It is the Glad Tidings for You: O Repentant
So repentance is the criterion of righteousness and the guide to success. It is the path which was trodden by the best of mankind; Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Though, Allah has forgiven all his past and coming sins.
- Categories: Repentance -
In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all that exists), and peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
My dear brother: Who among us is not tempted to sin and to commit acts of disobedience, and who among us is far above committing slips and errors? Every son of Adam sins and the best amongst them sinners are the repentant.
So repentance is the criterion of righteousness and the guide to success. It is the path which was trodden by the best of mankind; Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him. Though, Allah has forgiven all his past and coming sins.
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saying, “by Allah, I ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to Him in the day more than seventy times.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
«والله إني لأستغفر الله وأتوب إليه في اليوم أكثر من سبعين مرة» رواه البخاري
Thus, the repentant are considered from the people of Allah and His elite. He has favored the repentant with His Love and Mercy. Allah Almighty has said, {Truly, Allâh loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves (by taking a bath and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for their prayers).} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:222]
{إنَّ اللهَ يُحبُ التَّوابِينَ وَيُحبُ المُتَطَهّرِينَ} البقرة: 222
Transliteration: inna Allaha yuhibbu alttawwabeena wayuhibbu almutatahhireena
It is rather that Allah, Glorified and Exalted, rejoices over the repentance of His slave in compliance of his doing. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “Allah is more pleased with the repentance of a servant when he turns towards Him for repentance than anyone amongst you when he is upon a camel in a waterless desert and there is upon (that camel) his provision of food and drink also and it is lost by him, and that he has lost all hope (of finding it); he lies down in the shadow of a tree and is disappointed about his camel. While he is in such a state; there he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its nose string and then out of boundless joy says: O Lord, Thou art my servant and I am Thine Lord. He commits this mistake out of extreme delight.” [Reported by Muslim]
«لله أشد فرحا بتوبة عبده حين يتوب إليه من أحدكم كان على راحلته بأرض فلاة، فانفلتت منه، وعليها طعامه وشرابه، فأيس منها. فأتى شجرة، فاضطجع في ظلها، قد أيس من راحلته. فبينا هو كذلك إذا هو بها، قائمة عنده. فأخذ بخطامها ثم قال من شدة الفرح: اللهم! أنت عبدي وأنا ربك. أخطأ من شدة الفرح» رواه مسلم
O dear brother: return to Allah, Glorified and Exalted, and respond to Him when He calls for you: {And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful} [Surat An-Nûr 24:31]
{وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَا الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ} النور: 31
Transliteration: watooboo ila Allahi jameeAAan ayyuha almuminoona laAAallakum tuflihoona
In the previous verse, Allah Glorified and Exalted, has suspended the success of the believer to repentance. No slave of Allah will be successful if he turns away from returning to Allah in repentance, and goes further in his evil and tyranny, his deviation from right and disobedience.
O brother: O you brother to whom Allah has opened the gate of repentance day and night, whom Allah has told that He is Oft-Forgiving, whom Allah has promised to send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.
Return to Allah in repentance. Pour the tears of remorse before your death.
How much have you taken from His bounty? How much have you disobeyed His orders? And how much have you been ungrateful for His bliss?
You are still abiding by what He has deterred and forbidden you from doing. Return to Allah in repentance. The gate of repentance is open. The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, stretches out His Hand during the night so that the people repent for the fault committed from dawn till dusk and He stretches out His Hand during the day so that the people may repent for the fault committed from dusk to dawn. (He would accept repentance) before the sun rises in the west (before the Day of Resurrection).” [Reported by Muslim]
«إن الله عز وجل يبسط يده بالليل ليتوب مسيء النهار، ويبسط يده بالنهار ليتوب مسيء الليل حتى تطلع الشمس من مغربها» رواه مسلم
Is there an excuse remaining for you in delaying your repentance?
Why do I repent?
Let’s renew our journey with those walking to Allah, Glorified and Exalted, to turn the rejoicing of Satan over your disobedience into regrets; to recognize your significance and that there are evil and ignorance in you that plunge you into sins. {But man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results).} [Surat Al-Ahzâb 33:72]
{وَحَمَلَهَا الْإِنسَانُ إِنَّهُ كَانَ ظَلُومًا جَهُولًا} الأحزاب: 72
Transliteration: wahamalaha alinsanu innahu kanathalooman jahoolan
And {and man was created weak (cannot be patient to leave sexual intercourse with woman).} [Surat An-Nisâ’ 4:28],
{وَخُلِقَ الإِنسَانُ ضَعِيفًا} النساء: 28
Transliteration: wakhuliqa alinsanu daAAeefan
And {and man is ever hasty [i.e., if he is angry with somebody, he invokes (saying): “O Allâh! Curse him” and that one should not do, but one should be patient].} [Surat Al-Isrâ’ 17:11]
{وَكَانَ الإِنسَانُ عَجُولا} الإسراء: 11
Transliteration: wakana alinsanu AAajoolan
O Muslim brother: O you who Allah has created you, fashioned you perfectly…whom Allah has provided for you, clothed you… whom Allah has supplied with food and water… whatever grace you ask from Him, He bestows upon you… nevertheless, you disobeyed Him and you did not thank Him… you committed sins and never asked for forgiveness… you move from an act of disobedience to another… you move from a sin to another… as if you were to be immortal in this worldly life and that you will never die.
You defy Allah with acts of disobedience and sins… forgetting and heedless about the All-Knower of all that is hidden… I wish I knew when you will repent? Would you repent upon your death? Would you repent when death surprises you? Do you think that your repentance will be accepted at such moments?
Listen to Him Who has bestowed His bliss upon you while talking about those who defied Him with acts of disobedience and sins… they did not fear the day when they will be seized by their forelocks and their feet. Listen to what Allah says about them: {Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allâh), he says: “My Lord! Send me back,} [Surat Al-Mu’minûn 23:99]
{حَتَّى إذا جَاءَ أَحَدَهُم المَوتُ قالَ رَبّ ارجعُونَ} المؤمنون: 99
Transliteration: Hatta itha jaa ahadahumu almawtu qala rabbi irjiAAooni
Why do you wish to be send back? {So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!} [Surat Al-Mu’minûn 23:100]
Why do you wish to be send back? {So that I may do good in that which I have left behind!} [Surat Al-Mu’minûn 23:100]
{لَعَلّيِ أَعْمَلُ صَالِحاً فِيمَا تَرَكْت} المؤمنون: 100
Transliteration: LaAAallee aAAmalu salihan feemataraktu
He is responded in reprimand by {No}, yes it is a {No} as We have given you time… {No} We have left you and you went too far and never cared and never returned… no, the time is over. {No! It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected.} [Surat Al-Mu’minûn 23:100]
{كَلاَّ إنَّهّا كَلِمَةٌ هُوَ قَائُلِهَا وَمِنَ وَرَائِهم بَرْزَخٌ إلَى يَوْم يُبْعَثُونَ} المؤمنون: 100
Transliteration: kalla innaha kalimatun huwa qailuha wamin waraihim barzakhun ila yawmi yubAAathoona
You may say: what should I do? What could I do? I have sinned a lot... I have disobeyed a lot... I will say to you: my brother, hurry… Hurry as long as the door is open.
Verily, the door to repentance is still open for you. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said, “Allah accepts the repentance of the servant as long as he is not in his stupor.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi and declared good by Al-Albani]
«إن الله يقبل توبة العبد ما لم يغرغر» رواه الترمذي وحسنه الألباني
And, “he who repents from a sin is like he who is sinless.” [Reported by Ibn Majah and declared good by Al-Albani]
«التائب من الذنب كمن لا ذنب له» رواه ابن ماجه وحسنه الألباني
And have the glad tidings from Allah; for you and for all the repentant… listen to it in the words of Allah Almighty, {Except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allâh will change their sins into good deeds, and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful} [Surat Al-Furqân 25:70]
{إِلاَّ مَن تَابَ وَآمَنَ وَعَمِلَ عملاً صَالِحاً فَأُوْلَئِكَ يُبَدّلُ اللهُ سَيَئَاتِهِم حَسَنَاتٍ وَكَانَ اللهُ غَفُوراً رَّحيماً} الفرقان: 70
Transliteration: Illa man taba waamana waAAamila AAamalan salihan faolaika yubaddilu Allahu sayyiatihim hasanatin wakana Allahu ghafooran raheeman
So hasten – O slave of Allah – and do not empower Satan over you. Hasten before {Lest a person should say: “Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allâh (i.e. I have not done what Allâh has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who mocked [at the truth! i.e. Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), the Qur’ân, and Muhammad and at the faithful believers] (56) Or (lest) he should say: “If only Allâh had guided me, I should indeed have been among the Muttaqûn (the pious) (57) Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: “If only I had another chance (to return to the world), then I should indeed be among the Muhsinûn (good-doers)} [Surat Az-Zumar 39:56-58]
{أن تَقُولَ نَفْسٌ يَا حَسْرَتَى عَلَى مَا فَرَّطتُ فيِ جَنبِ الله وَإن كُنتُ لَمنَ السَّاخرينَ (56) أو تَقُولَ لَو أَنَّ اللهَ هَدَانِي لَكُنتُ مِنَ المُتَّقِينَ (57) أوْ تَقُولَ حَيِنَ تَرَىَ الَعَذَابَ لَو أَن لَيِ كَرَّةً فَأكُونَ منَ المُحْسِنِين} الزمر: 56-58
Transliteration: An taqoola nafsun ya hasrata AAala ma farrattu fee janbi Allahi wain kuntu lamina alssakhireena (56) Aw taqoola law anna Allaha hadanee lakuntu mina almuttaqeena (57) Aw taqoola heena tara alAAathaba law anna lee karratan faakoona mina almuhsineena
And know that Allah rejoices over your repentance; so what are you waiting for?
Repentance has conditions:
O dear brother: if you know that repentance from sins is obligatory, you must know that it has conditions without which it is not accepted. If the sin is related to the slave of Allah and Allah Almighty and that it is not related to the rights of people, it has three conditions:
The First: to abandon performing such an act of disobedience.
The Second: to regret doing it
The Third: to set up his mind never to return to doing it again.
If one of these conditions is missed, the repentance then is not accepted. If the act of disobedience is involving the right of a person, whether in money, honors or the like, repentance then has four conditions:
1 – The aforementioned three,
2 – and the fourth: to clear himself from the right of such person. If it is money or the like, it is to be returned. If it is a punishment of calumny and the like, he is to present himself for the punishment or to ask for the victim’s forgiveness. If it is backbiting, he is to confess and ask for his forgiveness. These are the conditions of the sincere accepted repentance. Allah Almighty has said, {O you who believe! Turn to Allâh with sincere repentance!} [Surat At-Tahrîm 66:8]
{يَا أَيُهَا الذيِنَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إلَى الله تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحاً} التحريم: 8
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo tooboo ila Allahi tawbatan nasoohan
O brother, remember that remissness is a standing characteristic of humanity and that imperfection is from the innate disposition of the human being. Every human being has a share of lustrous desires, supremacy of the innate nature and heedlessness that befalls him in remissness. However, the degrees of sins vary according to the degrees of self-struggling and the success from Allah. Hence, the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said, “By Him in Whose Hand is my life, if you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace you by those people who would commit sin and seek forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them.” [Reported by Muslim]
«والذي نفسي بيده! لو لم تذنبوا لذهب الله بكم، ولجاء بقوم يذنبون، فيستغفرون الله، فيغفر لهم» رواه مسلم
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was the most keen among people on asking Allah for forgiveness and repenting to Him. Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said, “we used to count for the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in one council a hundred time saying: O my Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.” [Reported by Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani]
«رب اغفر لي، وتب على إنك أنت التواب الرحيم» رواه أبو داود وصححه الألباني
He used to invoke Allah in his prayers saying, “O Allah, I have wronged myself, with great injustice, and no one forgives sins but You. O forgive me and have mercy on me as You are the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
«اللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلماً كثيراً، ولا يغفر الذنوب إلا أنت، فاغفر لي مغفرة من عندك وارحمني إنك أنت الغفور الرحيم» رواه البخاري
He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to say during ablution, “I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone, who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His Slave and His Messenger. O Allah make me among those who turn unto You in repentance and among those who purify themselves (by taking a bath and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for their prayers).” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Al-Albani]
«أشهد أن لا إله الا الله وحده لا شريك له، وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله. اللهم اجعلني من التوابين، واجعلني من المتطهرين» رواه الترمذي وصححه الألباني
O noble brother: be keen on turning to Allah in repentance and asking Him for forgiveness; they are the means of success, the origin of guidance and the right conduct, and the path of the righteous and the obedient. Our Lord! Let not our hearts deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us. O Allah! You direct hearts, direct our hearts to obeying You. You keep the hearts firm, keep ours firm in Your religion. And Allah knows best.
Peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and upon all his family and companions.
Ibn Khuzaymah House
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