Source: Sermons of Hafiz Muhammad Ishaq Zahid, compiled by: Tauheed.com
Brothers in Islam! Every one of us is a sinner and wrongdoer, but among sinners, the best is the one who repents the most, turns to Allah Almighty, and sincerely asks for forgiveness from Him repeatedly.
Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
(كُلُّ بَنِيْ آدَمَ خَطَّاءٌ وَخَيْرُ الْخَطَّائِيْنَ التَّوَّابُوْنَ)
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 2499, Sunan Ibn Majah: 4251. Graded Hasan by Al-Albani)
"All the children of Adam are sinners, and the best of sinners are those who repent the most."And a sinful person repents from his sins when he feels the burden of them. Indeed, a true believer is one who, after disobeying the Creator of the universe, becomes eager to please Him. And after committing sins, he immediately seeks forgiveness from Allah Almighty to avoid His displeasure and punishment.
Hazrat Abdullah bin Masood (RA) says:
(إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ يَرَى ذُنُوبَهُ كَأَنَّهُ قَاعِدٌ تَحْتَ جَبَلٍ يَخَافُ أَنْ يَقَعَ عَلَيْهِ، وَإِنَّ الْفَاجِرَ يَرَى ذُنُوبَهُ كَذُبَابٍ مَرَّ عَلَى أَنْفِهِ فَقَالَ بِهِ هَكَذَا) Qaal Abu Shihab: بِيَدِهِ فَوْقَ أَنْفِهِ
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari: Book of Supplications, Chapter on Repentance: 6308)
"A believer feels his sins as if he is sitting under a mountain, fearing that it might fall on him at any moment (and he will be destroyed), whereas a sinner feels his sins as if a fly flew and sat on his nose, and he made a hand gesture and it flew away."Whereas our condition is that we repeatedly commit many sins and do not even realize that we are disobeying Allah, the King of kings. Therefore, we should seek forgiveness from Him, please Him, and save ourselves from His punishment. Many Muslims commit major sins, but it seems as if they have no fear of the punishment for these sins. For example, they go to shrines and tombs and prostrate before beings other than Allah, offer vows and sacrifices in their names, consider them as fulfillers of needs and relievers of difficulties, ask from them, place hopes on them, or use them as intermediaries to Allah for their needs and call upon them in difficulties... Despite doing all this, they do not realize that through these acts of shirk (associating partners with Allah), they are incurring Allah’s displeasure, and Allah forbid, if they die in this state, they will go straight to Hell. (And Allah is the refuge)
On the contrary, they appear completely satisfied with their behavior, and if a monotheist warns them against shirk and advises them to adopt the belief in Tawheed, instead of disassociating from shirk and sincerely repenting, they attack him, or at least, by giving him various titles, they do not consider his invitation worthy of attention. Similarly, you will find many Muslims so engrossed in various innovations that they consider them an essential part of religion, and if a follower of the Sunnah warns them about the severity of introducing innovations in religion and informs them that every new act in religion which is not supported by the Quran, Hadith, and the practice of the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) is an innovation, and every innovation is misguidance, then instead of repenting and seeking forgiveness, they respond by saying that this is not a bad act; rather, it is a good deed.
It is as if they appear so content with these innovations that they do not even realize that instead of drawing closer to Allah Almighty, they are displeasing Him. On the Day of Judgment, when these people will be approaching the Pool of Kawthar, they will be pushed back and turned away, and the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ will say about them, "Let those who corrupted the appearance of my religion go far away."
Apart from shirk and bid'ah, there are many other crimes that have deeply entrenched themselves among Muslims today, and Muslims are so accustomed to them that they do not even consider them sins. For example, neglecting the five obligatory prayers or performing them with laziness and negligence, avoiding fasting during Ramadan and giving zakat, procrastinating in performing the duty of Hajj despite having the means, disobeying parents and mistreating relatives, lying in financial transactions, cheating and fraud, gambling, bribery, engaging in usury, envying other Muslims, harboring hatred and malice against them, etc. These are sins that are committed with extreme triviality, to the extent that those who commit them do not feel their severity within themselves, nor do they perceive them as a mountain-like burden upon themselves, nor do they fear Allah’s punishment and His wrath. Then they do not turn back to Him seeking forgiveness, pleasing Him, and beginning their reformation!
Hazrat Anas رضي الله عنه used to say to the people of his time: (إِنَّكُمْ لَتَعْمَلُوْنَ أَعْمَالًا هِيَ أَدَقُّ فِي أَعْيُنِكُمْ مِنَ الشَّعْرِ، إِنْ كُنَّا لَنَعُدُّهَا عَلَى عَهْدِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مِنَ الْمُوْبِقَاتِ)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:6492)
"Indeed, you commit deeds which in your eyes are finer than a hair (i.e., minor), whereas we used to consider them among the deadly sins during the time of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم."This was the era when the noble Companions of the Prophet, may Allah be pleased with them, and their trained followers (the pious Tabi‘in, may Allah have mercy on them) were present. Certainly, this period was the best after the death of the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. In it, major sins were either completely absent or extremely rare, which today are either not considered sins at all or are regarded as very minor and openly committed. Hazrat Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, used to say about the minor sins he saw people committing in his time that during the era of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, we used to count them among the deadly sins. If Hazrat Anas, may Allah be pleased with him, were present in today’s time and saw people involved in major sins like polytheism and innovation, adultery, robbery, murder and plunder, usury transactions, and immorality and nudity, it is unknown what he would say!
And as far as the time of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is concerned, if any Muslim committed a major sin, he would not rest peacefully until he sincerely repented and presented himself to receive the punishment for that sin. Three incidents are mentioned in this regard.
➊ The Incident of the Woman from the Juhaina Tribe
Hazrat Imran bin Husain رضي الله عنه narrates that a woman from the Juhaina tribe came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ while she was pregnant due to adultery. She said: O Messenger of Allah! I have transgressed the limit set by Allah, so please enforce that limit upon me.
So the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ called the guardian of that woman and ordered him, (أَحْسِنْ إِلَيْهَا، فَإِذَا وَضَعَتْ فَأْتِنِيْ بِهَا) "Treat her well, and when this child is born, bring him to me." Accordingly, the man did as instructed. Then the Prophet ﷺ ordered that her clothes be fastened on her and that she be stoned. When she was given the punishment of stoning, the Prophet ﷺ led her funeral prayer. Then Hazrat Umar رضي الله عنه said: O Prophet of Allah! You led her funeral prayer even though she committed adultery! The Prophet ﷺ replied: (لَقَدْ تَابَتْ تَوْبَةً لَوْ قُسِمَتْ بَيْنَ سَبْعِيْنَ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْمَدِيْنَةِ لَوَسِعَتْهُمْ، وَهَلْ وَجَدَتْ تَوْبَةً أَفْضَلَ مِنْ أَنْ جَادَتْ بِنَفْسِهَا لِلّٰهِ تَعَالَى)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:1696)
"This woman has repented so sincerely that if it were divided among seventy people of Medina, it would suffice them all. What better repentance can there be than that she sacrificed her life for the pleasure of Allah?"➋ The incident of Maaz bin Malik رضي الله عنه and the Ghamidiyyah woman
Hazrat Buraydah رضي الله عنه narrates that Ma'az bin Malik رضي الله عنه came to the presence of the Prophet Muhammad صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم and said: (يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ، طَهِّرْنِي) "O Messenger of Allah! Purify me." The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: (وَيْحَكَ ارْجِعْ فَاسْتَغْفِرِ اللّٰهَ وَتُبْ إِلَيْهِ) "I feel sorry for you, go and seek forgiveness from Allah and repent."
Ma'az رضي الله عنه went a little distance away and then returned, again saying: (يَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ، طَهِّرْنِي) "O Messenger of Allah! Purify me." The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم again gave him the same reply, to go and seek forgiveness from Allah and repent. He went a little distance and then returned again and once more said: O Messenger of Allah! Purify me. The Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم gave him the same answer for the third time. After that, when he came the fourth time and said the same, the Prophet صلی اللہ علیہ وسلم said: (فِيْمَ أُطَهِّرُكَ؟) "From what should I purify you?" He said: From adultery.
You, peace be upon him, asked the people about him whether his mental balance was sound. The people told you, peace be upon him, that yes, his mental balance was perfectly fine. Then you, peace be upon him, asked if he had consumed any alcohol. Accordingly, a man went to him and smelled his mouth. Then you, peace be upon him, were informed that there was no smell of alcohol from his mouth. Then you, peace be upon him, asked him: Did you really commit adultery? He said: Yes. So you, peace be upon him, ordered the punishment of stoning to be carried out on him, and accordingly, this punishment was implemented on him.
Then two groups formed among the people. One said: Ma'iz has perished and his sins have overwhelmed him, and the other said: There is no repentance better than Ma'iz's repentance because he himself came to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and placed his hand in the Prophet's hand, pleading to be stoned to death. After that, two or three days passed. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ came to the assembly of the noble companions, greeted them, and sat down. After that, he said: (اِسْتَغْفِرُوْا لِمَاعِزِ بْنِ مَالِك) "Pray for forgiveness for Ma'iz." So the noble companions prayed, saying: May Allah forgive Ma'iz ibn Malik. Then the Prophet ﷺ said: (لَقَدْ تَابَ تَوْبَةً لَوْ قُسِمَتْ بَيْنَ أُمَّةٍ لَوَسِعَتْهُمْ) "He has repented in such a way that if it were divided among a group of people, it would suffice them all."
Hazrat Buraydah رضي الله عنه says: Then a woman from the Ghamid tribe came to the Prophet ﷺ and said: O Messenger of Allah! Purify me as well. The Prophet ﷺ said: (وَيْحَكِ ارْجِعِيْ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللّٰهَ وَتُوْبِي إِلَيْهِ) "I am sorry for you, go and seek forgiveness from Allah and repent." She said: I think you are sending me back just like you sent back Ma'iz! The Prophet ﷺ said: What is your relation to him? She said: I am pregnant by him. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Oh, is that you?" She said: Yes. Then the Prophet ﷺ said: "Not yet, until you give birth to the child."
Hazrat Buraydah says: An Ansari companion took care of that woman until she gave birth to a child. Then he came to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and informed him that the woman had given birth. The Prophet ﷺ said: "We will not stone her immediately, leaving her child like this without anyone to nurse it."
Then an Ansari said: O Prophet of Allah! The responsibility of her suckling is on me, so the Prophet ﷺ ordered that she be stoned. And in one narration, immediately after the child was born, that woman came to the Prophet ﷺ, carrying her child wrapped in a piece of cloth. The Prophet ﷺ said: "Go and breastfeed him until he stops drinking milk." So the woman left, and after some time, she returned with a piece of bread in the child's hand. She said: O Messenger of Allah! This child has stopped drinking milk and is now able to eat food. Then the Prophet ﷺ entrusted the child to a Muslim and gave the order regarding the woman that she be dug up to her chest and stoned. So the people stoned her.
Meanwhile, Hazrat Khalid bin Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) came, picked up a stone, and struck him on the head, causing some splashes of his blood to fall on his face as well. He spoke ill of him, which the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) heard. Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: (مَهْلًا يَا خَالِدُ، فَوَالَّذِيْ نَفْسِيْ بِيَدِهِ لَقَدْ تَابَتْ تَوْبَةً لَوْ تَابَهَا صَاحِبُ مَكْسٍ لَغُفِرَ لَهُ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:1695)
"Khalid! Stop, by the One in Whose hand is my life, he has repented in such a way that even a tyrant tax collector, if he repented like this, would be forgiven." Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) led his funeral prayer and he was buried.These three incidents prove that in the early period of this Ummah, which was the best period, if a Muslim committed a major sin, he would feel the heavy burden of it upon himself and would become eager to purify himself from it. This is the characteristic of a true believer—that after committing a sin, he becomes restless to please Allah through sincere repentance and does not find peace until he continuously performs good deeds to erase the stains of that sin.
The Divine command is: {إِنَّ الْحَسَنَاتِ يُذْهِبْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ}
Reference: (Hud 11:114)
"Indeed, good deeds erase bad deeds." And the first good deed to erase bad deeds from the record of deeds is repentance and seeking forgiveness.Allah, the Exalted, has commanded His beloved Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, to seek forgiveness.
The Divine instruction is: {وَاسْتَغْفِرِ اللّٰهَ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ كَانَ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِيْمًا}
Reference: (An-Nisa 4:106)
"And ask forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful."Similarly, Allah Almighty has commanded all believers to repent: {وَتُوْبُوْا إِلَى اللّٰهِ جَمِيْعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُوْنَ}
Reference: (An-Nur 24:31)
"And O believers! All of you repent to Allah so that you may succeed." That is, if the believers sincerely turn to Allah Almighty and seek His forgiveness, then success in this world and the Hereafter will embrace their feet.He also said: {يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللّٰهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوْحًا عَسَى رَبُّكُمْ أَنْ يُكَفِّرَ عَنْكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِيْ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللّٰهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ نُوْرُهُمْ يَسْعَى بَيْنَ أَيْدِيْهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ يَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا أَتْمِمْ لَنَا نُوْرَنَا وَاغْفِرْ لَنَا إِنَّكَ عَلَى كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيْرٌ}
Reference: (At-Tahrim 66:8)
"O you who have believed! Repent to Allah with sincere repentance. Indeed, your Lord is near to forgive you, and to admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow. On that Day, Allah will not disgrace the Prophet and those who have believed with him. Their light will run before them and on their right. They will say, 'Our Lord, perfect for us our light and forgive us. Indeed, You are over all things competent.'"
In this noble verse, Allah Almighty has mentioned four benefits of sincere repentance: first, the forgiveness of sins; second, entry into those gardens beneath which rivers flow; third, protection from disgrace on the Day of Judgment; and fourth, on that day, their light running ahead and to their right. From all these verses, it is understood that all believers are commanded by Allah Almighty to repent from their sins and seek forgiveness from Him.
Allah Almighty praises those servants who seek His forgiveness. The Divine command is: {الَّذِيْنَ يَقُوْلُوْنَ رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا آمَنَّا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوْبَنَا وَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ. الصَّابِرِيْنَ وَالصَّادِقِيْنَ وَالْقَانِتِيْنَ وَالْمُنْفِقِيْنَ وَالْمُسْتَغْفِرِيْنَ بِالْأَسْحَارِ}
Reference: (Al Imran 3:17-16)
"Who say, 'Our Lord! We have believed, so forgive us our sins and save us from the punishment of the Fire.' Those who are patient, truthful, obedient, spenders in the way of Allah, and those who seek forgiveness before dawn."And the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) used to say: (يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ تُوْبُوْا إِلٰى رَبِّكُمْ، فَوَاللّٰهِ إِنِّي لَأَتُوْبُ إِلَى اللّٰهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ فِي الْيَوْمِ مِائَةَ مَرَّةٍ)
Reference: (Ahmad:17880, Sahih Muslim:2702)
"O people! Keep repenting to your Lord. By Allah! I repent to Allah a hundred times a day."When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ himself repented a hundred times a day, even though he is the leader of the Prophets and Allah had forgiven all his past and future sins, then the Ummah of the Prophet ﷺ should be even more diligent in repentance.
Yes! Repentance is the practice of the noble Prophets, peace be upon them. Thus, when Satan misled Prophet Adam, peace be upon him, and his wife Hawwa (Eve), and they both tasted the tree which they were forbidden to approach, they repented with an admission of their fault as follows:
{رَبَّنَا ظَلَمْنَا أَنْفُسَنَا وَإِنْ لَّمْ تَغْفِرْ لَنَا وَتَرْحَمْنَا لَنَكُوْنَنَّ مِنَ الْخَاسِرِيْنَ}
Reference: (Al-A'raf 7:23)
"Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves, and if You do not forgive us and have mercy on us, we will surely be among the losers."And when Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) saw his beloved son drowning in the waves of the flood, moved by paternal affection, he called upon Allah, saying: "My son is among my family, and Your promise is true, and You are the greatest ruler." Then Allah informed him that since his son did not believe in him, he is not among his family. He warned him not to ask about what he has no knowledge of, lest he become one of the ignorant. Upon this, Prophet Noah (peace be upon him) immediately sought forgiveness from Allah, saying:
(رَبِّ إِنِّيْ أَعُوْذُ بِكَ أَنْ أَسْأَلَكَ مَا لَيْسَ لِيْ بِه عِلْمٌ وَإِلَّا تَغْفِرْ لِيْ وَتَرْحَمْنِيْ أَكُنْ مِّنَ الْخَاسِرِيْنَ)
Reference: (Hud 11:47)
"O my Lord! I seek refuge in You from asking You that of which I have no knowledge. And unless You forgive me and have mercy upon me, I will be among the losers."And when Prophet Musa (peace be upon him) struck a man and caused his death, he immediately turned to Allah and, acknowledging his mistake, sought forgiveness from Allah in this manner:
(رَبِّ إِنِّيْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ)
Reference: (Al-Qasas 28:16)
"O my Lord! I have wronged myself, so forgive me." So Allah forgave him.And when Prophet Dawud (peace be upon him) was tested and he realized that he was indeed being tested, he immediately fell into prostration and turned to Allah seeking forgiveness. Allah the Exalted says:
(وَظَنَّ دَاؤُدُ أَنَّمَا فَتَنّٰهُ فَاسْتَغْفَرَ رَبَّهُ وَخَرَّ رَاكِعًا وَّأَنَابَ)
Reference: (Sad 38:24)
"And Dawud (peace be upon him) realized that We had tested him, so he sought forgiveness from his Lord and fell down in prostration and turned to Us in repentance."Similarly, Prophet Yunus (peace be upon him) also acknowledged his mistake while in the belly of the fish and sought forgiveness from Allah in this way:
(لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّيْ كُنْتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِيْنَ)
Reference: (Al-Anbiya 21:87)
"There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the wrongdoers."And as far as Imam al-Anbiya, Prophet Muhammad ﷺ is concerned, he used to seek forgiveness and repent so frequently that the noble companions, may Allah be pleased with them, would hear this supplication from his blessed tongue one hundred times in just one gathering:
(رَبِّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ وَتُبْ عَلَيَّ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ التَّوَّابُ الْغَفُوْرُ)
Reference: (Al-Sahihah:556)
"O my Lord! Forgive me and accept my repentance, surely You are the One who accepts repentance and is the Most Forgiving."And the Prophet ﷺ taught his beloved companion Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq, may Allah be pleased with him, a supplication for seeking forgiveness and repentance and commanded him to recite it in every prayer, which is:
(اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ ظَلَمْتُ نَفْسِيْ ظُلْمًا كَثِيْرًا وَلَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ مَغْفِرَةً مِّنْ عِنْدِكَ وَارْحَمْنِيْ إِنَّكَ أَنْتَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:834, Sahih Muslim:2705)
"O Allah! I have wronged myself greatly, and there is none who forgives sins except You, so forgive me with Your grace and mercy. Surely You are the Most Forgiving and Most Merciful."It should be remembered that seeking forgiveness and repentance was not only the practice of the noble Prophets, peace be upon them, but Allah Almighty has also made it an important attribute of every wise and knowledgeable person. Allah Almighty says:
(إِنَّ فِيْ خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ وَاخْتِلَافِ اللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ لَآيَاتٍ لِّأُوْلِي الْأَلْبَابِ. الَّذِيْنَ يَذْكُرُوْنَ اللّٰهَ قِيَامًا وَّقُعُوْدًا وَّعَلَى جُنُوْبِهِمْ وَيَتَفَكَّرُوْنَ فِيْ خَلْقِ السَّمَاوَاتِ وَالْأَرْضِ رَبَّنَا مَا خَلَقْتَ هَذَا بَاطِلًا سُبْحَانَكَ فَقِنَا عَذَابَ النَّارِ. رَبَّنَا إِنَّكَ مَنْ تُدْخِلِ النَّارَ فَقَدْ أَخْزَيْتَهُ وَمَا لِلظَّالِمِيْنَ مِنْ أَنْصَارٍ. رَبَّنَا إِنَّنَا سَمِعْنَا مُنَادِيًا يُّنَادِيْ لِلْإِيْمَانِ أَنْ آمِنُوْا بِرَبِّكُمْ فَآمَنَّا رَبَّنَا فَاغْفِرْ لَنَا ذُنُوْبَنَا وَكَفِّرْ عَنَّا سَيِّئَاتِنَا وَتَوَفَّنَا مَعَ الْأَبْرَارِ)
Reference: (Al Imran 3:193-190)
"Indeed, in the creation of the heavens and the earth and the alternation of the night and the day are signs for those of understanding who remember Allah while standing or sitting or [lying] on their sides and give thought to the creation of the heavens and the earth, [saying], 'Our Lord, You did not create this aimlessly; exalted are You [above such a thing]; then protect us from the punishment of the Fire. Our Lord, indeed whoever You admit to the Fire - You have disgraced him, and for the wrongdoers there are no helpers. Our Lord, indeed we have heard a caller calling to faith, [saying], "Believe in your Lord," and we have believed. Our Lord, so forgive us our sins and remove from us our misdeeds and cause us to die with the righteous.'"
What makes a person repeatedly seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty and turn towards Him more willingly is that Allah Almighty is "Most Forgiving, Most Merciful," the One who accepts repentance and loves those who repent frequently.
Allah Almighty says: (أَلَمْ يَعْلَمُوْا أَنَّ اللّٰهَ هُوَ يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَأْخُذُ الصَّدَقَاتِ وَأَنَّ اللّٰهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيْمُ)
Reference: (At-Tawbah 9:104)
"Do they not know that Allah accepts repentance from His servants and receives charities and that Allah is the Most Accepting of Repentance, Most Merciful?"He also said: (وَهُوَ الَّذِيْ يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُوْنَ. وَيَسْتَجِيْبُ الَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا وَعَمِلُوا الصَّالِحَاتِ وَيَزِيْدُهُمْ مِّنْ فَضْلِهِ)
Reference: (Ash-Shura 42:25-26)
"And He it is Who accepts repentance from His servants and pardons evil deeds, and He knows what you do. And He answers those who believe and do righteous deeds and increases [for] them from His bounty. And the disbelievers will have a severe punishment."Allah Almighty, by mentioning His mercy and forgiveness, invites His sinful servants: Come, ask Me for forgiveness, I will forgive all your sins. Allah Almighty says:
(قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِيْنَ أَسْرَفُوْا عَلَى أَنْفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوْا مِنْ رَّحْمَةِ اللّٰهِ إِنَّ اللّٰهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ جَمِيْعًا إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُوْرُ الرَّحِيْمُ)
Reference: (Az-Zumar 39:53)
"Say, O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."Explaining the reason for the revelation of this noble verse, Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) said that among the polytheists, there were many who had committed extensive killing, plundering, and immorality. They asked the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) that the message he was inviting to was good, but they wanted to know whether their repentance would be accepted by Allah or not. Then Allah Almighty revealed this verse.
Reference: (Tafsir al-Qurtubi: 228/8, Dar al-Hadith al-Qahira)
It is understood from this that Allah Almighty even gives hope to the polytheists and those who commit murder and plunder that if they sincerely repent, He will forgive them and be pleased with them. How much more so if the Muslims who sincerely accept His Oneness in their hearts and believe in His Prophet Muhammad ﷺ turn to Him and ask for forgiveness, surely Allah Almighty will forgive them as well. In fact, Allah Almighty also encourages the Christians, who consider Jesus عليه السلام as His son and regard Allah Almighty as one of three, to repent and seek forgiveness, and He says:
(لَّقَدْ كَفَرَ الَّذِيْنَ قَالُوْا إِنَّ اللّٰهَ ثَالِثُ ثَلَاثَةٍ وَمَا مِنْ إِلٰهٍ إِلَّا إِلٰهٌ وَّاحِدٌ وَإِنْ لَّمْ يَنْتَهُوْا عَمَّا يَقُوْلُوْنَ لَيَمَسَّنَّ الَّذِيْنَ كَفَرُوْا مِنْهُمْ عَذَابٌ أَلِيْمٌ. أَفَلَا يَتُوْبُوْنَ إِلَى اللّٰهِ وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوْنَهُ وَاللّٰهُ غَفُوْرٌ رَّحِيْمٌ)
Reference: (Al-Ma'idah 5:73-74)
"Indeed, those who have committed disbelief are those who say, 'Allah is the third of three (deities),' while there is no deity except one God. And if they do not desist from what they are saying, there will surely be a painful punishment for the disbelievers among them. Will they not repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness? And Allah is ever Forgiving and Merciful."Allah Almighty assures every person who commits evil that if he repents and asks for forgiveness, I am "Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful," and I will forgive him. The Divine command is:
(وَمَنْ يَّعْمَلْ سُوْءً أَوْ يَظْلِمْ نَفْسَهُ ثُمَّ يَسْتَغْفِرِ اللّٰهَ يَجِدِ اللّٰهَ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِيْمًا)
Reference: (An-Nisa 4:115)
"And whoever does evil or wrongs himself but then seeks forgiveness of Allah will find Allah Forgiving and Merciful."And in a Hadith Qudsi, it is stated: (يَاابْنَ آدَمَ! إِنَّكَ مَا دَعَوْتَنِيْ وَرَجَوْتَنِيْ غَفَرْتُ لَكَ عَلٰى مَا كَانَ فِيْكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي، يَاابْنَ آدَمَ! لَوْ بَلَغَتْ ذُنُوْبُكَ عَنَانَ السَّمَاءِ ثُمَّ اسْتَغْفَرْتَنِيْ غَفَرْتُ لَكَ وَلَا أُبَالِي، يَا ابْنَ آدَمَ! إِنَّكَ لَوْ أَتَيْتَنِيْ بِقُرَابِ الْأرْضِ خَطَايَا ثُمَّ لَقِيْتَنِيْ لَا تُشْرِكُ بِيْ شَيْئًا لَأَتَيْتُكَ بِقُرَابِهَا مَغْفِرَةً)
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi:3540, authenticated by Al-Albani)
"O son of Adam! If you keep calling upon Me alone and place all your hopes in Me, then whatever sins you have committed, I will keep forgiving you and will not mind. And if your sins reach up to the sky, then if you ask Me for forgiveness, I will forgive you and will not mind. And if you come to Me with sins equal to the earth, and you meet Me without associating anyone with Me, then I will forgive you as much as the earth."And Hazrat Abu Musa (RA) narrated that the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: (إِنَّ اللّٰهَ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ يَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِاللَّيْلِ لِيَتُوْبَ مُسِيْءُ النَّهَارِ، وَيَبْسُطُ يَدَهُ بِالنَّهَارِ لِيَتُوْبَ مُسِيْءُ اللَّيْلِ حَتّٰى تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ مَّغْرِبِهَا)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:2759)
"Indeed, Allah extends His Hand of mercy during the night so that the person who sins during the day may repent. Similarly, during the day, He extends His Hand of mercy so that the person who sins during the night may repent, until the sun rises from the west."Allah Almighty is extremely pleased with the repentance of His servant. As Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said:
(اللّٰهُ أَشَدُّ فَرَحًا بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ حِيْنَ يَتُوْبُ إِلَيْهِ مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ كَانَ عَلٰى رَاحِلَتِهِ بِأَرْضِ فَلَاةٍ، فَانْفَلَتَتْ مِنْهُ، وَعَلَيْهَا طَعَامُهُ وَشَرَابُهُ، فَأَيِسَ مِنْهَا، فَأَتٰى شَجَرَةً فَاضْطَجَعَ فِيْ ظِلِّهَا، قَدْ أَيِسَ مِنْ رَاحِلَتِهِ، فَبَيْنَمَا هُوَ كَذٰلِكَ إِذَا هُوَ بِهَا قَائِمَةً عِنْدَهُ، فَأَخَذَ بِخِطَامِهَا، ثُمَّ قَالَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْفَرَحِ: اَللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ عَبْدِيْ وَأَنَا رَبُّكَ، أَخْطَأَ مِنْ شِدَّةِ الْفَرَحِ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:2747)
"When a servant of Allah repents, He is more pleased with his repentance than a man who is traveling on his mount in a desert, then secretly slips away somewhere with the man's food and drink supplies, and the man searches for him in vain, becomes hopeless, lies down under the shade of a tree, and is completely despairing of his mount, even certain of his death. Then suddenly the mount stands before him, and he grabs its reins, and in overwhelming joy, these words come from his mouth: 'O Allah! You are my servant and I am your Lord,' meaning in a state of extreme happiness, he makes a mistake." That is, Allah is far more pleased at the time when one of His sinful servants repents than the joy that man feels upon finding his mount.
Allah Almighty loves the repentance of His servants so much that if they abandon it, He replaces them with people who repent, and He forgives them. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
(وَالَّذِيْ نَفْسِيْ بِيَدِهِ لَوْ لَمْ تُذْنِبُوْا لَذَهَبَ اللّٰهُ بِكُمْ، وَلَجَاءَ بِقَوْمٍ يُذْنِبُوْنَ، فَيَسْتَغْفِرُوْنَ اللّٰهَ، فَيَغْفِرُ لَهُمْ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:2749)
"By the One in Whose hand is my soul! If you did not sin (and seek forgiveness from Allah), Allah would replace you with people who sin, then seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would forgive them."Sometimes Allah Almighty forgives a person merely based on the sincere intention of repentance. As Hazrat Abu Saeed Al-Khudri (may Allah be pleased with him) narrates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
"A man from a previous nation had killed ninety-nine people. Then he inquired about the greatest scholar in the world, and he was directed to a priest. So he went to him and informed him that he was the killer of ninety-nine people and asked if there was any way for him to repent. The priest said: No. So he killed him as well, completing the count to one hundred. Then he asked people about another great scholar in the world and was sent to a scholar. He told him that he had killed one hundred people and asked if there was any way for him to repent. The scholar said: Yes, repentance is possible, and who can stand between you and Allah! You should go to such-and-such a place where people worship Allah, join them in worshiping Allah, and do not return to your own land because there live evil people. So he set out until he reached the middle of the journey, where he died. Now there was a dispute between the angels of mercy and the angels of punishment regarding him. The angels of mercy said: He was sincerely repenting and turning to Allah. The angels of punishment said: He never did any good deed. They were arguing when another angel arrived in the form of a man. They accepted him as the judge among them. He said: (قِيْسُوْا مَا بَيْنَ الْأرْضَيْنِ: فَإِلٰى أَيَّتِهِمَا كَانَ أَدْنٰى فَهُوَ لَهُ) "Measure the two distances (the one he had traveled and the one he had yet to travel). Then, whichever he is closer to, his fate should be decided accordingly." So when they measured both distances, he was closer to the distance he had yet to travel. Therefore, the angels of mercy took his soul."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:3470, Sahih Muslim:2766)
And in a narration from Sahih Muslim, it is mentioned that (فَأَوْحَى اللّٰهُ إِلٰى هَذِهِ: أَنْ تَبَاعَدِيْ، وَإِلٰى هَذِهِ: أَنْ تَقَرَّبِي) "Allah Almighty commanded the land which He had already measured to increase, and the land which He had yet to measure to contract." Consider that this man was a killer of a hundred people and had never done a single good deed, but because he set out with the intention of sincere repentance, Allah Almighty accepted his repentance according to his intention and entrusted his soul to the angels of mercy.
Not only does Allah Almighty forgive His servant merely for intending sincere repentance, but when His servant looks at his sins on one side and on the other side fear of Allah’s punishment arises in his heart, then Allah forgives him just for that. Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said:
"A man had committed immense sins and had never done a single good deed. When the time of his death approached, he said to his sons: When I die, burn me and scatter my ashes half on the land and half in the sea. By Allah! If my Lord has the power, He will punish me with a torment that He has never given to anyone before. So his sons did as he said. Then Allah commanded the dry land to gather his ashes in one place, and similarly commanded the sea to gather his ashes as well. Afterwards, He brought him back to life and asked him: (لِمَ فَعَلْتَ هَذَا؟) 'Why did you do this?' He said: (مِنْ خَشْيَتِكَ يَا رَبِّ وَأَنْتَ أَعْلَمُ) 'O my Lord! Only out of fear of You, and You know this well.' So Allah forgave him."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:7506, Sahih Muslim:2755)
Allah Almighty is so forgiving and merciful that He forgives His servants even for seemingly small good deeds. Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said:
(بَيْنَمَا رَجُلٌ يَمْشِيْ بِطَرِيْقٍ وَجَدَ غُصْنَ شَوْكٍ عَلَى الطَّرِيْقِ فَأَخَّرَهُ، فَشَكَرَ اللّٰهُ لَهُ فَغَفَرَ لَهُ)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:652, Sahih Muslim:1914)
"A man was walking on a path when he found a thorny branch on the way. He removed it from the path. So Allah valued this (small act) of his and forgave him."Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "A man was walking on a path when he felt extremely thirsty. He found a well, went down into it, and drank water. When he came out, he saw a dog panting and eating wet earth due to extreme thirst. He thought to himself: 'The thirst has made this dog as bad off as I was.' So he went down into the well again, filled his shoe with water, held it with his mouth, climbed up, and gave water to the dog. The Prophet (SAW) said: (فَشَكَرَ اللّٰهُ لَهُ فَغَفَرَ لَهُ) 'Allah appreciated his deed and forgave him.'"
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:2363, Sahih Muslim:2244)
In another narration from the Sahihayn, it is mentioned that a woman who was a sinner saw a dog panting and wandering around a well on a very hot day, extremely thirsty. She took off her shoe and drew water from the well with it, then gave the dog water to drink. Because of this act, she was forgiven.
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:3467, Sahih Muslim:2244)
From all these ahadith, it is proven that Allah Almighty is extremely appreciative, very merciful, and greatly forgiving, and He forgives His servants even for their small good deeds.
Listen to two more ahadith in this regard.
➊ Repeated repentance after repeated sins
Hazrat Abu Huraira (RA) narrates that the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said: "A servant committed a sin, then he prayed saying: (اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لِيْ ذَنْبِيْ) 'O Allah! Forgive my sin.' Then Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, said:
(أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِيْ ذَنْبًا، فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ) "My servant committed a sin, then he realized that he has a Lord who can forgive sins and can also hold him accountable."
After that, he committed another sin, then repented saying: (أَيْ رَبِّ، اغْفِرْ لِيْ ذَنْبِيْ) "O my Lord! Forgive my sin." So Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said: (أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِيْ ذَنْبًا، فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ) "My servant committed a sin, then he realized that he has a Lord who can forgive sins and can also hold him accountable."
Then he committed another sin and after that sought forgiveness from Allah saying: (أَيْ رَبِّ، اغْفِرْ لِيْ ذَنْبِيْ) "O my Lord! Forgive my sin." So Allah, the Blessed and Exalted, said: (أَذْنَبَ عَبْدِيْ ذَنْبًا، فَعَلِمَ أَنَّ لَهُ رَبًّا يَغْفِرُ الذَّنْبَ وَيَأْخُذُ بِالذَّنْبِ، اِعْمَلْ مَا شِئْتَ فَقَدْ غَفَرْتُ لَكَ) "My servant committed a sin, then he realized that he has a Lord who can forgive sins and can also hold him accountable, go now do whatever you wish, I have forgiven you."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:7507, Sahih Muslim:2758)
The intended meaning is that if you keep committing sins repeatedly and each time ask Allah Almighty for forgiveness, then Allah Almighty will continue to forgive you, implying that Allah's forgiveness is conditional upon repentance and seeking forgiveness. Therefore, a Muslim should constantly seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty so that when their end comes, it is in a state where their Lord has forgiven them.
➋ The Concealment and Forgiveness of the Believer on the Day of Judgment
It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) said: "Allah Almighty will bring the believer close to Himself on the Day of Resurrection until He covers him, then He will make him confess his sins and say: Do you know that you committed such and such sin? He will say: Yes, my Lord! I know. Then Allah Almighty will say: (فَإِنِّيْ قَدْ سَتَرْتُهَا عَلَيْكَ فِي الدُّنْيَا وَإِنِّيْ أَغْفِرُهَا لَكَ الْيَوْم) 'I concealed your faults in the world and today I forgive you as well.' Then the record of his good deeds will be given to him. As for the disbelievers and hypocrites, they will be called out in front of the entire universe and it will be said: These are the people who lied against Allah Almighty."
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:2441, Sahih Muslim:2768)
Dear ones! Now understand that true repentance has some conditions without which repentance is not accepted by Allah Almighty, and they are as follows:
➊ Sincerity
which is the first condition for the acceptance of all acts of worship. Therefore, the repentant should repent solely for the pleasure of Allah Almighty, not for any worldly benefit or personal convenience, because if he repents for worldly purposes, then as soon as those are fulfilled, he will turn away from the religion of Allah Almighty, and this is not true repentance but false repentance.
➋ Remorse and Shame
Meaning, the repentant should, while admitting his sins, express remorse and shame before Allah Almighty, because Allah loves His servant who, after confessing his sin, humbly and humiliatedly feels ashamed before Him and seeks His forgiveness.
When a slander was made against Hazrat Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her), the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said to her: (يَا عَائِشَةُ، فَإِنَّهُ قَدْ بَلَغَنِيْ عَنْكِ كَذَا وَكَذَا، فَإِنْ كُنْتِ بَرِيْئَةً فَسَيُبَرِّئُكِ اللّٰهُ، وَإِنْ كُنْتِ أَلْمَمْتِ بِذَنْبٍ فَاسْتَغْفِرِي اللّٰهَ وَتُوْبِي إِلَيْهِ، فَإِنَّ الْعَبْدَ إِذَا اعْتَرَفَ بِذَنْبٍ ثُمَّ تَابَ، تَابَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim: 2770)
"O Aisha! I have heard such and such about you, so if you are innocent, then Allah will prove your innocence. And if you have sinned, then ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to Him, because when a servant admits his sin and then repents, Allah accepts his repentance."➌ Abandoning Sins
That is, the repentant person should abandon sins and seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty, not continue committing those sins while simultaneously asking for forgiveness. For example, a person places a glass of wine in front of him and drinks it sip by sip while continuously reciting "Astaghfirullah," or a person has money deposited in a bank or some other financial institution at limited profit and at the same time asks Allah Almighty for forgiveness for engaging in usurious transactions! Or a person is neglectful of prayer and insists on abandoning it while seeking Allah's forgiveness for this sin... Such people's repentance is not acceptable because it is as if they are mocking Allah Almighty by asking for forgiveness with their tongue while committing the very sins for which they seek forgiveness.
It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: (اَلْمُسْتَغْفِرُ مِنَ الذَّنْبِ وَهُوَ مُقِيْمٌ عَلَيْهِ كَالْمُسْتَهْزِئِ بِرَبِّهِ)
Reference: (Al-Da'ifah:616)
"A person who persists in sinning and asks for forgiveness is like a man who is mocking his Lord."Although this hadith is weak in terms of its chain of narration, it is sound in meaning. Its confirmation is also found in Allah Almighty's statement: (وَالَّذِيْنَ إِذَا فَعَلُوْا فَاحِشَةً أَوْ ظَلَمُوْا أَنْفُسَهُمْ ذَكَرُوا اللّٰهَ فَاسْتَغْفَرُوْا لِذُنُوْبِهِمْ وَمَنْ يَّغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّا اللّٰهُ وَلَمْ يُصِرُّوْا عَلٰى مَا فَعَلُوْا وَهُمْ يَعْلَمُوْنَ)
Reference: (Al-Imran 3:135)
"And when they commit an indecency or wrong themselves, they remember Allah and seek forgiveness for their sins; and who can forgive sins except Allah? And they do not persist knowingly in what they have done."That is, if they commit any sin, whether minor or major, they immediately remember Allah Almighty and His punishment and seek forgiveness from Him, because there is no one else from whom forgiveness can be sought. They do not stubbornly persist in their sins knowingly but abandon them and begin to reform themselves. After this, Allah Almighty mentions the reward for such people, saying:
(أُولٰئِكَ جَزَآؤُهُمْ مَّغْفِرَةٌ مِّنْ رَّبِّهِمْ وَجَنَّاتٌ تَجْرِيْ مِنْ تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ خَالِدِيْنَ فِيْهَا وَنِعْمَ أَجْرُ الْعَامِلِيْنَ)
Reference: (Al Imran 3:136)
"These are the ones whose reward is forgiveness from their Lord and gardens beneath which rivers flow, wherein they will abide forever. And excellent is the reward of the deeds."Also, Allah Almighty says: (ثُمَّ إِنَّ رَبَّكَ لِلَّذِيْنَ عَمِلُوا السُّوْءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ تَابُوْا مِنْ بَعْدِ ذٰلِكَ وَأَصْلَحُوْا إِنَّ رَبَّكَ مِنْ بَعْدِهَا لَغَفُوْرٌ رَّحِيْمٌ)
Reference: (An-Nahl 16:119)
"Indeed, those who committed sins out of ignorance, then repented after that and amended themselves, indeed your Lord is Forgiving and Merciful."These noble verses prove that abandoning sins and self-reformation are the fundamental conditions of sincere repentance. For this reason, Fazail bin Iyad, may Allah have mercy on him, considered seeking forgiveness without abandoning sins as the repentance of liars and used to say: (اِسْتِغْفَارٌ بِلَا إِقْلَاعٍ تَوْبَةُ الْكَذَّابِيْنَ) "Seeking forgiveness without leaving sins is the repentance of liars."
➍ Making a firm resolve not to disobey Allah in the future
That is, the repentant person, while repenting, should make a firm resolve before Allah that he will not commit those sins in the future. Not only should he make a firm resolve, but he should also seek Allah’s help in this, because without His support, he cannot avoid any evil. For this reason, the Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, used to supplicate:
(اَللّٰهُمَّ إِنِّيْ أَسْأَلُكَ فِعْلَ الْخَيْرَاتِ وَتَرْكَ الْمُنْكَرَاتِ وَحُبَّ الْمَسَاكِيْنِ، وَأَنْ تَغْفِرَ لِيْ وَتَرْحَمَنِيْ، وَإِذَا أَرَدْتَّ فِتْنَةَ قَوْمٍ فَتَوَفَّنِيْ غَيْرَ مَفْتُوْنٍ، أَسْأَلُكَ حُبَّكَ وَحُبَّ مَنْ يُّحِبُّكَ وَحُبَّ عَمَلٍ يُقَرِّبُنِيْ إِلٰى حُبِّكَ)
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3235. Verified by Al-Albani)
"O Allah! I ask You to grant me the ability to do good deeds, abandon evil, and love the poor, and forgive me and have mercy on me. And when You want to test people with a trial, take my soul before that, protecting me from it. I ask You for Your love, the love of those who love You, and the love of deeds that bring one closer to Your love."Similarly, the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) used to supplicate:
(اَللّٰهُمَّ اهْدِنِيْ لِأَحْسَنِ الْأَعْمَالِ وَأَحْسَنِ الْأَخْلَاقِ، لَا يَهْدِيْ لِأَحْسَنِهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ، وَقِنِيْ سَيِّئَ الْأَعْمَالِ وَسَيِّئَ الْأَخْلَاقِ، لَا يَقِيْ سَيِّئَهَا إِلَّا أَنْتَ)
Reference: (Sunan al-Nasa'i: 896. Verified by Al-Albani)
"O Allah! Grant me the ability to perform the best deeds and have the best character, for none besides You grants this ability, and protect me from bad deeds and bad traits, for none besides You protects from them."➎ The repentant one repents before the door of repentance is closed
At the beginning of this sermon, we have stated that as soon as a Muslim commits a sin, he should immediately turn to Allah, seek His forgiveness, and not delay repentance because no one has any guarantee of how long they will live. Since death can occur at any moment, one should repent immediately, fearing death and Allah’s punishment. It should not happen that he repents when the door is already closed for him, and then Allah rejects his repentance.
The Noble Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: (إِنَّ اللّٰهَ لَيَقْبَلُ تَوْبَةَ الْعَبْدِ مَا لَمْ يُغَرْغِرْ)
Reference: (At-Tirmidhi:3537. Sahih Al-Albani)
"Indeed, Allah accepts the repentance of a servant until the soul reaches the throat." From this hadith, it is understood that when the angel of death appears to the servant and his last breath is stuck in his throat, then at that time, repentance is of no benefit.Allah Almighty has expressed exactly the same meaning in the Holy Quran as follows:
(إِنَّمَا التَّوْبَةُ عَلَى اللّٰهِ لِلَّذِيْنَ يَعْمَلُوْنَ السُّوْءَ بِجَهَالَةٍ ثُمَّ يَتُوْبُوْنَ مِنْ قَرِيْبٍ فَأُولٰئِكَ يَتُوْبُ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِمْ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ عَلِيْمًا حَكِيْمًا. وَلَيْسَتِ التَّوْبَةُ لِلَّذِيْنَ يَعْمَلُوْنَ السَّيِّئَاتِ حَتَّى إِذَا حَضَرَ أَحَدَهُمُ الْمَوْتُ قَالَ إِنِّيْ تُبْتُ الْآنَ وَلَا الَّذِيْنَ يَمُوْتُوْنَ وَهُمْ كُفَّارٌ أُولٰئِكَ أَعْتَدْنَا لَهُمْ عَذَابًا أَلِيْمًا)
Reference: (An-Nisa 4:17-18)
"Only those people’s repentance is accepted by Allah who sin out of ignorance, then quickly repent, so Allah accepts their repentance. And Allah is All-Knowing, Most Wise. But the repentance of those who continue to do evil deeds is not accepted until the time of death comes upon one of them and he says, 'Now I repent.' Nor is the repentance of those who die in a state of disbelief accepted. For them, We have prepared a painful punishment."
This is the reason that when Pharaoh repented while drowning, Allah rejected his repentance and said: (آلْآنَ وَقَدْ عَصَيْتَ قَبْلُ وَكُنْتَ مِنَ الْمُفْسِدِيْنَ)
Reference: (Yunus 10:91-90)
"So now you believe while before you used to disobey? You were among the corrupters."The summary is that one of the conditions for the acceptance of repentance is that the repentant person must repent before the door of repentance is closed. One instance of this is when death is right before their eyes and their soul is caught in their throat. The other instance is when the sun rises from the west. Thus, before the Day of Judgment, when the sun rises from the west, after that, no one's repentance will be accepted by Allah Almighty.
The Prophetic saying is: (مَنْ تَابَ قَبْلَ أَنْ تَطْلُعَ الشَّمْسُ مِنْ مَّغْرِبِهَا تَابَ اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ)
Reference: (Sahih Muslim:2703)
"Whoever repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will accept his repentance."➏ Fulfilling the Rights of the Servants
If the sins are related to the rights of the servants, then the condition for their forgiveness is that those rights must be fulfilled or the owners of the rights must forgive them.
In the end, we pray to Allah Almighty to grant us the ability for sincere repentance and forgive our sins.
The benefits of seeking forgiveness and sincere repentance are numerous. We briefly present some of these benefits:
➊ The stains on the heart are washed away
Through repentance and seeking forgiveness, the stains of sins are washed away, and a person becomes free from sins. The Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
(إِنَّ الْمُؤْمِنَ إِذَا أَذْنَبَ كَانَتْ نُكْتَةً سَوْدَاءَ فِيْ قَلْبِه، فَإِنْ تَابَ وَنَزَعَ وَاسْتَغْفَرَ صُقِلَ قَلْبُهُ، وَإِنْ زَادَ زَادَتْ حَتّٰى يَعْلُوَ قَلْبَهُ، فَذٰلِكَ الرَّيْنُ الَّذِيْ ذَكَرَ اللّٰهُ عَزَّوَجَلَّ فِي الْقُرْآنِ: (كَلَّا بَلْ رَانَ عَلٰى قُلُوْبِهِمْ مَّا كَانُوْا يَكْسِبُوْنَ))
Reference: (Sunan al-Tirmidhi: 3334, Hasan Sahih; Sunan Ibn Majah: 4244, Hasan by Al-Albani)
"When a believer commits a sin, a black spot appears on his heart. Then if he repents, abandons that sin, and asks for forgiveness, his heart is cleansed. But if he continues committing sin after sin, the blackness increases until it covers his heart. This is the 'Raan' (rust) mentioned by Allah in the Qur'an."➋ Sins are transformed into good deeds
Not only are the stains washed away, but Allah also transforms the sins of the one who repents into good deeds. The Divine command is:
(إِلَّا مَنْ تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ صَالِحًا فَأُولٰئِكَ يُبَدِّلُ اللّٰهُ سَيِّئَاتِهِمْ حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللّٰهُ غَفُوْرًا رَّحِيْمًا)
Reference: (Al-Furqan 25:70)
"But whoever repents, believes, and does righteous deeds—Allah will replace their evil deeds with good ones. And ever is Allah Forgiving and Merciful."➌ The one who frequently repents is beloved to Allah
The Divine command is: (إِنَّ اللّٰهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِيْنَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِيْنَ)
Reference: (Al-Baqarah 2:222)
"Indeed, Allah loves those who are constantly repentant and loves those who purify themselves."➍ Prosperity, offspring, wealth, and rain
Since those who repent are beloved to Allah, He makes them prosperous, grants them offspring and wealth, and sends down His mercy upon them like rain. Allah the Exalted says:
(فَقُلْتُ اسْتَغْفِرُوْا رَبَّكُمْ إِنَّهُ كَانَ غَفَّارًا. يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاءَ عَلَيْكُمْ مِّدْرَارًا. وَيُمْدِدْكُمْ بِأَمْوَالٍ وَّبَنِيْنَ وَيَجْعَلْ لَّكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ وَّيَجْعَلْ لَّكُمْ أَنْهَارًا)
Reference: (Nuh 71:10-12)
"So I said, 'Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. He will send [rain from] the sky upon you in [continuing] showers and give you increase in wealth and children and provide for you gardens and provide for you rivers.'"➎ Punishment is averted by seeking forgiveness
Due to seeking forgiveness, Allah Almighty withholds His punishment. Allah Almighty says: (وَمَا كَانَ اللّٰهُ مُعَذِّبَهُمْ وَهُمْ يَسْتَغْفِرُوْنَ)
Reference: (Al-Anfal 8:33)
"And as long as they ask for forgiveness, Allah will not punish them."➏ The Angels' Prayer for Forgiveness
Angels also pray for forgiveness for those who repent and seek forgiveness. Allah Almighty says:
(الَّذِيْنَ يَحْمِلُوْنَ الْعَرْشَ وَمَنْ حَوْلَهُ يُسَبِّحُوْنَ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّهِمْ وَيُؤْمِنُوْنَ بِه وَيَسْتَغْفِرُوْنَ لِلَّذِيْنَ آمَنُوْا رَبَّنَا وَسِعْتَ كُلَّ شَيْءٍ رَّحْمَةً وَّعِلْمًا فَاغْفِرْ لِلَّذِيْنَ تَابُوْا وَاتَّبَعُوْا سَبِيْلَكَ وَقِهِمْ عَذَابَ الْجَحِيْمِ)
Reference: (Al-Mu’min 40:7)
"Those angels who carry the Throne and those around it exalt their Lord with praise and believe in Him, and ask forgiveness for the believers, saying: O our Lord! Your mercy and Your knowledge encompass all things, so forgive those who repent and save them from the punishment of Hell."➐ Abundance of Seeking Forgiveness in the Book of Deeds
The Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) said:
(طُوْبٰى لِمَنْ وَجَدَ فِيْ صَحِيْفَتِهِ اسْتِغْفَارًا كَثِيْرًا)
Reference: (Sahih al-Jami’: 3930)
"Glad tidings for the person who finds abundant seeking of forgiveness recorded in his Book of Deeds."Therefore, we should have abundant seeking of forgiveness recorded in our Book of Deeds. And the best words of seeking forgiveness are those which the Noble Prophet (peace be upon him) called Sayyid al-Istighfar (the chief of seeking forgiveness), and they are:
(اَللّٰهُمَّ أَنْتَ رَبِّيْ لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ، خَلَقْتَنِيْ، وَأَنَا عَبْدُكَ، وَأَنَا عَلٰى عَهْدِكَ، وَوَعْدِكَ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، أَعُوْذُ بِكَ مِنْ شَرِّ مَا صَنَعْتُ، أَبُوْءُ لَكَ بِنِعْمَتِكَ عَلَيَّ وَأَبُوْءُ بِذَنْبِيْ، فَاغْفِرْ لِيْ فَإِنَّهُ لَا يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوْبَ إِلَّا أَنْتَ)
Reference: (Sahih al-Bukhari:6306,6323)
"O Allah! You are my Lord, there is no true deity except You. You created me, I am Your servant, and I uphold Your covenant and promise to the best of my ability. I seek refuge in You from the evil of what I have done. I acknowledge Your blessings upon me and I acknowledge my sins, so forgive me, for none forgives sins except You."The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: "Whoever recites it in the evening with certainty and dies that night will enter Paradise directly, and likewise, whoever recites it in the morning with certainty and dies that day will also enter Paradise directly."
Besides this, these words are also very beneficial: (أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّوْمُ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْهِ)
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: (مَنْ قَالَ: أَسْتَغْفِرُ اللّٰهَ الَّذِي لَا إِلٰهَ إِلَّا هُوَ الْحَيُّ الْقَيُّوْمُ وَأَتُوْبُ إِلَيْهِ، غُفِرَ لَهُ وَإِنْ كَانَ قَدْ فَرَّ مِنَ الزَّحْفِ)
Reference: (Sunan Abi Dawood:1517. Authenticated by Al-Albani)
"Whoever recites this supplication (I seek forgiveness from Allah, besides whom there is no deity, the Ever-Living, the Sustainer, and I repent to Him), he will be forgiven even if he fled from the battlefield."We pray to Allah that He forgives all our sins and accepts our repentance. Ameen
