Said by: Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq (as), explaining the words of Allah in the Holy Quran (66:8), "Turn to Allah in sincere repentance"
Status: ✅ Verified reference
Reference: Al-Kafi (Shaykh al-Kulayni), Volume 2, Kitab al-Iman wa al-Kufr, Chapter 191 (Bab al-Tawba — Repentance), Hadith 3.
Arabic — core saying (excerpt):
يَتُوبُ الْعَبْدُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ ثُمَّ لَا يَعُودُ فِيهِ… وَأَحَبُّ الْعِبَادِ إِلَى اللهِ تَعَالَى الْمُفَتَّنُونَ التَّوَّابُونَ
English translation:
"A servant repents from a sin and then does not return to it." And: "The most beloved of servants to Allah, the Most High, are those who are put to trial (and slip) and who repent again and again."
Explanation: Allah does not only love people who never fall. He loves the person who falls, gets up, and turns back to Him. Sincere repentance means a real decision not to return to the sin — not just saying "sorry" while planning to do it again.
Allah does not only love people who never fall.