Tawbah Is Not Only for Sinners

Shaykh Wahid Abdussalam Bali points to a verse — there, Allah called out “O you who believe,” not “O sinners.”

How the Question Comes

People think tawbah is only for those who commit sins. For someone who prays salah, fasts, and doesn't get involved in anything bad — what is there to repent for?

Shaykh Bali says this very idea is not right. Sinner or righteous, obedient or disobedient — everyone needs tawbah.

As proof, he cites the verse in which Allah is addressing the entire community of believers. He did not say “O transgressors,” and He did not say “O sinners.”

Then what is the obedient person to repent of? Right here, the Shaykh's answer shakes you to the core.

The Shaykh's Answer

Tawbah means — admitting the fault, leaving it, and resolving never to return to it. This is exactly what the verse calls the path to success.

The Shaykh says tawbah is not only from sins — but also from our own shortcomings. The blessings are countless, and our gratitude is so little; we must return from this ingratitude too.

The Prophet ﷺ would seek istighfar right after finishing salah. The scholars say — the awareness of the shortcomings that remain even in worship is what led him to seek forgiveness.

The evidence — the call was addressed to the believers

وَتُوبُوٓا۟ إِلَى ٱللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ ٱلْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ

And tell the believing women to reduce [some] of their vision and guard their private parts and not expose their adornment except that which [necessarily] appears thereof and to wrap [a portion of] their headcovers over their chests and not expose their adornment [i.e., beauty] except to their husbands, their fathers, their husbands' fathers, their sons, their husbands' sons, their brothers, their brothers' sons, their sisters' sons, their women, that which their right hands possess [i.e., slaves], or those male attendants having no physical desire, or children who are not yet aware of the private aspects of women. And let them not stamp their feet to make known what they conceal of their adornment. And turn to Allāh in repentance, all of you, O believers, that you might succeed. (Surah An-Noor 24:31 — Saheeh International; meaning of the complete verse)Copy

وَمَن يَعْمَلْ سُوٓءًا أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُۥ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ ٱللَّهَ يَجِدِ ٱللَّهَ غَفُورًۭا رَّحِيمًۭا

And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allāh will find Allāh Forgiving and Merciful. (Surah An-Nisaa 4:110 — Saheeh International)Copy

What to Do

1. Every now and then, pause and look at your state — am I on the path, or have I drifted away?
2. Admit the mistake, leave it, and make a firm decision never to return to it.
3. Not only for sins — ask forgiveness also for falling short in thanking Allah for His blessings.
4. Make it a habit to say istighfar after salah, so that even the shortcomings in your worship may be covered.

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Source: Based on a talk by Shaykh Wahid Abdussalam Bali

Translation and compilation: Raqi Faisal Ahmed Sabit — Al Qur'an Ruqyah Healing Center