Source: Fatāwā ad-Dīn al-Khāliṣ, Vol. 1, Pg. 121
If a person sincerely repents but later, under the influence of desire, disobeys again—and then sincerely repents once more—will his first sin be recorded or not? And is the popular claim true that sins are not recorded for four hours?
All praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
When a servant repents with sincerity, Allah ﷻ forgives his sins completely—as though they never occurred.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"التَّائِبُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ كَمَنْ لَا ذَنْبَ لَهُ"
(Sunan Ibn Mājah, Vol. 2, Pg. 418, Hadith 4250; Mishkāt, Vol. 1, Pg. 206 – Ḥasan chain)
Likewise, in another narration:
"Allah does not tire of accepting repentance, until you tire of repenting."
(Ṭabarānī – al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr & al-Awsaṭ – Ḥasan chain; Majmaʿ az-Zawā’id, Vol. 10, Pg. 200)
If a person repents sincerely, his previous sin is wiped away.
If he sins again afterward, it will be counted as a new sin.
And if he repents again, Allah will accept his repentance again.
“One who continues to seek forgiveness is not considered as one who persists in sin—even if he does so seventy times a day.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Vol. 1, Pg. 219 – Weak chain)
This widespread claim that the recording angel delays writing a sin for four hours has no basis in any authentic Hadith.
Yes, there are narrations indicating that the angel recording good deeds advises the other angel to delay writing the sin to allow time for repentance—but the specific timeframe of four hours is not authentically proven.
① After sincere repentance, the sin is completely wiped out.
② If one sins again, it is counted as a new sin.
③ Allah continues to accept sincere repentance repeatedly.
④ The claim that a sin is not recorded for four hours is not established by any authentic Hadith.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
❀ Question:
If a person sincerely repents but later, under the influence of desire, disobeys again—and then sincerely repents once more—will his first sin be recorded or not? And is the popular claim true that sins are not recorded for four hours?
✔ The Answer:
All praise is due to Allah, and blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah. To proceed:
✦ Sins Are Forgiven After Sincere Repentance
When a servant repents with sincerity, Allah ﷻ forgives his sins completely—as though they never occurred.
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ said:
"التَّائِبُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ كَمَنْ لَا ذَنْبَ لَهُ"
(Sunan Ibn Mājah, Vol. 2, Pg. 418, Hadith 4250; Mishkāt, Vol. 1, Pg. 206 – Ḥasan chain)
Likewise, in another narration:
"Allah does not tire of accepting repentance, until you tire of repenting."
(Ṭabarānī – al-Muʿjam al-Kabīr & al-Awsaṭ – Ḥasan chain; Majmaʿ az-Zawā’id, Vol. 10, Pg. 200)
✦ What If One Sins Again After Repentance?
If a person repents sincerely, his previous sin is wiped away.
If he sins again afterward, it will be counted as a new sin.
And if he repents again, Allah will accept his repentance again.
“One who continues to seek forgiveness is not considered as one who persists in sin—even if he does so seventy times a day.”
(Sunan Abī Dāwūd, Vol. 1, Pg. 219 – Weak chain)
✦ Is It True That a Sin Is Not Recorded for Four Hours?
This widespread claim that the recording angel delays writing a sin for four hours has no basis in any authentic Hadith.
Yes, there are narrations indicating that the angel recording good deeds advises the other angel to delay writing the sin to allow time for repentance—but the specific timeframe of four hours is not authentically proven.
❖ Summary:
① After sincere repentance, the sin is completely wiped out.
② If one sins again, it is counted as a new sin.
③ Allah continues to accept sincere repentance repeatedly.
④ The claim that a sin is not recorded for four hours is not established by any authentic Hadith.
وَاللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالصَّوَاب
