Were it not that you commit sins..
Allah Almighty knows that His servants are not free from shortcomings and deficiencies. He created them this way so that His mercy, forgiveness, and acceptance of repentance can manifest amongst them. The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) is authentically reported to have said:
“If you were not to commit sins that Allah would forgive, Allah would replace you with people who would commit sins that He would forgive.”[Narrated by Muslim]In another Hadīth, the Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:“All human beings are sinners; the best sinners are those who constantly repent.”
[Narrated by Al-Tirmidhi; Sahīh (authentic)]
Allah Almighty praises the acceptance of His servants’ repentance, as He says:
{The forgiver of sin, acceptor of repentance, severe in punishment, owner of abundance. There is no deity except Him; to Him is the final return.}
[Surat Ghāfir: 3]
Allah Almighty wants His servants to know that He accepts repentance from them, regardless of how grave their sins may be:
{...Indeed, Allah forgives all sins...}
[Surat az-Zumar: 53]
In fact, Allah neither needs us nor does He need our worship. Nonetheless, He is so pleased when one of His servants repents to Him. What a Generous, Great, and Merciful Lord He is!
The Prophet (may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him) said:
“Indeed, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His believing servant than a man in a desert, who loses his mount carrying his food and drink. Then he sleeps and when he gets up, it is gone. So, he goes in search for it until he is stricken with thirst Then, he says to himself: ‘I will go back to the place where I was and sleep there until I die.’ He places his head upon his forearm waiting for death. And when he gets up, lo! There is before him his mount and his provision of food and drink onit. So, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His believing servant than this man is pleased with his mount and provision.”
[Narrated by Al-Bukhāri and Muslim]
Ibn Taymiyyah (may Allah have mercy upon him) said:“Anyone who repents is loved by Allah.”
{...Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves.}
[Surat al-Baqarah: 222]
So, the One Who is Merciful to His servants is worthy of receiving all the love and to be worshiped alone, without any partner. Mani festations of such love for Him should be apparent in devoting worship sincerely to Him and in drawing close to Him by obeying Him and loving whomever and whatever He loves and hating whomever and whatever He hates.
Bilāl ibn Sa‘d said: “You have a Lord Who does not hasten to punish anyone of you. He forgives sins, accepts repentance, draws near those coming to Him, and shows compassion to those turning away from Him.”
{And it is He Who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons misdeeds, and He knows what you do.}
[Surat ash-Shūra: 25]
