Despair: The Harshest Weapon of Shaytan

Despair and arrogance are two traps of shaytan to hinder man from tawba and dua

Shaytan (devil) does not want human to make tawba

Devil tries two ways in order to hinder man from making tawba. He gives man the impression that he is sinless or that he has such an enormous amount of sin that they will never be forgiven.

One who doesn’t see his “sin” never asks for forgiveness

Devil hinders man from seeing his sin by imbuing him with thoughts like “how much sin can I have? I’m an extremely good person.” Or when he is face to face a problem, he always accuses the others and says”He is the guilty, not me. If he hadn’t behaved in so and so way, I wouldn’t do so.” A person who does not see and confess his mistake does not admit his sin and consider him to be impeccable. Such a person does never repent and ask for forgiveness. He is always conceited and arrogant. Thus, he falls in the trap of devil. One who admits his sin asks Allah for pardon; seeks refuge in Allah (swt) from the traps of devil. He asks Allah for help by making dua.

One who falls into despair because of the abundance of his sins does not ask for forgiveness

“Say: O My slaves who have been prodigal to their own hurt! Despair not of the mercy of Allah, Who forgiveth all sins. Lo! He is the Forgiving, the Merciful.” (Surah az- Zumer)
Regarding sins impossible to be forgiven is definitely a situation of despair. Despair is the harshest enemy, the most serious illness of man and the most dangerous weapon of devil. Devil paralyses man’s ability of worshipping with this weapon. A hopeless man assumes that whatever he does, no matter how much he worships and asks for pardon; Allah will never forgive him. He thinks: “My prayers and supplications are not appropriate for Allah. So I can’t ask Him for pardon with such big amounts of sins. I can’t ask Him anything.” Therefore, he even doesn’t make tawba. That’s how devil entraps him. And that’s exactly what devil wants. With giving up worship and supplication, he utterly submits shaitan. However, Allah, the Merciful (swt) declares in many verses and hadiths that He will accept repentances (tawbas) no matter how much sin he has.
“Even if your sins are about to reach the sky, if you made tawba, they will absolutely be forgiven.” (Kutub-I Sitta)

Allah (swt) wants to accept the repentances (tawbas)

When man determines to make tawba, a new misgiving and doubt surrounds his mind: will Allah accept his tawba or not? What if Allah (swt) does not accept his tawba?
Ayahs and verses relieve us of these doubts, encourage to tawba and herald the repentant.
“Allah wishes to accept your repentance…” (Surah an- Nisa, 27)
“And whosoever repenteth and doeth good, he verily repenteth toward Allah with true repentance “(Surah al-Furqan, 71)
“Allah (swt) opens His hand (of bounty and blessing) at night in order to accept the tawbas of them who commit sin in the morning. He (swt) opens His hand in the morning in order to accept them commit sin at night. This will continue until the sun rises from west.” (Muslim)

We should make tawba immediately

Tawba should be made in the closest time, without loss of time and should not be delayed. Lots of glad tidings are covenanted to those who repent and ask Allah for pardon.
“Repentance with Allah is only for those who do evil in ignorance, then turn (to Allah) soon, so these it is to whom Allah turns (mercifully), and Allah is ever Knowing, Wise." (Surah an- Nisa, 17)
“Mumin makes mistake, but right after He does make tawba.” (Tabarani)