Allah SWT favors those who repent sincerely. In Islamic teachings, sincere repentance (taubat nasuha) carries profound meaning as honest remorse that cleanses past sins. This article explains the evidence and conditions of repentance based on the Quran, hadith, and scholars' interpretations.
Allah SWT favors those who repent, as highlighted in Islamic teachings. Imam Nawawi al-Bantani in his book Nashaih al-Ibad narrates a hadith from Abu Abbas stating, "Allah is more pleased with the repentance of a servant who repents than a thirsty person finding water, or a barren person having a child, or someone who lost something and finds it. Thus, whoever repents to Allah with sincere repentance, Allah will make the angels guarding him, his body parts, and the earth he treads forget his sins and mistakes."
The evidence for sincere repentance is in Surah at-Tahrim verse 8, where Allah says, "O you who believe, repent to Allah with sincere repentance." Ibnu Katsir in Tafsir al-Qur'an al-'Azhim explains that sincere repentance is honest, based on strong determination, erases past evils, and lifts the repentant from humiliation.
The book Riyadh as-Shalihin outlines conditions for repentance from sins solely against Allah: first, stop the sin; second, feel regret; third, intend never to repeat it. If it involves human rights, add seeking pardon from the wronged party.
The Prophet Muhammad SAW taught to follow evil with good to erase the evil. As in the hadith from Abdullah bin Umar, "Allah accepts a servant's repentance as long as his soul has not reached his throat." Humans can always return to Allah's light, no matter how dark their past.