Will Allah forgive us for a sin that we commit knowing that it is haram?
The question of whether Allah will forgive a sin committed knowingly is addressed in both Sunni and Shia scholarship, and opinions differ based on interpretations of the Qur'an and hadith.
According to Sunni scholarship, as reflected in Tafsir Ibn Kathir, Allah's mercy is vast, and He has promised forgiveness to those who sincerely repent. The Qur'an states, Forgiveness is only incumbent on Allah toward those who do evil in ignorance (and) then turn quickly (in repentance) to Allah. These are they toward whom Allah relenteth.
4:17. Ibn Kathir elaborates that while Allah forgives sins, the act of knowingly committing a sin (especially shirk) without repentance can lead to severe consequences. However, sincere repentance can lead to forgiveness, as there are numerous hadiths affirming that Allah's mercy encompasses even great sins if one returns to Him in repentance. For instance, the Prophet ﷺ said: Allah forgives my nation for mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are compelled to do.
Sunan Ibn Majah 11:28.
On the other hand, Shia scholarship, as reflected in Majma al-Bayan, emphasizes the importance of repentance and Allah's mercy as well. It is noted that Allah may forgive whomever He wills, and the details of His forgiveness are often left ambiguous to maintain a balance between hope and fear among believers. Additionally, Al-Kafi narrates that a believer who commits a sin while being aware of it may still find mercy if they repent, as long as they remain in a state of fear and regret regarding their actions. Repentance and seeking forgiveness are crucial, and Allah's mercy is vast enough to encompass those who sincerely turn back to Him.
In summary, while both Sunni and Shia traditions emphasize Allah's capacity for forgiveness, they also underscore the importance of sincere repentance, especially for sins committed knowingly. For a ruling that applies to your specific situation, consult a qualified local scholar.
Sources
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4:17 · An-Nisaa
4:17 · Muhammad Marmaduke Pickthall
إِنَّمَا ٱلتَّوْبَةُ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ لِلَّذِينَ يَعْمَلُونَ ٱلسُّوٓءَ بِجَهَٰلَةٍۢ ثُمَّ يَتُوبُونَ مِن قَرِيبٍۢ فَأُو۟لَٰٓئِكَ يَتُوبُ ٱللَّهُ عَلَيْهِمْ ۗ وَكَانَ ٱللَّهُ عَلِيمًا حَكِيمًۭا
Forgiveness is only incumbent on Allah toward those who do evil in ignorance (and) then turn quickly (in repentance) to Allah. These are they toward whom Allah relenteth. Allah is ever Knower, Wise.
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Tafsir Ibn Kathir on 4:17
Tafsir Ibn Kathir · 4:17
Allah, the Exalted, says: Indeed, Allah accepts the repentance only from those who commit evil out of ignorance, then repent soon after — even if it is before he sees the Angel [of death] take the soul, before that final moment of the throat tightening and the soul's ascent. Mujahid and others said: Anyone who disobeys Allah, whether by mistake or deliberately, is considered ignorant until he removes himself from the sin. Qatada, citing Abu al-Aliyah, reported that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ used to say: Every sin a servant commits is due to ignorance. Ibn Jarir transmitted this. Abd al-Razzaq related from Ma'mar, from Qatada, that the Companions agreed that all acts of disobedience to Allah are due to ignorance, whether intentional or otherwise. Ibn Jurayj mentioned from Ibn Kathir, from Mujahid: Every person who commits an act of disobedience to Allah is in ignorance at the time of doing so. Ibn Jurayj added that Ata ibn Abi Rabah said similarly. Abu Salih reported from Ibn Abbas: It is from a person's ignorance that he commits wrong. Ali ibn Abi Talha narrated from Ibn Abbas regarding the phrase “then repent soon”: He said this means the time between the sin and the moment one faces the Angel of death. Al-Dahhak said, anything before death is considered near. Qatada and al-Suddi said it is as long as a person remains in good health. This is also reported from Ibn Abbas. Al-Hasan al-Basri said regarding “then repent soon”: It means before the breath is about to be expelled. Ikrimah said: All of this world is considered near (to death). Regarding hadith on this topic: Imam Ahmad reported from Ali ibn 'Ayash and 'Isam ibn Khalid, who narrated from Ibn Thawban, from his father, from Mak'hul, from Jubayr ibn Nufayr, from Ibn Umar, from the Prophet ﷺ, who said: "Allah accepts the repentance of a servant as long as he has not yet gargled." This hadith is also reported by al-Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah from the chain of 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Thabit ibn Thawban, who said it is authentic though rare. There is a note about a mistaken narrator in Ibn Majah's version, but the correct is Ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab. Another hadith from Ibn Umar: Abu Bakr ibn Mardawaih narrated from Muhammad ibn Ma'mar, from 'Abd Allah ibn al-Hasan al-Khurasani, from Yahya ibn 'Abd Allah al-Babilti, from Ayyub ibn Nahik al-Halabi, who heard Ata ibn Abi Rabah say: I heard Ibn 'Umar say that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "No believing servant repents within a month before his death except that Allah accepts his repentance; and less than that, and even a day or an hour before his death — Allah knows of his sincerity and accepts his repentance." Another hadith narrated by Abu Dawud al-Tayalisi: Shu'bah related from Ibrahim ibn Maymun, who related from a man called Ayyub from Abd Allah ibn 'Umar: Whoever repents a year before death, his repentance is accepted; if a month before death, accepted; if a Friday before death, accepted; if a day before death, accepted; if an hour before death, accepted. When asked about the verse, the man said he is only conveying what he heard from the Prophet ﷺ. This report is transmitted in various collections. Another hadith Imam Ahmad reported from Hussein ibn Muhammad, from Muhammad ibn Matraf, from Zayd ibn Aslam, from Abd al-Rahman ibn al-Bailmani: Four companions of the Prophet ﷺ gathered and each reported hearing the Prophet say: (each giving a slightly different time frame) that Allah accepts the repentance of a servant before death, whether a day, half a day, morning, or a time before the soul departs. The final statement is: Allah accepts the servant's repentance as long as he has not gargled with his soul. This hadith was also transmitted by Sa'id ibn Mansur from al-Darawardi. Another hadith from Abu Bakr ibn Mardawaih from Ishaq ibn Ibrahim ibn Zayd, from Imran ibn 'Abd al-Rahim, from 'Uthman ibn al-Haytham, from 'Awf, from Abu Hurayrah: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Allah accepts the repentance of His servant as long as he has not gargled (with the soul passing)." There are also mursal (interrupted) reports: Ibn Jarir narrated from Ibn Bashshar, from Ibn Abi 'Adi, from 'Awf, from al-Hasan, that he heard the Prophet ﷺ say: "Allah accepts the repentance of His servant as long as he hasn't gargled." This is considered a good mursal report. Also, Ibn Jarir reported from Ibn Bashshar, from Mu'adh ibn Hisham, from his father, from Qatada, from Alaa ibn Ziyad, from Abu Ayyub Bashir ibn Ka'b: The Prophet ﷺ said: "Allah accepts the repentance of His servant as long as he has not gargled." And from Ibn Bashshar, from Abd al-A'la, from Sa'id, from Qatada, from 'Ubadah ibn al-Samit, that the Prophet ﷺ said similar words. Another narration related by Ibn Jarir from Ibn Bashshar, from Abu Dawud, from Imran, from Qatada: They were with Anas ibn Malik when Abu Qilabah said: When Allah cursed Iblis, He asked for respite and said: By Your Might and Majesty, I will not leave the heart of the son of Adam as long as the soul remains there. Allah replied: By My Might and Majesty, I will not prevent his repentance as long as the soul remains. This is found in a marfu‘ (prophetic) hadith in Imam Ahmad's Musnad through two chains from Abu Sa'id. The Prophet ﷺ said that Iblis said: "By Your Might, I will continue to mislead them as long as their souls remain in their bodies." Allah said: "By My Might and Majesty, I will continue to forgive them as long as they ask for forgiveness." These hadiths indicate that whoever repents to Allah while still hoping for life, his repentance is accepted. Therefore Allah said: "They are the ones whom Allah accepts their repentance; and Allah is Knowing and Wise." As for when hopelessness occurs—when death is near, when the Angel is seen, when the soul is compressed in the throat, when tightness reaches the throat, and the soul starts its ascent through the windpipe—then repentance will not be accepted at that time, and no escape exists. Hence, Allah says: "And repentance is not for those who commit evil deeds until when death approaches one of them, he says, 'Indeed, I repent now.'" This is like the verse: "Then when they see Our punishment, they say, 'We believe in Allah alone and disbelieve in what we used to associate with Him.' But their faith did not benefit them when they saw Our punishment." Similarly, Allah judges that the people on earth who see the sun rising from the west will not be accepted in their repentance: "The Day when some of the signs of your Lord will come — no soul will benefit from its faith unless it had believed before or earned righteousness through its faith." Regarding the statement: "And not those who die while they are disbelievers," this means that a disbeliever who dies upon disbelief and polytheism is not benefited by his regret or repentance; none of it is accepted from him, not even a ransom equal to the entirety of the earth in gold. Ibn Abbas, Abu al-Aliyah, and al-Rabi' ibn Anas said: This verse was revealed concerning the polytheists. Imam Ahmad narrated from Sulayman ibn Dawud, from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Thabit ibn Thawban, from his father, from Mak'hul, that 'Umar ibn Nu'aym narrated from Usamah ibn Salman, from Abu Dhar: The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: "Indeed, Allah accepts the repentance of His servant, or forgives His servant, as long as the barrier has not occurred." It was asked what the barrier is. He said: "The soul departing while still associating partners with Allah (shirk)." Therefore, Allah said: "Those — for them We have prepared a painful punishment." Meaning, a severe and lasting torment.
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Sunan Ibn Majah 11:28
Sunan Ibn Majah · Book 11, Hadith 28 · Narrated by Abu Dharr al-Ghifari
The Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: Allah forgives my nation for mistakes, forgetfulness, and what they are compelled to do.
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