great deal of sin. Even to the extent that I do not pray most of my
Prayers in the mosque, and I have never completely fasted the month of
Ramadaan in my entire life. Besides these, I have committed other sins
as well. I have vowed to repent many times before, however, after
doing so I lapse back into these same sins. The youths of my area are
just as bad, as are the friends that I associate with. And Allaah
knows that I have transgressed against myself and that whenever I
repent, I return backto the same sins. I hope that youmay direct me to
a path that willbring me closer to my Lord and distance me from these
evil actions of mine. Allaah - the Might and Majestic - says:
"Say O My Slaves who have transgressed against their own souls! Do not
despair of Allaah's mercy. Indeed Allaah forgives allsins, Truly He is
Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful."[Soorah az-Zumar 39:53].
There is a consensus from the Scholars that this noble aayah (verse)
was revealed for the taa'ibeen (those who repent). So whoever
sincerely repents from his sins, then Allaah will forgive him all his
sins, as occurs in the saving of Allaah - the Most Perfect- :
"O you who Believe! Turn to Allaah in sincere repentance. Perhaps your
Lord may remove from you your sins and admit you into Paradise beneath
whichrivers flow." [Soorah at-Tahreem 66:8].
So in this aayah (verse), Allaah has made the removal of sins andentry
into Paradise dependant upon sincere repentance. And sincere
repentance is conditional upon: [i] abandoning the sin and keeping
away from it, [ii] having regret and remorse for committing the sin,
[iii] truly intending not to commit the sin again, [iv] remembering
the greatness of Allaah and hoping for His reward, whilst fearing His
punishment. Another condition for sincere repentance is that if due to
transgression, the wealth or property of someone has beenstolen or
usurped, then it must bereturned or forgiveness must be sought from
the one whose wealth, blood or honour has beentaken. However, if the
honour of a person has been violated and the situation is such that it
is not possible to seek that persons forgiveness, then plenty of du'aa
(supplication) should be made forhis welfare and he should be spoken
good of in those places where he had previously been backbitten, since
good deeds wipe away bad ones. Allaah - the Most Perfect - said
"Turn you all in repentance to Allaah, O Believers, in order that you
may be successful." [Soorah an-Noor 24:31].
So in this aayah (verse) Allaah the Mighty and Majestic - linked
success with tawbah (repentance)and points to the fact that the
repentant person will reach success and happiness, and if such a
person were to follow up this repentance with eemaan (faith) and doing
righteous actions, then Allaah would efface his evil actions and
change them to good actions, as Allaah the Most Perfect - said after
mentioning the sins of Shirk (directing worship that is due only for
Allaah to other than Allaah), taking a life without just cause and
fornication and adultery-:
"And whoever does this, will receive the punishment, The punishment
will be doubled for him on the Day of Judgement and he will live
therein in disgrace. Except for those who repent, have eemaan (faith)
and do righteous actions. For them Allaah will change their evil deeds
into good ones, and Allaahis Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." [Soorah
al-Furqaan 25:68-70]
And from the causes of tawbah (repentance) are humility and
submissiveness to Allaah - the Most Perfect - and asking Allaah for
guidance and ability, and that acceptance of one's repentance
isconsidered as a Favour from Allaah, as Allaah - the Most Perfect -
said:
''Call upon Me and I will respond to your supplication." [Soorah Ghaafir 40:60]
And He - the Mighty and Majestic -said
"And when My servant asks you concerning Me, say to them that I am
indeed near, And I respond to the supplication of the one who
supplicates to Me." [Soorah al-Baqarah 2:186].
Also, from the causes of tawbah is choosing good companionship and
friendship and following them in righteous conduct, whilst staying
clear of bad companionship. It is authentically related from Allaah's
Messenger sallaallaahu 'alayhi wa sallam that he said:
"A person is upon the way of life of his friend, so let one of you
look to whom he keeps as a friend."2 And the Prophet sallaallaahu
'alayhi wa sallam also said:"The example of a good companion and a bad
companion is like that of a seller of musk, andthe one who blows the
blacksmith's bellows. As for the seller of musk, then either he will
grant you some, or at the very least you enjoy a pleasant smell from
him. As for the one who blows the blacksmith's bellows, then either he
will burn your clothes or you will get an offensive smell from him."
[1]
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