The distance between a person who persists in continuing (in misgivings) and the straight path (ṣirāṭ al-mustaqīm) is like the distance between the heavens and the earth. It is no secret that the presence of false claims in the nafs (the lower self) is among its states. Sometimes the nafs, while being in a state (ḥāl) of falsehood, claims sincerity in tawba (repentance). Whether one possesses sincerity in tawba at each maqām (spiritual station) can only be accepted by the testimony of one's shaykh. This continues as long as one remains heedless, even for the blink of an eye, from witnessing his Lord, until he reaches a maqām where he can perform tawba. Thereafter, he attains the maqāms of revering Allah, the Eternal of eternities, the Lord of all ages. In reverence, he neither remains at a single maqām nor settles (but advances from station to station without pause). This is the ultimate aim of what they have said regarding tawba. (Anwār, I, 53)
Tawba begins first with the major sins, then the minor sins, then the reprehensible acts (makrūh), then from what is permissible but less preferable (halāl that is not optimal), then from seeing one's own good deeds (ḥasanāt), and finally from seeing oneself as one of the few counted poor of the age. (Anwār, I, 54)
Tawba is the foundation of every maqām and ḥāl; it is the first of the stations. In relation to a building, it is like the land upon which it is built. Whoever has no land has no building; whoever has no tawba has neither a state nor a station.
Tawba, in its specific characteristics, is of two kinds: ināba (turning) and istijāba (responding). Ināba is to fear Allah because of His power over you. Istijāba is to feel shame before Allah due to His nearness to you.
Tawba is to turn back from sin. In terms of degree, it is divided into two: the tawba of the elite (khawāṣṣ) and the tawba of the common people (ʿawām). The tawba of the common people is itself of three levels: the first is the tawba of the disbelievers (kāfir). Their tawba is through iman (faith), Islam, and abandoning ṭughyān (rebellion, tyranny, and transgression).
The second is the tawba of the sinners (fāsiq). Their tawba is by feeling regret for the past and...