tauba

Tauba, also transliterated tawbah, is a term in Islam meaning repentance or turning back to God. It comes from the Arabic root t-w-b, which conveys returning, contrition, and forgiveness. In Urdu, Hindi, and other South Asian languages, tauba is the common spelling for the act of repenting.

In Islamic theology, tawbah is an act of turning away from sin and toward God. It is encouraged for Muslims to repent for both major and minor sins. A sincere tawbah generally involves four elements: ceasing the sin, feeling remorse, resolving not to repeat it, and making amends where possible. If others’ rights have been harmed, restitution is required along with repentance. God is described as Most Merciful and readily accepting of sincere repentance.

The concept includes the idea that God’s mercy can erase past sins, and tawbah is available at any time. Sufi and mainstream traditions emphasize sincerity (nasuha) and avoidance of repeating the sin. The term is sometimes distinguished as tawbah al-nasuha, the true or earnest repentance.

Outside theology, tauba is used as a personal name in various Muslim communities and appears in cultural and literary contexts. It is often treated as a virtue underlying ethical reform and spiritual renewal.