Repentance, Seeking Forgiveness, Regret, and Admission (of Guilt) — Hadith 17

17. Ibn Abī ʿUmayr narrated from Jamīl, from Bukayr, from one of the two [Imams] (a) who said, “Verily Ādam (a) said, ‘O Lord, You allowed Shayṭān to prevail over me and You made him flow in me like blood [flowing in my veins], so grant me something [to counter him]. ’ So He said, ‘O Ādam, I have [hereby] granted you that whoever among your progeny intends [to do] an evil deed, it will not be recorded against him, and if he does it, one evil deed will be recorded against him. And whoever among them intends to do a good deed but does not do it, one good deed is recorded for him, and if he does it then ten good deeds are recorded for him [for that one act]. ’ He said, ‘O Lord, give me something more! ’ He said, ‘I have [hereby] granted you that whoever among them and then seeks forgiveness [for it], I shall forgive him. ’ He said, ‘O Lord, give me something more! ’ He said, ‘I have granted them repentance. ’ [Or He said, ‘I have granted them the opportunity to repent until the soul reaches here (the throat)’. ] He said, ‘O Lord, that is sufficient for me. ’”