Although Shaitan (Satan) is man's sworn enemy [1] and it is making its utmost efforts to lead man towards sins and evil actions and to create a gap between him and God, God loves His servants even the sinners and He wants them to be guided and prosperous. [2] It is possible that sinning and disobeying divine commands might create a gap between the sinner and God, however man can remove the evil effects of the sins through real and genuine repentance. He should submit himself to God and He will forgive his faults altogether. He will show him His mercy and will not abandon him.

The point that you should take notice of is that if we are saying that God loves all His servants including the sinners, it does not necessarily imply that God loves evil deeds and the evil doers in an absolute way. [3] Rather, it means that God welcomes all those who have realized their mistakes and all those who regret over their sins and seek repentance. Truly, God loves and forgives the sins of those people who return to God and repent. The Quran says: "إِنَّ اللَّهَ یُحِبُّ التَّوَّابینَ وَ یُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرینَ" Surely Allah loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves.

Therefore, no sinner under any circumstances should despair of God's mercy even though he might have committed a lot of sins. God Himself says in the Quran: Say: "0 my servants! who have acted extravagantly against their own souls, do not despair of the mercy of Allah; surely Allah forgives the faults altogether, surely He is the Forgiving, the Merciful" [4] Despair of God's mercy and forgiveness amounts to suspicion and mistrust which is one of great sins. The bigger a person's sin is, the greater would be the divine mercy.

It is to be mentioned that as we know, the supplications which have been passed on to us from the infallible Imams (a) are replete with the affectionate message of Allah to His servants telling them that if they regret over their sins and repent, God shall forgive their sins. Read the following two examples:

* "... وَ إِنْ کُنْتَ لَا تُکْرِمُ إِلَّا أَهْلَ الْإِحْسَانِ فَکَیْفَ یَصْنَعُ الْمُسِیئُونَ وَ إِنْ کَانَ لَا یَفُوزُ یَوْمَ الْحَشْرِ إِلَّا الْمُتَّقُونَ فَبِمَنْ یَسْتَغِیثُ الْمُذْنِبُون ...‏" [5]

O' God, if your favors and grace are to reach only the good doers, then what should the evil doers do?[Whom should they seek refuge in?] And if on the Day of Resurrection, only the pious ones are given protection, then whom the sinners should turn to for help?

* "إِلَهِی إِنْ کُنْتَ لَا تَرْحَمُ إِلَّا أَهْلَ طَاعَتِکَ فَإِلَى مَنْ یَفْزَعُ الْمُذْنِبُونَ وَ إِنْ کُنْتَ لَا تُکْرِمُ إِلَّا أَهْلَ وَفَائِکَ فَبِمَنْ یَسْتَغِیثُ الْمُسِیئُون ... " [6]

"My God, if you show mercy only to those who are obedient, then to whom should sinners turn for help? And if your favors reach only those who are devoted and faithful, then whose help should the evil doers seek?"

Related links:

Repentance from Sins and Becoming Dear to God, 12833 (Site: 13662) .

Repentance from Sins and Acceptance of Acts of Worship, 11808 (site: 13658) .