The root of tawba is tāba, "to turn": the servant's return to God, and God's acceptance of him.
A sincere return
- "Turn to God in sincere repentance (tawbatan naṣūḥā)." (66:8)
- "Do not despair of God's mercy; God forgives all sins." (39:53)
- For the one who believes and turns, God "turns evil deeds into good ones." (25:70)
The condition: time
- "Acceptance is for those who do wrong in ignorance and then repent soon after." (4:17)
- "Not for those who say 'now I repent' when death comes, nor those who die as deniers." (4:18)
God loves the repentant
- "God loves those who turn to Him and those who purify themselves." (2:222)
The door stays open until the last breath — but repentance is not to be postponed.
Source: Qur'anic verses (M. Okuyan meal). Presented with a text/interpretation distinction.