I feel guilty about my past
A great deal of religious guilt comes from believing the door has closed. According to the Quran it has not, and the language it uses about this is unusually direct.
Sabeel — educational summary
What Allah says
Quran
۞ قُلْ يَـٰعِبَادِىَ ٱلَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا۟ عَلَىٰٓ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا۟ مِن رَّحْمَةِ ٱللَّهِ ۚ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ يَغْفِرُ ٱلذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُۥ هُوَ ٱلْغَفُورُ ٱلرَّحِيمُ
Say, "O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allāh. Indeed, Allāh forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."
Reference · Quran 39:53 — translation by Saheeh International
What this is saying
The verse addresses those who have wronged themselves and tells them not to despair of the mercy of Allah — and it says He forgives all sins. It is worth reading slowly, because the instruction is not to earn forgiveness first. It is not to despair.
Sabeel — educational summary
Something small you can do
- Say the words of return once today, plainly, without listing the reasons it was not your fault.
- Change one small thing rather than promising to change everything.
- If the guilt keeps circling, tell one person you trust. Carrying it alone makes it heavier, not holier.
Alongside this
You are not expected to fix this today.