(13) The sincere and honest repentance.
A- The meaning of repentance
B- The requirements for repentance
C- Encouraging Muslims to repent
D- The impact of repentance
A- The meaning of repentance
The first thing that a person with an evil-commanding soul should do is to repent sincerely and honestly to Allah (SWT). This is in order for him to purify himself and elevate his soul to the next level.
Allah (SWT) says: “O you who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance.” (At-Tahrim,8) So, what does it mean to repent honestly and sincerely to Allah (SWT)?
B- The requirements for repentance
Sincere and honest repentance occurs when the person decides to start a new life and abandon the old life of sin involvement.
Sincere and honest repentance has many requirements, four of which I will discuss today:
- a) The first requirement that the person has to do is to abandon the sinful acts altogether.
- b) The second requirement is to feel remorse for committing sins.
- c) The third requirement is to be determined never to commit those sins again.
- d) And the last requirement for achieving a sincere repentance is to return the rights of those individuals who were affected as a result of the sins committed. This needs to be done whether those individuals are still alive or they have passed away.
C- Encouraging Muslims to repent
The sincere and honest repentance is an obligation upon all Muslims. No matter what major or minor sins have been committed, it is never too late to repent.
Allah (SWT) says: “And 0 ye Believers! Turn you all together towards Allah in repentance that you may be successful.” (An-Nur, 31)
The person who has an evil-commanding soul and has committed many sins, should never lose hope in the Mercy of Allah (SWT). Allah (SWT) keeps the doors of repentance wide open during the day and during the night.
Allah (SWT) says: “Say: ‘O My Servants who have transgressed against their souls (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.’” (Az-Zumar, 53)
In one Hadith, the Prophet (PBUH) said: “Allah (SWT) extends His Hand at night so that those who committed sins during the day may repent. And He (SWT) extends His Hand during the day so that those who committed sins at night may repent.” (Muslim, 2759).
It is clear from this hadith that the doors of repentance are kept open at all times. They are only closed when the person dies, or when the sun rises from the west on the Day of Judgment.
The Muslim should always be encouraged to repent, because Allah (SWT) becomes happy when a sinner repents to him, and asks his forgiveness.
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “During the last third of the night, Allah (SWT) descends to the first heaven and says: ‘Is there a repenting person who needs my forgiveness so I can forgive him? Is there a person asking Me so I can give him what he asks for? Is there a person making supplication so I can answer him?’” (Al Albani fi As Sunnah, 498).
After the close examination of all these evidences from the Qur’an and Sunna, no Muslim should have any doubt that Allah (SWT) is the most generous to whom we can turn. Moreover, Allah (SWT) is the only one in whom we should seek refuge, and on whose forgiveness we can count. For this reason, it is Allah (SWT) alone whom we should strive to please.
Allah (SWT) says: “So flee to Allah (from His torment to His Mercy), verily, I (Muhammad PBUH) am a plain warner to you from him.” (Az-Zariyat, 50).
D- The impact of repentance
The final point I want to discuss today is the impact of repentance of the individual.
1- Sincere repentance is the first step towards self purification and the beginning of the road of self elevation to the level of the pious.
2- The forgiving of all past sins and acts of disobedience to Allah (SWT). However, for those sins which involve doing harm to others, the person is obliged to return the rights of those individuals.
3- The relief from all the difficulties and hardships.
4- The befalling of Allah’s support and care upon the individual.
Finally and most importantly, when the person dies he will get to enter Paradise, where he will have access to unlimited pleasure and happiness.
The Prophet (PBUH) said: “Whoever prevented himself from Haram things because of fear of Allah (SWT). Then Allah (SWT) will provide him by better things to his faith and his life” ( Abu Nuayem fi Hilya, 2/224).
Allah (SWT) says: “It may be that your lord will remit from you your sins, and admit you into Gardens under which rivers flow (Paradise) the Day that Allah will not disgrace the Prophet (Muhammad) and those who believe with him. Their light will run forward before them and with (their Record Books of deeds) in their right hands they will say: ‘Our Lord! Keep perfect our light for us (and do not put it off till we cross over the Sirat (a slippery bridge over the hell) safely and grant us forgiveness. Verily, You are able to do all things.’” (At-Tahrim, 8)
We ask Allah(SWT) to give us sincere and honest repentance.
Written by: Dr. Ahmed A. S. Hammouda
Professor in Al-Azhar University
And Islamic American University
Translated by: Abdullah Zettili
