Why You Struggle to Believe Allah Can Forgive You

One of the greatest blocks to experiencing Allah’s mercy is our inability to forgive ourselves.

We carry so much guilt. So much shame. We replay our past. We overanalyse our mistakes. We wonder, “How could I have done that?” or “What was I thinking?” and we spiral into self-blame and self-judgement. We beat ourselves up and hold ourselves hostage to who we once were.

And in doing so, we start to believe that Allah must see us the same way.

But He doesn’t.

You see, we struggle to accept His forgiveness because we haven’t learned how to offer ourselves forgiveness.

We think that if we’re still ashamed of something, it means we’re sincere. That if we feel bad enough, it means we’re being responsible.

But the truth is, accountability and self-punishment are not the same.

Yes, take responsibility.

Yes, reflect and make amends where you need to.

Yes, strive to become better.

But do not shackle yourself to who you were.

Do not let your guilt become heavier than hope.

Allah’s mercy is far greater than your sins.

His forgiveness is not like ours. He does not remind you of what you did. He does not hold it over your head. He does not shame you or throw it back at you when you fall again.

We do that to ourselves.

And that’s what we need to unlearn.

You are allowed to heal. You are allowed to grow. You are allowed to say, “That was a part of my story, but it is not the whole of me.”

You are allowed to forgive yourself — not so that you can become complacent and careless, but so that you can become sincere and consistent.

Not so that you can excuse your choices, but so that you can rise from them.

Not so that you keep repeating them, but so that you know that when you fall, Allah will always be there when you turn back to Him.

Don’t close the door that Allah Himself has left wide open.

Forgive yourself as you strive to change.

Forgive yourself as you return to Him again and again.

Forgive yourself not because you’re perfect, but because you know your Lord is the Most Merciful, the Most Forgiving, the One who loves to forgive.

That love is real. That mercy is real.

Let it in.