When God Almighty graces someone with His glance of mercy, He instils in the hearts of people a love for that person. However, when a person’s evil crosses all bounds, as soon as it is decreed that the heaven is averse to such a one, in accordance with the will of Allah Almighty, the hearts of the people too become hardened towards the person in question. Yet, as soon as such a person seeks refuge at the threshold of God, through repentance and by seeking His forgiveness, a hidden mercy begins to develop in their favour and the seed of love for that person is planted in the hearts of others, without anyone knowing. Hence, repentance and seeking forgiveness from God is a tried and tested means that never fails.
(Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmadas, Malfuzat, Vol. 2, pp. 18-19)