Repeatedly Committing a Sin and Repenting from it

Allah says (interpretation of the meaning): 

“And those who, when they have committed fahishah (illegal sexual
intercourse) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask
forgiveness for their sins; — and none can forgive sins but Allah — and do
not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know.

For such, the reward is forgiveness from their Lord, and Gardens with rivers
flowing underneath (Paradise), wherein they shall abide forever. How
excellent is this reward for the doers (who do righteous deeds according to
Allah’s orders).”

[3:135-136] 

Ibn Katheer said: 

The words “and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done” mean: they
repent from their sins and quickly turn to Allah, and they do not persist in
their sin, rather they give it up, and if they do it again they repent to
Him. Tafseer Ibn Katheer. 

It was narrated that Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I
heard the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) say: “A person
committed a sin and said: ‘My Lord, I have sinned; forgive me.’ His Lord
said: ‘Is My slave acknowledging that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and
punishes for them? I have forgiven My slave.’ Then as much time passed as
Allah willed, then he committed a sin and said, ‘My Lord, I have sinned;
forgive me.’ His Lord said: ‘Is My slave acknowledging that he has a Lord
Who forgives sins and punishes for them?  I have forgiven My slave.’ Then as
much time passed as Allah willed, then he committed a sin and said, ‘My
Lord, I have sinned; forgive me.’ His Lord said: ‘Is My slave acknowledging
that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for them? I have forgiven
My slave,’ – three times…” [al-Bukhari, Muslim]. 

Al-Nawawi (may Allah have mercy on him) included this hadeeth (narration)
under the heading: “Acceptance of repentance from sins even if the sins and
repentance happen repeatedly.” 

He said in his Sharh (commentary): 

We have already discussed this issue at the beginning of the Book of
Repentance. These hadeeths (narrations) clearly point to that, and even if
the sin is repeated a hundred times or a thousand times or more, and he
repents each time, his repentance will be accepted and his sin will be
erased. And if he repents once from them all, his repentance will be valid. 

Sharh Muslim. 

Ibn Rajab al-Hanbali said: 

‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez said: O people, whoever commits a sin, let him seek
the forgiveness of Allah and repent, and if he repeats it, let him seek the
forgiveness of Allah and repent, and if he repeats it, let him seek the
forgiveness of Allah and repent, for it is like chains around the neck of
man, and doom lies in persisting in it.  

What this means is that a person will inevitably commit the sins that it is
decreed he will commit, as the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon
him) said: “The son of Adam’s share of zina (fornication/adultery) is
decreed for him, and he will inevitably come to that…” But Allah has given
him a way out from the sins that he falls into and He erases them by means
of repentance and seeking forgiveness. If he does this then he will escape
from the evil of sin, but if he persists in his sin he will be doomed. 

Jami’ al-‘Uloom wal-Hikam. 

Although Allah hates sin and warns of punishment for it, He does not want
His slaves to despair of His mercy. He likes the sinner to seek His
forgiveness and repent to Him, but the shaytan (devil) likes it when despair
fills a person’s heart and prevents him from repenting and turning to
Allah. 

It was said to al-Hasan al-Basri: Would not any one of us feel ashamed
before his Lord to seek forgiveness from his sin then go back to it, then
seek forgiveness then go back to it? He said: The shaytan would like you to
feel that way; never give up seeking forgiveness.  

See also the answer to question no.

9231.

And Allah
knows best.