Major Sins & Sincere Repentance (7)

CHAPTER TWO: CONT'D

OTHER MAJOR SINS

     So far we have discussed sins which are committed only by non-Muslims. Actually, the above two or three types of sins are what make one a Muslim or a non-Muslim.

     The following are some of the major sins which are committed by both Muslims and non-Muslims. It is not surprising to see that all people, whether they are people of the Book, Hindus or Buddhists, disapprove a majority of these sins, either on religious or moral grounds. Our concern, however, is what the Muslims can do for repentance, after committing these sins.

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Committing Murder

     As we have seen, the first murder was committed by one of Adam's sons killing the other out of jealousy. As a result of this murder, Allah said in Su'rat Al-Ma'idah (Chapter 5 in Verse32), "Because of that, We ordained for the Children of Israel that if anyone killed a person not in retaliation of murder, or (and) to spread mischief in the land — it would be as if he killed all mankind, and if anyone saved a life, it would be as if he saved the life of all mankind. And indeed, there came to them Our Messengers with clear proofs, evidences and signs, even then after that many of them continued to exceed the limits (e.g. by doing oppression unjustly and exceeding beyond the limits set by Allah by committing the major sins) in the land! (32)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

مِنۡ أَجۡلِ ذَٲلِكَ ڪَتَبۡنَا عَلَىٰ بَنِىٓ إِسۡرَٲٓءِيلَ أَنَّهُ ۥ مَن قَتَلَ نَفۡسَۢا بِغَيۡرِ نَفۡسٍ أَوۡ فَسَادٍ۬ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ فَڪَأَنَّمَا قَتَلَ ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعً۬ا وَمَنۡ أَحۡيَاهَا فَڪَأَنَّمَآ أَحۡيَا ٱلنَّاسَ جَمِيعً۬ا‌ۚ وَلَقَدۡ جَآءَتۡهُمۡ رُسُلُنَا بِٱلۡبَيِّنَـٰتِ ثُمَّ إِنَّ كَثِيرً۬ا مِّنۡهُم بَعۡدَ ذَٲلِكَ فِى ٱلۡأَرۡضِ لَمُسۡرِفُونَ (32)

     It also says in Su'rat Al-Ana'm (Chapter 6 Verse 151), "----------------, and kill not anyone whom Allah has forbidden, except for just cause (according to Islamic law). This He has commanded you that you may understand (151)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

وَلَا تَقۡتُلُواْ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ‌ۚ ذَٲلِكُمۡ وَصَّٮٰكُم بِهِۦ لَعَلَّكُمۡ تَعۡقِلُونَ 151))

     This means that human life which has been declared inviolable by God must not be destroyed except on just cause. The following is a brief explanation of the circumstances which people can be justifiably killed (the just cause) — the first three cases are from the Holy Qur'an and the other two are from the Hadith (Prophet's Traditions):-

1.     That man is convicted of deliberate homicide and thus the claim of retaliation is established against him - (Life for life).

2.     That someone resists the establishment of the true faith so that fighting against him might become necessary.

3.     That someone is guilty of spreading disorder in the domain of Islam and strives to overthrow the Islamic order of government.

     The Hadith, as narrated by Abdullah, Allah's blessings be with him, says: "The Prophet, peace be on him, said: ‘The blood of a Muslim, who confesses that La’ ila'ha ill-Allah (none has the right to be worshipped but Allah) and that I am the Messenger of Allah, cannot be shed except in three cases (note the first case is repeated from the Qur'an):

1.     Life for life (Already mentioned in the Qur'an).

2.      A married person who commits illegal sexual intercourse.

3.     The one who deserts Islam (apostate) and leaves the group of Muslims (by innovating heresy, new ideas and new things etc. in the Islamic religion).

     Except for these five reasons, slaying a human being is not permissible, regardless of whether he is a believer, a protected non-Muslim or an ordinary unbeliever. Anyone, therefore, who kills a human being for reasons other than those five mentioned above, will in fact, be committing murder or homicide in the sight of Allah.

     Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, said in his last sermon at Mina on the Day of Sacrifice during the Last Pilgrimage, ‘You must never revert to infidelity after my death and cut off one another's heads.‘

Repentance of Murder

     Allah says in Su'rat An-Nisa (Chapter 4 Verse 92, "It is not for a believer to kill a believer except (that it be) by mistake; and whosoever kills a believer by mistake, (it is ordained that) he must set free a believing slave and a compensation (blood money, i.e. Diya) be given to the deceased's family unless they remit it. If the deceased belonged to a people at war with you and he was a believer, the freeing of a believing slave (is prescribed); and if he belonged to a people with whom you have a treaty of mutual alliance, compensation (blood money — Diya) must be paid to his family, and a believing slave must be freed. And whoso finds this (the penance of freeing a slave) beyond his means, he must fast for two consecutive months in order to seek repentance from Allah. And Allah is Ever All-Knowing, All-Wise" (92). (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

وَمَا كَانَ لِمُؤۡمِنٍ أَن يَقۡتُلَ مُؤۡمِنًا إِلَّا خَطَـًٔ۬ا‌ۚ وَمَن قَتَلَ مُؤۡمِنًا خَطَـًٔ۬ا فَتَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَةٍ۬ وَدِيَةٌ۬ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦۤ إِلَّآ أَن يَصَّدَّقُواْ‌ۚ فَإِن كَانَ مِن قَوۡمٍ عَدُوٍّ۬ لَّكُمۡ وَهُوَ مُؤۡمِنٌ۬ فَتَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَةٍ۬‌ۖ وَإِن ڪَانَ مِن قَوۡمِۭ بَيۡنَڪُمۡ وَبَيۡنَهُم مِّيثَـٰقٌ۬ فَدِيَةٌ۬ مُّسَلَّمَةٌ إِلَىٰٓ أَهۡلِهِۦ وَتَحۡرِيرُ رَقَبَةٍ۬ مُّؤۡمِنَةٍ۬‌ۖ فَمَن لَّمۡ يَجِدۡ فَصِيَامُ شَهۡرَيۡنِ مُتَتَابِعَيۡنِ تَوۡبَةً۬ مِّنَ ٱللَّهِ‌ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَڪِيمً۬ا (92) 

  

     The above verse from the Qur'an teaches us repentance of killing someone unintentionally; such as killing someone in a car accident, accidentally killing one while hunting or killing a Muslim in war. As we have seen earlier, anyone who kills someone intentionally (cold- blood murder), if caught or if he himself confessed the crime, his punishment and 'Taubah' and (perhaps 'forgiveness') is nothing less than a death sentence for him (i.e. life for life). There are, however, other cases of killing for a reason, such as in self-defence or out of uncontrollable anger or 'sharaf') i.e. when your honour is compromised in marriage). The judges may decide on a lesser punishment in this case and forgiveness rests entirely on Allah Who very well Understands your motives. If, on the other hand, someone committed murder and was never exposed, but sincerely repented of his sin later-on in life, he may have to go through the same steps mentioned in the above verse 92 in Su‘rat An-Nisa. (And Allah Knows best), in addition to sincere repentance as explained in Chapter Three.

     The degree of graveness of committing murder is second only to disbelief. Apart from doing wrong (Dhulm) to the one you killed, this wrong may be extended to his or her dependants as well. In case the murderer wants to repent by asking forgiveness from, or paying compensation money (Diya) to those who are affected by the murderer's action, it will only be possible to approach the dependants, since the murdered person would be already dead.

     Some scholars say that if you cannot acquire forgiveness from one you have wronged, either for the non- practicality of it, (death, fear of causing anger, etc.), then God will take away some of your good deeds on the Day of Judgement in order to compensate the wronged one. Whatever will remain of your good deeds will determine then, whether you go to Paradise or Hell. This also applies to sleeping with someone's wife or husband unlawfully, consuming the property of other people such as orphans, taking interest or gambling or any other offence which affect a second person.

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Committing Suicide

     Committing suicide is certainly the worst case of killing, because man has been taught to value life and to protect it as a gift from Allah. Killing a human being is a terrible sin, but committing suicide is even worse. Besides, once you are dead you cannot repent after that! Allah forbids killing and says in the Holy Qur'an, Su'rat An-Nisan’ (Chapter 4 Verse 29-30), “----. And do not kill yourselves (nor kill one another). Surely, Allah is Most-Merciful to you (29). And whoever commits that through aggression and injustice, We shall cast him into the Fire, and that is easy for Allah (30)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for—Word).

وَلَا تَقۡتُلُوٓاْ أَنفُسَكُمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ كَانَ بِكُمۡ رَحِيمً۬ا (29) وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٲلِكَ عُدۡوَٲنً۬ا وَظُلۡمً۬ا فَسَوۡفَ نُصۡلِيهِ نَارً۬ا‌ۚ وَڪَانَ ذَٲلِكَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ يَسِيرًا (30)

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Adultery

     Let us take the case of unlawful sexual intercourse in its various degrees. This act is hostile to a good social order and is, no doubt, a major sin. In some cases the sin becomes even graver. For instance, it is more serious if committed by one who is married (male or female), than by one who is unmarried. Again to commit this act with one's sister, daughter or mother (incest) is far more abominable than with others. Moreover, committing such a sinful act in places of worship is also very grave!

     It says in Su'rat Al-Isra (Chapter 17 Verse 32), "And come not near to unlawful sex. Verily, it is a Fa'hisha and an evil way (32)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

وَلَا تَقۡرَبُواْ ٱلزِّنَىٰٓ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ كَانَ فَـٰحِشَةً۬ وَسَآءَ سَبِيلاً۬ (32)

Individuals are required not only to shun fornication, but also to strictly stay away from all temptations that lead to it. There are, however some pagan societies which have no restriction on fornication. Thus, while some societies prohibit fornication purely on moral basis, the pagan tribes seem to be so ignorant and backward that they possess no moral values whatsoever!

Repentance of Adultery

     There has been absolute awareness among human beings from very early times that adultery is morally wrong, religiously sinful, socially unacceptable and on the whole, condemnable.

     Like all other cases of committing sin, repentance, as discussed below, is purely for Muslims. In the case of non-believers, their repentance is of no avail unless they convert to Islam first; in which case, all their past sins will be pardoned. Su'rat An-Nisaa’ (Chapter 4 Verses 15-18) says, "And those of your women who commit illegal sexual intercourse, take the evidence of four witnesses from amongst you against them; and if they testify, confine them (i.e. women) to houses until death comes to them or Allah ordains for them some (other) way (15). And the two persons (man and woman) among you, who commit illegal sexual intercourse, hurt them both. And if they repent (promise Allah that they will never repeat, i.e. commit illegal sexual intercourse and other similar sins) and do righteous good deeds, leave them alone. Surely, Allah is Ever All-Forgiving (the One Who forgives and accepts repentance), (and He is) Most-Merciful (16). Allah accepts only the repentance of those who do evil in ignorance and repent soon afterwards; it is they whom Allah will forgive and Allah is Ever All Knower, All-Wise (17). And of no effect is the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds until death faces one of them and he says: ‘Now l repent‘; nor of those who die while they are disbelievers. For them We have prepared a painful torment (18)." (Study the Noble Qur'an —Word-for-Word).

وَٱلَّـٰتِى يَأۡتِينَ ٱلۡفَـٰحِشَةَ مِن نِّسَآٮِٕڪُمۡ فَٱسۡتَشۡہِدُواْ عَلَيۡهِنَّ أَرۡبَعَةً۬ مِّنڪُمۡ‌ۖ فَإِن شَہِدُواْ فَأَمۡسِكُوهُنَّ فِى ٱلۡبُيُوتِ حَتَّىٰ يَتَوَفَّٮٰهُنَّ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ أَوۡ يَجۡعَلَ ٱللَّهُ لَهُنَّ سَبِيلاً۬ (15) وَٱلَّذَانِ يَأۡتِيَـٰنِهَا مِنڪُمۡ فَـَٔاذُوهُمَا‌ۖ فَإِن تَابَا وَأَصۡلَحَا فَأَعۡرِضُواْ عَنۡهُمَآ‌ۗ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ ڪَانَ تَوَّابً۬ا رَّحِيمًا (16) إِنَّمَا ٱلتَّوۡبَةُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِجَهَـٰلَةٍ۬ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍ۬ فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيۡہِمۡ‌ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَڪِيمً۬ا (17) وَلَيۡسَتِ ٱلتَّوۡبَةُ لِلَّذِينَ يَعۡمَلُونَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِ حَتَّىٰٓ إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ ٱلۡمَوۡتُ قَالَ إِنِّى تُبۡتُ ٱلۡـَٔـٰنَ وَلَا ٱلَّذِينَ يَمُوتُونَ وَهُمۡ ڪُفَّارٌ‌ۚ أُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ أَعۡتَدۡنَا لَهُمۡ عَذَابًا أَلِيمً۬ا (18)

     The punishment for committing adultery, at first, was only to confine the women to their houses and to punish both sinners (male and female) until they repent and mend their ways. Later, the Qur'an specifies in Su'rat An-Nu'r (Chapter 24 Verse 2) that both male and female should be whipped a hundred lashes. It says, "The fornicatress and the fornicator flog each one of them with hundred stripes. Let not pity withhold you in their case, in a punishment prescribed by Allah, if you believe in Allah and the Last Day. And let a party of the believers witness their punishment(2)  ".Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

ٱلزَّانِيَةُ وَٱلزَّانِى فَٱجۡلِدُواْ كُلَّ وَٲحِدٍ۬ مِّنۡہُمَا مِاْئَةَ جَلۡدَةٍ۬‌ۖ وَلَا تَأۡخُذۡكُم بِہِمَا رَأۡفَةٌ۬ فِى دِينِ ٱللَّهِ إِن كُنتُمۡ تُؤۡمِنُونَ بِٱللَّهِ وَٱلۡيَوۡمِ ٱلۡأَخِرِ‌ۖ وَلۡيَشۡہَدۡ عَذَابَہُمَا طَآٮِٕفَةٌ۬ مِّنَ ٱلۡمُؤۡمِنِينَ (2)

     The scholars say that the above punishment of a hundred lashes is exclusively for fornicators who have never been married. If a person has ever been married before committing this sin, he or she is to be punished by stoning to death. This is established by the following Tradition of the Prophet, peace be on him:-

     "Abdullah ibn Umar reported that a Jew and a Jewess were brought to Allah's Messenger (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) who had committed adultery. Allah's Messenger came to the Jews and said: What do you find in Torah for one that commits adultery? They said: We darken their faces and make them ride on a donkey with their faces turned to the opposite direction (and their backs touching each other) and then they are taken round the (city). He said: Bring the Torah if you are truthful. They brought it and recited it until when they came to the verse pertaining to stoning; the person who was reading placed his hand on the verse and what was subsequent to that. Abdullah ibn Salam, who was present at the time with the Messenger of Allah, peace be on him, said: Command him (the reciter) to lift his hand. He lifted his hand and there was, underneath that, the verse pertaining to stoning. Allah's Messenger pronounced judgment on both of them and they were stoned. Abdullah ibn Umar said: I was one of those who stoned them, and I saw him (the Jew) protecting her with his body" - (Muslim).

     Adultery or Zina is one of the most serious among major sins. Allah says in Su’rat Al-Furqan (Chapter 25 Verses 68-70), "And those who invoke not any other ila'h (god) along with Allah, nor kill such person as Allah has forbidden, except for just cause, nor commit illegal sexual intercourse, and whoever does this shall receive the punishment (70)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word- for-Word).

وَٱلَّذِينَ لَا يَدۡعُونَ مَعَ ٱللَّهِ إِلَـٰهًا ءَاخَرَ وَلَا يَقۡتُلُونَ ٱلنَّفۡسَ ٱلَّتِى حَرَّمَ ٱللَّهُ إِلَّا بِٱلۡحَقِّ وَلَا يَزۡنُونَ‌ۚ وَمَن يَفۡعَلۡ ذَٲلِكَ يَلۡقَ أَثَامً۬ا (68) يُضَـٰعَفۡ لَهُ ٱلۡعَذَابُ يَوۡمَ ٱلۡقِيَـٰمَةِ وَيَخۡلُدۡ فِيهِۦ مُهَانًا (69) إِلَّا مَن تَابَ وَءَامَنَ وَعَمِلَ عَمَلاً۬ صَـٰلِحً۬ا فَأُوْلَـٰٓٮِٕكَ يُبَدِّلُ ٱللَّهُ سَيِّـَٔاتِهِمۡ حَسَنَـٰتٍ۬‌ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ غَفُورً۬ا رَّحِيمً۬ا (70)

     Let me come back once again to the question of stoning and lashing for adultery and fornication. Before the punishment can be carried out, it is essential that the two adulterers are caught ‘red-handed‘. Yet, this is not sufficient evidence for the punishment to be executed. It is required by the Sharia Law that four Muslims bear witness that they have actually seen the head of the man's genital organ disappearing into the woman's private part. (As you can imagine, this is very difficult indeed!). Alternatively, the two sinners must admit the sin themselves to the authorities. In the majority of cases the person is neither caught nor admits his sin in front of the law. In our present society, unfortunately, even if one appears before the court with four witnesses, it is not likely that the required punishment will be carried out. Moreover, if a person has committed adultery with another person's wife or husband, it is most unlikely that that person will have the courage to approach the authorities or the wronged one for forgiveness. In fact, such a step may cause adverse effect between the married couple. This, according to some scholars, is not what Islam would prefer. Sometimes it may not be possible to even contact the offended person for apologies on reasons such as death or failure to find the whereabouts due to various reasons.

     In all these cases, one has no choice but to pray to Allah for forgiveness. Indeed, it will be wrong for one to assume in disparity that he is doomed as there is nothing he can do to undo the harm; or worse still, to give up hope for God's Mercy and continue the sinful ways in the wrong assumption that it makes no difference to discontinue committing the undesired. In fact, despairing of God's Mercy is in itself one of the major sins in Islam; for God is Ever Merciful, Ever Forgiving. Remember, Allah tells us in Su'rat Az-Zumar (Chapter 39 Verse 53), "Say, ‘O iba’di (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most-Merciful (53)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

قُلۡ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسۡرَفُواْ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمۡ لَا تَقۡنَطُواْ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا‌ۚ إِنَّهُ ۥ هُوَ ٱلۡغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ (53(

     Allah also says in Su'rat Yusuf (Chapter 12 Verse 87),"..... and never give up hope of Allah's Mercy. Certainly no one despairs of Allah's Mercy, except the people who disbelieve" (87). (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

وَلَا تَاْيۡـَٔسُواْ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِ‌ۖ إِنَّهُ ۥ لَا يَاْيۡـَٔسُ مِن رَّوۡحِ ٱللَّهِ إِلَّا ٱلۡقَوۡمُ ٱلۡكَـٰفِرُونَ ((87

     He also says in Su'rat Al-Hijr (Chapter 15 Verse 56), [Ibrahim (Abraham)] said: “And who despairs of the Mercy of his Lord except those who are astray?" (56). (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for-Word).

وَمَن يَقۡنَطُ مِن رَّحۡمَةِ رَبِّهِۦۤ إِلَّا ٱلضَّآلُّونَ (56)

     Remember, repentance breeds good deeds, whilst sinning (without repentance) causes deprivation of obedience altogether. It has been said that committing sins regularly will darken and harden the heart and make purifying it once again a difficult task. It may even lead a person to reject Allah completely (Allah forbid) or lead him to commit a bigger sin. There is no recourse for a sinner except to ask for forgiveness and to feel great regret for his actions.

     The principle is that, a sincere believer who truly hopes for Allah's Mercy should not look at whether the sin is major or minor, or whether it carries an extreme punishment or not. It was reported that the Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "There is no major sin if one asks forgiveness, and there is no minor sin if one persists in repeating it."

     The question of wronging people either financially, physically or morally, no doubt, is the most difficult with regard to obtaining Allah's Mercy. But any Muslim must never give up hope, for Allah is Most Merciful, Most-Forgiving.

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Homosexuality

Recently we have heard of incidents of legalizing gay marriages by some governments! This does not mean that any religion is approving this most abominable sin. In fact, it simply demonstrates that their society is drifting further and further away from religious faith of any kind and is becoming more and more immoral! These sinners are not any different from the people of Lot whose fate is well documented in both the Bible and the Qur'an. There is consensus among Muslims that homosexuality is a major sin, which Allah has prohibited in the following verses, Su'rat As-Shura (Chapter 26 Verses 165-166), "Of all the creatures in the world, do you approach males (165), and leave those whom Allah created for you as your mates? But, rather, you are transgressorsl (166). (Study the Noble Qur'an —Word-for~Word).

أَتَأۡتُونَ ٱلذُّكۡرَانَ مِنَ ٱلۡعَـٰلَمِينَ (165) وَتَذَرُونَ مَا خَلَقَ لَكُمۡ رَبُّكُم مِّنۡ أَزۡوَٲجِكُم‌ۚ بَلۡ أَنتُمۡ قَوۡمٌ عَادُونَ (166)

     Prophet Muhammad was quoted as saying, "God, Who is Glorious, will not look at a man who has intercourse with a man or a woman through the anus" (Tirmidhi).

     Homosexuality, no doubt, includes lesbianism. The Prophet, peace be upon him said, "Lesbianism is Zina (fornication or adultery) between women. Abu Huraira, Allah's blessings be upon him, reported Allah's Messenger as saying, "Four types of people awake under Allah's anger and go to bed under His displeasure". He was asked, "Who are they, O Messenger of Allah!" He replied, "Men who imitate women, women who imitate men, those who have sex with animals and men who have sex with men."

Repentance of Homosexuality

The Holy Quran is silent with regard to the method of repentance of homosexuality. According to the following Hadith, however, the punishment for sodomy is death, whether the two involved are married or unmarried. The Prophet, peace be upon him, said, "Whomsoever you find committing the act of sodomy, kill them, both the active and the passive partners." (Abu Dawood, Tirmidhi and lbn Majah — authenticated sahih by Al- Albani, Arwaa' ul-Ghaleel 2350).

     In order to repent of the sin, it is obligatory for both the active and passive partners to repent to Allah urgently, passionately and sincerely; for no worse combination of punishments was sent by Allah as the ones in the case of the people of Lot, who committed this most abominable sin. The combination of punishments was as follows:-

·        They were blinded and left groping, as Allah said, "fa tamasna a'ayoonohum" (i.e. blinded them).

·        A thunderous cry (as-sayha) (tore their hearts).

·        Their homes were turned upside down.

·        Allah rained upon them a storm of stones of baked clay prepared specifically for them and destroyed them completely.

     As we said earlier, in case one is not punished by stoning, since this is not likely to happen in majority of countries in the world, one is left with no choice other than to repent whole- heartedly and stay away from all sorts of temptations. One should also perform many good deeds, as good deeds abrogate the bad ones. One should never despair, for Allah the Most Exalted and Glorified said in Su'rat AI-Tawba (Chapter 9 Verse 102), "There are others who have confessed their faults. They mixed their good deeds with evil ones. It is likely that Allah will turn to them in mercy, for Allah is All-Forgiving, Ever-Merciful (102)." (Study the Noble Qur'an — Word-for—Word).

وَءَاخَرُونَ ٱعۡتَرَفُواْ بِذُنُوبِہِمۡ خَلَطُواْ عَمَلاً۬ صَـٰلِحً۬ا وَءَاخَرَ سَيِّئًا عَسَى ٱللَّهُ أَن يَتُوبَ عَلَيۡہِمۡ‌ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورٌ۬ رَّحِيمٌ (102)

Reference:

Major Sins & Sincere Repentance, by Abdullah Amor Al-Marhuby, pg: 105-123.