as a type of declaration of being a liar. The more preferred view is that whenever he knows within himself that he was truthful in what he slandered, his repentance is through seeking forgiveness, acknowledging the invalidity and prohibition of what he said, and [declaring] that he will not return to the like of it. But if he does not know his own truthfulness, then his repentance is to declare himself a liar, regardless of whether the slander was by way of testimony or insult; for he might be a liar in the testimony but truthful in the insult. The basis for the first view is that Allah, the Exalted, called the slanderer a liar if he does not bring four witnesses, without qualification, by His saying, the Glorified: "Why did they not bring four witnesses for it? And since they have not produced the witnesses, they are, in the sight of Allah, the liars" (6). Thus, the truthful person's declaring himself a liar refers to him being a liar in the ruling of Allah, even if he were truthful in the reality of the matter.

Section: Every sin requires the one who commits it to repent, and whenever he repents from it, Allah accepts his repentance, as evidenced by the saying of Allah, the Exalted: "And those who, when they commit an immorality or wrong themselves, remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah? - and [who] do not persist in what they have done while they know (135) those - their reward is forgiveness from their Lord" (8), the verse. And He said: "And whoever does a wrong or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful" (9). This is also because the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: "The one who repents from a sin is like one who has no sin" (10). And Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "The remainder of a person's life has no value, yet in it he retrieves what has passed, revives what he had caused to die, and Allah replaces his evil deeds with good deeds." Repentance is of two types: inner and legal. As for the inner [repentance], it is what is between him and his Lord, the Exalted. If the sin does not entail a right upon him according to the law, such as kissing a strange woman, being in seclusion with her, drinking an intoxicant, or lying, then repentance from it is through remorse and the resolve not to return to it. It has been narrated from the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) that he said: "Remorse is repentance" (12). It was said: The sincere repentance...