Divine Responses to Prayer, Repentance, Forgiveness, and Gratitude

135. Amīr al-mu’minīn, peace be upon him, said: He who is bestowed four things is not disallowed four things: he who is allowed to pray is not deprived of the response to it; he who is allowed to offer repentance is not deprived of its acceptance; he who is allowed to seek forgiveness is not deprived of forgiveness; and he who is allowed to be grateful is not deprived of furtherance of favours.

As-Sayyid ar-Raḍī says: This is confirmed by the Book of Allāh. About praying, Allāh says: “Call you to Me, I will answer you” (Qur’ān, 40:60). About forgiveness Allāh says: “And whoever does evil, or wrongs his own self and thereafter seeks pardon of Allāh, shall find Allāh Oft-forgiving, Merciful” (Qur’ān, 4:110). About gratefulness He says: “If you be grateful I will increase (my favours) to you” (Qur’ān, 14:7). About repentance He says: “Verily, repentance (acceptable) with Allāh is only for those who do evil ignorantly and then turn (to Allāh) soon (after); these (are those) Allāh will turn (merciful) to them; and Allāh is All-knowing, All-wise” (Qur’ān, 4:17).