Tawbah (Repentance) & Istighfar
(asking Allah for His forgiveness)
Allah says in Surat Ar-Rūm: “No indeed, (but) the ones who do injustice closely follow their (own) prejudices without knowledge. So who will guide the ones whom Allah has led into error? And in no way will they have any vindicators.” (Sūrat Ar-Rūm “The Romans” (30), Verse 29-32).
Another ayah gives and explains the same meaning, as Allah says: “Surely, the ones who have disbelieved, it is equal to them whether you have warned them or have not warned them, they do not believe.” (Sūrat Al Baqarah “The Cow” (2), Verse 6). In the previous ayah, Our Lord, Exalted be He, informed the Prophet (SAWS) that there were some people who would not embrace Islam whether he warned them or not.
Allah says: “Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing; and on their be-holdings (i.e. eyesights) is an envelopment. And for them is a tremendous torment.” (Sūrat Al Baqarah “The Cow” (2), Verse 6).
The question now is: Who set that seal? It was Allah, Exalted be He! This denotes that they are led astray because they disbelieved. Allah set the seal on their hearts and hearings because they were disbelievers. Allah, Exalted be He, did not make them disbelieve, rather, they are disbelievers and preferred disbelief and heresy. Everyone chooses his own path. We are responsible for our choices. Allah says: “Whoever is willing (to gain) (this) hasty (world), We (quickly) hasten for him therein whatever We decide to whomever We will;” (Sūrat Al-Isra` “The Night Journey”, (17), Verse 18).
Allah, Exalted be He, set a seal on the disbelievers because they chose disbelief to fall for their lot, that’s why He will give them what they chose for themselves. He says: “Whoever is willing (to gain) (this) hasty (world), We (quickly) hasten for him therein whatever We decide to whomever We will; thereafter We make for him Hell where he will roast, reprobated and (regretfully) rejected. And whoever is willing (to gain) the Hereafter and diligently endeavors after it as he should (endeavor), being a believer, then those, their endeavor is to be thanked.” (Sūrat Al-Isra` “The Night Journey”, (17), Verses 18, 19).
In this respect we should broach a question: is that envelope or veil that blindfolds their beholdings eternal? Shall anyone of them be resuscitated and relieved from among those disbelievers? On focusing on Sūrat Al-Baqarah, we will find the answer implicit. Disbelief denotes a cover or concealment. To disbelieve in Allah literally means in Arabic to put a cover or concealment between you and your Lord. When you remove that cover or concealment, then you will be relieved of this divine punishment and that envelope and seal will be removed and eliminated. Hence, it is the human being who chooses for himself to maintain or eliminate that seal.
Allah says: “And of mankind (there) are some who say, “We have believed in Allah and in the Last Day.” And in no way are they believers.” (Sūrat Al Baqarah “The Cow” (2), Verse 8). This ayah refers to the hypocrites who try to show ostensibly that they are pious yet they hide disbelief. They lie, wade in falsehood, and they believe their falsehood and are led astray.
The question here is: “So who will guide the ones whom Allah has led into error?” And the answer is : Allah! Verily It is Allah Who will guide them! Hence, the seal is not eternal.
Allah, though He is the Eve-Affluent Who dispenses with all His creations, rejoices in the repentance of the sinning slave. Allah set a seal on the disbelievers’ heart because he disbelieved in Him.
“Surely Allah does not forgive that (anything) should be associated with Him, and He forgives (anything) whatever apart from that for (Literally: to) whomever He decides; and whoever associates (anything) with Allah, then he has readily fabricated a tremendous vice.” (Sūrat Al Nisa`, (The Women) (4), Verse 48).
The previous ayah proves that Allah forgives all sins save polytheism. Even the polytheist will be forgiven once he abandons polytheism and turns penitently to his Lord.
Allah says: “And in no way will they have any vindicators.” (Sūrat Ar-Rūm “The Romans” (30), Verse 29-32). This proves that no one will be able to guide them save Allah.
Allah says: “So set your face upright to the religion, unswervingly upright; (this religion is) the original disposition from Allah upon which He originated (Literally: constituted) mankind. There is no exchange for the creation of Allah. That is the most upright religion, but most of mankind do not know.” (Sūrat Ar-Rūm “The Romans” (30), Verse 29-32).
In Surat Al-Anfāl (The Spoils), Allah says: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn away from Him, (even) as you hear. And do not be as the ones who have said, “We hear, ” and they do not hear. Surely the evilest of beasts in the Meeting with Allah are the deaf, the dumb, who do not consider. And if Allah had known of any charity in them, indeed He would have made them hear; and if He had made them hear, they would have turned back (while) veering away from (His words).”( Surat Al-Anfāl (The Spoils), (8), Verses 20-23).
Repentance is a divine constitution the Muslim should adopt that is why the Prophet (SAWS) said: “O people! Ask Allah for His forgiveness and repent to Him, for, verily, I ask Allah for His forgiveness and repent to Him a hundred times a day.” Notice here that he (SAWS) said: “O People!” and not “O Muslims!” or “O believers!” as he (SAWS) was addressing all mankind because repentance is a divine constitution that should be pursued throughout the Muslims’ lifetime. They should turn to Allah penitently throughout their lifetime. That is why Allah, Exalted be He, called Himself At-Tawwab (i.e. ‘The Superbly Relenting’). The Muslim always turn to Him peniently and Allah is The Superbly Relenting as He accepts the Muslim’s repentance repeatedly and accepts the oft-repeated repentance. Allah is The Superbly Relenting because either He accepts the repentance of a large number of His slaves, or He accepts the repentance of the repentance of the Muslim who all the time tuns penitently to Him. That is why Allah is At-Tawwab (i.e. ‘The Superbly Relenting’).
Allah says: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn away from Him, (even) as you hear…”(Sūrat Al-Anfāl “The Spoils” (8), Verse 20). The previous ayah orders the believers to benefit from their hearings, as the sense of hearing is a blessing endowed by Allah. Some people do not benefit from their senses. They said in the next ayah: “We hear,” yet they do not hear. “Hear” in the ayah does not allude to the sense of hearing but it denotes obedience. They said: “We hear” yet they did not obey. By virtue of their disobedience they became inferior to the animals.
Allah says: “The likeness of the ones who have been made to carry the Tawrah, (The Book revealed to Mûaa (Moses), of which the extant Torah is a corruption then afterwards they have not carried it, is as the likeness of an ass carrying tomes. Miserable is the likeness of the people who have cried lies to the signs of Allah; and Allah does not guide the unjust people.” (Sūrat Al-Jumuaah ‘Congregation’ (62), Verse 5).
This ayah praises the donkey as it should not carry huge burdens of books. In “The likeness of the ones who have been made to carry the Tawrah,” we have “who have been made to carry” means that they when they were created they were able to bear it and abide by it. They were prone to bear its responsibility, benefit from it and transfer its teachings to people. Nevertheless, they did not, rather, they distorted it for being arrogant. Arrogance is a grave problem and affliction that afflict hearts as the Prophet (SAWS) said: “He who has in his heart the weight of a mustard seed of arrogance shall not enter paradise.”. This is because he imitated Iblîs’s sin and rejected the Divine order, hence closed all gates of piety and guidance in himself. Also, the Prophet (SAWS) said: “Pride is My cloak and Haughtiness is My robe, and he who competes with Me in [respect of] either of them I torment.” He does not say: “I shall torment” because the proud and haughty person is trying to have epithets that belong to his Lord. The Prophet (SAWS) said to a man who was eating with his left hand, “Eat with your right hand!” The man said: “I am unable to eat with my right hand!” The Prophet (SAWS): “May you never be able! By Allah, nothing prevented you but arrogance!” He should have at least tried to obey the Prophet (SAWS). Allah says: “O Seeds (Or: sons) of Israel remember My favor wherewith I favored you, and that I preferred you to the worlds.” (Sūrat Al Baqarah “The Cow” (2), Verse 47).
Preference here refers to the fact that He mentioned in their Book the a description of the Prophet, the Seal of Prophets (SAWS), that is, when Isa (AS) (Jesus) informed his people. Alalh says: “And (remember) as Isa son of Maryam (Jesus son of Mary) said, “O Seeds (Or: sons) of Israel) surely I am the Messenger of Allah to you sincerely (verifying) that which is before (Literally: between my two hands) me of the Tawrah, (The Book revealed to Mûsa (Moses), of which the extant Torah is a corruption) and a constant bearer of good tidings of a Messenger who will come up even after me, whose name is ةAhmad.” Then, as soon as he came to them with the supreme evidence (s), they said, “This is evident sorcery.” (Sūrat As-Saff “The Ranks”(61), verse 6).
“And as Allah took compact with the Prophets (that), “Indeed, whatever I bring you of Book and Wisdom, thereafter a Messenger comes to you sincerely verifying what is with you, indeed you shall definitely believe in him, and indeed you shall definitely vindicate him.” He (i.e., Allah) said, “Do you ratify (that)? And do you take My obligation on those (conditions)?” They said, “We have ratified (that).” He said, “Then, bear witness, and I am with you among the witnesses.” (Sūrat Al-Imran “The Family of Imran” (3), Verse 81).
This is different from the first Compact Allah took from the Sons of Adam, Allah says:
“And (remember) as your Lord took from the Seeds (Or. sons) of Adam, from their backs, their offspring, and made them bear witness concerning themselves, “Am I not your Lord?” They said, “Yes indeed, we bear witness.” (So) that you should not say on the Day of the Resurrection, “Surely we were heedless of this.” ( Sūrat Al- Aaraf “The Battlements” (7), Verse 172).
The Jews thought that Allah preferred them by sending many prophets to them. But this was not true. The Seal of Prophethood was transferred from the Sons of Ishaq (AS) “Isaac” to the Sons of Isma’il (AS) “Ishmael”. This bespeaks of arrogance and the traits of those who followed their worldly desires. When they found that the Prophet (SAWS) was not sent from the Sons of Israel or the Sons of Ishaq. The Seal of prophethood came from the Arabs and not the Sons of Israel . The Jews, after being leaders, would be followers, hence, their arrogance will be revealed. Will they accept to embrace Islam and be led? Islam knows no arrogance, rather, the core of Islam is submission and submissiveness.
Allah says: “As was the steadfast manner of the house of Firaawn (Pharaoh) and the ones who were even before them, they cried lies to the signs of their Lord; so We caused them to perish for their guilty deeds, and We drowned the house of Firaawn; (Pharaoh) and all were unjust. Surely the evilest of beasts in the Meeting with Allah are the ones who have disbelieved, so they would not believe.” (Sūrat Al-Anfāl ‘The Spoils’ (8), Verses 54,55).
They did not obey their Lord and disbelieved in Him. The human being is naturally disposed to the divine constitution as Allah endowed him with the sense of hearing, sight and heart.
Allah says: “O you who have believed, obey Allah and His Messenger and do not turn away from Him, (even) as you hear).”(Sūrat Al-Anfāl “The Spoils” (8), Verse 20).
“Him” in “And do not turn away from Him,” refers to Allah, Exalted be He. The believer’s obedience to the Prophet (SAWS) is part and parcel of one’s obedience to Allah.
In another ayah, Allah says: “O you, who have believed, obey Allah and obey the Messenger, and the ones endowed with the command (i.e. those in authority). (Sūrat Al-Nisa’ “The Women” (4), Verse 59). “The ones endowed with the command (i.e. those in authority) is annexed to the Prophet (SAWS).
“And do not be as the ones who have said, “We hear,” and they do not hear.” (Sūrat Al-Anfāl “The Spoils” (8), Verse 21).
“And they do not hear” means that they do not obey their Lord. “Hear” in the ayah stands for “obey”.
The Noble Qūr’an mentions what the believers said: “And they have said, “We have heard, and we have obeyed. Grant (us) Your All-Supreme forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the Destiny.” (Sūrat Al Baqarah “The Cow” (2), Verse 285 ).
Other people said: “We have heard, and we disobey.” (Sūrat Al Baqarah “The Cow” (2), Verse 93 ).
Such people tried to imitate Iblis who, in his turn, was the first to initiate arrogance.
“And as We said to the Angels, “Prostrate (yourselves) to Adam.” So they prostrated themselves, except Iblîs. He said, “Shall I prostrate myself to (one) whom You created of clay?””(Sūrat Al-Isra` “The Night Journey” (17), Verse 61). Iblîs should have prostrated himself to Adam as the angels did. Allah says in another Sūrah: “So the Angels prostrated themselves, all of them all together,” (Sūrat Sād “38”, Verse 73). The angels prostrated themselves to Adam immediately according to their obedience and submissiveness to their Lord. Similarly, the human being is submissive to his Lord. “And they have said, “We have heard, and we have obeyed. Grant (us) Your All-Supreme forgiveness, our Lord, and to You is the Destiny.” (Sūrat Al Baqarah “The Cow” (2), Verse 285 ).
“Grant (us) Your All-Supreme forgiveness,” the human being will obey his Lord yet he might commit errors. When Adam was ordered: “(both of) you should not draw near this tree,” (Sūrat Al Baqarah “The Cow” (2), Verse 35 ), he did not refuse but obeyed though eventually he erred. All Allah’s orders should be obeyed. Abidance by Allah’s orders needs Allah’s all-supreme forgiveness and His assistance.
The Prophet (SAWS) used to invoke his Lord, Exalted be He, and say: “O Allah, help us to remember You, praise You and worship You best!” If you perform the āsr (afternoon) prayer in congregation and say this invocation from the bottom of his heart then Allah will ordain him to pray the maghrib (evening) prayer in congregation. Allah says: “Surely, the evilest of beasts in the Meeting with Allah are the deaf, the dumb, who do not consider.” …” (Sūrat Al-Anfāl “The Spoils” (8), Verse 20).
“Or even do you reckon that most of them hear or consider? Decidedly they are (nothing) except as al- an’ām (an’ām includes cattle, camels, sheep and goats). No indeed, they have erred further from the way.” (Sūrat Al-Furqan “The Criterion” (25), Verse 44). The beasts praise and extol Allah, Exalted be He, instinctively. Allah endowed the human being with senses and mental faculties, that is why, the disbelievers will say on their to hellfire: “So they confess their guilty (deeds); then far off with the companions (i.e., inhabitants) of the Blaze!” (Sūrat Al-Mulk “The Kingdom” (67), Verse 11), that is why they were doomed to be tormented with the Blaze.
On the other hand, there are the believers who hastened to Allah’s forgiveness. Allah says: “And vie swiftly with one another for forgiveness from your Lord” (Sūrat Al-Imran “The Family of Imran” (3), Verse 133). The disbelievers hastened to commit sins, being strayed from Allah’s path and disbelief. They put an obstacle between themselves and their Lord, though they should have put that obstacle between themselves and Allah’s prohibitions.
That is why the believers should be “turning penitent to Him; and be pious towards Him,” (Sūrat Ar-Rūm “The Romans” (30), Verse 31). As they knew their Lord they should obey Him and be penitent to Him. The disbeliever did not know their Lord and the true essence of Allah, the True God as he chose to pursue his own desires and abandon the divine constitution.
Some people feel too proud and arrogant to follow their Lord’s orders. The Prophet (SAWS) was not proud or arrogant; rather, he was modest to the extent that he used to take counsel of his Companions. Allah says to His Messenger (SAWS): “So it was by (some) mercy from Allah that you have been lenient with them; and if you had been stern (and) harsh of heart, they would indeed have broken away from round about you. So be clement towards them, and ask forgiveness for them, and take counsel of them in the command. Yet when you are resolved, then put your trust in Allah; surely Allah loves the (ones) trusting (in Him). (Sūrat Al-Imran “The Family of Imran” (3), Verse 159). Though he (SAWS) was Allah’s Prophet, he used to take counsel of his Companions.
Allah says: “O you Prophet, be pious to Allah,” (Sūrat Al-Ahzab “The Allied Parties” (33), Verse 1). This divine order asks the Prophet to be pious and abide by his piety to his Lord. The Prophet (SAWS) has been the Leader of the ūmmah (the Muslim nation). Allah says: “O you Prophet, when you divorce women,” (Sūrat Al-Talaq “The Divorce” (65), Verse 1). The Ayah addresses the Prophet (SAWS) and his ūmmah. If someone would divorce his wife, then he should abide by the Prophet’s ethics and morals. Allah says: “Indeed you have already had a fair example, in the Messenger of Allah, for whoever hopes for Allah and the Last Day” (Sūrat Al-Ahzab “The Allied Parties” (33), Verse 21).
“For whoever hopes for Allah” this means “for whoever hopes for Allah’s showing his obedience and submissiveness towards his Lord” and “hopes to stand before his Lord in a good and honored maner on Doomsday.
“And if Allah had known of any charity in them, indeed He would have made them hear; and if He had made them hear, they would have turned back (while) veering away from (His words).” ( Sūrat Al-Anfāl “The Spoils” (8), Verse 23). “Indeed He would have made them hear;” means that He would have guided them to obedience and devoutness. If He had guided them to obedience and devoutness, they would not have heard His words nor obeyed Him. This means that they would have been informed of the divine constitution yet they would not follow it. When Allah, Exalted be He, sealed their hearts and hearings He would not have wronged them, rather, they wronged themselves.
Allah says: “O you who have believed, respond to Allah and to the Messenger when He calls you to that which enlivens you;” (Sūrat Al-Anfāl “The Spoils” (8), Verse 24).
There are two lives, and two deaths. The first death is that each one has before his creation, as Allah says:
“How do you disbelieve in Allah and you were dead, then He gave you life, thereafter He (causes) you to die, (and) thereafter He gives you life (again), (and) thereafter to Him you will be returned?” (Sūrat Al Baqarah “The Cow” (2), Verse 28 ). “And you were dead,” this means “before your creation”. There are two kinds of life. The disbeliever lives on earth yet his life is void of faith, that is why he is considered dead during his lifetime.
The Spirit is the essence of life. That is why Allah called the Revelation “the Spirit”, the Noble Qūr’an “the Spirit” and the Angel that comes down with the Revelation “the Spirit”. He says: “The trustworthy Spirit has come down with it.” (Sūrat Ash-Shu`ara’ “The Poets” (26), Verse 193), by this HE means Jibril.
Allah refers to the Revelation in His saying: “Ever-Raised are His degrees, The Owner of the Throne, casting the Spirit of His Command upon whomever He decides of His bondmen that He may warn (them) of the Day of Encounter,” (Surat Ghafir “The Forgiver” (40), verse 15). The Angel that comes down with the Revelation is called “the Spirit”, and the Revelation is called “the Spirit”.
“And thus We have revealed to you a Spirit of Our Command. In no way did you realize what the Book was, nor the belief; but We have made it a Light, whereby We guide whomever We decide of Our bondmen. And surely you indeed guide to a straight Path,” ( Surat Ash-Shûra “Counsel” (42), verse 52). Also, the Noble Qur’an is a Spirit because it endows us with a life in addition to our lives. Whosoever disbelieved in Allah died, so to speak, even if he is alive for faith and believing in Allah endows the believer with a life that conveys him to the eternal life. If you would live the true life take a spirit from the Spirit. That is why this life is called the “lowly (life), i.e., the life of this world”
“He (Allah) will say, “How long have you lingered in the earth, by number of years?” They will say, “We have lingered a day, or part (Literally: Some (part) of a day. Ask of those who keep account.””(Surat Al-Mu’minun (The believers) “23”, verse 113). The hereafter and eternal life is the life that deserves our exertion of strenuous efforts. That is why the one who enters hell dies every minute. Allah says: “Surely the ones who have disbelieved in Our signs, We will eventually roast them at a Fire; whenever their skins are maturated, (Literally: ripened) We give them in exchange other skins that they may taste the torment. Surely Allah has been Ever-Mighty, Ever-Wise.” (Surat Al-Nisa` (The Women) “4”, verse 56).
On the other hand, the pious have eternal bliss in paradise. “The likeness of the Garden that is promised to the pious: from beneath it rivers run, its crop is permanent and its shade. That is the Ultimate Outcome of the ones who have been pious, and the Ultimate Outcome of the disbelievers is the Fire.” (Surat Ar-Raad (Thunder) “13”, verse 35).
That is why Allah says to His Prophet (SAWS): “So surely you will not make the dead to hear, nor will you make the deaf to hear the call when they turn away, withdrawing.” ( Surat Ar-Rûm (The Romans)”30”, verse 52). “The deaf” refers to those who do not benefit from their senses and hearings, as they did not follow the divine path when they heard the divine word.
Translated by sister Soad Naguib jazahaAllah kheiran