I keep repenting and then committing the same sin again. Is my repentance useless?

The short answer

No, keep repenting. The Prophet ﷺ described a servant who sinned, repented, sinned again and repented again, and each time Allah forgave him. What Allah asks is that your repentance be sincere each time, that you truly try, and that you never give up on returning to Him. The real danger is not falling; it is deciding to stop getting up.

Evidence 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Explanation

A common whisper goes, "You'll only do it again, so why bother repenting?" The Sunnah answers it directly.

The Prophet ﷺ said: a servant commits a sin and says, "O my Lord! I have sinned, please forgive me!" and Allah says, "My slave has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for it, I therefore have forgiven my slave". The servant then sins again, and repents again, and is forgiven again, and a third time as well 1. Allah loves that you keep coming back.

The Prophet ﷺ even said that if people did not sin, Allah would replace them with people who would sin and then seek His forgiveness, and He would forgive them 2. Allah "loves those who are constantly repentant" 3.

But be sincere. Allah praises those who seek forgiveness "and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know" 4. Sincere repentance means that in the moment you repent, you genuinely regret it and intend not to return, even if you later slip. Repenting while planning the next sin is not the same thing.

Break the cycle with good deeds. "Good deeds do away with misdeeds" 5. The Prophet ﷺ advised, "follow an evil deed with a good one to wipe it out" 6. After a slip, repent, then do something good straight away: pray, give charity, help someone.

Take it seriously, but don't despair. The Companion Ibn Mas'ud (RA) said a believer sees his sins as a mountain about to fall on him, while a wicked person sees them like flies passing over his nose 7. Feeling heavy about your sin is a good sign. Turn that heaviness into action: remove triggers, change company, block what needs blocking, and ask for help. If a habit feels out of your control, as with an addiction, a counsellor or support group is also a way of taking the means.

Every time you return, you are doing exactly what Allah asked. Keep going.

The evidence

  1. 1
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 7507
    Sahih Bukhari

    A servant sins and repents repeatedly, and each time Allah forgives him.

    Narrated Abu Huraira:I heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "If somebody commits a sin and then says, 'O my Lord! I have sinned, please forgive me!' and his Lord says, 'My slave has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for it, I therefore have forgiven my slave (his sins).' Then he remains without committing any sin for a while and then again commits another sin and says, 'O my Lord, I have committed another sin, please forgive me,' and Allah says, 'My slave has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for it, I therefore have forgiven my slave (his sin). Then he remains without Committing any another sin for a while and then commits another sin (for the third time) and says, 'O my Lord, I have committed another sin, please forgive me,' and Allah says, 'My slave has known that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for it I therefore have forgiven My slave (his sin), he can do whatever he likes

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ إِسْحَاقَ، حَدَّثَنَا عَمْرُو بْنُ عَاصِمٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَمَّامٌ، حَدَّثَنَا إِسْحَاقُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنَ أَبِي عَمْرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ أَبَا هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم قَالَ ‏ "‏ إِنَّ عَبْدًا أَصَابَ ذَنْبًا ـ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ أَذْنَبَ ذَنْبًا ـ فَقَالَ رَبِّ أَذْنَبْتُ ـ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ أَصَبْتُ ـ فَاغْفِرْ لِي فَقَالَ رَبُّهُ أَعَلِمَ عَبْدِي أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِهِ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي‏.‏ ثُمَّ مَكَثَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، ثُمَّ أَصَابَ ذَنْبًا أَوْ أَذْنَبَ ذَنْبًا، فَقَالَ رَبِّ أَذْنَبْتُ ـ أَوْ أَصَبْتُ ـ آخَرَ فَاغْفِرْهُ‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَعَلِمَ عَبْدِي أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِهِ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي، ثُمَّ مَكَثَ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ ثُمَّ أَذْنَبَ ذَنْبًا ـ وَرُبَّمَا قَالَ أَصَابَ ذَنْبًا ـ قَالَ قَالَ رَبِّ أَصَبْتُ ـ أَوْ أَذْنَبْتُ ـ آخَرَ فَاغْفِرْهُ لِي‏.‏ فَقَالَ أَعَلِمَ عَبْدِي أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِهِ غَفَرْتُ لِعَبْدِي ـ ثَلاَثًا ـ فَلْيَعْمَلْ مَا شَاءَ ‏"‏‏.‏

  2. 2
    Hadith Sahih Muslim 2749
    Sahih Muslim

    If you did not sin, Allah would bring people who sin, seek forgiveness and are forgiven.

    Abu Huraira reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) having said:By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace (you by) those people who would commit sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنِي مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ رَافِعٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّزَّاقِ، أَخْبَرَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنْ جَعْفَرٍ الْجَزَرِيِّ، عَنْ يَزِيدَ بْنِ الأَصَمِّ، عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ، قَالَ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ وَالَّذِي نَفْسِي بِيَدِهِ لَوْ لَمْ تُذْنِبُوا لَذَهَبَ اللَّهُ بِكُمْ وَلَجَاءَ بِقَوْمٍ يُذْنِبُونَ فَيَسْتَغْفِرُونَ اللَّهَ فَيَغْفِرُ لَهُمْ ‏"‏ ‏.‏

  3. 3
    Quran Al-Baqara · 2:222

    Allah loves those who are constantly repentant.

    وَيَسۡـَٔلُونَكَ عَنِ ٱلۡمَحِيضِۖ قُلۡ هُوَ أَذࣰ ى فَٱعۡتَزِلُواْ ٱلنِّسَآءَ فِي ٱلۡمَحِيضِ وَلَا تَقۡرَبُوهُنَّ حَتَّىٰ يَطۡهُرۡنَۖ فَإِذَا تَطَهَّرۡنَ فَأۡتُوهُنَّ مِنۡ حَيۡثُ أَمَرَكُمُ ٱللَّهُۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يُحِبُّ ٱلتَّوَّٰبِينَ وَيُحِبُّ ٱلۡمُتَطَهِّرِينَ ۝٢٢٢

    And they ask you about menstruation. Say, "It is harm, so keep away from wives during menstruation. And do not approach them until they are pure. And when they have purified themselves, then come to them from where Allah has ordained for you. Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves

  4. 4
    Quran Aal-i-Imraan · 3:135–136

    Those who seek forgiveness and do not knowingly persist in sin are rewarded with forgiveness.

    وَٱلَّذِينَ إِذَا فَعَلُواْ فَٰحِشَةً أَوۡ ظَلَمُوٓاْ أَنفُسَهُمۡ ذَكَرُواْ ٱللَّهَ فَٱسۡتَغۡفَرُواْ لِذُنُوبِهِمۡ وَمَن يَغۡفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ إِلَّا ٱللَّهُ وَلَمۡ يُصِرُّواْ عَلَىٰ مَا فَعَلُواْ وَهُمۡ يَعۡلَمُونَ ۝١٣٥ أُوْلَٰٓئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُم مَّغۡفِرَةࣱ مِّن رَّبِّهِمۡ وَجَنَّٰتࣱ تَجۡرِي مِن تَحۡتِهَا ٱلۡأَنۡهَٰرُ خَٰلِدِينَ فِيهَاۚ وَنِعۡمَ أَجۡرُ ٱلۡعَٰمِلِينَ ۝١٣٦

    135 And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves [by transgression], remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah? - and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know 136 Those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow [in Paradise], wherein they will abide eternally; and excellent is the reward of the [righteous] workers

  5. 5
    Quran Hud · 11:114

    Good deeds do away with misdeeds.

    وَأَقِمِ ٱلصَّلَوٰةَ طَرَفَيِ ٱلنَّهَارِ وَزُلَفࣰ ا مِّنَ ٱلَّيۡلِۚ إِنَّ ٱلۡحَسَنَٰتِ يُذۡهِبۡنَ ٱلسَّيِّـَٔاتِۚ ذَٰلِكَ ذِكۡرَىٰ لِلذَّٰكِرِينَ ۝١١٤

    And establish prayer at the two ends of the day and at the approach of the night. Indeed, good deeds do away with misdeeds. That is a reminder for those who remember

  6. 6
    Hadith Jami' at-Tirmidhi 1987
    Hasan graded by Al-Albani

    Follow an evil deed with a good one to wipe it out, and treat people with good character.

    Abu Dharr said:"The Messenger of Allah said to me: 'Have Taqwa of Allah wherever you are, and follow an evil deed with a good one to wipe it out, and treat the people with good behavior

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ بَشَّارٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ بْنُ مَهْدِيٍّ، حَدَّثَنَا سُفْيَانُ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ مَيْمُونِ بْنِ أَبِي شَبِيبٍ، عَنْ أَبِي ذَرٍّ، قَالَ قَالَ لِي رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم ‏ "‏ اتَّقِ اللَّهَ حَيْثُمَا كُنْتَ وَأَتْبِعِ السَّيِّئَةَ الْحَسَنَةَ تَمْحُهَا وَخَالِقِ النَّاسَ بِخُلُقٍ حَسَنٍ ‏"‏ ‏.‏ قَالَ وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي هُرَيْرَةَ ‏.‏ قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ حَسَنٌ صَحِيحٌ ‏.‏ حَدَّثَنَا مَحْمُودُ بْنُ غَيْلاَنَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو أَحْمَدَ، وَأَبُو نُعَيْمٍ عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ حَبِيبٍ، بِهَذَا الإِسْنَادِ نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ مَحْمُودٌ حَدَّثَنَا وَكِيعٌ، عَنْ سُفْيَانَ، عَنْ حَبِيبِ بْنِ أَبِي ثَابِتٍ، عَنْ مَيْمُونِ بْنِ أَبِي شَبِيبٍ، عَنْ مُعَاذِ بْنِ جَبَلٍ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَحْوَهُ ‏.‏ قَالَ مَحْمُودٌ وَالصَّحِيحُ حَدِيثُ أَبِي ذَرٍّ ‏.‏

  7. 7
    Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari 6308
    Sahih Bukhari

    Ibn Mas'ud said a believer sees his sins like a mountain about to fall on him; a wicked person sees them like passing flies.

    Narrated Al-Harith bin Suwaid:`Abdullah bin Mas`ud related to us two narrations: One from the Prophet (ﷺ) and the other from himself, saying: A believer sees his sins as if he were sitting under a mountain which, he is afraid, may fall on him; whereas the wicked person considers his sins as flies passing over his nose and he just drives them away like this." Abu Shihab (the sub-narrator) moved his hand over his nose in illustration. (Ibn Mas`ud added): Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) said, "Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a man who encamps at a place where his life is jeopardized, but he has his riding beast carrying his food and water. He then rests his head and sleeps for a short while and wakes to find his riding beast gone. (He starts looking for it) and suffers from severe heat and thirst or what Allah wished (him to suffer from). He then says, 'I will go back to my place.' He returns and sleeps again, and then (getting up), he raises his head to find his riding beast standing beside him

    العربية

    حَدَّثَنَا أَحْمَدُ بْنُ يُونُسَ، حَدَّثَنَا أَبُو شِهَابٍ، عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ، عَنْ عُمَارَةَ بْنِ عُمَيْرٍ، عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، حَدِيثَيْنِ أَحَدُهُمَا عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم وَالآخَرُ عَنْ نَفْسِهِ، قَالَ ‏"‏ إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يَرَى ذُنُوبَهُ كَأَنَّهُ قَاعِدٌ تَحْتَ جَبَلٍ يَخَافُ أَنْ يَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ، وَإِنَّ الْفَاجِرَ يَرَى ذُنُوبَهُ كَذُبَابٍ مَرَّ عَلَى أَنْفِهِ ‏"‏‏.‏ فَقَالَ بِهِ هَكَذَا قَالَ أَبُو شِهَابٍ بِيَدِهِ فَوْقَ أَنْفِهِ‏.‏ ثُمَّ قَالَ ‏"‏ لَلَّهُ أَفْرَحُ بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ مِنْ رَجُلٍ نَزَلَ مَنْزِلاً، وَبِهِ مَهْلَكَةٌ، وَمَعَهُ رَاحِلَتُهُ عَلَيْهَا طَعَامُهُ وَشَرَابُهُ، فَوَضَعَ رَأْسَهُ فَنَامَ نَوْمَةً، فَاسْتَيْقَظَ وَقَدْ ذَهَبَتْ رَاحِلَتُهُ، حَتَّى اشْتَدَّ عَلَيْهِ الْحَرُّ وَالْعَطَشُ أَوْ مَا شَاءَ اللَّهُ، قَالَ أَرْجِعُ إِلَى مَكَانِي‏.‏ فَرَجَعَ فَنَامَ نَوْمَةً، ثُمَّ رَفَعَ رَأْسَهُ، فَإِذَا رَاحِلَتُهُ عِنْدَهُ ‏"‏‏.‏ تَابَعَهُ أَبُو عَوَانَةَ وَجَرِيرٌ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ‏.‏ وَقَالَ أَبُو أُسَامَةَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ حَدَّثَنَا عُمَارَةُ سَمِعْتُ الْحَارِثَ‏.‏ وَقَالَ شُعْبَةُ وَأَبُو مُسْلِمٍ عَنِ الأَعْمَشِ عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ‏.‏ وَقَالَ أَبُو مُعَاوِيَةَ حَدَّثَنَا الأَعْمَشُ عَنْ عُمَارَةَ عَنِ الأَسْوَدِ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ وَعَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ التَّيْمِيِّ عَنِ الْحَارِثِ بْنِ سُوَيْدٍ عَنْ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ‏.‏

This answer was compiled with the help of AI, using only the verified texts shown here. Every reference links to its source. If you find a mistake, please report it. Updated 2026-09-24

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