REPENTANCE

REPENTANCE

The word Tawbah (Repentance) in Arabic literally means 'toreturn'. In an Islamic context, it refers to the act of leavingwhat Allaah has prohibited and returning to what He hascommanded.The subject of repentance is one which concerns all people whobelieve in God, and is vital one for the Muslims to understandbecause our salvation in the hereafter is dependent on ourrepentance to Allaah, as is shown by Allaah's order: "AND TURNYOU ALL TOGETHER IN REPENTANCE TO ALLAAH O BELIEVERS, THAT YOU MAY BE SUCCESSFUL" [An-Noor (24):31]In Soorah al-Baqarah, Allaah tells us: "SURELY ALLAAH LOVESTHOSE WHO TURN UNTO HIM IN REPENTANCE AND LOVES THOSE WHO PURIFY THEMSELVES." [2:222]This shows how pleasing our repenting is to Allaah.

Also, theProphet, Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam gave us an example ofjust how pleasing to Allaah our repenting is an authentichadeeth in which he,Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "Allaahis more delighted with the repentance of His servant than one ofyou would be, who suddenly finds his camel laden with suppliesafter 22losing it in a barren land" (1)Try to imagine your joy if you were to suddenly retrieveeverything you ever possessed after losing all hope ofrecovering what you had lost. Then think that Allaah's delightis even greater than this when His slave repents to Him. So muchso, that if man stopped repenting to Allaah, He would replace uswith another creation that would turn to Him for forgiveness.

The Prophet, Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "If you didnot commit sins, Allaah would sweep you out of existence andreplace you by another people who would commit sins, ask forAllaah's forgiveness and He would forgive them." (2)The problem with many of us today, is that we don't fear Allaah,which means that we don't think twice about disobeying Him andtherefore falling into sin, which we give no real tought to. Soperhaps we should think about the statement which Ibn Mas'ood(3) radi Allaahu 'anhu, made: "A believer sees his sins as ifhe were sitting under a mountain which he is affraid may fall onhim, whereas the wicked person considers his sins as fliespassing over his nose and he just drives them away like this(and he moved his hand over his nose in illustration)." (4)
NEVER DESPAIR Someone might say, 'I want to repent but my sinsare too many.' But Allaah says: "SAY: O MY SLAVES WHO HAVETRANSGRESSED AGAINST THEMSELVES! DESPAIR NOT FOR THE MERCY OF ALLAAH, VERILY ALLAAH FORGIVES ALL SINS. TRULY HE IS OFT FORGIVING, MOST MERCIFUL." [Az-Zumar (39):53]Therefore, we should never lose hope or stop asking for Allaah'sforgiveness. Its importance is shown to us in a hadeeth in whichthe Prophet, Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "O people!Turn to Allaah in repentance and seek His forgiveness, forsurely I make repentance a hundred times every day." (5)Repentance is such a great act of worship that doing it cantotally erase our sins altoghether, as the Prophet, Sallallaahu'alaihi wa sallam said: "One who repents from sin is like onewithout sin." (6)

ONLY ALLAAH CAN FORGIVE SINS Forgiveness for our sins is notsomething that comes automatically, it is something that must besought sincerely and with consciousness.
Also we should rememberthat it is only through Allaah's Mercy that anyone will everenter Paradise. The Prophet, Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallamadvised: "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, andrejoice, for no one's good deeds will put him in Paradise." TheCompanions asked, "Not even you O Messenger of Allaah?" Hereplied. "Not even me unless Allaah bestows His pardon and mercyon me." (7) Therefore in Islaam, salvation rests on faith (whichincludes), good actions and hope in Allaah's mercy, all combinedin truly unique manner which is not found in any other religionor system.

Furthermore, it is only Allaah who can forgive oursins and He is not in need of any intercessor. The proof forthis is in a du'aa (supplication) which the Prophet Sallallaahu'alaihi wa sallam taught his closest Companion Abu Bakr(8): "OAllaah, truly I have wronged myself and none can forgive sinsexcept you." (9) Therefore it is a complete waste of time askingforgiveness from the people such as "saints", pious people oreven the Prophet Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam.

Allaah say inreply to people who do such things: "VERILY, THOSE YOU CALLUPON BESIDES ALLAAH, ARE ONLY SLAVES LIKE YOURSELVES." [a;-A'raaf (7):194]It is important that we never despair of Allaah's Mercy - no sinis too great to repent for... or too little for that matter. Asone of the salaf (Pious predecessors) said: "Do not look at theinsignifance of your sins, but consider the greatness of The Oneyou are disobeying." (10)_______________________________________________________________