The punishment for a sin committed by a believer is removed in
ten ways: 1. He repents to Allah (taubah), so Allah accepts his
repentance, for the one who repents from sin is like the one who
has no sin. 2. He seeks forgiveness from Allah (istighfar), so
Allah forgives him. 3. He does good deeds that erase his sin for
good deeds erase bad ones. 4. His believing brethren pray for
him or seek forgiveness for his sins during his life or death.
5. Or they [ask Allah] to bestow on him as gift from the reward
for their deeds, with which Allah benefits him. 6. His Prophet
Muhammad, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, intercedes for him. 7.
Allah tests him with trials in this world which expiate his sin.
8.. Allah tests him in al-Barzakh (the intermediate life in the
grave, between the death and the Day of Judgment) which expiates
his sin. 9. Allah tests him in the various stages of the Day of
Judgment which expiates his sins. 10. Or the Most Merciful of
those who have mercy has mercy on him.