returned back. Tawbah thus means turning back in repentance. It means
showing regret for the error and the sin one has got himself involved
in.
To have a clear view of theconcept of Tawbah and what it does mean,
read the following:
Repentance ( Tawbah ) means that one feels regret and filled with
remorse for his or her sins,turns to Allah with the intention to obey
Him. According to truth-seekingscholars, repentance signifies a
sincere effort to no longer oppose the Divine Essence in one's
feelings, thoughts, intentions, and acts, and to comply sincerely with
His commands and prohibitions. Repentance does not mean being
disgusted with what is bad or prohibited and thusno longer engaging in
it; rather, it means remainingaloof from whatever Allah hates and
prohibits, even if it seems agreeable to sense and reason.
Repentance is usually usedwith Nasuh , literally meaning pure,
sincere, reforming, improving, and repairing. Tawbah Nasuh (genuine
repentance) means a pure, sincere repentance that perfectly reforms
and improves the one who feels it. One who feels such a sincere,
heartfelt, and true remorse for the sin committed seeks to abandon it,
thereby setting a good example for others. The Quran points to this
when it mentions true repentance:" O you who believe! Turn to God in
true, sincere repentance." (At-Tahrim: 8).
There are three categories of repentance:
1-The repentance of those who cannot discern Divinetruths. Such people
are uneasy about their disobedience to Allah and, conscious of the
sinfulnessclouding their hearts, turn toward Allah in repentance
saying, for example: "I have fallen or committed a sin. Forgive me, or
I ask for Allah's forgiveness."
2-Those half-awakened to Divine truths beyond veils of material
existence, whofeel an inward pang of sinfulness and remorse right
after thinking or doing anything incompatible with the consciousness
of always being in Allah's presence, or after every instance of
heedlessness enveloping their hearts, and who immediately take refuge
in the mercy and favor of Allah. Such people are described in the
following Hadith:. "One who sincerely repents of his sin is as if he
had never committed it. When Allah loves one of His servants, his sins
do not harm him. Then he recited the verse: aAssuredly, Allah loves
the oft-repentant and those who always seek to purify themselves.'"
3-Those who live such a careful life that, their eyes sleep but their
hearts do not, their hearts are awake. Such people immediately discard
what-ever intervenes between Allah and their hearts and other
innermost faculties, and regain the consciousness of their relation to
the Light of Lights. They always manifest the meaning of:. "How
excellent a servant! Trulyhe was ever turning in contrition (to his
Lord)" (Sad:44).
Repentance means regaining one's essential purity after every
spiritual defilement, and engaging in frequent self-renewal.
The Stages of Repentance:
1-Feeling sincere remorse and regret.
2-Being frightened whenever one rememberspast sins.
3-Trying to eradicate injustice and support justice and right.
4-Reviewing one's responsibilities and performing obligations
previously neglected.
5-Reforming oneself by removing spiritual defects caused by deviation and error
6-Regretting and lamenting the times whenone did not mention or
remember Allah, or thank Him and reflect on His works. Such people are
always apprehensive and alert so that their thoughts and feelings are
not tainted by things that intervene between themselves and Allah.
(This last quality is particular to people distinguished by their
nearness to Allah.)
If one does not feel remorse, regret, and disgust for errors
committed, whether greator small; if one is not fearful or
apprehensive of falling back into sin at any time; and if one does not
take shelter in sincere servanthood to Allah in order to be freed from
deviation and error into which one has fallen by moving away from God,
any resulting repentance will be no more than a lie.
A Muslim should cry:
I'm sorry for the mistakes Imake.
And, I know of none that can be retrieved.
They're like the water overa dam.
To flow back, it cannot be achieved.
There are things I wish I had never said.
Now, I wish that I had bit my tongue instead.
To make another feel that pain,
For those thoughtless words, I am disdain.
Repentance is an oath of virtue, and holding steadfastly to it
requires strong willpower.
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