Assalamualaikum Dear Brothers & Sisters,
Tomorrowis too late, yesterday is all gone and now is the right time to repent & changeyour life and the hereafter before the opportunity is gone.
It is nowonder that we all commit sins, but it is necessary for us to return to Allahapologetically after any committed sin. It is said; he who does good deeds isclose to Allah and he who does always sinful deeds is close to the devil and hewho does good deeds after committing of a sin is a successful person.
Those whoconstantly repent are the most beloved to Allah.
Allahsays in the Qur’an:Indeed, Allah loves those whoare constantly repentant and loves those who purifythemselves.”Surah Baqarah (2:222)
‘Abdullahbin Busr said that: The Prophet (ﷺ) said:“Glad tidings to those whofind a lot of seeking forgiveness in the record of theirdeeds.”Sunan Ibn Majah 3818
Meaningof Tauba/ sincere repentance
Taubameans repenting for a sin, promising Allah to not repeat the same evil againand returning to Him alone. Repentance is the beginning in the life of a personwho intends to walk in the path of religion. It is the first step of discipline,the key to guidance to the straight path, the weapon of purification of thosewho wish to come close to Allah and is a dear thing to all prophets.
If weonly know our actual worth, we would never humiliate ourselves by doing sins.While we know our actual purpose in this life is to worship Allah and not toplease ourselves.
Allahsays:And We sent not before you any messenger except that We revealedto him that, “There is no deity except Me, so worship Me.SurahAl-Anbiya (21:25)
EvenAllah’s Apostle Prophet (ﷺ) whowas the pious, sinless human being the earth has ever witnessed used to seekAllah’s forgiveness over 70 times a day.
AbuHurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying,“I swear by Allah that I seek Allah’s Pardon and turn to Himin repentance more than seventy times a day.” [Al-Bukhari, Hadith 1870].
What is sin?
Doing anact which has be prohibited by Allah and to the doer of any such action is heldaccountable and is liable to some sort of punishments by Allah, sometimes thepunishment will have to be borne only in this world and sometimes in bothworlds.
Sins arelike flat tyres, people with them go nowhere if not changed at the right time.The worst scenario is when sins turns into habit so much so that sometimes anysin performed regularly become culture which we can’t drop. No wonder sins maysound or look tempting andirresistiblebut there’s a line above and below everything wedo. Sometimes we know that we are addicted to a certain type of sin but waitingfor them to be told or just finds it hard to drop as we are used to it so muchthat it has become an integrated part of life.
So,what’s the solution to this condition?
We mustevery now keep checking our situation, our actions, our state of Imaan,closeness to our deen and our indulgence in good work and good deeds. Neverpause in your sins so much that you put our Akhirah on risk, just drop the sinand move away from it.
Easiersaid than done but please try, just take one step then see how Allah makes iteasy for you to turn away from bad, even He can turn your bad deeds to gooddeeds, insha Allah.
Talkabout it to the upcoming taker of such sin orbad habit. Warn them of the dangers insuch sin. Sins do not fall from heavens, they grow with us, they grow becausewe find joy in living with them, maybe we are proud of it in secret or in theopen or may be because we do it as everyone around is doing too. But my dearbrothers & sisters any sin is contagious, you don’t need to be physicallystrong to beat it, but you first need to prepare your mind with the wisdom ofstaying far from it or having and replacing it with a better habit you enjoyand proud of, insha Allah.
Remember,with strong determination no sin is too hard to replace with a better goodaction or habit, just make up your mind.
Alsoremember, the accepted & beloved deeds are those done only for the sake ofAllah and when one abstains from sins or bad deeds only for the sake of Allahnothing like that. Is there any good that sins give you? No, only it takes youaway from your creator and worsens your hereafter. No attainment of heart andsoul at all. Remember, we belong to Allah and the peace of heart and mine canonly be found.
AbuHurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) said:
TheMessenger of Allah (ﷺ)said,“Allah, the Exalted, has said: ‘I have prepared for myrighteous slaves what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and the mind of no manhas conceived.’ If you wish, recite:
‘Noperson knows what is kept hidden for them of joy as a reward for what they usedto do.”‘Surah Al-Sajda (32:17) [Al-Bukhari and Muslim, Hadith 1881].
Few Advantages of Sincere Repentance or Tawbah
1. You will be counted amoungts the best
The best of sinners are those who repent, and Allah loves those who keep going back to Him very often.
Abu MusaAl-Ash’ari (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
The Prophet (ﷺ) said:“Allah, the Exalted, will continue to stretch out His Hand in the night so that the sinners of the day may repent, and continue to stretch His Hand in the daytime so that the sinners of the night may repent, until the sun rises from the west”.[Muslim, Hadith 16]
2. Allah pardons, forgives the sins of the one who repents.
Allah says:Indeed, I am the Perpetual Forgiver of whoever repents and believes and does righteousness and then continues in guidance.Surah Ta-Ha (20:82).
3. Allah relieves the repentant fromanxiety, worries and problems.
Ibn ‘Abbas (May Allah be pleased with them) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,“If anyone constantly seeks pardon (from Allah), Allah will appoint for him a way out of every distress and a relief from every anxiety and will provide sustenance for him from where he expects not.”[Abu Dawud, Hadith 1873].
4. Allah erases the poverty; his shortage is reduced, and he is being directed to better opportunities.
5. Allah opens the means of sustenance. Allah volumes up his livelihood and survival.
6. Allah relieves the repentant from grieve and struggles or hurdles.
Al-Agharr Al-Muzani (May Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said,“Sometimes I perceive a veil over my heart, and I supplicate Allah for forgiveness a hundred times in a day.”[Muslim, Hadith 1869].
7. Allah removes the black spot which has been placed on the sinner’s heart after his indulgence in the sin.
It wasnarrated from Abu Hurairah that the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said:
When the believer commits sin, a black spot appears on his heart. If he repents and gives up that sin and seeks forgiveness, his heart will be polished. But if (the sin) increases, (the black spot) increases. That is the Ran that Allah mentions in His Book: “Nay! But on their hearts is the Ran (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn.”[Hadith 4385, 83:14]
8. Allah increases or gives sustenance to the repentant from such places which he would have never ever thought he would get from; his sustenance is been made easy and comfortable.
9. Allah generates gardens and flowing rivers, sends beneficial rain from the sky such is the benefits of seeking His forgiveness.
Allah says: ‘And Nuh (A.S) 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’.Surah Nuh (71:10-12)
Anas(RAA) narrated that Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) said:“All the sons of Adam aresinners, but the best of sinners are those who repent often.”Relatedby At·Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah with a strong chain of narrators. Hadith 1477
Yourtakeaway from this lesson:
- Keep seeking forgiveness from Allah sincerely.
- Recitedifferent duas of forgiveness, even if justsaying ‘Astaghfirullah’ with pure intention. As solutions to all your problemscan be found with constant repentance, insha Allah.
In thenext part we will learn about theConditions and Four principlesof Tawbah, insha Allah.
May Allahhelp us to repent & seek His forgiveness in the way accepted, Aameen YaRab!
JazakAllahuKhair
MuneerBint Fayaz