Page 27 - Quick Grasp of Faith 3

15. Does Allah accept the repentance of a
dying person?

Allah reveals that He will accept repentance, but not at
the time of death. Even so, every person has the chance to re-
pent while still alive, for Allah sets no limits on what may be
forgiven. Even the worst crimes or the most irreligious acts
can be forgiven if the person’s repentance is sincere, if he or
she proves this sincerity by abandoning such activities and
becoming a devoted servant of Allah, and if Allah wills to
accept it. However, Allah says the following about those
people who do not find it necessary to repent of a long life of
unbelief and turn to Him until they find themselves on the
point of death and the fear of death overtakes them:
There is no repentance for people who persist in doing
evil until death comes to them and who then say: "Now I
repent," nor for people who die as unbelievers. We have
prepared for them a painful punishment. (Surat an-
Nisa’, 18)

16. Can one seek forgiveness for another?
It is always possible for a person to ask that other believ-
ers be forgiven, regardless of what they have done. The
Qur’an mentions that the believers pray to Allah for all be-
lievers to be forgiven and for mercy. Since they know that
only those with whom Allah is well pleased will be safe-
guarded from Hell’s punishment and will earn Paradise,
they desire the wrongdoings of other believers, as well as
their own, to be forgiven. Allah’s command in this matter is
expressed as follows:

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