2. In the name of Allah the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
All the praises and thanks be to Allah, the Lord of the ‘Âlamîn (mankind, jinn and all
that exists), and peace and blessings of Allah be upon our Prophet Muhammad and
upon all his family and companions.
My dear brother: Who among us is not tempted to sin and to commit acts of disobedience, and who among us is far above committing slips and errors? Every son of
Adam sins and the best amongst them sinners are the repentant.
So repentance is the criterion of righteousness and the guide to success. It is the
path which was trodden by the best of mankind; Muhammad, peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him. Though, Allah has forgiven all his past and coming sins.
Abu Hurairah, may Allah be pleased with him, said, I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, saying, “by Allah, I ask Allah for
forgiveness and repent to Him in the day more than seventy times.” [Reported by
Al-Bukhari]
‫«واهلل إني ألستغفر اهلل وأتوب إليه في اليوم أكثر من سبعين مرة» رواه البخاري‬
Thus, the repentant are considered from the people of Allah and His elite. He has
favored the repentant with His Love and Mercy. Allah Almighty has said, {Truly, Allâh
loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves
(by taking a bath and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies,
for their prayers).} [Surat Al-Baqarah 2:222]
َّ
َ ‫ي ُ الت ِ َ َ ي ُ ُ َ َ ه‬
222 :‫{إن اهللَ ُحب َّوابين و ُحب المتط ِّرين} البقرة‬
Transliteration: inna Allaha yuhibbu alttawwabeena wayuhibbu almutatahhireena
It is rather that Allah, Glorified and Exalted, rejoices over the repentance of His slave
in compliance of his doing. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him,
has said: “Allah is more pleased with the repentance of a servant when he turns towards Him for repentance than anyone amongst you when he is upon a camel in a
waterless desert and there is upon (that camel) his provision of food and drink also
and it is lost by him, and that he has lost all hope (of finding it); he lies down in the
shadow of a tree and is disappointed about his camel. While he is in such a state;
there he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its nose string and
then out of boundless joy says: O Lord, Thou art my servant and I am Thine Lord.
He commits this mistake out of extreme delight.” [Reported by Muslim]
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3. ،‫«هلل أشد فرحا بتوبة عبده حين يتوب إليه من أحدكم كان على راحلته بأرض فالة، فانفلتت منه، وعليها طعامه وشرابه‬
‫فأيس منها. فأتى شجرة، فاضطجع في ظلها، قد أيس من راحلته. فبينا هو كذلك إذا هو بها، قائمة عنده. فأخذ بخطامها‬
‫ثم قال من شدة الفرح: اللهم! أنت عبدي وأنا ربك. أخطأ من شدة الفرح» رواه مسلم‬
O dear brother: return to Allah, Glorified and Exalted, and respond to Him when He
calls for you: {And all of you beg Allâh to forgive you all, O believers, that you may
be successful} [Surat An-Nûr 24:31]
َ ُ ْ ‫َ ِ ع ُّ َ ْم ْ ِ ن َ َ ُ ْ ت‬
31 :‫{و ُو ُوا إِلَى اللهَِّ جمي ًا أَيها ال ُؤم ُون لَعلَّكم ُفلِحون} النور‬
‫َت ب‬
Transliteration: watooboo ila Allahi jameeAAan ayyuha almuminoona laAAallakum
tuflihoona
In the previous verse, Allah Glorified and Exalted, has suspended the success of
the believer to repentance. No slave of Allah will be successful if he turns away
from returning to Allah in repentance, and goes further in his evil and tyranny, his
deviation from right and disobedience.
O brother: O you brother to whom Allah has opened the gate of repentance day
and night, whom Allah has told that He is Oft-Forgiving, whom Allah has promised
to send rain to you in abundance, and give you increase in wealth and children, and
bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.
Return to Allah in repentance. Pour the tears of remorse before your death.
How much have you taken from His bounty? How much have you disobeyed His
orders? And how much have you been ungrateful for His bliss?
You are still abiding by what He has deterred and forbidden you from doing. Return
to Allah in repentance. The gate of repentance is open. The Messenger of Allah,
peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said: “Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, stretches out His Hand during the night so that the people repent for the fault
committed from dawn till dusk and He stretches out His Hand during the day so
that the people may repent for the fault committed from dusk to dawn. (He would
accept repentance) before the sun rises in the west (before the Day of Resurrection).” [Reported by Muslim]
‫«إن اهلل عز وجل يبسط يده بالليل ليتوب مسيء النهار، ويبسط يده بالنهار ليتوب مسيء الليل حتى تطلع الشمس من‬
‫مغربها» رواه مسلم‬
Is there an excuse remaining for you in delaying your repentance?
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4. Why do I repent?
Let’s renew our journey with those walking to Allah, Glorified and Exalted, to turn
the rejoicing of Satan over your disobedience into regrets; to recognize your significance and that there are evil and ignorance in you that plunge you into sins. {But
man bore it. Verily, he was unjust (to himself) and ignorant (of its results).} [Surat
Al-Ahzâb 33:72]
ً‫َ َ َ َ إْ َ ُ ن ُ َ َ َ م َ ه ا‬
72 :‫{وحملَها النسان إَِّه كان ظلُو ًا ج ُول} األحزاب‬
ِ
Transliteration: wahamalaha alinsanu innahu kanathalooman jahoolan
And {and man was created weak (cannot be patient to leave sexual intercourse
with woman).} [Surat An-Nisâ’ 4:28],
ًِ َ ُ َ
َ َُ
28 :‫{وخلِق اإلنسان ضعيفا} النساء‬
ِ
Transliteration: wakhuliqa alinsanu daAAeefan
And {and man is ever hasty [i.e., if he is angry with somebody, he invokes (saying):
“O Allâh! Curse him” and that one should not do, but one should be patient].} [Surat
Al-Isrâ’ 17:11]
11 :‫{وكان اإلنسان عجوال} اإلسراء‬
ُ َ ُ َ ِ َ ََ
Transliteration: wakana alinsanu AAajoolan
O Muslim brother: O you who Allah has created you, fashioned you perfectly…
whom Allah has provided for you, clothed you… whom Allah has supplied with food
and water… whatever grace you ask from Him, He bestows upon you… nevertheless, you disobeyed Him and you did not thank Him… you committed sins and
never asked for forgiveness… you move from an act of disobedience to another…
you move from a sin to another… as if you were to be immortal in this worldly life
and that you will never die.
You defy Allah with acts of disobedience and sins… forgetting and heedless about
the All-Knower of all that is hidden… I wish I knew when you will repent? Would
you repent upon your death? Would you repent when death surprises you? Do you
think that your repentance will be accepted at such moments?
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5. Listen to Him Who has bestowed His bliss upon you while talking about those who
defied Him with acts of disobedience and sins… they did not fear the day when
they will be seized by their forelocks and their feet. Listen to what Allah says about
them: {Until, when death comes to one of them (those who join partners with Allâh),
he says: “My Lord! Send me back,} [Surat Al-Mu’minûn 23:99]
َ ‫ع‬
ّ َ َ ُ َ ُ‫َ َ َد‬
99 :‫{ح َّى إذا جاء أَح َهم الموت قال رب ارج ُون} المؤمنون‬
‫َت‬
Transliteration: Hatta itha jaa ahadahumu almawtu qala rabbi irjiAAooni
Why do you wish to be send back? {So that I may do good in that which I have left
behind!} [Surat Al-Mu’minûn 23:100]
ْ ََ َ ِ
100 :‫{لَعلِّي أَعمل صالِحاً فيما تركت} المؤمنون‬
َ
َ َُْ
Transliteration: LaAAallee aAAmalu salihan feemataraktu
He is responded in reprimand by {No}, yes it is a {No} as We have given you time…
{No} We have left you and you went too far and never cared and never returned…
no, the time is over. {No! It is but a word that he speaks; and behind them is Barzakh (a barrier) until the Day when they will be resurrected.} [Surat Al-Mu’minûn
23:100]
ٌ َ ْ َ ِ َ َ َ ِ َ َ ‫َ َّ إنه َ َ ٌ ُ َ َائ‬
َ ‫َ ْ يْ َ ث‬
100 :‫{كال َّ ّا كلِمة هو ق ُلِها ومن ورائهم برزخ إلَى يوم ُبع ُون} المؤمنون‬
Transliteration: kalla innaha kalimatun huwa qailuha wamin waraihim barzakhun ila
yawmi yubAAathoona
You may say: what should I do? What could I do? I have sinned a lot... I have
disobeyed a lot... I will say to you: my brother, hurry… Hurry as long as the door is
open.
Verily, the door to repentance is still open for you. The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said, “Allah accepts the repentance of the servant
as long as he is not in his stupor.” [Reported by At-Tirmidhi and declared good by
Al-Albani]
‫«إن اهلل يقبل توبة العبد ما لم يغرغر» رواه الترمذي وحسنه األلباني‬
And, “he who repents from a sin is like he who is sinless.” [Reported by Ibn Majah
and declared good by Al-Albani]
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6. ‫«التائب من الذنب كمن ال ذنب له» رواه ابن ماجه وحسنه األلباني‬
And have the glad tidings from Allah; for you and for all the repentant… listen to
it in the words of Allah Almighty, {Except those who repent and believe (in Islâmic
Monotheism), and do righteous deeds; for those, Allâh will change their sins into
good deeds, and Allâh is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful} [Surat Al-Furqân 25:70]
َ ِ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َ َّ
َُ
َ َ َ ٍ َ َ َ ِ ِ ََ َ
70 :‫{إِال من تاب وآمن وعمل عمال صالِحاً فُولَئك ُب ُّل اهللُ سيئاتهم حسنات وكان اهللُ غفوراً رحيماً} الفرقان‬
‫َ أ ْ ِ َ ي َد‬
َّ
َ ً
Transliteration: Illa man taba waamana waAAamila AAamalan salihan faolaika
yubaddilu Allahu sayyiatihim hasanatin wakana Allahu ghafooran raheeman
So hasten – O slave of Allah – and do not empower Satan over you. Hasten before
{Lest a person should say: “Alas, my grief that I was undutiful to Allâh (i.e. I have
not done what Allâh has ordered me to do), and I was indeed among those who
mocked [at the truth! i.e. Lâ ilâha illallâh (none has the right to be worshipped but
Allâh), the Qur’ân, and Muhammad and at the faithful believers] (56) Or (lest) he
should say: “If only Allâh had guided me, I should indeed have been among the
Muttaqûn (the pious) (57) Or (lest) he should say when he sees the torment: “If only
I had another chance (to return to the world), then I should indeed be among the
Muhsinûn (good-doers)} [Surat Az-Zumar 39:56-58]
ِ ُ َّ َ َ َ َ َ ْ َ َ ٌ ْ َ َ ُ َ
َ َُ
ُ ُ ِ ‫َد‬
َّ
َ
‫{أن تقول نفس يا حسرتى علَى ما فرطت في جنب اهلل وإن كنت لَمن الساخرين (65) أو تقول لَو أَن اهللَ ه َاني لَكنت‬
َّ َ ُ ُ َ
ِ َ
ِ
َ ِ ‫ِ َ ُت‬
58-56 :‫من الم َّقين (75) أو تقول حين ترى الَعذاب لَو أَن لَي كرة فأكون من ال ُحسنين} الزمر‬
َ َ َ َ َ َ َ ِ َ َ َُ ْ
ِ ِ ْ ‫َ َّ ً َ ُ َ َ م‬
Transliteration: An taqoola nafsun ya hasrata AAala ma farrattu fee janbi Allahi
wain kuntu lamina alssakhireena (56) Aw taqoola law anna Allaha hadanee lakuntu
mina almuttaqeena (57) Aw taqoola heena tara alAAathaba law anna lee karratan
faakoona mina almuhsineena
And know that Allah rejoices over your repentance; so what are you waiting for?
Repentance has conditions:
O dear brother: if you know that repentance from sins is obligatory, you must know
that it has conditions without which it is not accepted. If the sin is related to the
slave of Allah and Allah Almighty and that it is not related to the rights of people, it
has three conditions:
The First: to abandon performing such an act of disobedience.
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7. The Second: to regret doing it
The Third: to set up his mind never to return to doing it again.
If one of these conditions is missed, the repentance then is not accepted. If the act
of disobedience is involving the right of a person, whether in money, honors or the
like, repentance then has four conditions:
1 – The aforementioned three,
2 – and the fourth: to clear himself from the right of such person. If it is money or the
like, it is to be returned. If it is a punishment of calumny and the like, he is to present
himself for the punishment or to ask for the victim’s forgiveness. If it is backbiting,
he is to confess and ask for his forgiveness. These are the conditions of the sincere
accepted repentance. Allah Almighty has said, {O you who believe! Turn to Allâh
with sincere repentance!} [Surat At-Tahrîm 66:8]
8 :‫{يا أَُها الذين آم ُوا ُو ُوا إلَى اهلل توبة َّصوحاً} التحريم‬
‫َ ي َ ِ َ َن ت ب‬
ُ ‫َ ْ ًَ ن‬
Transliteration: Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo tooboo ila Allahi tawbatan nasoohan
O brother, remember that remissness is a standing characteristic of humanity and
that imperfection is from the innate disposition of the human being. Every human
being has a share of lustrous desires, supremacy of the innate nature and heedlessness that befalls him in remissness. However, the degrees of sins vary according to the degrees of self-struggling and the success from Allah. Hence, the
Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, has said, “By Him in Whose
Hand is my life, if you were not to commit sin, Allah would sweep you out of existence and He would replace you by those people who would commit sin and seek
forgiveness from Allah, and He would have pardoned them.” [Reported by Muslim]
‫«والذي نفسي بيده! لو لم تذنبوا لذهب اهلل بكم، ولجاء بقوم يذنبون، فيستغفرون اهلل، فيغفر لهم» رواه مسلم‬
The Prophet, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, was the most keen among
people on asking Allah for forgiveness and repenting to Him. Ibn ‘Umar, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said, “we used to count for the Messenger
of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, in one council a hundred time
saying: O my Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance. Truly, You are the One
Who accepts repentance, the Most Merciful.” [Reported by Abu Dawud and authenticated by Al-Albani]
‫«رب اغفر لي، وتب على إنك أنت التواب الرحيم» رواه أبو داود وصححه األلباني‬
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8. He used to invoke Allah in his prayers saying, “O Allah, I have wronged myself, with
great injustice, and no one forgives sins but You. O forgive me and have mercy on
me as You are the Oft-Forgiving, the Most Merciful.” [Reported by Al-Bukhari]
‫«اللهم إني ظلمت نفسي ظلماً كثيراً، وال يغفر الذنوب إال أنت، فاغفر لي مغفرة من عندك وارحمني إنك أنت الغفور‬
‫الرحيم» رواه البخاري‬
He, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, used to say during ablution, “I bear
witness that there is no god but Allah alone, who has no partner, and that Muhammad is His Slave and His Messenger. O Allah make me among those who turn
unto You in repentance and among those who purify themselves (by taking a bath
and cleaning and washing thoroughly their private parts, bodies, for their prayers).”
[Reported by At-Tirmidhi and authenticated by Al-Albani]
‫«أشهد أن ال إله اال اهلل وحده ال شريك له، وأشهد أن محمدا عبده ورسوله. اللهم اجعلني من التوابين، واجعلني من‬
‫المتطهرين» رواه الترمذي وصححه األلباني‬
O noble brother: be keen on turning to Allah in repentance and asking Him for forgiveness; they are the means of success, the origin of guidance and the right conduct, and the path of the righteous and the obedient. Our Lord! Let not our hearts
deviate (from the truth) after You have guided us. O Allah! You direct hearts, direct
our hearts to obeying You. You keep the hearts firm, keep ours firm in Your religion.
And Allah knows best.
Peace and blessings of Allah be upon Muhammad and upon all his family and
companions.
Ibn Khuzaymah House
The website of: http://www.alrisalh.com/
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