Ramadhaan – A Date with Dr. Zakir
Episode 11
Ramadhaan - The Month of Repentance
(Duration – 45 minutes)
Yusuf Chambers: Dear Brothers and sisters in Islam and Humanity, Assalamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh, may the peace mercy and blessings of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala be on all of you. Welcome to the show Ramadhaan- A date with Dr Zakir. I am your host Yusuf Chambers and today we will be discussing the topic - ‘Ramadhaan the month of repentance.’ Dr Zakir Assalamualaikum
Dr. Zakir: Walaikum Assalam Wa Rahmatullahi wa barakatuh
Yusuf Chambers: Dr Zakir, Such an important topic. ‘The month of Repentance.’ Let’s start of by asking you a fundamental question. What is the meaning of the word Tawbah? And both in general terms I want to know it and in the Islamic context, please.
Dr. Zakir: The Arabic word Tawbah, literally means to return or to come back. And in the Islamic context, in the Shariah it means a person who leaves the things which Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has prohibited and he returns back to the things which Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has commanded. So in short it means a person leaving the acts which Allah has prohibited and he returns back to the acts which Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has commanded. And this aspect of Tawbah or repentance is present in all the religions that believe in the concept of God. And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala speaks about Tawbah and repentance in the Quran in several places including
Surah Noor Chapter 24 verse no. 31
Where Allah says:
“O you who believe, turn all together in repentance to Allah, so that you may attain bliss.”
Allah repeats a similar message in Surah Al Baqarah chapter 2 verse 222, where Allah says
“Allah loves those who turn to Him in repentance and Allah loves those who are clean and pure.”
And a similar message is given, in the Hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) , it’s mentioned in
Sahih Al Bukhari volume no. 8, Book of Supplications Hadith number 6309, where our beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said
“Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is more pleased when his servant seeks repentance than any one of you, when he finds his camel which has been lost in the desert.”
That means Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is very pleased when any one seeks His repentance, asks for forgiveness and He forgives them. So in short Tawbah means repentance which means leaving the act which is prohibited by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and returning back to the acts which he has commanded. In short it is a journey from the disliked to the thing which is liked by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala
Yusuf Chambers: SubhanAllah, may Allah accept our Tawbah in that case
Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah.
Yusuf Chambers: Dr Zakir what is the essential difference between the term ‘Tawbah’ and the term ‘Magfirah’, meaning, I believe forgiveness?
Dr. Zakir: Magfirah means forgiveness, and Isteghfar meaning seeking forgiveness. Isteghfar the meaning is of two types, one type of meaning is when it comes along with the word Tawbah and the other meaning is when it comes individually. When it comes individually it has one and the same meaning, the meaning can be interchanged, it means exactly the same. But the Scholars, they say when it comes along with the word Tawbah, Isteghfar, it means that we are seeking protection from the past evils that we used to do.
And Tawbah when it comes along with Isteghfar it means that we are repenting to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and we are seeking protection from the things which we may indulge in the future. So basically Isteghfar means seeking protection from the things of the past which we used to do and Tawbah, seeking protection from the things which may unfortunately we may indulge in the future. So this is the basic difference, if it comes separately the meaning is one and the same, if it comes together then it has two different meanings.
Yusuf Chambers: It’s good we are going through this technical definition phase in every episode. I think this is something which is missing amongst the brothers and sisters, this is the real understanding of the basic terms. The next question really for me would be why is it such a special thing to seek repentance during this holy blessed month of Ramadhaan?
Dr. Zakir: This month is special because Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, He forgives his slaves, his servants the maximum in this month. Therefore it is given the title ‘Ramadhaan the month of forgiveness.’ And our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, it is mentioned in the Hadith of
Tirmidhi, Book of Fasting, Hadith number 682 where our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that
“When the first night of Ramadhaan comes the devils and the daemons, they are chained and the gates of hell are closed, not even a single gate is open. And the gates of Heaven they are open, not even a single gate is closed. And the caller, he calls the people that O those who want to do good, please come. And those who are doing evil please desist. And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala he ransoms his slaves and does that every night of Ramadhaan.”
And our beloved prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), he further said it is mentioned in a Sahih Hadith of
Tirmidhi Hadith number 3545 where the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) ,
“Once he goes on the pulpit before giving a khutba and he says Aameen, Aameen, Aameen thrice. The people asked O messenger Why? So the messenger of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says that archangel Gabriel had come to him and said that any one who does not have his sins forgiven after Ramadhaan has approached and enters the hell fire. Ask Allah to keep a distance from him. And then Gabriel says to Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) say “Aameen”. So Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) says “Aameen”. Means it is unfortunate that any one witnesses the month of Ramadhaan and does not have his sins forgiven, because this is the month of forgiveness”
And our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said it is mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari volume number 3 in the Book of Fasting Hadith number 1901 that
“If anyone fasts in the complete month of Ramadhaan with belief and seeking the reward of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, all his past sins will be forgiven”
That is the reason Ramadhaan is called as the month of forgiveness.
Yusuf Chambers: SubhanAllah, Dr Zakir we used to have a saying that in the days before I embraced in Islam, I wish it could be Christmas everyday and I am going to say I wish it could be Ramadhaan every day now. More appropriately.
Dr. Zakir: Alhumdulillah
Yusuf Chambers: What about the necessities of seeking repentance especially during this Holy month of Ramadhaan? And what are the merits of seeking forgiveness?
Dr. Zakir: It is compulsory for every believer of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, for every Muslim that if he does any sin, whether minor or major, small or big, he should repent as soon as possible. Repentance is compulsory for any sin that you have committed.
And Allah says in the Quran in Surah Noor Chapter no. 24 verse no. 31
“O you who believe! Turn all together in repentance to Allah, so that you may attain bliss”
So that you may become successful. So that you may enter Paradise.
Allah gives a similar message in Surah Tahrim chapter 66 verse number 8 that
“O you who believe! Turn to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala with sincere repentance”
And Allah further says in the Quran in Surah Hud Chapter 11 verse 3 that
“Ask for forgiveness to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and seek His repentance so that He may do good to you”
Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says in the Quran in Surah Shoora Chapter 42 verse 25 that
“He accepts repentance and forgives sins and ask His forgiveness, for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is oft forgiving and Most Merciful”
And Allah says in the Quran in Surah Maidah Chapter no. 5 verse 39 that
"If the thief, if he repents and if he changes his acts, after repenting, if he has changed his acts then Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala turns to him in forgiveness, for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is oft forgiving and most merciful”
Allah repeats a similar message in Surah Maidah Chapter no. 5 verse 74 that
“Ask Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala for forgives, for He is oft Forgiving and Most Merciful.”
Besides several verses of the Quran, there are several Hadith which speak about the merit of Tawbah for example if you read the Hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) in
Sahih Al Bukhari Volume Number 8 Book of Supplications Hadith number 6307 Where our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) , he says that
“I ask for forgiveness and repentance more than seventy times a day”
Imagine our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) who is the best of examples, who is the best human being on the face on the earth, he says that he asks for forgiveness and repentance to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala more than seventy times a day.
It is further mentioned in Sahih Muslim Volume 4 in the Book of Dhikr Hadith number 6523 where our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said
“O believers you should repent and I repent everyday hundred times to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala”.
It is mentioned in the Hadith of Sahih Muslim Volume number 4 in Book of repentance Hadith number 6644 that our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that
“Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala stretches out his hand during the night for the people who repent for the sins they have committed from dawn to dusk, and Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala stretches out his hand during the day for the people who repent for the sins they have committed from dusk to dawn. Until the sun rises from the west.”
That means until the day of resurrection, that means Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will forgive your sins until the Day of Resurrection. A similar Hadith is mentioned in
Sahih Muslim volume number 4 Book of Dhikr Hadith number 6525 where our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that
“Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will keep on forgiving for any one who repents until the sun rises from the west”
that means Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will forgive the sins until the Day of Resurrection if any of his slaves, any of his servants ask for forgiveness.
Further it is mentioned in
Sahih Bukhari Volume number 8 in the book of Riqaaq Hadith number 6438 where the beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that
“If the son of Adam was given a valley of gold, he would yet want a second one and if a second valley of gold is given to him, he would want the third. For there is nothing that fills the stomach of the son of Adam except dust”
This shows that the greed human beings have and irrespective of how much Niyamah Allah gives, he always seeks for more and more rather he should repent and ask for forgiveness.
And there is a different version of the Hadith I quoted earlier, it is mentioned in
Sahih Muslim volume number 4 in the Book of Dhikr Hadith number 6613 where our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said that
“Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is more pleased when his servant repents, when his servant asks for forgiveness, than a person who while traveling on his camel in the desert. He stops for rest and he sleeps beneath a tree and when he wakes up he sees his camel laden with goods, he is not there. So he climbs on a mount and he tries to find his camel and he does not find it. He climbs on the second mount, but yet does not find it. He climbs on the third mount, he doesn’t find it. Then he returns back to the original position and there he sees his camel laden with goods and he is so happy.”
So Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is more happy than a person who finds his lost camel laden with goods in the desert. Allah is more happy than that when a person asks for forgiveness when he repents. So these are the merits of repentance and Tawbah.
Yusuf Chambers: It reminds me of my own journey to Islam once again, month of Ramadhaan this is when I found my Fitra. Alhamdulillah Dr. Zakir, could you explain to us in brief or at length, depending on the answer what are the main benefits of seeking repentance during this blessed month of Ramadhaan?
Dr. Zakir: The benefits of seeking forgiveness, repentance, Tawbah is, according to Imam Rageb Iftiani, he gives three benefits for a person who repents.
Number one, it patches up the fault that a person has and he realizes the point of entry into the heart of the devil. He realizes this is the point which is weak through which the devil can enter and this makes the person more aware and evasive of the evil.
Number two is that the person he feels embarrassed and he is fearful of the Lord, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, and that brings in him the humility and the humbleness.
Number three, a person who has tasted the evil and then comes back to the good. He has the taste of both the good and evil. He has the taste of sweet as well as the bitter. So when he sees other brothers, other human beings committing the same faults. He is soft towards them and he forgives them and he helps them.
According to Imam Ibn Qayyim , he gives six benefits for a person who repents.
Number one, when a person repents it is the best things that Allah loves. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala loves when a person repents and he asks for forgiveness because when a person repents, he is very close to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and you find humility and humbleness.
Number two, the act of repentance is one of the best acts of worship where Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, He realizes that His slave, that His servant, he has come to the true path, and he asks for forgiveness and he believes in Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and it makes Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, as I mentioned earlier, that more happier than a person when he finds his camel which is lost.
Number three, it brings humility and humbleness in a person so he starts believing in the Creator, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, much more than before.
Number four when the person repents his heart is broken and this is the time when Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, He hears the duas, the repentance.
As our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, mentioned in
Ibn Maajah Volume number 3 Book of Fasting Hadith 1752 that
“Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala hears the supplication of three people, one is the just ruler or imam, second is the person who is fasting and the third is one who is oppressed”
In another Hadith it says that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala hears the supplication of three people, who are either traveling, fasting or oppressed.
Here it indicates that all these three types of people whose hearts are broken, So Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala comes closer to the servants when the hearts are broken and Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala helps and gives them mercy.
The fifth benefit is that when a person, he repents sincerely it is one of the best forms of worship and the saying of one of the Salafs that a person “A person may commit a sin and may repent and Allah will forgive him and he can enter paradise. On the other hand a person who does good deeds, and he may have conceit and because of that he may enter hell.” That means a person may be proud that you know, that he has made no mistake, no sin and that may take him to hellfire.
The sixth benefit is as Allah says in the Quran in Surah Furqaan Chapter number 25 verse number 70 that
“All those who believe and they repent and they seek for forgiveness, Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala turns to them and He forgives them and He changes their evil deed into good deed, for Allah is oft forgiving and most merciful”
And according to Ibn Abbas may Allah be pleased with him, the moment this verse of the Quran was revealed, the beloved prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) he was the most happy. Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, says that the most happy when Allah’s messenger was after any verse of the Quran was revealed it was this verse of Surah Furqaan chapter 25 verse 70 as well as of Surah Fatah Chapter 48 verse number 1 where Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says, that
“We have given you manifest victory” during Fatahe Makkah
And Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala says in Surah Ghaafir Chapter no. 40 verse 3 that
“He is oft forgiving, and Allah accepts repentance and is the One who forgives”
And it is mentioned in
Surah Hijr chapter number 15 verse number 49 that
“Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is Oft forgiving and most Merciful”
Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair Dr. Zakir. Regarding another important aspect how Allah (swt) accepts Tawbah, repentance what are the prerequisites for sincere Tawbah and could you possibly enlighten us with some Prophetic traditions of some of the Prophets making Tawbah to Allah subhanahu ta’ala?
Dr. Zakir: Allah says in the Quran in
Surah Tahreem ch. no. 66 verse no. 8 that
“Ya ayyuha allatheena amanoo”
“O you who believe turn to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala with sincere repentance”
And there are basically 5 prerequisites for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala to accept the Tawbah
No. 1 the person should accept that the act he is doing is wrong
No. 2 he should immediately stop it
No. 3 he should seek forgiveness from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala
No. 4 he should not commit that act again
And no. 5 if he has taken something from any other human being and if he can return it, he should return it back.
For example if he has robbed some money, he should return the money back. If he has taken some wealth he should give the wealth back.
If he can undo the harm, he should do it.
And according to Ibn Qayyum, he says that repentance is accepted when the person does not do that evil act again and it further helps him to do good deeds and prevents him from going back to that act.
According to Imam An Nawawi, he says there are three prerequisites for any Tawbah to be accepted.
No. 1 he should stop the act what he is doing
No. 2 he should ask for forgiveness
No. 3 he should not do it again.
And he says that there is a 4th requirement if he has done some harm to any other human being then he should undo it if he can.
And there are various examples in the Hadith which give that how people have asked for forgiveness.
It’s mentioned in a Hadith of Sahih Bukhari Vol. no. 4 in the Book of Stories of the Prophets Hadith no. 3470 that
“There was a person who had committed 99 murders so he wants to seek repentance so he asks the people that how can he do it. So they sent him to a monk. So monk says that you have killed 99 people, there is no chance of forgiveness! So that person, that murderer, he kills the monk too. And now he has committed 100 murders so he goes to another person and says that I want to seek repentance. So he says that if you want to seek repentance go to that land where people are worshipping Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and InshaAllah, you should leave the land in which you have committed the crime. And go to that land where people are seeking repentance and InshaAllah, Allah will grant you forgiveness. So he immediately goes towards that land but on his way death takes place and he dies and he turns his chest towards that village where people are repenting. Then both the angels, the angels of good and the angels of bad both come and they want to take him. The angels from the heaven say that we will take him because he wanted to repent but the angels for the bad deeds, the hell, they say No he has not committed a single good deed, we will take him. So Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala intervenes and he asks’ the village where people are repenting that it should come closer to the person who has committed murder and He commands to the place where he has committed the crime that he should go further away. So when they measure the distance, they find out that the person who committed the murder, he was one span closer to the village where people are repenting. So then Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala grants him Jannah.”
So this is an example that a person commits hundred murders and he wants to repent only the Neeya of repenting and traveling towards that place…
And a different version of that same Hadith says that “while dying he pushes himself towards the.. he looks towards the place where he can get forgiveness”
So this shows that only the Niya and the intention to ask for forgiveness, Allah forgives.
There is another example in Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Hudood Hadith no. 4207
“There is a lady from the tribe of Yohainna, she comes to the Prophet and she had committed adultery and she was pregnant so she comes to the Prophet and says that I have done so and so sin please give me punishment. So the Prophet calls her master and says take care of this woman till she delivers the child. And after that get her to me. So the master he takes care of her and after she gives birth to a child he gets the woman. Then the Prophet says because of her adultery she has to be given death penalty and the lady she is asked to wrap around herself with her cloth and the people stone her to death and after she dies the Prophet, he prays for her. So Umar, may Allah be pleased with him says, that O Prophet you are praying for a woman who committed adultery! Then the Prophet replies that the way she has repented even if you distribute this repentance to 70 people of Madinah, it will be sufficient for them to go to Jannah. Who can repent better than the woman who is willing to give her life for the sake of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala?”
A similar example is given in
Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 3 in the Book of Hudood Hadith no. 4205 that
“Ma’iz bin Malik, may Allah be pleased with him, he comes to the Prophet and he says that please purify me. The Prophet says Woe to you! Go and ask for forgiveness to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and you repent. The person he goes back, again he comes and says that O messenger please pardon me. He says Woe to you! Ask for forgiveness to Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and you repent. Again the person goes again he comes for a third time O messenger of Allah please purify me. He says go away from here ask for repentance, ask for forgiveness from Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala. Again the fourth time he comes and he says to the Prophet please pardon me. The Prophet says from what? So Ma’iz, may Allah be pleased with him, he says that from adultery. So he says are you mad, have you gone crazy? So the person says no I am not mad. Then the Prophet asks that are you drunk? Did you have Khamr? Did you have wine? So the other people get up and they smell his mouth and they say No Prophet, he’s had no Khamr. So he said did you really commit adultery? He says yes I have committed adultery and I want the punishment for the sin I have committed. So Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), ask the people to stone him and he was stoned to death
After he was stoned to death there is a controversy between the Sahabas and there are 2 groups of people. One group of people say that he has been undone that means that it’s a pity that he will not get Magfirat he’ll be undone. The other group says that Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala has accepted, Ma’iz, may Allah be pleased with him, Allah has accepted his repentance. And he shall go to Jannah. This happened for 2 or 3 days then the beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) , comes and he tells to the Sahabas that pray for Ma’iz ibn Malik because he has repented for his sin and if you distribute his repentance even in a large no. of people, in a group of people it would be sufficient”
Here it shows that the people they committed a major sin but they repented. They were even willing to have themselves killed because both these people knew very well that the punishment for adultery was death it was stoning to death. So here it shows the high level of Taqwa they had. The sincere repentance that they asked form Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and Allah forgave them.
Yusuf Chambers: Some beautiful, examples and stories from wonderful companions of Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam). Thank you very much for that Dr. Zakir. What are the special elements which go together to make a sincere repentance?
Dr. Zakir: There are 4 things required. No. 1 a person should realize the power of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala, His power and His greatness that if He wants to punish you, He can punish you immediately. So this would make a person repent and we should not look at the minuteness of our sin, we should look at the greatness, forgiveness of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala.
As Allah says in the Quran in Surah Nooh ch. no. 71 verse no. 13 and 14, Allah says that
“What has happened to you? don’t you have hope in the kindness and forgiveness of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala that He created you in different stages”
So if you know the mightiness of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala and He is going to forgive you, InshaAllah you will repent.
No. 2 everyone should realize that one day he is going to die and he is going to go in his grave.
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Ale Imran ch. no. 3 verse no. 185
“Kullu nafsin tha-iqatu almawt”
“Every soul shall have a taste of death and on the Day of Judgment shall be the full recompense”
That means everyone has to die but the final Hisaab-Kitaab…the final recompense will be on the Day of Judgment.
And Allah says in the Quran in Surah Luqman ch. no. 31 verse no. 34 that
“No one knows what will he earn tomorrow and no one knows in which land will he die”
So you have to realize that every one has to die and we don’t know that when will that time come. So that will help us in repenting as soon as possible, we don’t know when is our last hour.
The third point is that all then rewards for this world and the Aakhira is based on your deeds for your Aakhira. What you are going to do for your Aakhira. The deeds for you aakhira will actually reward you in this world and the Aakhira. That is very important.
And Allah says in the Quran in Surah Fatir ch. 35 verse no. 5 that
“The Promise of Allah is true and let not the present world deceive you and let not the chief deceiver deceive you against Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala”
That means we have to be careful of all our acts an deeds should basically target about the Aakhira, about the hereafter.
And there is a Hadith mentioned in Tirmidhi (Book of Zuhd) Hadith no. 2320 where the beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), said that
“This world for Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is equivalent to the wing of a fly and Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala would not allow a disbeliever even to have handful of water from it”
This world in comparison to the hereafter is like a wing of a fly and He would not allow a disbeliever even to have a handful of water.
A similar message is given in Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 4 in the Book of Paradise Hadith no. 6483 where the beloved Prophet said that
“In the sight of Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala this world as compared to the hereafter is like a person putting his finger, the forefinger into the ocean and when he gets it out whatever is stuck to the forefinger is like he present world”
The present world is just, hardly some little water that gets stuck to the forefinger that’s equivalent as compared to the mighty ocean i.e. the hereafter. So, so little is the significance of is world as compared to the hereafter. So therefore we should we should realize that this life is a test for the hereafter,
As Allah says in the Quran in Surah Mulk ch. no. 67 verse no. 2
“Allathee khalaqa almawta waalhayata”
“It is Allah who has created death and life to test which of you is good in deeds.”
The fourth point is that human being should realize that the punishment can be expedient is this world and whatever punishment they get is because of their sin.
Whatever calamity takes place in this it is basically for their sin.
As Allah says in Surah Zukhruf ch. 43 verse no. 76 that
“Nowise shall we be unjust to them: but it is They who have been unjust themselves”
So these 4 points are very important to be remembered.
Yusuf Chambers: Subhan Allah, thank you. Dr. Zakir once again for the answer. If we could just now clarify what is the best time in one’s life to seek repentance? Is there a best time indeed?
Dr. Zakir: Allah says in the Quran in Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 17 that
“Allah accepts the repentance of the person who has done the sin in ignorance and he asks for forgiveness quickly. Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala is the most merciful and is the most knowledgeable and wise”
Now here based on the commentary of this verse of the Quran according to Mujahhid, Allah have mercy on him, he said that the sin in ignorance means that any sin done knowingly or unknowingly unless the person does not come away from the sin, it is done ignorantly.
That means all the sins Allah will forgive as long as a person repents quickly. As far as quickly is concerned according to Hasan Basri, may Allah have mercy on him, he said quickly here means before death. And Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, he said quickly means before a person has a sickness which is mentioned in a
Hadith of our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam),
Hadith of Tirmidhi, Book of Supplications Hadith no. 3537 that
“Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala will accept the repentance of his servant till his death rattle begins”
That means till the time he goes no his death bed unless he is in his last stage of life when he is on his death bed that is the only time Allah will not accept his repentance. Anytime before that, he will accept. So that means all the scholars unanimously, they agree that quickly here in this Quranic verse of
Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 17 means that we should ask forgiveness before death.
Allah says in Surah al Zumar ch. 39 verse 54 to 58 it says that
“Turn to your Lord in repentance before the penalty comes, before its too late unless your soul says that I have done a wrong deed and I mocked or the soul may say that please give me one more chance but it will be too late.”
Allah says in Surah Mu’minoon ch. 23 verse 99 and 100 that
When the time is over, when the deathbed has come… then you ay that O Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala give me one more chance and Allah will say that its too late. There cannot be another chance given So the time for repentance should be that if any sin is done in ignorance you should repent as soon as possible and Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala from His mercy, His bounty will forgive you.
Yusuf Chambers: JazakAllah Khair, Dr. Zakir for answering the question. Another question which is equally important if not more, lot of people are concerned about this and I know I am myself. How do we know.. what are the indications, how do we know whether repentance is accepted? What are the indications?
Dr. Zakir: The indications as far as for your repentance to be accepted by Allah subhanahu wa ta’ala
No. 1 is that you do not commit the same sin again and your good deeds keep on increasing and your bad deeds keep on decreasing. This is no. 1 sign that Allah has accepted your repentance.
No. 2 that you have the fear of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala
No. 3 is that you regret to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala and you keep on asking His forgiveness.
No. 4 is that you are humble and you always address Him in humility.
So these are four signs which shows that your repentance has been accepted by Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala.
The signs of non-acceptance of the Tawbah, repentance is deficiency in the person’s repentance and he remembers the pleasures of his sins and he gets preoccupied in continuing the sin. That’s no. 1
No. 2 he is so sure that his repentance will be accepted as though he has got immunity and he is immune to it and surely he will be forgiven. That’s no. 2
No. 3 is that his eyes don’t cry and his heart is hardened.
No. 4 there is no increase in the good activities that he is doing. No increase in the good deeds.
And our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) , said its mentioned in
Sahih Muslim Vol. no. 4 in the Book of Repentance Hadith no. 6621 that
“If the people do not commit any sins Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala will wipe them out and replace the people who commit sins and who ask for forgiveness So that Allah can forgive them”
Now here if you understand this Hadith it will look very odd that does Allah want us to do sin? If you don’t do sin, Allah will remove you. What it means that there are some people who do sin and who may ask for forgiveness and repent and may come closer to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala and their good deeds will increase and these people will go to Jannah. On the other hand some people go to good deed and they have a conceit they are son proud of themselves and that will take them to the hellfire. So Allah says that if there is a group of people who don’t do sin, Allah will replace them with the people who do sin that they ask for forgiveness and Allah will forgive them that means you should have humility. So these are the signs for not acceptance of your Tawbah.
Yusuf Chambers: May Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala continue to accept our repentance and our Tawbah, Dr. Zakir. There is another question which I have which is to end this particular session, this particular show and that is there any limitation to the sins that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala can accept our Tawbah for?
Dr. Zakir: As far as Allah’s forgiveness is concerned, His mercy is concerned every Surah, every chapter of the Glorious Quran, it begins with the beautiful formula ‘Bismillah Hir Rehmaan Hir Raheem’ In the name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. Every Surah except for ch. No. 9 Surah Tawbah ch. no.9
And Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala says in the Quran in Surah Zumar ch. no. 39 verse no. 53 that
“O my servants, who have transgressed against their souls, despair not the mercy of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. For Allah can forgive all sins. Allah is oft forgiving and most merciful.”
Here Allah says that whatever your sin may be Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, He can forgive any of your sins as long as you repent. If you repent in the right way, if you ask for forgiveness, Allah, InshaAllah, will forgive you.
And our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam) said, its mentioned in
Sahih Hadith of Ibn Majaah (Vol no. 5 Book of Zuhd) Hadith no. 4251 that beloved Prophet said that
“Every son of Adam, he commits sin and the best is the person who repents”
If you commit sin no problem but if you repent then you are the best person. Repentance is very important.
It’s mentioned in the Hadith of Tirmidhi, Hadith no. 3540 where our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), said that
“Allah says O son of Adam, you may do any sin and I’ll forgive all your sins. Even if your sins reach to the clouds in the sky, I will forgive them. You ask me for mercy and I will forgive you”
Its further mentioned in a Hadith of
Sahih Muslim (Vol. no. 4 Book of Birr Was Silaah) Hadith no. 6246 that our beloved Prophet Muhammad, (Sallallahu alaihe wa sallam), said that
“Allah says even if you do sin day and night and ask for forgiveness, I will forgive you. You ask me for pardon and I will forgive you”
It’s mentioned in Sahih Bukhari Vol no. 8 (Book of Manners) Hadith no. 5999
“There were some prisoners of war who were released mainly children and women and one lady she searches for her son and she cannot find her son. The moment she sees any child, she breast feeds her child then another child she sees, she breast feeds the child, finally she finds her own child so the Prophet asked the Sahabas that when the woman finds her son even if he has done a sin then will she throw the son in the fire? They said “no”. Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala loves His servants even if they commit sins more than the lady loves the child”
So based on this we realize that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala is willing to forgive any of your sins as long as you repent. And just a last quotation,
Allah says in the Quran in Surah Nisa ch. no. 4 verse no. 48 that
“If Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala pleases, He can forgive any sin but the sin of Shirk, he will never forgive.”
Here it means that if a person does Shirk and repents before he dies, before the death rattle, InshaAllah, Allah will forgive even the sin of Shirk. If he repents and he comes to the straight path and believes in one Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala, believes in Tawheed Allah will even forgive him, his sin of Shirk which is the biggest sin. But if he died as a Mushrik after he dies, Allah says here that He will not forgive the sin of Shirk. Any other sin if He wishes, He may forgive but the sin of Shirk, He will never forgive. Shirk is the biggest sin. So from here we come to know that Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala is the most merciful and He is willing to forgive the sins of His servants.
Yusuf Chambers: SubhanAllah. Indeed Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala is the most merciful. Dr. Zakir thank you very much for answering all the questions on the topic today. Its such an important topic it was myself I feel sure that now I will know exactly how to ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala during this wonderful month of Ramadhaan. And use every breath of the 30 days, InshaAllah.
Dr. Zakir: May Allah accept all our repentance in this glorious month.
Yusuf Chambers: Aameen, Aameen. All of the Muslims InshaAllah. And let’s hope that some of the non-muslims will take the benefit of this wonderful month. And they also will ask with sincerity and the correct methodology for Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala’s guidance and Allah will accept their repentance as well.
Dr. Zakir: InshaAllah.
Yusuf Chambers: Dear brothers and sisters we come to the end of this show. We weren’t able to answer all of your questions regarding the topic but InshaAllah tomorrow we will endeavor to answer all of those questions. So join us tomorrow when we will be discussing the topic
‘Ramadhaan – The month of Supplications’
Assalamu Alaikum Wa Rahmatullahi Wa Barakatuhu!