Bismillahir Rahmaanir Raheem
“If anyone does evil or
wrongs his own soul, but afterwards seeks Allah’s Forgiveness, he will find
Allah, Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.”
[Surah An-Nisaa 4 : 110]
In the Tafseer (commentary) of this ayah (verse), the Mufassireen
(Commentators of the Qur`aan Shareef) have explained that Allah Ta’ala makes
known to us, the recourse of sins : Taubah
(repentance).
Whatever the sins committed – be they major or minor, violations of the
Rights of Allah Ta’ala (Huququllah) or the rights of human beings (Huququl
Ibaad), sincere Taubah (repentance) will secure for one, Divine forgiveness.
However, we need to understand that Taubah is not merely a verbal
announcement and confession of: Astaghfirullah
(I seek Allah’s forgiveness). The validity and acceptance of Taubah is
dependent on certain accompanying conditions.
The ‘Ulama have stated the following 3 necessary segments which complete
one’s Taubah :
1.)
Being ashamed
and grieved over one’s sins.
2.)
Leaving off the
sin, immediately.
3.)
Having no
intention to commit the sin again.
If, perchance, one finds oneself entangled in sin thereafter, Taubah
should be made once more and forgiveness should be sought. …Allah Ta’ala forgives all sins.
However, even though Allah Ta’ala is Most Merciful, Forgiving, Kind and
Compassionate, we should not lose sight of and forget His punishment for those
who are persistent in sin. Often, many continue in their indulgence in
sins, presenting the argument that Allah Ta’ala is Ghafurur - Raheem (Most Forgiving, Most Merciful).
One of the deceptions of shaytaan is that he
persuades and encourages a person to sins with this very excuse that Allah
Ta’ala is Ghafurur-Raheem. This leads to indifference to the laws of
Shariah and even deliberate disobedience.
Therefore, Allah Ta’ala warns us in the Qur`aan
Shareef against such an attitude, saying :
“…Let not
the deceiver (i.e.
shaytaan) beguile you in regard to
Allah.”
[Surah Luqmaan 31 : 33]
… Do not be fooled and misled by shaytaan to commit sins because Allah
Ta’ala is Most Forgiving and Most Merciful.
Allah Ta’ala mentions in Surah Ta-Ha
:
“And verily, I
am indeed Forgiving to him who repents, believes (in My Oneness, and associates none in worship with Me) and does righteous (good) deeds, and then
remains constant in doing them (till death).”
[Surah Ta-ha 20
: 82]
Allah Ta’ala is informing us that His Forgiveness extends to those who
make sincere Taubah and Istighfaar,
believe in Allah Ta’ala, do Amal-e-Sawleh (righteous deeds and actions) and
remain steadfast thereon.
Allah Ta’ala is Ghafurur-Raheem for those who are afraid of
displeasing Him. However, being human, they accidentally sin.
We should keep in mind, that even though Allah Ta’ala is Ghafurur-Raheem,
He is also Muntaqim – One who takes
Retribution. Out of His kindness, Allah Ta’ala gives to us numerous
opportunities to make amends and return to His Obedience. If we still persist and
insist on sin, and we are bent on disobedience, then His Punishment is
something that cannot be escaped.
Allah Ta’ala states in the Qur`aan Shareef :
‘…But verily your Lord is full of
forgiveness for mankind for their wrong-doing. And verily your Lord is (also) strict in punishment.’
[Surah Ra’d 13 : 6]
…Taubah and Istighfaar are like the ointment used
for burns, which we keep in our homes. Even though we have a remedy for burns,
we will not deliberately burn ourselves.
Furthermore, forgiveness for those sins
in respect to people, will have to be secured from those whose rights have been
violated and who were wronged.
by Hazrat Maulana Yunus Patel Saheb (RA)
