All around the world, people who do not believe in Allah frequently experience feelings of regret throughout their lives. Because they don’t realize that everything in this worldly life has been created with wisdom, goodness, and as a form of education, they suffer deep inner distress whenever they encounter difficulties or make mistakes. Yet the most important truth they fail to remember is that a far greater regret than anything they experience in this world awaits them in the Hereafter. Having lived their lives distant from religion and without taking the Qur’an as their guide, they will feel regret for every moment they spent in this world. For, in accordance with Allah’s justice, they were repeatedly warned, advised, and invited to the straight path during their worldly lives.

 

Every person is given ample time in this world to reflect and discover the truth. Yet some consistently ignore these reminders, refuse to listen when warned, and become immersed in the illusion that worldly life will never end, thereby forgetting the Hereafter. However, after death, when they are confronted with Hell, they will no longer have any opportunity to return and make amends for their mistakes. This feeling, which cannot be compared to any physical pain and which causes immense anguish in the human soul, is regret.

 

There are two distinct forms of regret. The regret experienced by those who believe in Allah is fundamentally different from that experienced by those who deny faith.

At no stage of life do people wish to make mistakes. Yet human beings are educated and refined through mistakes, and errors are an important part of the test of worldly life. Since mistakes are an inevitable part of human existence, a person should think carefully about this matter and prepare himself accordingly: How should one abandon a mistake once it has been recognized? What does it mean to seek refuge in Allah and ask His forgiveness after committing an error? According to the Qur’an, what is the proper measure of regret? Should a person remain burdened by guilt because of a mistake? After correcting an error, should one leave it behind, or continue to live under its weight? What precautions should be taken to avoid repeating the same mistake? How should a mistake be rectified?

Allah, the Possessor of infinite mercy, has provided clear answers to such questions in the verses of the Qur’an. Therefore, when a person makes a mistake, he should determine how to evaluate and deal with it according to the guidance of the Qur’an.

 

Believers who live by the morality of the Qur’an know with certainty that every event takes place by Allah’s knowledge and permission, and that whatever befalls them occurs by His will. Because they sincerely trust in Allah, one of their most important characteristics is submission to Him—placing their trust in Allah. Whether they face hardship, enjoy ease, or commit a mistake they never intended to make, they know that there is goodness in it and therefore act with trust in Allah. If they display an incorrect attitude, they immediately repent and hope for Allah’s forgiveness. Thanks to this Qur’anic way of thinking, they do not become trapped in prolonged and distressing regret. The regret felt by a believer motivates him to correct his mistakes, repent, and avoid repeating them. Ultimately, his mistake becomes a means of self-improvement, of not persisting in error, and of remedying his shortcomings. It does not plunge him into a troubled state of mind, diminish his enthusiasm, excitement, or spiritual zeal, nor does it lead him into anxiety or despair.

 

By contrast, the regret experienced by those who do not believe in Allah is deeply distressing and long-lasting. Because they fail to see the good in what Allah creates and do not place their trust in Him, they suffer intense inner anguish whenever they encounter difficulties or commit mistakes. They fall into despair and are unable to free themselves from this negative state of mind. Throughout their lives they repeatedly express regret with phrases such as, “If only I had not done it,” “If only I had not said it,” or “If only I had not gone.”

 

More importantly, because they neither repent after their mistakes nor strive to correct them, a far greater regret than anything they experience in this world awaits them on the Day of Judgement. Those who live far from religion during their worldly lives will experience eternal regret in the Hereafter for every moment they spent on the wrong path. Allah repeatedly advised them, warned them, and called them to the straight path. They were given abundant time to reflect and discover the truth. Yet they consistently ignored these warnings and reminders, refused to listen to sincere advice, and became absorbed in the illusion that worldly life would never end, forgetting the Hereafter. As a consequence of turning away and refusing to follow their consciences, they will find no opportunity to return and make amends when they are confronted with Hell.

 

Allah informs us in the Qur’an of the regretful words that the unbelievers will utter in the Hereafter:

We have warned you of an imminent punishment on the Day when a man will see what he has done, and the disbeliever will say, ‘Oh, if only I were dust!’ 
(Surah An-Naba’, 40)

If only you could see when they are standing before the Fire and saying, ‘Oh! If only we could be sent back again, we would not deny the Signs of our Lord and we would be among the believers.’
(Surah Al-An‘am, 27)

They will say, ‘If only we had really listened and used our intellect, we would not have been companions of the Blaze.’
(Surah Al-Mulk, 10)

Before such a day arrives—a day when people will say, “If only we had reasoned,” “If only we had not denied the signs of our Lord,” “If only we had listened to those who warned us,” and when they will experience such immense regret that they will wish to become dust—everyone should heed these reminders and turn toward the morality of the religion that Allah desires while there is still time to make amends.


On the Day of Reckoning, no one’s regret will benefit another, nor will it save anyone from Allah’s punishment. The only way to avoid such regret is to submit to Allah while there is still time and to live in the manner He has commanded. Every warning against the punishment of the Hereafter—where there will be no refuge and no possibility of salvation apart from Allah—is an important admonition calling people to Him. Our Lord reminds us of this truth in the Qur’an:

Respond to your Lord before a Day comes from Allah which cannot be turned back. On that Day you will have no hiding-place and no means of denial.
(Surah Ash-Shura, 47)

Turn to your Lord and submit to Him   before punishment comes upon you for then you cannot be helped. Follow the best that has been sent down to you from your Lord before the punishment comes upon you suddenly when you are not expecting it.
(Surah Az-Zumar, 54-55)