True repentance is repentance that brings you closer to your Lord

"Every son of Adam is a sinner, and the best of sinners are those who repent."

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), said, "Every son of Adam is a sinner,

And the best of sinners are those who repent."

 “Thus Adam disobeyed his Lord, and so he went astray.

 Then his Lord chose him, and accepted his repentance, and gave him guidance.”  (20:121-122)

A servant [of Allah’s] committed a sin and said: O Allah, forgive me my sin. And He (glorified and exalted be He) said:

 My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them.

Then he sinned again and said: O Lord, forgive me my sin. And He (glorified and exalted be He) said:

My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for them.

Then he sinned again and said: O Lord, forgive me my sin. And He (glorified and exalted be He) said:

 My servant has committed a sin and has known that he has a Lord who forgives sins and punishes for sins.

 Do what you wish, for I have forgiven you. [Hadith Qudsi]

        O son of Adam, so long as you call upon Me and ask of Me, I shall forgive you for what you have done,

And I shall not mind. O son of Adam, were your sins to reach the clouds of the sky and were you then to ask forgiveness of Me,

I would forgive you. O son of Adam, were you to come to Me with sins nearly as great as the earth and were you then to face Me,

Ascribing no partner to Me, I would bring you forgiveness nearly as great at it. [Hadith Qudsi]

Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) says: “Say: O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls!

Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: For He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.” [Surah al-Zumar: 53]

This verse speaks about those who repent. It tells us that any sin, no matter how major, is expiated by sincere and proper repentance.

Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) Most High created us and He knows our natures.

He knows that we are weak and prone to error and sin.

He knows that we are faced with temptations everyday of our lives.

Yet, He is the Most Merciful and the Most Clement.

Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) gives us countless opportunities to repent.

We must avail ourselves before it is too late.

 Alhamdulillah, you're fully aware of this fact.

So why not do something good for your heart and your soul and turn to Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) in true repentance?

 None of us knows when we will be called back to our Creator.

So don't let another minute pass.

According to a saying of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam),

    "Take advantage of five things before five others occurs.

     Your youth before you grow old;

     Your health before you become sick,

     Your wealth before you become poor,

     Your leisure before you become busy,

     And your life before you die."

A lot of people put off repentance until they are very old or very sick.

But no time is better than the PRESENT.

True repentance is repentance that brings you closer to your Lord and further from the sin.

 True repentance means that you sincerely and diligently take the means to move away from this sin.

You get to the point where even the idea of committing this sin is loathsome. That's what you should strive for.

According to the scholars, the conditions of repentance are three:

1. Leaving the sin;

2. Feeling remorse for it;

3. And resolving to never do it again.

Scholars also say that if the sin involves the company of a certain person or persons,

Then it is best to part ways with them, at least until they rectify their behavior.

    These are the conditions for repentance to be sincere and proper.

The first of these is that the penitent person desists from the sinful act.

The second is that he feels deep and genuine regret for having committed the sin.

The third is that he resolves in his heart never to return to the sin again.

Finally, if the sin caused a transgression against the rights of another person, he needs to do his best to make amends.

When Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) sees this sincere repentance from one of His servants –

A servant who truly turns to his Lord in fear and hope –

He not only forgives the sin, but replaces those sins for good deeds to the servant’s credit.

This is from Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)’s infinite grace and munificence.

     Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) says: “Unless he repents, believes, and works righteous deeds,

For Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) will change the evil of such persons into good,

And Almighty ALLAH is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful,” [Surah al-Furqân: 70]

Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) says this right after mentioning the sins of polytheism, murder, and adultery.

However, this blessing is only for one who has faith, whose repentance is sincere, and who strives to work righteous deeds.

Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)’s generosity is so far-reaching,

That we are not only forgiven through our specific repentance for each sin that we commit,

But we can attain forgiveness simply through our constant appeals Allah to forgive us.

     Another way that we attain Allah’s forgiveness is through the performance of good deeds.

Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) says:

 “Establish worship at the two ends of the day and in some watches of the night. Lo! Good deeds annul evil deeds.

This is reminder for the mindful.” [Surah HUD: 114]

    Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) says “If you shun the most heinous sins which you are forbidden,

We will do away with your small sins and admit you to a gate of great honor.” [Surah al-Nisa’: 31]

Hadith related by `Othman RadiAllahu Anhu that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), said:

“Any Muslim who offers the prescribed prayer, doing justice to its motions and to the humility that it requires,

It will expiate for the sins that preceded it, as long as the person did not commit a major sin.” [Sahih Muslim]

     Number of other scholars consider the verse “Good deeds annul evil deeds” to be general in meaning.

It applies to all sins, major and minor. Even if a person’s good deeds do not expiate for the sin directly,

There can be no doubt that those good deeds weigh in the balance of deeds on the Day of Judgment in a person’s favor.

Whoever has his good days outweigh his evil deeds on that Day will attain salvation.

Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) says: “The balance that day will be true: those whose scale (of good) will be heavy will prosper,

And as for those whose measure (of good deeds) is light, their souls will be in perdition, for that they wrongfully treated our signs.” [Surah al-Araf: 8-9]

       Ibn Masud RadiAllahu Anhu said: “People will be taken into account on the Day of Judgment.

Whoever has a single sin to his account more than his good deeds will enter the Fire.

Whoever has a single good deed to his account greater than his sinful deeds will enter Paradise.”

Then Ibn Masud recited Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)’s words: “…those, whose scale (of good) will be heavy, will prosper”.

Then he said: “Indeed, the balance will weigh an atom’s weight one way or another.”

Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) also forgives us our sins through the difficulties that we face in life.

When we are stricken with illness or suffer from circumstances,

We will earn forgiveness if we bear them patiently seeking Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD)’s reward.

Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) forgives our sins on account of the supplications

Those others make to Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) asking for our forgiveness, including our funeral prayers.

 We earn forgiveness through the charity we gave in our lives that continue to provide benefit to others after our deaths.

We earn forgiveness if we have pious children who beseech Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) on our behalf.

A Muslim’s sins are likewise forgiven through the punishment he may receive in the grave.

Those sins are also forgiven by the intercession that the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), will make on that day, and then by the intercession those who are granted intercession.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam), said: “My intercession is for those who committed major sins from among my followers.”

Above and beyond all of this is the mercy of the Most-Merciful Lord who pardons on that Day all sins as He pleases,

As long as the person meets Him worshipping Him alone without ascribing to Him any partner.

 Abu Bakr RadiAllahu `Anhu reported:

"I heard the Prophet Sallallaahu `alayhi wasallam saying: 'Allah forgives the man who commits a sin (then feels ashamed),

Purifies himself, offers a prayer and seeks His forgiveness.'

Then he recited the 'ayah: 'And those who, when they do an evil thing or wrong themselves, remember Allah

And implore forgiveness for their sins - and who can forgive sins except Allah? - And will not knowingly repeat (the wrong) they did.

The reward of such will be forgiveness from their Lord, and gardens underneath which rivers flow, Wherein they will abide forever- a bountiful reward for workers."' [Al-’lmrân: 135-136]. [Abu Dawud-, an-Nisa’i, Ibn Majah, at-Tirmidhi].

    As Ibn al-Qayim said:,

   “Surely, a servant commits a sin by which he enters Paradise.

    And another servant does a good deed by which he enters the Fire.”

    So the people around him were shocked!

    They knew that good deeds bring one to Paradise, while sins bring one to the Fire.

     So they said to him:

    ”How is this? How can that be?” 

    So then he explained the situation of both.

He said:

“The one who committed the sin, constantly thought about it, which caused him to fear it, regret it, weep and cry over it,

And feel ashamed in front of his Lord because of it.

He stood before Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), broken-hearted,

With his head lowered in humility.

So this sin was more beneficial to him than many acts of obedience, since it caused him humility & humbleness, To the extent that this sin became the cause for him entering Paradise.

And as for the doer of good,

He didn’t consider that good to be a favor from his Lord. Rather, he became amazed with himself.

This increased his arrogance & pride, which lead him to destruction in Hell.”

Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), Most High gives us countless opportunities to repent.

We must avail ourselves before it is TOO LATE.

 Alhamdulillah, you're fully aware of this fact.

So why not do something good for your heart and your soul and turn to Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), in true repentance?

 None of us knows when we will be called back to our Creator.

So don't let another minute pass.

    

 "And hold fast unto Allah, He is your protector, the best to protect and the best to help"(Qur’an 22:78)

"Not only Repentance bring forgiveness from Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),

 But one should erase his bad deeds by doing the good ones"....Holy Qur’an 25:70

Those who invoke not, with Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),,

Any other god, nor slay such life as Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD),

Has made sacred except for just cause,

Nor commit fornication; - and any that does this (not only) meets punishment.

Multiplied for him is the punishment on the Day of Resurrection, and he will abide therein humiliated

Unless he (1) repents, (2) believes, and (3) works righteous deeds,

 For Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), will change the sins of such persons into good, and Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful,

 1-Repent.

   Then

2-Believe.

  Then

3-work righteous deeds.

  Hence

4- Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD), will substitute your bad record with a good one....

The same thing in another verse: Holy Qur’an 11:114:- "And establish regular prayers at the two ends of the day and at the approaches of the night:

 For those things, that is good removing those that are evil: Be that the word of remembrance to those who remember (their Lord):

        I  PRAY to Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) to make

        YOU and me from those who continually do Tawba to Him,

And have humility, for that is the key to success in this world & the next.

It is indeed hard except for those who are humble.

Who bear in mind it is to Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) they belong

And to Almighty ALLAH Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) one day they must return.

The moral perspective is the core of things.

Tawba starts from within. No regrets = arrogance. No gimmicks = Know my sins.

Then regret and stop them to the end. Oh Allah please Help us repent. A’udhu Billaahi, Astagafirullah.

Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) has All Knowledge.

   Any good is from Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) & the mistakes were from me.

   Please pray for me and ask Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) to forgive me.

  May Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) guide all of us to His Truth?

  May Allah Subhanahu wata`aalaa grant us what is best in this world and the next!

  Action speaks louder then words my friend’s practice Islam the way of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu alayhi wasallam) did.

  May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) help us to do that which He loves and which pleases Him?

  May Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala (GOD) make our efforts sincere and keep us all on the straight path...........

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             May Almighty Allah Subhanahu WA Ta’aala make it a source of Sawab-e-Jariya for YOU and me     .Ameen?

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So why do we not cry today?

So why do we not cry today?

 Hadith - Qudsi 22

Let not any one of you belittle himself. They said: O Messenger of Allah, how can any one of us belittle himself? He said: He finds a matter concerning Allah about which he should say something, and he does not say [it], so Allah (mighty and sublime be He) says to him on the Day of Resurrection: What prevented you from saying something about such-and-such and such-and-such? He say: [It was] out of fear of people. Then He says: Rather it is I whom you should more properly fear.

The Signs of Fear:

Know! Dear Muslim brothers and sisters. We can find out whether we fear Allah or are oblivious of him through some simple tests. Here are some of them:

   1. The tongue informs us: if we talk evil, backbite and engage in frivolous gossip, it shows that there is very little concern. We should engage our tongues in the remembrance of Allah, in the recitation of the Quran and in circles of knowledge.
   2. In the heart we should expel hatred, enmity and jealousy and replace them with well-wishing and care for Muslims
   3. We should be careful of what we put in our stomachs.
   4. Our eyes should not wander off to look at haram objects.
   5. Our feet should not walk towards haram places.
   6. We should not extend our hands for haram purposes.
   7. We should be concerned in our good deeds that we don't perform them for anyone else except Allah.

At this point, you are not alone in the room where you are reading this. Even at times when you think you are alone you have never really been alone. Allah's appointed angels are constantly monitoring and inscribing everything that you do. The moment you say a word they write it down. Your every step, every thought, everything that you do, including obligations which have been postponed, are all recorded without omission.
These angels do not discriminate between minor or major actions. Even when you are asleep they are constantly with you. They fulfil their obligations without error. They are never forgetful or erroneous, they carry out their task faultlessly. By the same token, your appointed angels of death are also waiting. What are they waiting for? For your predestined time to be fulfilled. When your appointed time of death reaches you, it is they who will take delivery of your soul.

As well as these, there are other witnesses which we have not yet mentioned, the ones you do not think about, these are your secret witnesses; your hands and skin. On the Day of Judgment, all these witnesses will congregate, and with Allah's permission they will speak and give their testimony about you. If you happen to be one of those who did not fear Allah, or if you were not a cautious person they will, testify against you.

Humanity has been created to worship Allah and is constantly being tested. A person's temporal existence on average is about sixty years, it is not much time before one is eventually brought before Allah to give account for every second of one's life. When everyone learns of what they have earned on Earth through the evidence provided by these witnesses, Allah will then decide on the kind of eternal life appropriate for them. If a person possesses good deeds he will be given his Book in his right hand and that person will be eternally saved. However, if he is among those whose Books are given in their left hands, he will then say:

… If only I had not been given my Book and had not known about my Reckoning! If only death had really been the end! My wealth has been of no use to me. My power has vanished. (Surat al-Haqqa: 25-29)

From here on he will be apprehended, dragged facedown and taken to Hell, never to be released.

The reason behind this terrible end, is that people never imagined that their every action would be recorded and would one day be revealed and accounted for, hence they passed their lives carelessly without fearing Allah or His warnings. A person such as this who does not possess a definite form of belief in the Hereafter, in the Day of Judgment or in a terrorizing place of punishment for wrong actions and careless behavior, like Hell, will not mind ignoring Allah's boundaries.

This is why fear of Allah is a very strong indicator of faith in Allah and an important indicator of what to expect in the eternal Hereafter. The only way to safety is founded upon fearful awareness of Allah and scrupulous caution.

The Day of Judgment is a fearsome reality to be reflected upon with awe so that it becomes impossible to remain unaffected by it. However, this fear is only applicable to people of faith and is a particular type of fear because Allah has described what will happen on the Day of Judgment in numerous Qur'anic verses; the scribes, witnesses and the enormous congregation of people. This is an absolute certainty, which is unconditionally accepted by true believers who are fearful of facing such a terrifying ordeal.

Everything you do is immediately recorded, even as you are reading this book. You are fast approaching the day when you will be called by Allah to account for your actions. So we hope to be amongst those who have earned Allah's pleasure through fearful awareness of Him:

... Take provision; but the best provision is taqwa of Allah. So have taqwa of Me, people of intelligence! (Surat al-Baqara: 197)

(Taqwa means consciousness, awe or fear of Allah, which inspires a person to be on guard against wrong action and eager for actions which please Him.
The concept of taqwaa is always linked to ibaadah in the Qu'raan. 'Ibaadah can be defined as: to do what Allah has commanded and to avoid what He has prohibited. 'Ibaadah has also been defined as a concept that includes all actions that Allah loves and approves of, whether they are actions of the heart, the tongue or the limbs. So taqwaa is linked with doing what is correct and avoiding that which is wrong. Taqwaa is the fruit of doing the actions of 'Ibaadah. In other words, if one does what Allah has commanded him to do, and abstains from that which he has been forbidden, he will achieve taqwaa. Allah mentions in His Book ( that means ):

" O you who believe ! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become muttaqoon ( those who have taqwaa or piety )." [ Al-Baqarah 2:183 ].

In this aayah and in many others, Allah has shown us that taqwaa is the result or fruit of doing actions of ibaadah.  

Taqwaa means: to cleanse or purify the heart and the soul. This fact is proven by some ayaat in Suorat ush-Shams in which Allah (SWT) says (what means)

" By the sun and its brightness, by the moon as it follows it, by the day as it shows its brightness, by the night as it conceals it, by the heaven and its wondrous make, by the earth and all its expanse, and by the soul and He Who perfected it in proportion, then He showed it what is wrong for it and what is right for it - indeed he succeeds who purifies it, and he fails who corrupts it." [ Ash-Shams 91:1-10 ].

Allah begins this soorah by taking seven oaths. Whenever Allah begins a soorah or an ayaah with an oath, He (SWT) does so to bear witness to the fact that whatever follows this oath is very important and essential for us to understand. Therefore, we should pay very close attention to what is being said, and reflect upon its meanings. To cleans one's heart and to purify the soul, one must perform righteous actions that Allah has enjoined upon us, and our destruction lies in doing the actions that Allah has forbidden. As Allah is the Guardian and Protector of the Soul, we should do every good deed hoping for Allah's Mercy and fearing His Punishment, having full reliance and trust in Him .

The Fruits of Fear:

Ghazali (rahmatullahi `alayhi) sais: ‘Fear rips away desires and muddens luxuries so that cherished sins become reprehensible, just as a honey lover is repelled by it when he learns that it has poison in it. This is how fear burns desires; disciplines the organs; subordinates the heart and gives it tranquility. It also enables the heart to rid itself of pride, hatred, and envy; and it leaves it absorbed in it (fear). Hence, the heart becomes preoccupied with its own worries and looks towards its best interest in the long run. It is then engaged in only matters like meditation, self-analysis and struggle. It cherishes its time and moments.’ [Ihya: 4/160]

Weeping of the Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam

The Prophet, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, said to `Abdullah ibn Mas`ood, "Read to me the Qur'an." He said, "O Messenger of Allah! Should I recite to you and it was revealed to you?" He said, "Yes, for I like to hear it from others." "I recited Soorat an-Nisaaa' until I reached the ayah,

    "How (will it be) then, when We bring from each nation a witness and We bring you (O Muhammad) as a witness against these people?" [An-Nisaa' (4):41]

He then said, 'Stop now.' I found that his eyes were tearful." [Fath al-Bari 8:712]

Abdullah ibn ash-Shikhkheer, radhiallahu `anhu, said: "I saw the Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alayhi wa sallam, praying with us, and I heard the sound of his weeping coming out of his chest, which was like the sound of a boiling pot." [Abu Dawood, An-Nasaa'i, and At-Tirmidhi in ash-Shama'il, authenticated by Ibn Khuzaymah, Ibn Hibban and Al-Hakim]
The righteous have cried, the worshippers have cried and the believers have cried. And in this time there are people by whom a complete year passes and they do not drop a single tear from the fear of Allah.

O Allah we seek refuge with you from hard hearts. O Allah soften our hearts to Your remembrance!

    "Those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah - Islamic Monotheism), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah, Verily, in the remembrance of Allah do hearts find rest." [Ar-Ra'd (13):28]

    "The believers are only those who, when Allah is mentioned, feel a fear in their hearts and when His Verses (this Qur'an) are recited unto them, they increase their Faith; and they put their trust in their Lord (Alone)." [Al-Anfaal (8):2]

Abu Hurairah (radhiallahu anhu) narrated that “Allah’s Messenger (sallallâhu  ‘alayhi wasallam)  was asked, “Who are the most honorable of the people?” The Prophet (sallallâhu  ‘alayhi wasallam)  said, “The most honorable of them in Allah’s Sight are those who keep their duty to Allah and fear Him…”  (Bukhari 6/211)

Verily, Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) is the Only One Who deserves our fear.  We should fear Him Alone as He knows the secrets of our hearts and is well acquainted with all that we do (5:7-8). Allah (Subhanahu wa ta’ala) says:

“O you who believe! Fear Allah as He should be feared, and die not except in a state of Islam.  And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and be not divided among yourselves...” (3:102-103)

“It is only the Evil One that suggests to you the fear of his votaries: be not afraid of them but fear Me if you have faith.”  (3:175)

So why do we not cry today? We do not cry from the strength of the hardness of our hearts and our hearts' attachment to this world. So our hearts have hardened and our eyes have dried.

We are distant from our Lord. Had we been close our hearts would not have hardened. So he, who spends a whole week without his eye dropping a tear, let him sit and supplicate and humble himself. Maybe his heart would soften and his eye would drop a tear. And if his heart doesn’t drop a tear, then let him open the Book of Allah and read its ayat with contemplation, humility and submissiveness. So if his eye cries, his heart fears and his soul humbles he has succeeded; and if he continues in the state of the hardened heart, let him sit in a dark room and weep over his state, for his heart has died.

Abu Said (radhiallahu anhu) narrated that the Prophet (sallallâhu  ‘alayhi wasallam)  mentioned a man from the previous generation or from the people proceeding your age whom Allah had given both wealth and children. The Prophet (sallallâhu  ‘alayhi wasallam)  said, “When the time of his death approached, he asked his children, 'What type of father have I been to you?' They replied: 'You have been a good father.' He said, 'But he (i.e. your father) has not stored any good deeds with Allah (for the Hereafter): if he should face Allah, Allah will punish him. So listen, (O my children), when I die, burn my body till I become mere coal and then grind it into powder, and when there is a stormy wind, throw me (my ashes) in it.' So he took a firm promise from his children (to follow his instructions). And by Allah they (his sons) did accordingly (fulfilled their promise). Then Allah said, 'Be!' and behold! That man was standing there! Allah then said, 'O my slave! What made you do what you did?' That man said, 'Fear of You.' So Allah forgave him.”   (Bukhari 8/488)