Ramadan Articles - The Month of Repentance- I

The month ofRamadanis a great opportunity for returning to Allaah The
Almighty with repentance. It is the month of mercy, erasing mistakes,
expiatingevil deeds, salvation from Hellfire and attaining Paradise.
The fortunate person is he who knows this and hastens to the actions
that draw him near to His Lord by turning to Him in repentance,
seeking forgiveness and feeling regret for all his slips andsins.
If one does not repent inRamadan, then when will he? If one does not
repent when the gates ofParadise are opened, the gates of Hellfire are
closed and devils are chained up, then when will he repent? When
willhe give up committing sins?
It is the month of repentance, forgiveness, salvation form Hell fire
and the Prophet,, said:"May his nose be rubbed in the dust, a man for
whom Ramadan comes and then goes before he is forgiven!"]At-Tirmithi;
Al-Albaani:Saheeh[
Why do we not repent while Allaah The Almighty stretches out HisHand
to the seeker of repentance and opens the door of His repentance to
those whofeel regret )for their sins(? It was narrated on the
authority of Abu Moosa Al-Ash'arithat the Prophet,, said:"Allaah The
Almighty stretches out His Hand at night to accept the repentance of
those whodid wrong during the day, and He stretches out His Hand
during the day to accept the repentance of those who did wrong during
the night. )This will continue( until the sun rises from the
west.["]Muslim[
It was also reported on the authority of Abu Tharr Al-Ghifaarithat the
Prophet,, said:"Allaah The Almighty says: 'My slaves, you commit sins
by day and by night, and I forgive allsins, so seek forgiveness from
Me and I shall forgive you.'"]Muslim[
Remember that the Mercyof Allaah The Almighty encompasses all things.
Isnot He The Exalted, the One who opens the door of repentance before
thehypocrites? He The Exalted Says )what means(:}Indeed, the
hypocrites will be in the lowest depths of the Fire - and never will
you find for them a helper. Except for those who repent, correct
themselves, hold fast to Allaah, and are sincere in their religion for
Allaah , for those will be with the believers. And Allaah is going to
give the believers a greatreward.{]Quran 4: 145-146[
Allaah The Exalted did not exclude the Jews andthe Christians, who
insulted and slandered Him and says )on their behalf, what means(:}And
the Jews say, "The hand of Allaah is chained." Chained are their
hands, and cursed are they for what they say. Rather, both His hands
are extended.{]Quran 4: 64[
Allaah The Exalted does not exclude them from His mercy that
encompasses all things. He The Exalted Says)what means(:}So will they
not repent to Allaah and seek His forgiveness?And Allaah is Forgiving
and Merciful.{]Quran 5: 74[
He The Exalted Says about the non-Muslims)what means(:}But if they
repent, establish prayer, and give Zakaah, then they are your brothers
in religion; and We detail the verses for a people who know.{]Quran 9:
11[
Is not He The Exalted, the One who calls those who have transgressed
against themselves of thenation of Muhammad,, to humble themselves and
repent to Him saying)what means(:}Say, "O My servants who have
transgressed against themselves ]by sinning[, do not despair of the
mercy of Allaah. Indeed, Allaah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He
who is the Forgiving, the Merciful."{]Quran 39: 53[ And He called the
people ofImaan)faith( to make repentance; He The Exalted Says )what
means(:}O you who havebelieved, repent to Allaahwith sincere
repentance. Perhaps your Lord will remove from you your misdeeds and
admit you into gardens beneath which rivers flow.{]Quran 66: 8[