How do I atone for my sin?

Dear Hadi,

Dear Reader,

Dear Reader,

Thank you very much for your question.  We applaud you for wanting to correct this small mistake of taking a book from your madrasa. 

Your question raises an important issue for all concerned Muslims, which is how to atone for small sins.  To rephrase the question in more legalistic terms: Is there a kaffara (expiation) that one must do for small mistakes or minor sins?

Certainly, we all know that there are certain prescribed punishments for some of the major sins, and the general view among scholars is that that punishment, if it is coupled with tawba (repentance), on the part of the sinner, serves as an expiation of those sins.  Among the sins for which there are specific prescribed punishments are things like major sexual sins, accusing others of sexual sins without four witnesses, murder, and major theft.

Other smaller things also have explicitly prescribed atonements, such as zihar (an old Arab insult where a man would divorce his wife by telling her she was as unlawful to him as his own mother’s back), and breaking an oath.

However, the majority of small infractions do not have prescribed punishments or specific prescribed atonements, and the question becomes how do we purify ourselves of those sins?

The only clear answer is to trust in God’s mercy.  I am sure that we would all agree that if we were to try to take account of all the mistakes we make in a day, from backbiting and gossiping to telling white lies, and trying to find actions to specifically atone for each of those, that would be an all-encompassing endeavor that would leave time for little else.  Therefore, the general opinion (and God knows best) is that there is no specific prescription for the smaller sins, and that their expiation is a general three-step process that melds well with the life of the Muslim:

1. Tawba, which is repentance that entails a sense of regret over the mistake we made and an intention or resolve to try our best not to make that mistake again
2. Avoidance of the major sins.  Out of God’s mercy, the Quran tells us that if we avoid the major sins, then Allah SWT, out of His beneficence will take care of expunging out minor sins:  “If you avoid the major sins forbidden to you, We will absolve you of your lesser misdeeds and admit you into a place of honor.” (Quran 4:31)
3. Doing the general good deeds that Islam prescribes such as the prayers, observing Friday prayer, and being conscientious in things like the wudu.  This can be seen in the following hadith of the Prophet (pbuh):  “The five daily prayers, from one Jumu`ah to the next, and from one Ramadan to the next, are an expiation for whatever (sins) come in between, so long as one avoids major sins.” Sahih Muslim

Therefore, our answer to you regarding your specific question, as well as to ourselves and our readers, is:  Don’t sweat the small stuff.  This advice may sound shockingly cavalier, but that is not the spirit in which it is meant.  We do not at all mean that you should go ahead and commit any small sins you want with impudence.  What we mean is that Allah SWT knows that we will not be able to avoid those small sins in our lives, and so He SWT has set up a system built on mercy, that if we practice istighfar (seeking forgiveness) and avoid the major sins, Allah SWT will take care of expiating the small sins in recompense.

We end with the Quran: 

“Those who avoid the major sins and immoralities, only committing slight ones, Indeed, your Lord is vast in forgiveness.” (Quran 53:32).

In peace.