Narrated Ibn ‘Abbas رضي الله عنهما : Some pagans who committed murders in
great number and committed illegal sexual intercourse excessively, came to
Muhammad صلى
الله عليه وسلم
and said: ‘O Muhammad! Whatever you say, and invite people to, is good, but we
wish if you could inform us whether we can
make an expiation for our (past evil) deeds.” So the Divine verses came: “Those
who invoke not with Allah any other god, nor kill such person as Allah
forbidden except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse.”(V. 25:68)”…
Except those who repent…” (V. 25:70).*
And there was also revealed: “Say: O My slaves who have
transgressed against their ownselves! (by committing sins), despair not of the
Mercy of Allah.” (V. 39:53).* (Sahīh Al-Bukhârī, Vol. 6, Hadīth No. 334)
Al-Hilâlī & Muhsin Khân Translation, p. 487 (under footnote), The Noble Qur’ân
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Note: Added for the benefit of New Muslim
*Complete ayah of Sûrah 25: Al-Furqân verse 70
۞ إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلًا صَالِحًا فَأُولَٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللَّهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ ۗ وَكَانَ اللَّهُ غَفُورًا رَّحِيمًا (70)
70. Except those who
repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allâh will change their sins
into good deeds, and Allâh is
Ever Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
*Sûrah 39: Az-Zumar verse 53
۞ قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ (53)
53. Say: “O ‘Ibâdi (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 Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.
