HUMAN beings by nature are subject to error. But this does not in any way imply that every person is born in sin or inherited sin as the doctrine of Christianity says. The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: Every human is liable to make mistakes and the best among them is the one who repents.
It is one of the essential principles of Islam that every soul is responsible for its own action. Allah Subhaanahu Wa ta’ala said:
Whoever goes right, then he goes right only for the benefit of his ownself. And whoever goes astray, then he goes astray to his own loss. No one laden with burdens can bear another’s burden. And We never punish until We have sent a Messenger (to give warning). [17:15].
There are several Qur’anic verses to this effect. However, there are certain instances where a person has to bear the responsibility for the errors of others. This situation arises when someone purposely misguides another in the matter of Allah’s ruling and the misled person therefore commits a sin as a direct result of being encouraged do so.
They will bear their own burdens in full on the Day of Resurrection, and also of those who they misled without knowledge. Evil indeed is that which they shall bear. [16:25].
The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
On the Day of Resurrection Allah will not accept repentance or ransom from him who learns excellence of speech, thereby to captivate the hearts of men, or of people. [Abu-Dawood]
If a normal person commits a sin, by his words, by deeds or even by feelings he will naturally feel deep inside him that he did something wrong. This realisation makes him feel the need to repent and seek forgiveness for his mistake and to repair the damage done or compensate for the error. To know the importance of repentance in every human life, imagine if Allah did not set a way for us to reach back to Him. What kind of frustration will be inside a person who has committed a lot of sins and mistakes in his life and has no way out? Do you think he will be at peace or comfortable for the rest of his life? He will probably destroy himself and those around him.
Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
Do not wish for death, for the terror of the place whence one looks down is severe. It is part of a man’s happiness that his life should be long and Allah Who is Great and Glorious, should supply him with repentance. [Ahmed]
Prophets (‘alaihimus salaam) are viewed in Islam as the best examples for mankind, to show how to lead a righteous life. They were pure individuals protected by God from committing major sins. We do not say that they never committed any errors or mistakes in judgment between what is good and what is better, but they never committed major sins. Thus their sinless state is not completely equivalent to that of angels.
In the Qur’an, Allah mentions some prophets who committed minor sins and repented immediately when these became apparent to them. The examples are many; the incident of Nuh (‘alaihi salaam) when he asked forgiveness for his own son. The case of Moses (‘alaihi salaam) when he asked to see Allah in person; or the case of Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) when he ignored the blind man who came to learn about Islam.
Some deviated Islamic sects claim that their Imams are sinless persons and never committed a sin. This implies they are better than the prophets and are equal to the angels. Are they better than the prophets? The truth is they are equal to devils for making such a claim, because this was what Iblees claimed when he said that he was better than Adam (‘alaihi salaam).
THE DOOR OF REPENTANCE IS OPEN TO EVERY PERSON IN ISLAM
Allah and His messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) encourage every human being towards repentance. One of the Names of Allah is ‘At-Tawwaab’. This name implies one of His Attributes. The Qur’anic aayaat explain this further.
Then Adam received from his Lord Words. And his Lord pardoned him (accepted his repentance), Verily He is the One Who forgives (accepts repentance), the Most Merciful. [2:37]
And those who, when they have committed Faahishah (illegal sexual intercourse, etc.) or wronged themselves with evil, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins; – and none can forgive sins but Allah – And do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know. For such, the reward is Forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens with rivers flowing underneath, wherein they shall abide forever. How excellent is this reward for the doers of righteous deeds. [3:135]
Know they not that Allah accepts repentance from His slaves and takes the Sadaqah (alms, charities) and that Allah Alone is the One Who forgives and accepts repentance, Most Merciful? [9: 104]
And the three left, till for them the earth, vast as it is, was straitened and their own selves were straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah, and no refuge but with Him. Then, He accepted their repentance that they might repent (unto Him). Verily, Allah is the One Who accepts repentance, Most Merciful. [9:118]
Say: O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves!) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [39:53]
O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance! It may be that your Lord will remit from you your sins and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (paradise) – the Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet (Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) 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 or Light for us [and do not put it off till we cross over the Siraat (a slippery bridge over the Hell) safely and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are Able to do all things.” [66:8].
Prophet Muhammad (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) in several hadith said:
Every human is liable to make to mistakes and the best among them is the one who repents.
“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).” [Muslim]
“What is your opinion about the delight of a person whose camel loaded with the provisions of food and drink is lost and that moves about with its nose-string trailing upon the waterless desert in which there is neither food nor drink, and he wanders about in search of that until he is completely exhausted and then accidentally it happens to pass by the trunk of a tree and its nose-string gets entangled in that and he finds it entangled therein?” We said (in response to the question of the Prophet): “Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) he would feel highly delighted.” Thereupon Allah’s Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said: “By Allah, Allah is more delighted at the repentance of His servant than that person (as he finds his lost) camel.” [Muslim]
REPENTANCE AMONG PREVIOUS NATIONS
It is a mercy of Allah that He releases the burdens of this nation. He tells us to beseech Him for relief from the heavy burdens that were laid on the nations of earlier times – such as Jews and Christians as mentioned in the Qur’an.
Allah burdens not a person beyond his scope. He gets reward for that (good) which he has earned, and he is punished for that (evil) which he has earned. “Our Lord! Punish us not if we forget or fall into error; Our Lord! Lay not on us a burden like that which You did lay on those before us (Jews and Christians); Our Lord! Put not us a burden greater than we have strength to bear; Pardon us and grant us forgiveness; Have mercy on us. You are our Maula (Patron, Support and Protector, etc.) and give us victory over the disbelieving people.” [2:286]
On the other hand He sent us the Messenger (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) who grieves when we receive any injury or any difficulty. And for the believers, full of pity, kind and merciful.
Verily, there has come unto you a Messenger (Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) from amongst yourselves. (who you know well) It grieves him that you should receive any injury or difficulty. He (Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) is anxious over you (to be rightly guided, to repent to Allah, and beg Him to pardon and forgive your sins, in order that you may enter Paradise and be saved from the punishment of the Hell-fire), for the believers (he is) full of pity, kind and merciful. [9:128].
He releases them from their heavy burdens.
Those who follow the Messenger, the Prophet who can neither read nor write, whom they find written with them in the Tauraah (Deuteronomy 18:15) and Injeel (John 14:16) – he commands them for Ma’roof (i.e. Islamic Monotheism and that Islam has ordained); and forbids them from al-Munkar (i.e. disbelief, polytheism of all kinds, and all that Islam has forbidden); he allows them as lawful al-Tayyibaat (i.e. all good and lawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons, foods, etc.) and prohibits them as unlawful al-Khabaaith (i.e. all evil and unlawful as regards things, deeds, beliefs, persons foods, etc.) he releases them from their heavy burdens (of Allah’s covenant) and from the fetters that were upon them. So those who believe in him (Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam), honour him, help him, and follow the light (the Qur'an) which has been sent down with him, it is they who will be successful.” [7:157]
When the Jews worshipped the cow, they were commanded to kill themselves as repentance.
“And (remember) when Musa said to his people; ‘ O my people! Verily you have wronged yourselves by worshipping the calf. So turn in repentance to your Creator and kill yourselves (the innocent kill the wrongdoers among you), that will be better for you with your Lord.’ Then He accepted your repentance. Truly, He is the One accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.” [2:54]
If an impure thing such as urine fell on a Jew, he was required to cut that portion of their cloth or skin on which the impurity had fallen. This was because they put more difficulties on themselves by hesitating to accept the Commandments of Allah. Compare this situation with the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (radiallahu ‘anhum), who willingly said, “We hear; and We Obey.”
STAGES TOWARDS REPENTANCE (TAUBAH)
1. The realisation that one has committed a sin.
If a person did not realise that he has committed a sin, his feelings will be the same towards his action. For this Allah mentions in His book about those whose hearts are immune to righteousness.
Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearings, (i.e. they are closed from accepting Allah’s Guidance), and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be a great torment. [2:7].
And We have created many of the jinns and mankind for Hell. They have hearts wherewith they understand not, they have eyes wherewith they see not, and they have ears wherewith they hear not (the truth). They are like cattle, nay even more stray, those! They are the heedless ones. [7:179].
Nay! In their hearts is the Ra’n (covering of sins and evil deeds) which they used to earn. [83.14]
The heart is the essential part in the body as the Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) mentioned:
In your body is piece of flesh. If it is good, the whole body is good. If it is sick then the whole body is sick. And that is the heart.
When a person realises that he has committed a sin, his conscience will become restless, and the part of evil nature in him will struggle to suppress this realisation. This stage may last for a long period or a short period, because we have seen some people struggling for years to arrive at the straight path.
And I free not myself (from the blame), verily the (human) self is inclined to evil, except when my Lord bestows His Mercy (upon whom He wills). Verily, my Lord is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. [12:53]
And I swear by the self-reproaching person (a believer) [75:2]
If his sense of God-fearing can overcome this evil nature it will move him towards Allah and the way to repentance by the Will of Allah.
THE CONDITIONS OF
REPENTANCE
1. Stop committing the act of sin/s immediately.
2. Genuinely regret at committing the act of sin/s.
3. Have a firm intention not to repeat the act of sin/s.
4. If the act of sin is related to the human rights of another person who has been violated, then redress or compensate the damage/loss inflicted on that person.
For example, if a person stole anything from another, the repentance is not complete until, he returns the stolen goods to the rightful owner.
5. Repentance must be before the time of death, if it is to be accepted. Allah says in the Qur’an
Whoever wishes for the quick-passing (transitory enjoyment of this world), We readily grant him what We will for whom We like. Then, afterwards, We have appointed for him Hell, he will burn therein disgraced and rejected (far away from Allah’s Mercy). [17:18]
Then why do you not (intervene) when (the soul of a dying person) reaches his throat? [56:83]
Pharaoh was ready to repent only when he saw death in front of eyes.
And We took the Children of Israel across the sea, and Fir’aun (Pharaoh) with his hosts followed them in oppression and enmity, till when drowning overtook him, he said ‘I believe that La ilaaha illa Huwa (none has the right to be worshipped but He), in Whom the children of Israel believe, and I am one of the Muslims (those who submit to Allah’s Will)’. Now (you believe) while you refused to believe before and you were one of the Musfsidoon (evil-doers, corrupts, etc.)!? [10:90-91]
The person at this moment will wish to come back to this world, to do goods, but the answer will be a very severe “NO”.
Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allah), he says, ‘My Lord! Send me back. So that I may do good in that which I have left behind.’ No! It is but a word that he speaks, and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected”. [23:99-100]
The Prophet (sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) said:
Allah, the Lord of honour and glory, will accept the repentance of His servant till his death-rattle begins. [At-Tirmidhi]
He who seeks repentance (from Allah) before the rising of the sun from the west (before the Day of Resurrection), Allah turns to him with Mercy. [Muslim]
SINS THAT WILL NOT
BE FORGIVEN
Allah Subhaanahu Wa ta’ala will forgive all sins except that a person sets up partners in worship (Shirk) with Him.
Verily, Allah forgives not that partners should be set up with Him in worship, but He forgives except that (anything else) to whom He pleases, and whoever sets up partners with Allah in worship, he has indeed invented a tremendous sin.” [4:48]
Whoever died in the state of Shirk, he will be in Hellfire forever. Whoever died committing any other major sins, Allah may forgive him or punish him for what he did. And if he is forgiven, he will be in Al-Jannah.
Finally, repentance should be a continuous action a Muslim should practise everyday and every moment in his life. Some people think repentance applies only if one committed a sin and feels sorry about it. Some sins we commit but we are not aware of them, such as sins of intention of doing a righteous act i.e. Riyaa. You perform a righteous act to show off which is called Riyaa and the person is not aware of it.
Sometimes, we speak some wrong things, or back-bite without realising it. It is written as a sin against us. From this point, we realise the importance of practicing Taubah and we should seek Allah’s forgiveness in our every day life seeking to die in a state of repentance.
Allah described His slaves saying:
“Your Lord knows best what is in your inner-selves. If you are righteous, then, verily, He is Ever Most Forgiving to those who turn unto Him again and again in obedience, and in repentance.” [17:25]
Be patient (O Muhammad sallallaahu ‘alaihi wa sallam) of what they say, and remember Our slave Dawud (David), endued with power. Verily, he was ever oft-returning in all matters and in repentance (towards Allah). [38:17]
(It will be said): “This is what you were promised, – (it is) for those oft-returning (to Allah) in sincere repentance, and those who preserve their covenant with Allah (by obeying Him in all what He has ordered, and worship none but Allah Alone, i.e. follow Allah’s religion, Islamic Monotheism). [50:32]
A Muslim must stop whatever bad practices he has, and start a new lease on life, seeking Allah’s forgiveness. May Allah grant us His unlimited Mercy and Forgiveness. |
