I know that I have committed a grave sin by giving into temptation, falling in love with someone other than my husband, and committing adultery with him. We have both agreed to stop sinning and try to ask Allah for forgiveness, but it has been very difficult. Even after making what I intended to be a sincere “tawba”, I fell again into sin with him another time. It`s Ramadan now, and I have been trying to do many things to help me focus on worshipping Allah and gaining his forgiveness. But deep down inside me, I feel like a hypocrite and like it`s not possible for Allah to even accept my fast or prayers after what I have done, and sometimes I feel like it`s a waste of my time to fast and pray or make duaa. Please tell me if there is still any chance of forgiveness and of Allah accepting my prayers and duaa? It is my sincere and strong desire to be a good Muslim again and to avoid Allah`s eternal punishment.

All praise be to Allah, and may His peace and blessings be on the last and best prophet and messenger, Muhammad,

The crime of adultery is an enormous sin that brings about Allah’s anger and punishment. Yet sincere repentance is always accepted by Allah from all sins even that of disbelief.

Allah said:

“قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَى أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّهِ إِنَّ اللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعاً إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ.”

Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”

Az-Zumar, Chapter 39, Verse 53.

You must try to protect your repentance this time by all means, otherwise getting addicted to sin can cause people’s hearts to die and cause them to be cast away from Allah’s mercy.

Allah knows best.