Seeking Allahs
Forgiveness
![](knowgif/seekingforgiveness.jpg)
by Ahmad Farid
Forgiveness is being shielded from
the harmful consequences of wrong actions, and the veiling of them.
Seeking forgiveness is mentioned again and again in the Quran,
and in some places it is a command, as in His saying, Glorious and
Exalted is He:
"And seek
forgiveness of Allah; surely Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate."
(Quran 73:20)
In other places, Allah praises those
who seek his forgiveness, as in the ayat:
"And those
who pray for forgiveness in the early hours of the morning."
(Quran 3:17)
In other places, Allah tells us that
he forgives those who ask for His forgiveness, as in ayat:
"And whoever
does evil, or wrongs his own soul, but afterwards seeks Allahs
forgiveness, will find Allah is Forgiving, Compassionate."
(Quran 4:110)
Seeking forgiveness is frequently
associated with repentance, in which case it takes the form of asking
for forgiveness with the tongue. Repentance is turning away from
wrong action with both heart and body. Seeking forgiveness is similar
to supplication in that Allah, if He so wishes, responds to it and
forgives the person who seeks His forgiveness. This is especially
true if the dua (supplication) came directly from a heart
troubled by wrong actions, or if it was made during the times most
favorable for His response, such as in the early hours of the morning
or immediately following the prayer.
It has been transmitted that Luqman
once told his son, "O my son, make it a habit for your tongue
to utter the words, Forgive me, o Allah for there are
certain times during which Allah will not disappoint a servant who
calls on him."
Al-Hasan said "Ask for Allahs
forgiveness frequently- in your homes, at your tables, on your roads,
in your markets, at your meetings, wherever you are. You never know
when you will be granted His forgiveness.
Abu Huraira reported that the Prophet
(saws) said:
"I swear by Allah that I supplicate
for Allahs forgiveness and turn to Him in repentance more
than seventy times a day."
Al-Bukhari,kitab ad-Daawat
11/101
Abu Huraira said, "I heard the
Messenger of Allah (saws) say, A servant committed a sin and
he said, "O Allah, I have committed a sin, so forgive me."
Allah said, "Does my servant know that he has a Lord who forgives
sins and helps him? I forgive my servant." After some time,
the man committed another sin so he said, "O my Lord, I have
committed another sin, so forgive me." His Lord said "Does
my servant know that he has a Lord who forgives sins and helps him?
I forgive my servant." After some time the man committed yet
another sin so he said. "O my Lord, I have committed another
sin, so forgive me." His Lord said, "Does my servant know
that he has a Lord who forgives sins and helps him? O servant do
what you like, I have granted you forgiveness."
Al-Bukhari, kitab at-Tawhid, 13/488;
Muslim
Allah Exalted is He, said this three
times.
This means that the man was granted
forgiveness because he continued to seek Allahs forgiveness
each time he committed a sin. It appears that this is applied so
long as his seeking forgiveness was not accompanied by the intention
to repeat the sin again afterwards.
Aisha, May Allah be pleased with
her, said:
"It is a fortunate person who
(on the Day of Judgement) finds in his record many duas (supplications)
for forgiveness."
In other words, seeking Allahs
forgiveness is a cure for all wrong actions.
Qatada said:
"This Quran guides you
to the recognition of your illnesses and to their remedies. Your
illnesses are your sins and your medicine is seeking Allahs
forgiveness."
Ali ibn Abi Talib, may Allah be pleased
with him, said:
"Allah does not inspire seeking
forgiveness in any servant whom he wishes to punish."
Reference: The Purification of the
Soul |