Worshippers will be told on Friday that Allah forgives the sins of those who truly regret what they have done and ask for forgiveness in earnest.
“O My servants, you commit sins by day and by night, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness from Me and I shall forgive you,” the Quran says.
On the Day of Resurrection, Muslims will be brought before God to be judged on their deeds. The Prophet Mohammed said of that day: “A believer will be brought to their Lord, the Exalted and Glorious, on the Day of Resurrection and He would place upon them His veil [of Light] and make them confess their faults and say: Do you recognise [your faults]? They would say: My Lord, I do recognise [them]. He [the Lord] would say: I concealed them for you in the world. And today I forgive them. And they would then be given the Book containing [the account of their] good deeds.”
A garden as wide as Heaven and Earth await those who earn their Lord’s forgiveness.
Belief and faith in God must preface any request for forgiveness, as must righteous actions and doing good to others.
“And those who believe and do righteous deeds – We will surely remove from them their misdeeds and will surely reward them according to the best of what they used to do.” (Quran 29:7)
Those who pray consistently, particularly in mosques, are also likely to have their sins wiped away by God. It is said that when a Muslim is in a mosque, the angels ask God for forgiveness on the worshipper’s behalf.
Doing charity and spending money with the intent of goodness for others is another way of earning forgiveness, as is remembering God often and behaving properly with others.
At prayer, Muslims are encouraged to ask for forgiveness from God by saying: "I ask forgiveness of Allah besides Whom there is no deity, the Living, the eternal, and I turn to Him in repentance." Those who say these words will be forgiven, the Prophet said.
Muslims are encouraged to seek forgiveness on behalf of others, including their parents.
“O Allah. Forgive us all from whatever was before, and whatever may come after. Forgive for us, what was secret and what was disclosed. And assist us all in the way of piety and obedience,” the sermon will say.