Th.K.T. asks, "Satan tempted me to commit the crime of Zina (premarital sexual intercourse and/or adultery). I know that it is a heinous crime and I want to return to Allah in repentance. Will Allah (Exalted be He) accept my repentance bearing in mind that I intended to commit it and then offer repentance? Is the door still open for me to repent?
A: Penitence is available for everyone till the sun rises from the west and whoever offers sincere repentance to Allah (Exalted be He) from Shirk (ascribing partners with Allah in worship) or sins other than it, Allah accepts his repentance.
The requirements of sincere repentance is giving up sins, regretting past sins, and having an ultimate resolution to abandon it forever out of fear of Allah (glory be to Him) and hoping for His Pardoning and Forgiveness. Allah (Exalted be He) says, O you who believe! Turn to Allâh with sincere repentance! Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful Allah (Glorified be He) also says: Say: "O 'Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh: verily, Allâh forgives all sins. Truly He is OftForgiving, Most Merciful. Scholars agreed that this Ayah (Qur'anic Verse) was revealed concerning those who are penitent.
In addition to the above conditions, a fourth condition is added; namely, returning the rights to their owners of people or seeking their pardon. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, Whoever wrongs his brother, let him ask for his pardon in this world as (in the Hereafter) there will be neither Dinar nor Dirham. (On the Day of Judgment), some of his (the wrongdoer's) good deeds will be taken (on the behalf of the wronged one) in proportion to his wrongdoing. If he has done no good deeds, some of the sins of his brother will be taken to be loaded on him. Related by AlBukhari in his Sahih (compilation of authentic Hadith).
A Muslim should beware of Shirk and its ways and all kinds of bad deeds for one may be afflicted with one of them then he may fail to offer repentance. Accordingly, one should avoid every forbidden matter and should ask Allah (Exalted be He) to protect him from sins. Moreover, one should not be tempted by Satanic insinuations and commit evil deeds with the intention of repenting from them. No doubt this is an illusion and temptation of the Satan to make one commit sins under the pretext of later returning to Allah (Exalted be He) in repentance and giving up the sin. Moreover, a servant of Allah may be punished by keeping him from repentance and he then regrets it deeply when regret will be of no use.
Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He) said, and fear none but Me. Allah (Glorified be He) also says: And Allâh warns you against Himself (His punishment) Allah (Glorified be He) also says: O mankind! Verily, the Promise of Allâh is true. So let not this present life deceive you, and let not the chief deceiver (Satan) deceive you about Allâh. Surely, Shaitân (Satan) is an enemy to you, so take (treat) him as an enemy. He only invites his Hizb (followers) that they may become the dwellers of the blazing Fire. There are many Ayahs (Qur'anic Verses) that stress this meaning. May Allah protect you from the evil of the self and the insinuations of Satan.