No man is infallible. Errors and sins are undoubtedly part of human nature and no one will be free of it. All of us fall short, commit sins, and make mistakes. Sometimes we turn to Allah in obedience, and most times we willfully or forgetfully turn away from His ordinances. Imam Tirmizhi reported: “Every son of Adam sins, and the best of those who sin are those who repent.”
Allah has bestowed His mercy and compassion. He is Forbearing and does not wield the stick every time we erred. He gives man respite, and He commanded His Prophet (s.a.w) to proclaim His generosity as stated in Suratul Zumar, 39:53 “Say: O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. Repentance is meant for all classes of people. Those who disobey Allah and commit sin, those who follow a middle course, and even those who are foremost in good deeds are enjoined to seek Allah’s forgiveness. The doctrine of remenission of sins has no place in Islam and that is why the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “O people, repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness, for I repent one hundred times a day.”
The reward of repentance is blessings coming down from heaven, blessings coming from the earth, an increase in one’s wealth and offspring, blessings in productivity, good physical health and protection from diseases. Allah says of Hood (a.s)
“Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace (i.e. the one who helps and serves the needy and deserving, physically and with his wealth, and even with good words)”
“And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimoon (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah)” (Hood 11: 3,52)
It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed Sa’d ibn Maalik ibn Sinaan al-Khudri (r.a) that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “There was a man among the people who came before him a man who killed 99 people. Then he asked about the most knowledgeable person on earth, and was directed to a hermit, so he went to him, told him that he had killed 99 people, and asked if he could be forgiven. The hermit said, ‘No,’ so he killed him, thus completing 100. Then he asked about the most knowledgeable person on earth and was directed to a scholar. He told him that he had killed 100 people, and asked whether he could be forgiven. The scholar said, ‘Yes, what could possibly come between you and repentance? He was asked by this scholar to immediately proceed to a town where its people always worship God and shun sin, warning him never to return to his own town full of atrocities. So the man set off, but when he was halfway to the town, the angel of death came to him, and the angels of mercy and the angels of wrath began to argue over him. The angels of mercy said: ‘He had repented and was seeking Allah.’ The angels of wrath said: ‘He never did any good thing.’ The matter was however resolved by measuring the distance between the two lands (his home town and the town he was going). It was discovered that he was closer to where he was going and farer from where he was coming. So, he had the pleasure to follow the angels of mercy.
What is meant by repentance is returning to Allah, giving up sin hating it, and show remorse for having committed the sin.
For you who have trampled on the rights of the weak, the orphan, you must as a matter of urgency restore their rights. If you have been unduly unfair to a widow, you need to seek redress, ask for pardon and repent. If you have used your position and power to amass wealth or property, you must return them, before seeking forgiveness from Allah. As condition necessary for a valid repentance, you must give up the sin, show remorse of having done it, and exhibit a practical resolve never to go back to it.
But the truth again remains, that anyone who repents to Allah from any sin is to be congratulated, because it is as if they have been born anew through their sincere repentance. The reward of repentance is a good life in the shade of faith, contentment, peace of mind and tranquility. This is usually followed by blessings in this world and in the Hereafter. You will have the purity of heart and closeness to Allah. He is the most forgiving and compassionate.
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