Seeking Allah's Forgiveness

From Anas, radhiyallahu 'anhu, who said: I heard the Mesenger of Allah SAW, say: "Allah the Almighy has said: 'O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me, and hope in Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done, and I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds in the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me, I shall forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with an earthful of sins and were you then to face Me, without having associated anything with Me, I shall grant you an earthful of pardon.' "

(hadith recorded by Al-Tarmizi, who said that it is a good and sound hadith)

The main message of this hadith is calling upon Muslims to repent sincerely to Allah and to seek His forgiveness

There are 3 means or ways which enable a Muslim to be forgiven by Allah.

1. the first is al-doa which means to supplicate Allah. Allah says in Surah Ghafir verse 60:
    And your Lord said: Call upon Me, I will respond to you.

2. the second means that lead Muslims to receive Allah's forgivenessis istighfar (seeking forgiveness), even if someone has committed many sins. Allah says in SurahAl-Zumar verse 53:
    O My servants who have transgressed against themselves! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah. Verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

3. the third cause or means of seeking Allah's forgiveness is tawhid, tawhid means that a Muslim should worship Allah alone. Allah should be worshipped without associating or ascribing any partners with Him. Allah says in Surah al-Nisa' verse 116:
     Verily! Allah forgives not the setting up of partners (in worship) with Him, but He forgives whom He wills sins other than that, and whoever sets up partners in worship with Allah has indeed strayed far away.