At-Tawbah
التوبة"The Repentance"
- Number
- 9 of 114
- Verses
- 129
- Revealed
- Madinah
The only surah without Bismillāh — a final declaration of loyalty.
Go deeper, verse by verse.
24 passages reference this surah
From 14 books in our audiobook library. Each passage is also spoken aloud in the app.
Volume One
Ibn al-Qayyim · Madārij al-Sālikīn
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"Instead, it is called the repentance of bankruptcy or calamity. As the poet said: "I sought repentance and found it to be the repentance of bankruptcy." They also point out that numerous texts indicate that repentance at the time of witnessing death is not beneficial because it is a repentance of necessity, not choice."
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"The person may or may not be aware of this, and they should repent from the deficiency in their repentance and from not fulfilling its rights. This too is not repentance from repentance, but rather repentance from the lack of repentance."
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"This comes before repentance in rank. When one knows what is due and what is upon him, he begins to fulfill what is upon him and to free himself from it, which is repentance. The author of the stations placed repentance before accountability, seeing repentance as the first station of the traveler after awakening."
Book 31: The Book of Repentance
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din
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"You have stated that repentance is obligatory at all times, but repentance for such matters is not obligatory, as attaining perfection is not a requirement in Shariah. What then is meant by your statement, "Repentance is obligatory at all times"?"
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"Explanation of the Necessity and Virtue of Repentance: Repentance is made obligatory and fruitful, accompanied by the resolve and subsequent action. It is said that repentance is the melting of the inner being due to past mistakes."
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"Such specific repentance is not absolute repentance. Some people have said that this kind of repentance is not valid, while others believe it is valid. However, the term 'validity' in this context is ambiguous."
Volume 1 — From Creation to Mūsā
Ibn Kathir · Al-Bidāya wal-Nihāya
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"A man on a grey mule with Yemeni apparel came behind me and said, When you say Forgiver of Sins, say, O Forgiver of Sins, forgive me my sins. When you say Acceptor of Repentance, say, O Acceptor of Repentance, accept my repentance."
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"Then Adam received words from his Lord, and he accepted his repentance. Indeed, he is the accepting of repentance, the merciful. We said, Descend from it, all of you. And when guidance comes to you from me, whoever follows my guidance, there will be no fear concerning them, nor will they grieve."
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"That is best for you in the sight of your Creator. Then He accepted your repentance, Indeed, He is the accepting of repentance, the merciful. It is said they awoke one day, and those who did not worship the calf took swords in their hands. Allah cast a fog upon them,"
The Disease and The Cure
Ibn al-Qayyim · Timeless Classics
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"Another group believes that repentance and the fulfillment of the heir do erase it, as repentance removes all past offenses. They argue that if repentance can erase the effects of disbelief and sorcery, which are"
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"desire for sin increases, while the desire for repentance diminishes, until the urge to repent is completely gone. Even if faced with severe consequences, the person might not turn back to God. They may engage in verbal repentance and seek forgiveness superficially,"
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"after repentance than before the sin, and his status may be elevated. However, the sin might weaken his resolve and determination and ail his heart, so the remedy of repentance cannot restore him to his original health, and he does not return to his former grade."
Book 33: Fear and Hope
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya’ ‘Ulum al-Din
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"We ask Allah Almighty to grant us repentance; rather, we ask Him to stir the depths of our hearts toward repentance and not to let the movement of the tongue in asking for repentance be our ultimate fortune,"
Book 22: The Book of Disciplining the Soul
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din
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"Many jurists underestimate abandoning a day or night of study, delaying reform day after day until they lose the ability to accept jurisprudence. Similarly, those who underestimate minor sins delay repentance until death seizes them suddenly, or the gathering darkness of sins covers their hearts, making repentance impossible."
al-Fawāʾid — Points of Benefit, Volume Two
Ibn al-Qayyim · Timeless Classics
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"He said to me: No! That is not the reality of repentance. I said to him: then what is the reality of repentance in your view, young man? He said: that you forget your sin and he left me and went his way. So how does it stand with you, O Abu Qasim? I said: the word is as the young man said it. He said: How so? I said:"
al-Fawāʾid — Points of Benefit, Volume One
Ibn al-Qayyim · Timeless Classics
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"of evils and abominations. And this, by God, is a warning of a flood of punishment whose clouds have gathered, an announcement of a night of affliction whose darkness has thickened. So turn aside from this road with a sincere repentance, while repentance is still possible and its door still open."
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"and places his trust in him. The tongue's reliance is one thing and the heart's reliance another, just as the repentance of the tongue while the heart persists is one thing, and the repentance of the heart, though the tongue utter nothing, is another."
The Story of Musa
Ibn Kathir · Stories of the Prophets
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"He reminded the people that their true deity is Allah, who encompasses all knowledge. Those who worshipped the calf faced the anger of their lord and humiliation in this life. Allah, in his mercy, accepted the repentance of those who turned back to him, but the repentance"
The Story of Adam
Ibn Kathir · Stories of the Prophets
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"narrator of fabrications, and ibn A'idi as having a questionable reputation. The saying, Adam received from his Lord words, and he accepted his repentance, indeed he is the acceptor of repentance, the merciful, is interpreted as Adam saying, Our Lord, we have wronged"
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"repentance, indeed you are the acceptor of repentance, the merciful. This is verse 23 from Surat al-A'raf. Al-Hakim narrated that Adam said, O my Lord, did you not create me with your own hands? It was said to him, Indeed. And did you not breathe"
Book 40: The Book of the Remembrance of Death and the Afterlife
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din
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"pleasures which further distances them from Allah. As for the penitent, they frequently remember death to instill fear and reverence in their hearts, completing their repentance. They might fear that death will seize them before they complete their repentance and"
Yusha, al-Khidr & Ilyas
Ibn Kathir · Stories of the Prophets
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"A man from behind me, mounted on a gray mule and wearing Yemeni garments, said to me, When you say, The forgiver of sin, then say, O forgiver of sin, forgive my sin. And when you say, The acceptor of repentance, then say, O acceptor of repentance, accept"
Volume Two
Ibn al-Qayyim · Madārij al-Sālikīn
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"opposing desires, and preferring the pleasures of the Lord over one's own desires. Another form of servitude is repentance, returning to Him, and seeking His forgiveness. Indeed, He, the Exalted, loves those who repent and loves their repentance."
Book 21: The Book of the Wonders of the Heart
Imam al-Ghazali · Ihya' 'Ulum al-Din
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"repentance. Allah revealed to Moses, O Moses, your request has been granted once before. Command him to prostrate himself at Adam's grave, and his repentance shall be accepted. Moses then met Iblis and conveyed Allah's command. Iblis, however,"
Books referenced
Volume One
Ibn al-Qayyim · 18h 43m
Repentance
Imam al-Ghazali · 4h 23m
From Creation to Mūsā
Ibn Kathir · 18h 8m
The Disease and The Cure
Ibn al-Qayyim · 10h 56m
Fear & Hope
Imam al-Ghazali · 3h 12m
The Book of Disciplining the Soul
Imam al-Ghazali · 2h 16m
al-Fawāʾid II
Ibn al-Qayyim · 6h 04m
al-Fawāʾid
Ibn al-Qayyim · 6h 03m