What is sincere repentance?

In reality, there are three necessary conditions for sincere repentance. If these conditions are not met then it will not be deemed sincere repentance. What are these three conditions? Let us hear about them:

1.   Remorse over the past (i.e. feeling shame over the sin one has committed)

2.   Leaving the sin (i.e. when repenting, abandonment of that sin should also be found)

3.   A firm intention to not commit the sin in the future. (Minh-ul-Raud Al-Azhar, p. 436)

A’la Hadrat Maulana Imam Ahmad Raza Khan رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه states, ‘Sincere repentance is for one to consider the sin, which was disobedience to Allah Almighty, to be disobedience to Allah Almighty whilst feeling remorse and concern, and to leave it immediately, and make a firm intention with a sincere heart to not approach that sin again; he should employ whichever method he has in order to do away with it.’ (Fatawa Razawiyyah, vol. 21, p. 121, derived from)

The repentance for every sin is not the same

Dear Islamic brothers! Remember! The repentance for every sin is not the same; there are some sins which must be rectified, for example, if one missed Salah, did not keep the fasts of Ramadan, did not pay his Fard Zakat, did not perform Hajj despite it being Fard, then repenting from them entails that that one makes up his Salah, pay his Zakat, perform Hajj and seek forgiveness for his mistake in the court of Allah Almighty, with regret and shame.

Similarly, if one has committed sins with his ears, eyes, tongue, stomach, hands, feet or other limbs, which are linked with the rights of Allah Almighty, like not covering properly, touching the Quran without Wudu, listening to songs, etc., then repenting from these entails that he acknowledges his sins in the court of Allah Almighty, shows regret