Question about atonement for sins in Shia islam

[Dubilex 10]

Assalamu aleykum wa rahmatullah barakat

 

In sunni islam, there are sunni hadiths out there saying things like, if you say 'subhan allah wa bihamdi' 100 times, your sins will be cleansed. Generally speaking, a lot of sunnis think that if you do some dua a couple of hundred times and give some money to zakat, your sins will go away, even if you've raped or killed someone, regardless of how grave your sins have been.

 

What's the view of atonement in Shia? If someone has murdered or raped, how does that offender repent? Would be grateful if someone could enlighten me

[Muhammad Al-Hurr 231]

If you have wronged someone you must ask for their forgiveness. For some sins, like murder and stealing, recompense is necessary. For murder:

And it does not behoove a believer to kill a believer except by mistake, and whoever kills a believer by mistake, he should free a believing slave, and blood-money should be paid to his people unless they remit it as alms; but if he be from a tribe hostile to you and he is a believer, the freeing of a believing slave (suffices), and if he is from a tribe between whom and you there is a convenant, the blood-money should be paid to his people along with the freeing of a believing slave; but he who cannot find (a slave) should fast for two months successively: a penance from Allah, and Allah is Knowing, Wise. [4:92]

Then you must sincerely ask Allah for forgiveness and you must intend to never commit the sin again. 

You can not just say a few du'a and expect major sins to be forgiven.

[randomly curious 230]

20 hours ago, Dubilex said:

 

 

What's the view of atonement in Shia? If someone has murdered or raped, how does that offender repent? Would be grateful if someone could enlighten me

The Holy Prophet (saws) said,

Complete repentance is repenting (one's) sins in the sense that when you commit a sin, you should ask for the Exalted God's forgiveness and never commit that sin again.

Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 407; Page No. 62

 

The Holy Prophet (saws) said,

He who repents is like unto a sinless person, and he who asks God for forgiveness but insists in committing sins is like unto the one who ridicules Him, and he who annoys Muslims is sinful to the extent of palm groves.

Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 881; Page No. 125

 

Imam Amir-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (asws) said,

Repentance stands on four pillars: remorse with the heart, asking for forgiveness with the tongue, work with the limbs, and resolve not to repeat [the offense].

Bihar al-Anwar, v. 78, p. 81, no. 74; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 787

 

Though, i feel the hadith above is sufficient to answer your question, however there are alot of hadith in our literature which says if we sincerely repent, Allah (عزّ وجلّ) will forgive all our sins Insha'Allah (عزّ وجلّ).

 

(Extract)

Rasool Allah (saws) turned towards the people and said, 

“If someone repents a year before his death, his repentance will be accepted. If a year is more, one who repents a month before his death, his repentance will be accepted. If a month is more, one who repents one Friday before his death, his repentance will be accepted. If one Friday is more, one who repents a day before his death, his repentance will be accepted. If a day is more, one who repents an hour before his death, his repentance will be accepted. If that is more, one who repents till his last breath (he pointed towards his neck), his repentance will be accepted.” 

 

Imam Ja'far Al-Saadiq (asws) said,

Imam Ja'far Al-Saadiq (asws) narrates from his predecessors that the Holy Prophet (saws) said,

"Allah gives abundant sustenance to whomsoever He desires. Similarly the mercy of Allah is spread far and wide for the sinners day and night waiting for the person to repent and be forgiven. The mercy of Allah waits at sunset for the people who committed sins during the day to repent and get themselves forgiven."

Sawab al-A`amal, Page 232

 

Rasool Allah (saws) said,

God's pleasure with a penitent person weighs over that of a thirsty man who arrives at water or a barren woman who begets a child or a loser who finds his lost one. Verily He will make the guardian angels, his limbs and all the points on the earth to forget the sins and faults of the one who repents and turns to God sincerely.

Nahj al Fasahah; Tradition No. 803; Page No. 114&115

 

Imam Ameer-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (asws) said,

Repentance purifies the hearts and washes away the sins.

Ghurar al-Hikam, no. 1355; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 784

 

Rasool Allah (saws) said,

There are four signs to the penitent person: honesty in his work for the sake of Allah, avoiding misdeeds, adhering to what is right, and eagerness for what is good

Tuhaf al-`Uqoul, no. 20; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 785

 

Imam Ameer-ul-Mu'mineen Ali (asws) said,

A man who is blessed with repentance will not be deprived of its acceptance, and a man who is blessed with seeking forgiveness will not be deprived of forgiveness

Bihar al-Anwar, v. 69, p. 410, no. 124; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 785

 

Imam Muhammad Al Baaqir (asws) said,

When the soul reaches this and pointed at the back of his throat there will not remain a chance to repent for the knowledgeable man, but there will remain a chance for the ignorant one

al-Kafi, v.2, p.440 no. 3; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 786

 

 

Again,

Imam Ali ibn Musa Al-Riza (asws) said,

Imam Ali ibn Musa Al-Riza (asws), when he was asked about the reason for Allah's drowning the Pharaoh after he believed in Him and attested to His oneness, replied, 'Because he believed after he saw the wrath [of Allah], and belief at such a time is not accepted".

Bihar al-Anwar, v. 6, p. 23, no. 25; Mizan ul Hikmah, page No. 786

Edited February 28 by randomly curious