Expert: Dr. Hussein Labib - 2/5/2005

Question
asalamu alaikum,

i know that you can repent by repeating words like allahu akbar, subhanalah, etc... but is it possible to repent by reading quran or sharing food, ect?

For example if you make the intention of repenting and you say inside: "oh allah please forgive me for doing this and that..." and then start reading quran, can you expect that sin to go away?Can you earse sins by asking for forgiveness and then praying a sunah?

Is it true that everytime you do a good dead, a sin gets erased?
Thank you
ma 'asalama

Answer
 Salamu alaikom Kristina,repentance in arabic means "tawbah",it is a complex process,it is a mix of sorrow for doing sin,hope for this sin to be forgiven and cessation of doing such sin.this is the repentance,it does not relate to saying "Allah Akbar" or "subhan Allah",however such supplications and other good deeds are adding to the positive record and erasing the negative records.but repentance as I mentioned is some thing else.