Repentance

A Brief Look at Repentance

Source: Ad-Dawah ilaLlaah Magazine

The word Tawbah (Repentance) in Arabic literally means 'to return'. In an Islamic
context, it refers to the act of leaving what Allaah has prohibited and returning to
what He has commanded.

The subject of repentance is one which concerns all people who believe in God, and is
vital one for the Muslims to understand because our salvation in the hereafter is
dependent on our repentance to Allaah, as is shown by Allaah's order:

"AND TURN YOU 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 LOVES THOSE WHO TURN UNTO HIM IN

REPENTANCE AND LOVES THOSE WHO PURIFY THEMSELVES."
[2:222]

This shows how pleasing our repenting is to Allaah. Also, the Prophet, Sallallaahu
'alaihi wa sallam gave us an example of just how pleasing to Allaah our repenting is
an authentic hadeeth in which he, said:

"Allaah is more delighted with the repentance of His servant than one of you would
be, who suddenly finds his camel laden with supplies after losing it in a barren land"
(1)

Try to imagine your joy if you were to suddenly retrieve everything you ever
possessed after losing all hope of recovering what you had lost. Then think that
Allaah's delight is even greater than this when His slave repents to Him. So much so,
that if man stopped repenting to Allaah, He would replace us with another creation
that would turn to Him for forgiveness. The Prophet said:

"If you did not commit sins, Allaah would sweep you out of existence and replace you
by another people who would commit sins, ask for Allaah'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 and therefore falling into sin, which we
give no real tought to. So perhaps we should think about the statement which Ibn
Mas'ood (3) radi Allaahu 'anhu, made: "A believer sees his sins as if he were sitting
under a mountain which he is affraid may fall on him, whereas the wicked person
considers his sins as flies passing 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 sins are too many.' But Allaah says:

"SAY: O MY SLAVES WHO HAVE TRANSGRESSED 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's forgiveness. Its
importance is shown to us in a hadeeth in which the Prophet said:

"O people! Turn to Allaah in repentance and seek His forgiveness, for surely I make
repentance a hundred times every day." (5)

Repentance is such a great act of worship that doing it can totally erase our sins
altoghether, as the Prophet, Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said: "One who repents
from sin is like one without sin." (6)

ONLY ALLAAH CAN FORGIVE SINS

Forgiveness for our sins is not something that comes automatically, it is something
that must be sought sincerely and with consciousness. Also we should remember that
it is only through Allaah's Mercy that anyone will ever enter Paradise. The Prophet
advised: "Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and rejoice, for no one's
good deeds will put him in Paradise." The Companions asked, "Not even you O
Messenger of Allaah?" He replied. "Not even me unless Allaah bestows His pardon
and mercy on me." (7)

Therefore in Islaam, salvation rests on faith (which includes), good actions and hope
in Allaah's mercy, all combined in truly unique manner which is not found in any
other religion or system.

Furthermore, it is only Allaah who can forgive our sins and He is not in need of any
intercessor. The proof for this is in a du'aa (supplication) which the Prophet taught
his closest Companion Abu Bakr(8):

"O Allaah, truly I have wronged myself and none can forgive sins except you." (9)

Therefore it is a complete waste of time asking forgiveness from the people such as
"saints", pious people or even the Prophet . Allaah say in reply to people who do
such things:

"VERILY, THOSE YOU CALL UPON BESIDES ALLAAH, ARE ONLY SLAVES LIKE
YOURSELVES." [a;-A'raaf (7):194]

It is important that we never despair of Allaah's Mercy - no sin is too great to repent
for... or too little for that matter. As one of the salaf (Pious predecessors) said: "Do
not look at the insignifance of your sins, but consider the greatness of The One you
are disobeying." (10)
NOTES:

1. Narrated by Anas and collected in the hadeeth collection of al-Bukhaaree (eng.

trans. vol.8 p.214 no.321) & Muslim (eng. trans. vol.4 p.1434 no.6611)
2. Marrated by Aboo Ayyoob & Aboo Hurayrah & collected by Muslim (eng. trans.
vol.4 pp.1436-7 nos.6620-2).
3. ABDULLAAH IBN MAS'OOD (d. 32H) was one of the earliest six to embrace
Islaam. Amongst the virtuous things that the Prophet said about him, was his
saying: "Affirm that which Ibn Mas'ood informs you." [Saheeh - Ahmad & Others].
4. Collected by al-Bukhaaree (eng. trans. vol.8 p.214 no.320).
5. Reported by al-Aghaar ibn Yasaar & collected in Saheeh Muslim (eng. trans. vol.4
p.1418 no.6523).
6. HASAN - Reported by Abu 'Ubaidah ibn 'Abdullaah & collected by Ibn Majah
Authenticated by al-Albaanee
7. Reported by Aboo Hurayrah & 'Aa'ishah & collected by al-Bukhaaree (eng. trans.
vol.8 p.315 no.474).
8. ALL of Ahl-us-Sunnah are agreed on the fact that Abu Bakr, radi Allaahu anhu was
the most superior amongst all the Companions. The Prophet, said, "There is no one
of greater help to me than Abu Bakr & he assisted me with his person, his property &
he married his daughter [Aa'ishah] to me." [HASAN - at-Tabaraanee]. He was
appointed Khaleefah after the death of the Prophet & died two years after him at the
age of 63.
9. The full text of this du'aa can be found in Saheeh al-Bukhaaree (vol.1 p.442
no.776), Muslim (vol.4 pp.1419-20 no.6533), at-Tirmidhee & Ibn Majah.
10. Collected in al-Baihaqee's 'Sh'abul Eemaan' (5/430).

GLOSSARY

AS DA'WAH ILALLAAH: The Call to Allaah

AHL US-SUNNAH WAL JAMAA'AH: A title used by the people who hold firmly to
the SUNNAH of the Prophet in the way of the Companions of the Prophet and their
sucessors (al Jamaa'ah). It is a name which distinguishes the people of truth from the
people of innovation.

HASAN: Good; an authentic hadeeth - not as good as a 'saheeh' hadeeth, but

neverless authentic.

RADEEALLAAHU ANHU/ANHA.ANHUM: May Allaah be pleased with

him/her/them. Usually said after mentioning the name of a Companion(s).

SAHEEH: Authentic; the highest category of authenticity of hadeeth.