What is meant by Tauba-e-Nasooha?

Question: The holy Ayat:

Yaa ayyohal ladeena aamanoo toobu iallaahe taubatan nasooha

“O you who believe! Turn to Allah a sincere turning.”[69]

There is a difference regarding this Ayat, explain its meaning with clarity.

Answer: In the dictionary the meaning of ‘Nasha’ is to “be clean-pure”. On that basis by ‘Tauba Nasooh’ is meant to that Tauba which is clean, that is pure from sin. And for such pure Tauba it is necessary that man should not return to that sin again. Many traditions narrated by Imams (‘a) also confirm and support this fact. For example according to a tradition, Imam Sadiq (‘a) was asked that what is meant by this Quranic Ayat. Imam (‘a) said:

The servant of Allah repents on his sin and does not return to the same again.[70]

In another tradition from Imam Hadi (‘a) it is related that he replied:

“Tauba-e-Nasooh” is this that while repenting for forgiveness man’s apparent (outward behavior) should be exactly to his inner feelings (inner self).[71]

Many other traditions are narrated on the subject and all of them support that “Tauba-e-Nasooh” means pure repentance in which there is no going to the sin again. And in which the man’s apparent self and the inner-self should be the same. His actions should conform to his intentions.

Notes:

[69] Surah Tahreem 66:8

[70] Usoole Kafi

[71] Ma-aniul-Akhbar