Repentance

Returning to Allah Glorified and Exalted in repentance is one of the greatest beloved worships for Him. It is, in addition, one of the widest ways for His mercy, Paradise, bounty and His good Pleasure as it requires humiliation, submission, and humbleness

  • Categories: Repentance -

All praise and thanks be to Allah and peace and blessings of Allah be upon His Messenger and upon his family and companions and upon everyone who followed him.

 
Returning to Allah Glorified and Exalted in repentance is one of the greatest beloved worships for Him. It is, in addition, one of the widest ways for His mercy, Paradise, bounty and His good Pleasure as it requires humiliation, submission, and humbleness before the Hands of Allah Almighty along with the confession of sins and being delinquent in the rights of Allah Almighty. Through repentance, the most sublime feature form of slavery appears. By repentance, a man comes to his ranks of defect, weakness, negligence, mistake, ignorance and injustice at which Allah has created him.
 
Repentance is recognition of the deficit of mind and weakness of the self and a confession that perfection is for Allah alone Who has no partner. It is a rank which neither the prophets nor the righteous could do without. It is as the soul for the body. Therefore, Allah Almighty has addressed His believing servants by saying: {And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful} [Surat An-Nûr 24:31].
 
{...وَتُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّـهِ جَمِيعًا أَيُّهَ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ لَعَلَّكُمْ تُفْلِحُونَ} النور: 31
 
 

 

Transliteration: watooboo ila Allahi jameeAAan ayyuha almuminoona laAAallakum tuflihoona
 
He has attached success to achieving repentance after believing; which implies that it is a rank a slave of Allah must abide by in his path to Allah. Therefore, Allah Almighty has said to His seal of Messengers; Muhammad, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him: {So know (O Muhammad) that, Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but Allâh), and ask forgiveness for your sin, and also for (the sin of) believing men and believing women.} [Surat Muhammad 47:19].
 
{فَاعْلَمْ أَنَّهُ لَا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا اللَّـهُ وَاسْتَغْفِرْ لِذَنبِكَ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَالْمُؤْمِنَاتِ...} محمد: 19
 
Transliteration: FaiAAlam annahu la ilaha illa Allahu waistaghfir lithanbika walilmumineena waalmuminati
 
My dear brother: remember that you are a human being and that any human being is exposed to mistake and disobedience; to committing errors and sins; to performing acts of disobedience and guilt. No one is inerrant except those who were protected by Allah in delivering His revelation and message. So, you will, inevitably commit mistakes, slips and deficits.
 
Know, may Allah protect you, that: repenting from sins is the life for both soul and heart. Allah Glorified and Exalted delights much at the repentance of His servant. He accepts his apology and humility and hates his excessiveness and persistence (in committing sins). Allah Almighty has said: {And He it is Who accepts repentance from His slaves, and forgives sins, and He knows what you do.} [Surat Ash-Shûra 42:25].
 
{وَهُوَ الَّذِي يَقْبَلُ التَّوْبَةَ عَنْ عِبَادِهِ وَيَعْفُو عَنِ السَّيِّئَاتِ وَيَعْلَمُ مَا تَفْعَلُونَ} الشورى: 25
 
 

 

Transliteration: Wahuwa allathee yaqbalu alttawbata AAan AAibadihi wayaAAfoo AAani alssayyiati wayaAAlamu ma tafAAaloona
 
So, what is the truth about repentance?
What are its conditions?
What about its fruits?
 
 
The reality of repentance:
 
Remember, O servant of Allah, that sins are causes of the ruin and loss of man. Their sequences in this world are noticed and observed: worry, confusion, hardship, disturbance, distress, in addition to Allah’s dissatisfaction and punishment. Their sequences in the hereafter are not hidden from any sane Muslim. Allah Almighty said: {Nay! Truly, the Record (writing of the deeds) of the Fujjâr (disbelievers, polytheists, sinners, evil-doers and the wicked) is (preserved) in Sijjîn.} [Surat Al-Mutaffifîn 83:7].
 
{كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الْفُجَّارِ لَفِي سِجِّينٍ} المطففين: 7
 
 

 

Transliteration: Kalla inna kitaba alfujjari lafee sijjeenin
 
Abu ‘Ubayda and Al-Akhfash said: i.e. in imprisonment and severe distress. He, the Almighty has said: {“But whosoever turns away from My Reminder (i.e. neither believes in this Qur’ân nor acts on its teachings.) verily, for him is a life of hardship, and We shall raise him up blind on the Day of Resurrection.”} [Surat Tâha 20:124].
 
{وَمَنْ أَعْرَضَ عَن ذِكْرِي فَإِنَّ لَهُ مَعِيشَةً ضَنكًا وَنَحْشُرُهُ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ أَعْمَىٰ} طه: 124
 
 

 

Transliteration: Waman aAArada AAan thikree fainna lahu maAAeeshatan dankanwanahshuruhu yawma alqiyamati aAAman
 
Sins, therefore, are reasons of embittered and difficult life in both this worldly life and the Hereafter.
 
Therefore, repentance is a straight way for the relieving of worries and the tranquility and peace of mind in this worldly life and for the salvation on the Day of Reckoning.
 
 
The reality of repentance:
 
It is returning to Allah in repentance, humility and submission to Him, and the recognition of the negligence of the soul in matters of His rights and in obeying Him.
 
Know my dear brother: that repentance has conditions without which it is not accepted.
 
 
The conditions of repentance:
 
An-Nawawy, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “scholars said: repentance is obligatory for each sin. If the act of disobedience was between man and Allah Almighty and that it does not involve any rights for a person, it has then 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, there are then four conditions:
 
The aforementioned three conditions…
 
And to clear himself from the right of such person. If it is money or the alike, 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. And that one should repent from all sins.
 
O my dear brother, beware of ever being deceived by procrastination and far expectations from hastening to repentance. It is obligatory to repent at once; and one is not allowed to delay it as Allah Glorified and Exalted has said: {O you who believe! Turn to Allâh with sincere repentance!} [Surat At-Tahrîm 66:8].
 
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّـهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا...} التحريم: 8
 
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo tooboo ilaAllahi tawbatan nasoohan
 
Whatever your sins and mistakes might be, do not despair of the mercy of Allah Almighty. He is Bountiful and Generous and Shy. He is Shy to shun His servant if he asks Him. He, the Almighty has said: {Say: “O ‘Ibâdî (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allâh: verily, Allâh forgives all sins. Truly He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (53) “And turn in repentance and in obedience with true Faith (Islâmic Monotheism) to your Lord and submit to Him (in Islâm) before the torment comes upon you, (and) then you will not be helped. (54) “And follow the best of that which is sent down to you from your Lord (i.e. this Qur’ân, do what it orders you to do and keep away from what it forbids), before the torment comes on you suddenly while you perceive not!”} [Surat Az-Zumar 39:53-55].
 
{قُلْ يَا عِبَادِيَ الَّذِينَ أَسْرَفُوا عَلَىٰ أَنفُسِهِمْ لَا تَقْنَطُوا مِن رَّحْمَةِ اللَّـهِ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا ۚ إِنَّهُ هُوَ الْغَفُورُ الرَّحِيمُ ﴿٥٣﴾ وَأَنِيبُوا إِلَىٰ رَبِّكُمْ وَأَسْلِمُوا لَهُ مِن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ ثُمَّ لَا تُنصَرُونَ ﴿٥٤﴾ وَاتَّبِعُوا أَحْسَنَ مَا أُنزِلَ إِلَيْكُم مِّن رَّبِّكُم مِّن قَبْلِ أَن يَأْتِيَكُمُ الْعَذَابُ بَغْتَةً وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ} الزمر: 53-55
 
 

 

Transliteration: Qul ya AAibadiya allatheena asrafoo AAala anfusihim la taqnatoo min rahmati Allahi inna Allaha yaghfiru alththunooba jameeAAan innahu huwa alghafooru alrraheemu (53) Waaneeboo ila rabbikum waaslimoo lahu min qabli an yatiyakumu alAAathabu thumma la tunsaroona (54) WaittabiAAoo ahsana maonzila ilaykum min rabbikum min qabli an yatiyakumu alAAathabu baghtatan waantum la tashAAuroona
 
Abu Musa Al-Ash’ary, may Allah be pleased with him, said that the Prophet, 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 daring 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
 
Start, O servant of Allah, as He lends you a helping hand. Return in repentance to Him as he loves those who are constantly repentant and those who purify themselves. Preserve in the faithful and sincere repentance before it is too late:
 
I am the servant who has committed sins
And wishes has prevented him from repentance
I am the servant who has become sad
From his slips, who is worried and depressed
I am the servant about whom
Sheets has been written while he has not been fearful from the Observer
I am the sinful servant who committed sins secretly
So why I do not now show wailing
I am the extravagant servant whom life has been wasted so
I have not seen the grey hair
I am the servant who is drowning deeply in the sea
Crying so I may find a responder
 
O my dear brother, start very soon, hasten to achieve the pleasure of Allah the Gracious. Buckle down, renew the intention, and return to Allah in repentance. Repentance is the ornament of the Prophets and the Messengers. Moses said: {“Glory be to You, I turn to You in repentance and I am the first of the believers.”} [Surat Al-A’arâf 7:143].
 
{...سُبْحَانَكَ تُبْتُ إِلَيْكَ وَأَنَاْ أَوَّلُ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ} الأعراف: 143
 
 

 

Transliteration: subhanaka tubtu ilayka waanaawwalu almumineena
 
Allah Almighty has said through Salih, peace be upon him: {then ask forgiveness of Him and turn to Him in repentance. Certainly, my Lord is Near (to all by His Knowledge), Responsive.”} [Surat Hûd 11:61].
 
{...فَاسْتَغْفِرُوهُ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ إِنَّ رَبِّي قَرِيبٌ مُّجِيبٌ} هود: 61
 
 

 

Transliteration: faistaghfiroohu thumma tooboo ilayhi inna rabbee qareebun mujeebun
 
He, the Almighty has said through Hud, peace be upon him: {“And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimûn (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allâh).”} [Surat Hûd 11:52].
 
{وَيَا قَوْمِ اسْتَغْفِرُواْ رَبَّكُمْ ثُمَّ تُوبُواْ إِلَيْهِ يُرْسِلِ السَّمَاء عَلَيْكُم مِّدْرَارًا وَيَزِدْكُمْ قُوَّةً إِلَى قُوَّتِكُمْ وَلاَ تَتَوَلَّوْاْ مُجْرِمِينَ} هود: 52
 
 

 

Transliteration: Waya qawmi istaghfiroo rabbakum thumma tooboo ilayhi yursili alssamaa AAalaykum midraran wayazidkum quwwatan ila quwwatikum walatatawallaw mujrimeena
 
Abraham, peace be upon him, said invoking his Lord: {“Our Lord! Forgive me and my parents, and (all) the believers on the Day when the reckoning will be established.”} [Surat Ibrâhîm 14:41].
 
{رَبَّنَا اغْفِرْ لِي وَلِوَالِدَيَّ وَلِلْمُؤْمِنِينَ يَوْمَ يَقُومُ الْحِسَابُ} إبراهيم: 41
 
 

 

Transliteration: Rabbana ighfir lee waliwalidayya walilmumineena yawma yaqoomu alhisabu
 
He also said: {and show us our Manâsik (all the ceremonies of pilgrimage - Hajjand ‘Umrah), and accept our repentance. Truly, You are the One Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:128].
 
{وَأَرِنَا مَنَاسِكَنَا وَتُبْ عَلَيْنَآ إِنَّكَ أَنتَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ} البقرة: 128
 
 

 

Transliteration: waarina manasikanawatub AAalayna innaka anta alttawwabu alrraheemu
 
O my dear brother, hasten and return to Allah in repentance. You are not better than the Prophets and Messengers of Allah. As you have known, they were always hurrying in repenting to Him with continuous asking for forgiveness.
 
How many times I mislead my affair
As if I did not know
I have neglected what happened
In the beginning of my life
I still have hostility
Until my life ends
What can I do if I become confined
By sin in my tomb
I wish I knew till I
Die I wish I knew
 
The master of the sons of Adam, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “O people, seek repentance from Allah. Verily, I seek repentance from Him a hundred times a day.” [Reported by Muslim]
 
«يا أيها الناس! توبوا إلى الله. فإني أتوب في اليوم إليه مائة مرة» رواه مسلم
 
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 for forgiveness from Allah and turn to Him in repentance more than seventy times a day.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
 
«والله إني لأستغفر الله وأتوب إليه في اليوم أكثر من سبعين مرة» رواه البخاري
 
O you mistaken servant until when
You waste your time with may and ought
Approach to your Lord O you whose life
Has been lost in disobeying Him and vanished
 
Repent, dear brother, quickly. Know that you are at a home of working and testing while tomorrow you will be at a home of reckoning and rewarding.
 
 
The virtue of repentance
 
Know, my dear brother, that: the virtue of repentance is great with Allah. Its reward is abundant and gracious as it cancels all the previous sins and guilt, and increases the grades of the repentant and it is a cause to achieve Allah’s pleasure and love.
 
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].
 
{...إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ} البقرة: 222
 
 

 

Transliteration: inna Allaha yuhibbu alttawwabeena wayuhibbu almutatahhireena
 
Abu Nujaid ‘Imran Ibn Al-Husain Al-Khuza’i, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, reported that a woman from Juhaina (a tribe) came to The Messenger of Allah, Peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, and that she had become pregnant out of adultery. She said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, I have transgressed a limit of Allah, so punish me accordingly.’ The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has called for her guardian and said: “Treat her well, and when she delivers bring her to me”. He did accordingly. Then The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, pronounced judgment about her and her clothes were tied around her and then he commanded and she was stoned to death. He then prayed over her (dead body). Thereupon ‘Umar said to him: O Messenger of Allah, you offer prayer for her, whereas she had committed adultery! Thereupon he said: “She has made such repentance that if it were to be divided among seventy men of Medina, it would be enough. Have you found any repentance better than this that she sacrificed her life for Allah, Glorified and Exalted?” [Reported by Muslim, 1696].
 
«أن امرأة من جهينة أتت نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، وهي حبلى من الزنى. فقالت: يا نبي الله! أصبت حدا فأقمه علي. فدعا نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم وليها فقال (أحسن إليها، فإذا وضعت فائتني بها)، ففعل. فأمر بها نبي الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فشكت عليها ثيابها ثم أمر بها فرجمت، ثم صلى عليها. فقال له عمر: تصلي عليها؟ يا نبي الله! وقد زنت. فقال (لقد تابت توبة لو قسمت بين سبعين من أهل المدينة لوسعتهم. وهل وجدت توبة أفضل من أن جادت بنفسها لله تعالى؟)» رواه مسلم
 
There is evidence in the aforementioned Hadith for the great value of repentance with Allah Glorified and Exalted, otherwise the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, would have not prayed upon this woman and would not have mentioned that her repentance was enough for seventy men of Medina. Ponder on your abundant sins and remember what your hands, feet, ears and eyes have committed of sins. Repent sincerely and hold yourself responsible today as it is easier than holding yourself responsible tomorrow. Allah Almighty has said: {O you who believe! Fear Allâh and keep your duty to Him. And let every person look to what he has sent forth for the morrow, and fear Allâh} [Surat Al-Hashr 59:18].
 
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا اتَّقُوا اللَّـهَ وَلْتَنظُرْ نَفْسٌ مَّا قَدَّمَتْ لِغَدٍ...} الحشر: 18
 
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo ittaqoo Allaha waltanthur nafsun ma qaddamat lighadin
 
‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “Hold yourself responsible before being held responsible and weigh it before being weighed. It is easier to hold yourself responsible today before being asked tomorrow. Adorn yourself for the Greater Exhibition, you will be exhibited [for judgment]; that Day shall you be brought to Judgment, not a secret of you will be hidden.”
 
 
Brother:
 
Depict yourself standing on the Day of Resurrection naked
Supplicating, worried and perplexed
Fire is exhaling in anger and rage
For the disobedient and you meet the angry Lord
Read your book, O my servant, slowly
And look at it and you will see whether what happened had happened
 
 
The fruits of repentance
 
The fruits of repentance are tasted by all those who know the reality of repentance and worship Allah accordingly. It is the reason for all goodness, success, tranquility, and joy of the heart and its happiness.
 
Allah Glorified and Exalted loves the repentant and is happy with his repentance. He casts sweetness, happiness and joy into his heart.
 
Some of the most important fruits of repentance include:
 
1- The pleasure of Allah Almighty:
 
My dear brother: if repentance has no fruit but the pleasure and love of Allah, so this is enough. 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].
 
{...إِنَّ اللَّـهَ يُحِبُّ التَّوَّابِينَ وَيُحِبُّ الْمُتَطَهِّرِينَ} البقرة: 222
 
 

 

Transliteration: inna Allaha yuhibbu alttawwabeena wayuhibbu almutatahhireena
 
If Allah loves you, there shall be no fear on you, nor shall you grieve. In the Divine saying: “If I love him, so I become his sense of hearing with which he hears, and his sense of sight with which he sees, and his hand with which he grips, and his leg with which he walks; and if he asks Me, I will give him, and if he asks My protection, I will protect him” [Reported by Al-Bukhari].
 
«فإذا أحببته: كنت سمعه الذي يسمع به، وبصره الذي يبصر به، ويده التي يبطش بها، ورجله التي يمشي بها، وإن سألني لأعطينه، ولئن استعاذني لأعيذنه» رواه البخاري
 
This who repents to Allah is beloved, aided and protected by Him against any evil and affliction. Mercies descend upon him and blessings overwhelm him. His invocations are accepted. When he takes, he takes by the light of Allah; when he seizes, he seizes by the light of Allah; and when he walks he walks by the light of Allah, because he has accepted His call and obeyed His ordains: {O you who believe! Turn to Allâh with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will expiate from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) - the Day that Allâh will not disgrace the Prophet (Muhammad) and those who believe with him. Their Light will run forward before them and (with their Records - Books of deeds) in their right hands. They will say: “Our Lord! Keep perfect our Light for us [and do not put it off till we cross over the Sirât (a slippery bridge over the Hell) safely] and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things} [Surat At-Tahrîm 66:8].
 
{يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا تُوبُوا إِلَى اللَّـهِ تَوْبَةً نَّصُوحًا عَسَىٰ رَبُّكُمْ أَن يُكَفِّرَ عَنكُمْ سَيِّئَاتِكُمْ وَيُدْخِلَكُمْ جَنَّاتٍ تَجْرِي مِن تَحْتِهَا الْأَنْهَارُ يَوْمَ لَا يُخْزِي اللَّـهُ النَّبِيَّ وَالَّذِينَ آمَنُوا مَعَهُ ۖ نُورُهُمْ يَسْعَىٰ بَيْنَ أَيْدِيهِمْ وَبِأَيْمَانِهِمْ...} التحريم: 8
 
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo tooboo ilaAllahi tawbatan nasoohan AAasarabbukum an yukaffira AAankum sayyiatikum wayudkhilakum jannatin tajree min tahtiha alanharu yawma layukhzee Allahu alnnabiyya waallatheenaamanoo maAAahu nooruhum yasAAabayna aydeehim wabiaymanihim 
 
The sane person is the one who wishes for the mercy and pleasure of Allah and presents with this wish repentance, humility, refraining from and stopping committing sins and acts of disobedience, and regretting what he has missed of the acts of obedience and worship:
 
O Lord we ask your forgiveness and do not punish us for our slips. O Lord forgive the sins we have committed.
 
Abu Hamza Anas ibn Malik Al-Ansari, may Allah be pleased with him, who is the servant of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has narrated a Hadith in which there is evidence that repentance is one of the most sublime acts of closeness to Allah; one of the most loved by Him and that they cause His satisfaction and pleasure. He said: the Messenger of Allah, 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 2747]
 
«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
 
2- Tranquility
 
My dear brother: know that the harm of disobediences on souls is more dangerous than the harm of illnesses on bodies. The harm of disobedience, even, affects both soul and body. A disobedient is afflicted by worries, grieves, obsessions and delusions. You cannot find him but afraid and scared because of the sins and the acts of disobedience he has committed:
 
That is how Allah destined among creatures and this is how they are created
That both fears and wrongdoing are gathered
 
Repentance is, therefore, tranquility for the soul and happiness for the heart.
 
Al-Hasan Al-Basry, may Allah have mercy on him, said: “A good deed is a light in the heart and strength in the body and a bad deed is darkness in the heart and weakness in the body.”
 
Repentance is a remedy for both soul and body illnesses; it requires patience and awaiting Allah’s reward. It is a remedy that polishes the hearts and removes the reasons of distress and hardship. This is the rân mentioned in His Almighty saying: {Nay! But on their hearts is the Rân (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn} [Surat Al-Mutaffifîn 83:14].
 
{كَلَّا ۖ بَلْ ۜ رَانَ عَلَىٰ قُلُوبِهِم مَّا كَانُوا يَكْسِبُونَ} المطففين: 14
 
 

 

Transliteration: Kalla bal rana AAala quloobihim makanoo yaksiboona
 
Upon removing the rân, the hearts become light and cheerful. They know no desperation and are not afflicted by distress. Man’s affliction by worry, grief or depression is but due to sins:
 
Pleasure perishes from this that got its clarity
From the forbidden while sin and shame stay
Consequences of evil stays with their effects
There is no goodness in a pleasure that is followed by fire
 
Abu Suleiman Ad-Darani said: “It is purified for this who purifies and is desolated for this who desolates. This who performs good deed at night will be rewarded in the morning and this who performs good deed in the morning will be rewarded at night.”
 
O servant of Allah, hasten to all that is good. Repent to Allah as He is Forgiving and Merciful. Know that happiness in this worldly life can only be achieved by obedience, asking for forgiveness and patience. Repentance redresses obedience and renews intentions in souls.
 
3 – Avoiding the anger of Allah, Glorified and Exalted
 
Know my dear brother: that repentance is a protection from the torture and punishment of Allah. Sins cause anger and punishment while repentance eradicates sins and abrogates them. Allah said about Jonah, peace be upon him: {Had he not been of them who glorify Allâh, (143) He would have indeed remained inside its belly (the fish) till the Day of Resurrection.} [Surat Al-Sâffât 37:143-144].
 
{فَلَوْلَا أَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنَ الْمُسَبِّحِينَ ﴿١٤٣﴾ لَلَبِثَ فِي بَطْنِهِ إِلَىٰ يَوْمِ يُبْعَثُونَ} الصافات: 143-144
 
 

 

Transliteration: Falawlaannahu kana mina almusabbiheena (143) Lalabitha fee batnihi ila yawmi yubAAathoona
 
Jonah was praising Allah by saying: {Lâ ilâha illâ Anta [none has the right to be worshipped but You (O, Allâh)], Glorified (and Exalted) be You [above all that (evil) they associate with You]! Truly, I have been of the wrong-doers.} [Surat Al-Anbiyâ’ 21:87].
 
{...لَّا إِلَـٰهَ إِلَّا أَنتَ سُبْحَانَكَ إِنِّي كُنتُ مِنَ الظَّالِمِينَ} الأنبياء: 87
 
 

 

Transliteration: la ilaha illa anta subhanaka innee kuntu mina alththalimeena
 
The pleasure attained through sins end while their consequences stay. Repentance is a barrier between man and punishment. Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him said: “Allah feels jealous and a believer feels jealous. Allah’s jealousy is that a believer commits what is forbidden.” [Reported by Muslim, 2761]
 
«إن الله يغار، وإن المؤمن يغار، وغيرة الله أن يأتي المؤمن ما حرم عليه» رواه مسلم
 
O my Lord I come to you with wish
That seeks refuge with my good opinion
I seek your favors with which
You eradicate what I have committed
Look at me with Your charity
O my Lord and forgive me
Do not disgrace me on the Day of Resurrection
With what I committed and do not insult me
 
 
Conclusion:
 
My Muslim brother: return to Allah with worry and apprehension. Ask him with fear and need. Be sure that your repentance will be accepted as He Almighty is Generous. Know that all the sons of Adam are wrongdoers and that the best among them the sinners are those who repent. Abu Huraira, may Allah be pleased with him, narrated that the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “By Him in Whose hand is my life, if you were not to commit sins, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace you by those people who would commit sins and seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty, and He would have pardoned them.” [Reported by Muslim, 2749]
 
«والذي نفسي بيده! لو لم تذنبوا لذهب الله بكم، ولجاء بقوم يذنبون فيستغفرون الله، فيغفر لهم» رواه مسلم
 
Remember that you are a human being, so you are controlled by human characteristics such as inattention, negligence, forgetfulness, erring and predominance of temper, which require your continuous repentance every time to reform your slips and ugly deeds.
 
Follow the path of the convinced
And have a good opinion of the Generous
Remember your standing in fear
And People are in great situation
So, take advantage of your life and exert effort
And Repent to the Merciful Lord
 
 
Ibn Khuzaymah House