whether your sincere in your repentance or is it merely done to please others through your tongue whilst your heart is indifferent to what you speak of (check out characteristics of hypocrite: http://www.harunyahya.com/books/faith/hypocrite/hypocrite1.php)
It's not about the number of sins we have done in the past, but more like how many times we avoided a sin knowing that He is watching - being God conscious and fearing. Whatever happened in the past will leave a stigma in our mind but to be full of regrets would ultimately make us loose our grounds and stop excelling further in good matters. Anything in excess should be shunned, all that holds is the state of one heart and if we're truly shameful of what we did then we also have the capability of correcting that mistake and putting our trust in Allah over our affairs.
Ummul Mumineen Sayyiduna Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) reported that Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Allah Almighty loves that, if you do any work, he excels therein" (narrated by Bayhaqi)
Alternatively, depending on the type of regret you're feeling, you always have the choice of making effort in treating that disease in you by doing the opposite. Say, if you suffer from avarice then the best remedy would be to give up such wealth for the sake of Allah. Alternatively, if you had done bad to others with either your tongue or hand then by all means apologize and strive to keep those around you happy by means of good words and deeds. Start thinking about how your actions would benefit others and how can you mold into a person that would excel in his/her matters. Occupy yourself with the good so your heart becomes less inclined to that which is wrong or sinful.
In a nutshell, the best way forward is to constantly remind oneself of Allah's blessing, figure out a way that one can adopt to for blissful life and constantly seek knowledge but at the same time realize ones state and keep renewing your repentance.
Mughira b. Shu’ba reported that Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) worshipped so much that his feet were swollen. It was said to him: (Why do you undergo so much hardship despite the fact that) Allah has pardoned for you your earlier and later sins? Thereupon he said: May I not (prove myself) to be a grateful servant (of Allah)?  (Sahih Muslim)
Allah and His messenger knows the best !

[Sunni786Soldier]

Shaykh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi answered the above beautifully. I am not sure if that talk is available on YaNabi.com.  On Islam Channel, he explained if you repent and avoid sins and go towards prayers and ibadah then that is a sign Allah swt has forgiven you.  However, if you repent and return to sins this means that Allah swt is angry with you.

[IslamSister22]

i am living with something i regret so deeply and i have asked allah for forgiveness and i will never do that again but i want to know if i am actually forgiven. cos i cant live knowing im not

[seeker]

 IslamSister22, on 01 May 2011 - 05:20 PM, said:

i am living with something i regret so deeply and i have asked allah for forgiveness and i will never do that again but i want to know if i am actually forgiven. cos i cant live knowing im not

Sister - Allah is capable of forgiven ALL sins of Muslims. ALLLLLLL. Even if you repent from shirk, correct your belief, then insha Allah you will be forgiven.

So unless you are doing sajdah to an idol (na'udhu billah - I know you're not I'm giving extreme example) - then Allah can forgive you!

39:53 Say: "O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of God: for God forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Repent, ask Allah for forgiveness, do good deeds, never go back to it - and then forget about that sin! (Meaning, don't worry about it any more, don't distress!)