How to deal with the intention of repeating sins?

We should have the intention not to repeat sins again. It does not mean that we will never repeat it again, we might still fall again, we are human beings. But our intention should be not to repeat it again. We need to put that in there, solid. Because we might feel bad, we feel terrible of what we have done. Evil, wrong, should not have done, O Allah, forgive me. But we still have plans to do it tomorrow. Is that going to work? No. It means then that when we take it on, we have to take it on wholeheartedly, fully and clearly set our mind: “I am not going to repeat this again. I will not let it happen to me again. I can see the steps which led to it.” Because there are steps. It did not happen just like that in a second. There was a step here, a step there. Introductory steps which leads and eventually you find yourself there. So knowing those steps, knowing the prerequisites, we tackle them. We deal with them so that we will not repeat it. That way we can honestly say, “I made the intention not to do it again.” If we did not approach repetition in that way, we did not make clear steps to prevent it from happening again, then it means not in words, but by the implication of our actions that we plan to do it again. So we have to replace that plan with a clear plan, not to do it again.

We cannot take it lightly, we have to approach it seriously, understand what it is, understand its elements, understand what is needed, and take concrete steps not to repeat it again. Without that, then we cannot achieve repentance.