What does the Quran say about forgiveness?

The Quran says Allah forgives all sins for anyone who sincerely turns back to Him. It also asks believers to forgive other people, promising that those who pardon others will be forgiven themselves. Forgiveness flows both ways: from Allah to us, and from us to others.

Allah forgives all sins

This is often called the most hopeful verse in the Quran:

قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ "Say, 'O My servants who have transgressed against themselves, do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.'" Quran 39:53

Two of Allah's names, al-Ghafur (the Forgiving) and at-Tawwab (the Accepter of repentance), appear again and again. The Prophet ﷺ said Allah stretches out His hand at night to forgive those who sinned by day, and by day to forgive those who sinned by night (Sahih Muslim 2759). For converts, there's extra good news. See Are all my sins forgiven when I become Muslim?

How to seek Allah's forgiveness

The Quran describes repentance (tawbah) simply:

Regret what you did.
Stop the sin.
Intend not to return to it.
Put things right with people you wronged, where you can.

Allah promises that whoever does wrong and then asks forgiveness will find Him Forgiving and Merciful (Quran 4:110). Even if you slip again, the door stays open. See Will Allah forgive me if I keep committing the same sin?

Forgiving other people

The Quran praises those "who restrain anger and who pardon the people" (Quran 3:134). When Abu Bakr wanted to stop supporting a relative who had hurt his family, this verse came down:

وَلْيَعْفُوا۟ وَلْيَصْفَحُوٓا۟ ۗ أَلَا تُحِبُّونَ أَن يَغْفِرَ ٱللَّهُ لَكُمْ ۗ وَٱللَّهُ غَفُورٌ رَّحِيمٌ "And let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful." Quran 24:22

The logic is beautiful: if you want Allah to overlook your mistakes, overlook other people's.

Forgiveness is not weakness, and not an obligation to stay hurt

The Quran allows fair justice too: "the recompense for an evil is an evil like it, but whoever pardons and makes reconciliation, his reward is with Allah" (Quran 42:40). So forgiving is the higher path, but you're not required to let someone keep harming you. You can forgive and still keep healthy boundaries. See Do I have to forgive someone who abused me as a Muslim?

Key points

Allah forgives all sins for those who sincerely repent (Quran 39:53).
Repentance means regret, stopping, and intending not to return.
Pardoning others is a path to Allah's own forgiveness (Quran 24:22).
Forgiving doesn't mean accepting ongoing harm.

Tip: Say "Astaghfirullah" (I seek Allah's forgiveness) a few times after each prayer. It takes seconds and slowly makes turning back to Allah a daily habit instead of a crisis moment.

What does the Quran say about forgiveness?

Allah forgives all sins

How to seek Allah's forgiveness

Forgiving other people

Forgiveness is not weakness, and not an obligation to stay hurt

People also ask