Imam Ali (a) has said, “… Verily this world has turned back and announced its departure, and the Hereafter has come forward and its approach is visible. Indeed, today is the preparation and tomorrow is the race. The place to run to is Paradise while the end [for the loser] is Hell. ...” Proper repentance is the precondition for a pious life of virtue. A famous tradition beautifully states, “He who repents from sin is like one who has no sin,”