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Fatwa CenterDoes One Need to Intend that Allah Conceals His Sins When Asking for Forgiveness?
Question
When asking for forgiveness during repentance do i have to intent that Allah conceals my sins too? Or just asking for forgiveness without intending for Allah to conceal my sin enough
Answer
All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad, sallallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam, is His slave and Messenger.
Forgiveness (Maghfirah) is the pardoning of a servant’s sin while concealing it. When a person asks Allah for forgiveness, they are requesting that Allah erase their sins and cover them so that they are not exposed. Ibn Juzayy 
mentioned in his exegesis, At-Tas’heel li ‘Ulum at-Tanzil, regarding Allah’s statement {Pardon us, forgive us, and have mercy upon us} [Qur’an 2:286]: “These terms have closely related meanings, but there are distinctions between them. ‘Afw (pardon) means to refrain from punishing for a sin, Maghfirah (forgiveness) includes both pardon and concealing the sin, while Rahmah (mercy) encompasses both along with granting additional blessings.”
Moreover, aside from what is explicitly stated in the wording of supplication, no further intention is required. Rather, sincerity and truthfulness are required, and one should supplicate with certainty of being answered, having good expectations of their Lord. One must also believe that Allah is the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful, and that no sin is too great for Him to forgive.
Finally, do not be affected by whispers and doubts in this matter or other matters, as indulging in them can lead to serious harm.
Allah knows best.
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