A summary of the concepts held by the Ahl al-Sunnah.
What matters is the perfection of the end, not the shortcomings of the beginning.
One should not reproach a person or look down upon them with disdain,
for any sin they may have committed, provided they have repented from it.
For it is established in the Shari'ah that a person is in a better state after their repentance than they were before it.
The Prophet of Allah, Adam, peace be upon him, was initially described as having disobeyed his Lord.
Yet, that did not prevent Allah from bestowing upon him the honor of selection after his repentance and describing him as guided.
He made him one of the chosen prophets.
Allah the Almighty said: "And Adam disobeyed his Lord and erred."
"Then his Lord chose him, and turned to him in forgiveness, and guided him."
And He, the Almighty, said: "Indeed, Allah chose Adam, Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of 'Imran over the worlds."
Consider the woman who committed adultery during the time of the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and then repented.
He carried out the prescribed punishment upon her.
Khalid Ibn al-Walid, may Allah be pleased with him, insulted her when some of her blood splattered on him during her stoning.
The Prophet, peace be upon him, rebuked him for that.
He said: "Gently, O Khalid!"
"For by the One in Whose hand is my soul, she has repented with such a repentance,"
"that if a tax collector had repented in such a way, he would have been forgiven."
Narrated by Muslim.