ALMISKEENAH

 

Tauba, Istighfar and Maghfirah

SubhanAllah, how Allah Ta’ala’s plans throughout the day present certain signs to shake one to focus on the big issues of life.

After Ziarah in Rowdha Shareef this morning I needed to buy a particular book that I had previously purchased many times, so I was aware of its price. I went to four shops before I found the title, which had a sticker on it indicating that was the amount I had paid in the past. I put it on the counter and momentarily looked at other books. When I went to pay for the one I wanted the brother was removing the last remains of the sticker from the back and tried to tell me the book was double the price that had been clearly written on it. I was not impressed and simply walked away without the book. Initially I was not angry, but then the more I thought about it, and the more other occasions of being cheated around Haram came to mind I found myself “annoyed” to say the least.

Later while passing through the new tunnel on the eastern side of Jannatul Baqi, there was an unusual line of cars parked along the entire length of both sides, and coming out of the tunnel on the opposite side of the road was a huge traffic jam. We later learnt that there was to be a beheading nearby, with all these people gathering to witness it.

Thoughts gravitated to Tauba, repentance, and Istighfar, seeking forgiveness from Allah Ta’ala, and Maghfirah, forgiving the other, as part of the essence of our servitude and submission to our Rabb. Istighfar also being the means of enhancing our consciousness of Allah Ta’ala and strengthening our relationship with Him. Turning only to Him, confessing our deepest mistakes, failures, sins and weaknesses, as well as unconditionally forgiving the other.

Truly Allah loves those who repent, and He loves those who purify themselves. (2:222)

Inform my servants that I am the Most Forgiving, the Most Merciful. (15:49)

Some of the noble Ahadith from the Messenger SallAllahu alaihi wasallam:

“O Allah! Make me among those who, when they commit an act of virtue, feel good, and when they commit a mistake, seek forgiveness,”

 “Verily Allah extends His Hand during the night so that the one who sins during the day may repent, and He extends His Hand during the day, so that the one who sins during the night may repent. And this continues until the sun rises from its setting place in the west,”

 “O people, Repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness, for indeed I repent to Allah one hundred times a day,”

 “The best among you is he who is frequently put to trials and ordeals and who most often offers repentance.”

“Every human sins excessively and the best of sinners are the repentant ones."

Forgiveness is a symbol of the pure, righteous, deliberate and pleasant Muslim. Forgoing one’s rights is preferring the benefits of the Hereafter above that of this world. Being generous to others with a pure mind and out of piety commands their love and respect.

Forgiving others is not an easy matter. For one has to fight and overcome one’s self-centeredness and sense of revenge. This can only be achieved by the strong who are able to overpower the desires of their heart even though they are able to express their anger.

Allah Ta’ala says:

Let harm be requited by an equal harm, though anyone who forgives and puts things right will have his reward from Allah Himself, He does not like those who do wrong. There is no cause to act against anyone who defends himself after being wronged, but there is cause to act against those who oppress people and transgress in the land against all justice , they will have an agonizing punishment, though if a person is patient and forgives, this is one of the greatest things. (42:40-43)

While there is no comparison between the severity of these two incidents this morning, Tauba and Istighfar remain the same healers. Maybe the person was spared, as often happens in these cases, where the family of the victim at the last moment forgives the murderer. As for the brother in the shop, Allahu ‘Alum on his relationship with Allah Ta’ala, but I know I still have work to do with my forgiveness of him. Such a small misdemeanour compared to forgiving one who murders a loved one. Imagine the rewards bestowed on ones who forgive such a crime. SubhanAllah!

Forgoing one’s right and having self-control are signs of overcoming the circumstance. This is where one stands distinguished from others. This is the real strong person that the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam praised. He SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said, “Whoever suppresses his anger while he is able to express it, Allah will call him in the presence of all creatures [on the Day of Resurrection] and ask him to choose of the houris [of Paradise] the ones he likes.” SubhanAllah!

The spirit of forgiveness while dealing with others is generally emphasized in the case of a man who came to the Messenger of Allah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam and asked him, “How many times shall we forgive [our] servants?” The Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam did not respond. The man repeated the question and the Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam yet did not respond. When the question was repeated again, the Prophet said, “Forgive him seventy times every day.”

However, there are some people whose hearts are so hardened that they cannot forgive anyone. Nothing in this life is more important to them than taking revenge. Astaghfirullah.

The Qur’an uses three words for the act of forgiveness.  But each with a shade of different meaning.  “Afa” is normally translated as ‘forgive’, but it also means to forget and to obliterate from one’s mind.  “Safaha” means to overlook, to ignore or to turn away from, to treat a matter as if it did not affect one. “Gafara” means to cover up something as Allah Ta’ala does to our sins with His grace. I still have work to do, Astaghfirullah!

Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam said:  "If the tears of regret flow from the eyes of a believer onto his face due to the fear of Allah even though they may be the size of the head of a fly, then Allah will make the fire of Jahannum haram on that face."

Insha’Allah, whatever sins one has committed can all be forgiven by repenting. Anas RadhiAllahu anhu states that he heard Rasulullah SallAllahu alaihi wasallam saying that Allah Ta’ala said, "O son of Adam, as long as you supplicate to me and have hope in Me, I will forgive you whatever the sin be and I will not bother. O son of Adam, if your sins reach the clouds in the sky and you seek forgiveness, I will forgive you and I will not bother. O son of Adam, if you come to Me with so many sins that they fill the earth, and you meet Me without having ascribed partners to Me, I will forgive you with the same great amount of forgiveness."

This hadith is a general announcement for the believers from our Rabb Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. Man commits sins and faults. He commits deficiencies in fulfilling the laws. He slips in being regular and punctual. A person commits minor and major sins due to negligence. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala has kept the prescription of seeking forgiveness with extreme humility as a means of obtaining His pardon. He should be ashamed in his heart and express regret for the sin he has committed and regret his disobedience to Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. He should make a firm intention not to commit the sin again. Upon this Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala will forgive him. Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala says that this forgiving is not a burden for Him. I do not bother - there is no difficulty in forgiving a minor sin nor any obstacle in forgiving a major sin. How can we not forgive when Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala is so Kareem with His forgiving?

He has granted the believers more solace by announcing that He will forgive even if the sins metaphorically fill the earth or if they fill the space between the earth and the sky. If your sins can fill the earth, then My forgiveness can also fill the earth. His forgiveness is limitless. The expanse of the sky and the earth is naught before Him. However, disbeliever and a polytheist will not be forgiven. A believer may have committed whatever amount of sins, but should not lose hope in the mercy of Allah Subhanahu Wa Ta’ala. He should continue repenting and having firm hope of being forgiven.

Shaikh Abd Al-Qadir Al-Jilani Rahmatullah alaihi when asked about Tauba he explained: “Repentance is the process whereby the Lord of Truth (Exalted is He) looks towards His ancient and predestined providence for His servant, directs that providence towards His servants 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 the corrupt ambition. The spirit obediently complies, the heart and the mind follow suit, repentance is truly accomplished, and the whole affair becomes proper to Allah, Exalted is He.”

Ibrahim bin Adham Rahmatullah alaihi said: “Not till you exchange sleeplessness for sleep, riches for poverty, humility for honour, effort for gift, you shall not be fit to sit in the company of saints. He said that six precepts if followed will make one a saint:

1.       When you commit a sin against Allah Ta’ala, do not partake of His food.

2.       When you desire to commit a sin, get out of His Kingdom.

3.       Commit a sin at a place where He cannot see you.

4.       At the time of death, seek a few moments respite from the messenger of death that you might repent during that time for your sins.

5.       Do not allow the Angels, Munkir and Nakir to approach you and question you about your past deeds.

6.       When you are cast into the Fire, refuse to go there.

If you cannot perform these, then never vow to sin.”

To overlook and forgive are the admirable qualities of our Prophet SallAllahu alaihi wasallam. So how can we say we love and follow him if we are not prepared to emulate his noble ways? Where do we stand regarding the beautiful qualities of the leader of the Messengers SallAllahu alaihi wasallam?

 

O Allah, Your fugitive and disobedient has come again to Your door, Imploring You for Your forgiveness with a humble prayer to pardon of my sins. Forgive me and grant me salvation, by Your infinite mercy. Be kind to me and cast on me a glance of Your mercy, O Allah, forgive my past sins and protect me from future sins. You indeed have power over all things and You alone can have mercy on me. Ameen.

O Allah! who solves the very difficult problems. O Allah, You are the last resort for the courage of those who are aggrieved and sad. O Allah, when You want to do anything Your say: BE and there it is! My sins have surrounded me on all sides. You alone are the store of resources at the time of difficulties and hardships and I consider You for myself a store on such difficult times. Pardon me. It is You alone who accepts repentance and shows mercy. Ameen.

O Allah, I seek Your forgiveness for every sin by which I wronged one of Your friends and assisted one of Your enemies; or of which I spoke favourable, against Your liking, or upon which I rode away from Your obedience: or which I advanced in blatant defiance of Your Command.

O Allah, I seek Your forgiveness for every sin that remained hidden from Your creation but did not escape You, for which I repented to You and You forgave me. But then I returned to it, yet You still keep it concealed for me.

O Allah, I seek Your forgiveness for every sin that Your pen recorded and Your knowledge encompassed, every one that I have committed and that I am to commit until the end of my life. I seek Your forgiveness for all my sins: the first and the last, the intentional and the unintentional, the few, the many, the minor and the major, the subtle and the noticeable, the past and the recent, the secret and the open and public, and all those I am to commit throughout my life.

O Allah, send blessings on our Master Muhammad, SallAllahu alaihi wasallam, and upon the family of our Master Muhammad, and upon his Companions; and grant them abundant peace. Grant them abundant blessings and peace that remain as long as Your remain and last as long as You last, that have bounds only You can know, the blessings that please You and him, and by which You are pleased with us, O Lord of the worlds! And for this all praise is due to Allah! Ameen.

 

All good is from Allah Ta’ala whereas mistakes are from this humble speck. May Allah Ta’ala Bless all readers, bringing you all closer to Him and His Rasul SallAllahu alaihi wasallam.  May He accept our humble efforts and grant us the capacity to be good and do good. Ameen.