(31) On the authority of Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him), who said that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) related:

A man said: By Allah, Allah will not forgive So-and-so. At this Allah the Almighty said: Who is he who swears by Me that I will not forgive So-and-so? Verily I have forgiven So-and-so and have nullified your [own good] deeds (or as he said [it]).

It was related by Muslim.

(33) On the authority of Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (peace be upon him), from among the things he reports from his Lord (mighty and sublime be He), is that he said:

A servant [of Allah's] committed a sin and said: O Allah, forgive me my sin. And He (glorified and exalted be He) said: My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them. Then he sinned again and said: O Lord, forgive me my sin. And He (glorified and exalted be He) said: My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them. Then he sinned again and said: O Lord, forgive me my sin. And He (glorified and exalted be He) said: My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for sins. Do what you wish, for I have forgiven you.

It was related by Muslim (also by al-Bukhari).

(34) On the authority of Anas (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) say: Allah the Almighty said:

O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me, ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great at it.

It was related by at-Tirmidhi (also by Ahmad ibn Hanbal). Its chain of authorities is sound.

(314) An evil deed is better left undone, for a man repents of it afterwards; a good deed is better done, for having done it, one does not repent.

(144) Like a well-trained horse when touched by the whip, be ye active and lively, and by faith, by virtue, by energy, by meditation, by discernment of the law you will overcome this great pain (of reproof), perfect in knowledge and in behaviour, and never forgetful.

(41) And we told him in a dream that it was forgiven him because he supplicated earnestly, and lamented, and did not again commit it.

(4) There was a famine in Egypt, so dreadful that everywhere people were dying as they begged for bread. By chance a madman passed along and seeing how many were perishing of starvation he said to God: 'O you who possess the good things of the world and of religion, since you cannot feed all men, create fewer.'

If one who would be bold in the court should say something unbecoming, he must humbly ask for forgiveness.

(17) And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

(29) The first of my counsels shall be given on your wrist, The second on your well-plastered roof, And the third I will give you from the top of a tree. As regards the counsel on your wrist, 'tis this. 'Believe not foolish assertions of any one!'" When he had spoken this counsel on his wrist, he flew Up to the top of the roof, entirely free. Then he said, "Do not grieve for what is past; When a thing is done, vex not yourself about it."

(312) An act carelessly performed, a broken vow, and hesitating obedience to discipline, all this brings no great reward.

(4) And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.

(13) Then I wrote out their petition, and the prayer in regard to their spirits and their deeds individually and in regard to their requests that they should have forgiveness and length 〈of days〉†.

(6) The same also says" that repentance is high intelligence. For he that repents of what he did, no longer does or says as he did. But by torturing himself for his sins, he benefits his soul. Forgiveness of sins is therefore different from repentance; but both show what is in our power."

(67) That deed is not well done of which a man must repent, and the reward of which he receives crying and with a tearful face.

(12) Besides such cautious discrimination before acting, a man should call himself strictly to account for his past actions. Every evening he should examine his heart as to what he has done to see whether he has gained or lost in his spiritual capital. This is the more necessary as the heart is like a treacherous business partner, always ready to cajole and deceive; sometimes it presents its own selfishness under the guise of obedience to God, so that a man supposes be has gained, whereas he has really lost.

(3) If we repent, truly god will heed us, he who is long-suffering and abundantly merciful, to whom be glory forever and ever.

(13) And they besought me to draw up a petition for them that they might find forgiveness, and to read their petition in the presence of the Lord of heaven.

(59) I set my face towards this hope, Seeing that Thou gayest me my being first of all; Thou gayest me the garment of being unasked, When he thus enumerates his sins and faults, God at last will grant him pardon as a free gift, Saying, "O angels, bring him back to me, Since the eyes of his heart were set on hope, Without care for consequences I set him free, And draw the pen through the record of his sins!"

(21) Certain of the scribes sitting there, and reasoning in their hearts, said within themselves, This man blasphemeth: who can forgive sins, but God alone? Jesus knowing their thoughts said,

(26) Earnest prayer in this form will be sure to guide thee along; thou mayst rest assured that thou wilt not be deceived. Of great importance is this: through that being recited, again recollection cometh; and recognition and liberation will be achieved.