محمد بن مسلم بن رباح

The sins of the believers are already forgiven. Hence, a believer should put a new start. This is surely granted for the people of faith exclusively.

“Once I said to Abu ‘Abdillah (a.s.) ‘How do you consider the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, “. . . those who avoid major sins and indecent acts except al-Lamam (sins committed from time to time). . . .” (53:33) The Imam said, ‘It is the sin that one may commit then stops it, as Allah wills, and then commits it again.”

“I heard abu Ja’far (a.s.) saying ‘How excellent are good deeds after evil deeds and how disgraceful are evil deeds after good deeds!”’

Abū Ja’far (Imam Bāqir (a.s.)) said: Verily Ḥusain (a.s.), the man of Karbalā, was killed while he was oppressed, anguished, thirsty, and grieved. It is truly fitting that every grieved person, every anguished person, every sinful person, every saddened person, every thirsty person, and every ill person who goes to (the Ziyārah of) Ḥusain (a.s.), who prays next to his grave and seeks nearness to Allāh, the Great and Almighty, through him, will have his grief removed by Allāh and He will fulfill his requests, forgive his sins, prolong his life, and increase his sustenance. “So take warning, O you who have eyes!” (59:2).

“I asked Abū ʿAbdillāh (a), ‘What is the meaning of the verse wherein Allah, the Almighty, says: O you who believe, turn to Allah in sincere repentance (Q66:8)?’ He said, ‘It is the sin which he never repeats again.’ I said, ‘Who among us never repeats [a sin]?’ So he said, ‘O Abā Muḥammad, verily Allah loves from among His servants the one who is tested [by sin] and repents often.’”

“One who has been a believer and had performed good deeds then suffers a misfortune and turns to disbelief, then after disbelief repents, all of the good deeds that he had performed as a believer will be written down for him. Disbelief does not invalidate them if he repents after his disbelief.”

"When a fornicator commits fornication, the spirit of faith departs from him. If he seeks forgiveness, it returns to him." Imam (as) also said that the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace be upon him and his family) said: "A fornicator does not commit fornication while he is a believer, a drinker does not drink while he is a believer, and a thief does not steal while he is a believer." Abu Jafar Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) further said: "My father (as) used to say: 'When a fornicator commits fornication, the spirit of faith leaves him.'" I asked: "Does any part of faith remain in him, or does it completely leave him?" Imam (as) replied: "No, rather a part of it remains. But when he ceases the act, the spirit of faith returns to him." [BOOK=BOOK ON LEGAL PUNISHMENTS] كِتَابُ الْحُدُودِ

“Once abu Ja’far (a.s.) said, ‘O Muhammad ibn Muslim, if believing people repent for their sins they will be forgiven. Believing people must resume their good deeds after repentance and forgiveness. By Allah, this is only for the believers.’ I then asked, ‘What if he goes back to sin after repenting and asking for forgiveness and repents again?’ The Imam said, ‘O Muhammad ibn Muslim, do you think a believing servant (of Allah) regrets his sins, asks forgiveness and repents but Allah does not accept his repentance?’ I said, ‘He, however, has done it many times. He sins, repents and asks forgiveness (from Allah).’ The Imam said, ‘Whenever a believing servant (of Allah) returns back for repentance and pleas for forgiveness, Allah returns to him with forgiveness; Allah is forgiving and merciful. He accepts repentance and effaces the evil deeds. You must never cause a believer to lose hope in the favor and mercy of Allah.’”

“Abū ʿJaʿfar (a) said, ‘It used to be said: verily among the most beloved of the servants of Allah to Allah is the doer of good who repents often.’”

I heard him say: How beautiful are good deeds after sins! How ugly are sins after good deeds!

“Once I read the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, before one of the two Imam (a.s.) . . those who avoid the major sins and indecent acts except the al-Lamam ones . . (53:33) The Imam said, ‘It is a thing after a thing, that is, a sin after a sin that a servant (of Allah) commits.’”

“About the words of Allah, the Most Majestic, the Most Holy, ‘. . . one who has received advice from his Lord and has stopped committing sins will be rewarded for his previous good deeds . . .’ (2:275) The Imam said, ‘Advice means repentance.’”

As he was asked about the best servants, the Prophet (s) said: The best servants are those who become happy when they do a good deed, seek Allah’s forgiveness when they make a mistake, show gratitude when something is given to them, and pardon when they are enraged.

Imam Ja’far Sadiq (a.s.) was asked how a false testifier should repent. He replied, “The person should recompense the loss of wealth because of his false testimony. If the victim has lost one third of his wealth, it should be repaid. If he has lost half of his wealth, the same should be repaid and if the loss is due to testimony of two persons, they both should repay it together.”

During the time of the Messenger of Allah, O Allah, grant compensation to Muhammad and his family worthy of their services to Your cause, there were well-known prostitutes female and male. Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, has prohibited forming marriage contract with such men and women. Today people who become known as such or are convicted for fornication and punished (by the qualified court) are of the same status. No one must marry them unless it is known that they have repented.’”