Concerning repentance (Tawba) ... Abdul Qadir Jilani ...

"Repentance is the process whereby the Lord of Truth (Exalted is He) looks toward His ancient and predestined providence ['inaya] for His servant, directs that providence toward His servant's heart, and tenderly detaches it, by attracting it toward Him and grasping it. When this takes place, the heart is drawn toward Him, away from corrupt ambition. The spirit obediently complies, the heart and the mind follow suit, repentance [tawba] is truly accomplished, and the whole affair becomes proper to Allah (Exalted is He)."