KUALA LUMPUR - Many Muslims carry a heavy weight of guilt, even after seeking forgiveness from Allah SWT. This makes it important to be reminded of Allah’s boundless mercy and the spiritual harm that comes from doubting His forgiveness.
Famous Zimbabwean Islamic scholar Mufti Menk said Allah SWT has explicitly said in the Quran never to despair of His mercy.
"Many people doubt whether they are truly forgiven, saying that they do not think they were forgiven. But on what basis? When Allah SWT explicitly told us in the Quran never to despair of His mercy, how can we allow ourselves to fall into such hopelessness?
"To think that His mercy does not apply to you, even after seeking forgiveness, is a direct contradiction to Allah’s own words. He reminds us not to lose hope, for He will forgive all sins.
"Allah is indeed the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful," he said.
He said this during a faith conference entitled "Serene Soul: When Desires Meet Divine Orders" held at the Bank Rakyat Twin Towers, here on Saturday.
He warned that such despair can be spiritually damaging and emotionally burdensome.
Menk whose real name is Ismail Musa Menk said the forgiveness of Allah SWT comes swiftly to those who sincerely repent.
However, it was recognised that people often ask for forgiveness repeatedly, not due to doubt, but out of humility and a yearning to grow closer to their Creator.
"When we seek forgiveness from Allah SWT for a sin, we are forgiven the first time, immediately. But sometimes, when the memory of that sin returns, we may seek forgiveness again.
"This is not because we doubt Allah’s forgiveness. It's because we feel ashamed of what we did and want to draw closer to Him," he said.
He also pointed out that repeatedly turning to Allah was a sign of a healthy, growing spiritual relationship, one that enhanced taqwa (God-consciousness) and strengthened a person’s faith.
Menk also spoke about the heavy toll that excessive guilt can take on one's mental well-being and spiritual health.
He said some people would spiral into doubts about the validity of their worship or feel unworthy of praying at all.
"People begin to question whether their wudu (ablution) is valid, whether their prayers were accepted or whether they were even worthy of worship. Some reach a point where they say they are not fit to pray. This is a dangerous path.
"Even after committing major sins like consuming alcohol or other intoxicants, you are still required to pray. Abandoning prayers makes things worse, because prayer is one of the pillars of Islam.
"On the other hand, continuing to pray is a sign of repentance and a step towards healing," he said.
Menk’s message centred on balance, hope and trust in divine wisdom.
"When that is your intention, know that Allah has forgiven you.
"Do not allow yourself to dwell in doubt. Instead, move forward with renewed hope, gratitude and a firm resolve to improve. That is the path of the believer," he added.
Meanwhile, the conference, organised by Faith Events, served as a meaningful space for attendees to reconnect with their faith and reflect on life’s bigger purpose.
"This gathering is more than just an event, it is a sacred space for spiritual renewal. A moment to pause, listen with intention and reflect with sincerity.
"May every step taken to attend be counted as an act of worship and may every moment here draw us closer to the One who knows our souls best," said its founder Khairul Amar Razali.
CIMB Islamic chief executive officer Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff, shared that the bank which is in its second year partnering with Faith Events said this year, they were focusing on one major event which ran for two days featuring three international Islamic scholars.
Last year, he said there were five events held with global speakers and 12,500 attendees.
"At CIMB Islamic, our role extends beyond organising events. We aim to support customers in both their financial and spiritual growth by encouraging reflection, core values and uplifting others," he said.
He also shared that the invited scholars for the "Serene Soul: When Desires Meet Divine Orders" conference, including Mufti Menk, brought diverse global perspectives especially from non-Muslim majority countries which offered fresh and valuable insights into practising faith within Malaysia’s multicultural society.