We can continue to give examples of the Mercy of Allah for hours and hours; whether that is through stories such as the man who was forgiven even after committing a hundred murders, or through the attributes of Allah, or by recalling countless other Aayaat and Ahaadeeth. However, I want to use this second part to concentrate on our role in the repentance process.
Some of us think, “I am a Muslim, Allah is the Merciful and therefore I am ultimately safe”. However, this can be foolish and many people do unfortunately fall victim to such deception. Why? For three reasons amongst others:
Firstly, just as people have rights over us so does Allah. Continuous disobedience followed by blind hope is nothing but foolishness followed by foolishness.
Secondly, the Mercy of Allah is one attribute amongst others, for example, as well as Allah being the Compassionate and the Forgiver; He is also the Reckoner and the Just. Thus you will be taken to account for sins from which you have not repented.
Thirdly, being taken to account after death is no joke. The horrors of the Grave, the agony of the Day of Judgement and the Fire of Hell are real possibilities even if you are Muslim.
So, what is our role in the repentance process and what are the conditions of a sound repentance?
If the offence involves the right of Allah and not a human, such as negligence in prayers or consuming alcohol, then there are three conditions to be met in order that the repentance is accepted by Allah:
(1) You must stop committing the sin in question.
(2) You must feel sorry for committing it.
(3) You must decide never to commit it again.
Any repentance failing to meet any of these three conditions would not be sound.
Additionally, if the sin involves a human’s right, such as stealing property or backbiting, then the repentance also requires a fourth condition, which is to undo the wrong and to absolve yourself from such right. For example, if it is a property, you should return it to its rightful owner. If it is slandering or backbiting, you should ask the pardon of the person offended.
I end with an incident that superbly exemplifies a sincere repentance:
A woman came to the Messenger of Allah while she was pregnant from Zina (adultery). She said to him: “O Messenger of Allah! I have committed an offence liable to Hadd (prescribed punishment), so exact the execution of the sentence”.
Look at this carefully. What is she asking for? What is the punishment for adultery? She is asking to be stoned to death. The story continues:
The Messenger of Allah called her guardian and said to him, “Treat her kindly. Bring her to me after the delivery of the child.”
That man complied with the orders. At last the Prophet commanded to carry out the sentence. Her clothes were secured around her and she was stoned to death.
The Prophet led her funeral prayers and in doing so Umer submitted, “O Messenger of Allah! She committed Zina and you have performed funeral prayer for her?” He (SAW) replied, “Verily, she made repentance which would suffice for seventy of the people of Al-Madinah if it is divided among them. Can there by any higher degree of repentance than that she sacrificed her life voluntarily to win the Pleasure of Allah, the Exalted?” (Muslim)
Such was the fear of Allah and the Day of Judgement that was present in the Prophet’s Companions; they preferred the punishment of sins in this world rather than in the Hereafter.
Of course this worldly punishment only applies for the handful of offences liable to Hadd. Otherwise, it is as simple as stopping, regretting and abandoning the sin in question, and thus with a sincere repentance that sin against us instantly becomes a source of reward for us. Such is the Grace of Allah, and thus none of us should despair of the Bounty of our Lord.
We ask Allah that He make easy for us the path of repentance and that He forgive us our sins.
Saturday 16 December 2006
2.1, Repentance (Khutbah)
Allah, the Exalted says in the Qur’an, “And all of you beg Allah to forgive you, O believers, that you may be successful.” (24:31)
In another place, Allah, the Glorified and Exalted says, “Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to him in repentance.” (11:3)
Further, Allah says, “O you who believe, turn to Allah with sincere repentance.” (66:8)
As we approach the winter holidays, what lies ahead is a much-needed break away from our busy schedules and a nice time-out away from our current routines. This period away, we can spend it in one of two ways:
Firstly, we can sleep and eat through it and find ourselves back here in three weeks time just as we left. Or, alternatively, in stepping away from our routines and breaking away from our busy schedules we can use this time to reflect, further distinguish right from wrong and take steps towards purification.
Also, there are some amongst us who will be heading for Hajj and I want to use this opportunity to leave them with no doubt as to the Mercy of their Lord in whose path they will be treading.
It is as the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “He who repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him.” (Muslim)
What is this repentance? It is to turn from old habits to new resolutions, to turn away from sins to Allah. When a person commits a sin, he goes away from Allah. On the other hand, when he desires Allah’s pardon and to draw near Him, he returns to Allah. This turning and returning to Allah is repentance.
The Compassion of Allah towards his slaves and the merits of repentance is as Allah’s Messenger said, “Verily, Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His slave than a person who lost his camel in a desert land and then finds it (unexpectedly).” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Imagine you are in a waterless desert and your camel carrying all your provisions is lost. After a time, you lose all hope of getting it back and disappointedly lie down in shade. You fear that there is no escape. Then, all of a sudden, when all hope was lost, you find your camel standing before you. How happy would you be? Words would not be able to explain your joy. Well, know that Allah is more delighted with your repentance than you would be with the discovery of your camel. Indeed, Allah is highly pleased with repentance.
How often should we make this repentance? How often should we turn our attention and hopes to Allah? Once in a lifetime at Hajj? Once a year during Ramadhan? Once a week at Jum’ah? Only when things get bad? Just at exam time?
The Messenger of Allah said, “By Allah, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day.” (Bukhari)
If this was the frequency with which Allah’s Messenger asked forgiveness – the best of mankind, whose past and future sins were forgiven – then how about us?
We see in this Hadith great emphasis on consistently seeking pardon. Further, there is no doubt in my mind that we commit more than seventy sins per day, whether that is through lustful gazes, slips of the tongue, listening to musical obscenity or walking to places of filth. So then, how about us, who commit sins on regular basis, not to seek pardon and forgiveness from Allah?
Sincere and ceaseless prayer with this frequency (more than 70 times a day) is essential so that our sins – intentional and unintentional - are forgiven.
In another place, Allah, the Glorified and Exalted says, “Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to him in repentance.” (11:3)
Further, Allah says, “O you who believe, turn to Allah with sincere repentance.” (66:8)
As we approach the winter holidays, what lies ahead is a much-needed break away from our busy schedules and a nice time-out away from our current routines. This period away, we can spend it in one of two ways:
Firstly, we can sleep and eat through it and find ourselves back here in three weeks time just as we left. Or, alternatively, in stepping away from our routines and breaking away from our busy schedules we can use this time to reflect, further distinguish right from wrong and take steps towards purification.
Also, there are some amongst us who will be heading for Hajj and I want to use this opportunity to leave them with no doubt as to the Mercy of their Lord in whose path they will be treading.
It is as the Messenger of Allah (SAW) said, “He who repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him.” (Muslim)
What is this repentance? It is to turn from old habits to new resolutions, to turn away from sins to Allah. When a person commits a sin, he goes away from Allah. On the other hand, when he desires Allah’s pardon and to draw near Him, he returns to Allah. This turning and returning to Allah is repentance.
The Compassion of Allah towards his slaves and the merits of repentance is as Allah’s Messenger said, “Verily, Allah is more delighted with the repentance of His slave than a person who lost his camel in a desert land and then finds it (unexpectedly).” (Bukhari and Muslim)
Imagine you are in a waterless desert and your camel carrying all your provisions is lost. After a time, you lose all hope of getting it back and disappointedly lie down in shade. You fear that there is no escape. Then, all of a sudden, when all hope was lost, you find your camel standing before you. How happy would you be? Words would not be able to explain your joy. Well, know that Allah is more delighted with your repentance than you would be with the discovery of your camel. Indeed, Allah is highly pleased with repentance.
How often should we make this repentance? How often should we turn our attention and hopes to Allah? Once in a lifetime at Hajj? Once a year during Ramadhan? Once a week at Jum’ah? Only when things get bad? Just at exam time?
The Messenger of Allah said, “By Allah, I seek Allah’s forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day.” (Bukhari)
If this was the frequency with which Allah’s Messenger asked forgiveness – the best of mankind, whose past and future sins were forgiven – then how about us?
We see in this Hadith great emphasis on consistently seeking pardon. Further, there is no doubt in my mind that we commit more than seventy sins per day, whether that is through lustful gazes, slips of the tongue, listening to musical obscenity or walking to places of filth. So then, how about us, who commit sins on regular basis, not to seek pardon and forgiveness from Allah?
Sincere and ceaseless prayer with this frequency (more than 70 times a day) is essential so that our sins – intentional and unintentional - are forgiven.
Saturday 11 November 2006
Khutbah: Sincerity: Part 2
The Prophet (عليه الصلاة والسلام) said, “When two Muslims are engaged in a combat against each other with their swords and one is killed, both are doomed to Hell.” I said, “O Messenger of Allah! As to the one who kills, it is understandable, but why the slain one?” He (عليه الصلاة والسلام) replied, “He was eager to kill his opponent.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
This Hadith leads to the conclusion that a person will be punished for a sinful intention for which he has made a firm determination and for the commitment of which he has adopted necessary measures, even if he does not succeed in committing it because of a certain obstruction.
Thus determination to commit a deed is different from a thought that occurs in our mind but which we dismiss immediately. A thought is excusable while a person is accountable for his determination.
The one who equips himself, sets out to attack and unlawfully kill another, and then dies in this state is in trouble. Similarly, the one who grooms and perfumes himself, sets off for a rave or a night out in the bar and is struck down by death on his way is in trouble.
Not to end on a pessimistic note, we end with a Hadith Qudsi (Sacred Tradition) which makes clear the Mercy and Grace of Allah and which mentions the magnitude of Divine blessings that Allah bestows upon his faithful slaves on the Day of Resurrection.
The Messenger of Allah (عليه الصلاة والسلام) said that Allah, the Glorious, said, “Verily, Allah Ta’aalaa has ordered that the good and the bad deeds be written down. Then He explained it clearly how: He who intends to do a good deed but he does not do it, then Allah records it for him as a full good deed, but if he carries out his intention, then Allah the Exalted, writes it down for him as from ten to seven hundred folds, and even more. But if he intends to do an evil act and has not done it, then Allah writes it down with Him as a full good deed, but if he intends it and has done it, Allah writes it down as one bad deed.” (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
So I conclude and I remind myself before any other, keep your heart in check and your thoughts clean, intend nothing but goodness and follow through with acts that you will be proud to see on your scales on the Day of Judgement.
Khutbah: Sincerity: Part 1
I begin in the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful, and I begin with His Most Splendid of Words as revealed in the Quran: "And they were commanded not, but that they should worship Allah, and worship none but Him Alone, and perform As-Salaat and give Zakaat, and that is the right religion." (98:5)
Further, Allah, the Most Glorified and Exalted says, "Say (O Muhammad (ﷺ)): Whether you hide what is in your breasts or reveal it, Allah knows it." (3:29)
When we gather here every Friday, we all do so for the same purpose and for the same duration, yet there is something that distinguishes the act and the reward of one of us from that of the other.
What is it that distinguishing mark?
It is as ‘Umar bin Al-Khattaab (رضي الله عنه) reported that the Messenger of Allah (عليه الصلاة والسلام) said, "The deeds are considered by the intentions, and a person will get the reward according to his intention…" (Al-Bukhari and Muslim)
It may be that one of us has come here as a chore, he dreads attending, looks forward to the end and feels that his hour is wasted. For him will be his reward as he deserves.
But then, it may be that his brother sitting next to him has come here with a totally different mindset. He has checked his self and has made clear his intention. He has left his assignments behind him and has set aside this hour to absorb himself in the remembrance of Allah, to listen attentively to the sermon and to meet and greet his brothers – only for the sake of Allah. For him will be his reward as he deserves and it will be far greater than anything he can imagine.
The reward of each of us is according to the deed AND our intention.
On the basis of this Hadith, it is clear that the real basis of one’s actions is Niyyah (intention) and everyone will be rewarded according to his Niyyah.
Where is this Niyyah (intention) formed and found? It is not an expression said out of routine, as some people do prior to prayer. Niyyah is to consult your heart and to make up your mind as to what you intend to do and for whom you intend to do it.
As an example, the one who stands in prayer, putting on an attentive posture and elongating it, all the while his heart and mind are busy thinking about how the people will praise him, for him will be the flattery and praise of people but that is where his reward will stop.
On the other hand, the one who stands in prayer, praying as though he is seeing Allah and knowing that Allah is aware of his thoughts and intentions, and he cares nothing for the praise of men, for him will be the Good Pleasure of Allah.
Another point evident from this Hadith is that Ikhlaas (sincerity) is a must for every action. In every righteous deed we should seek only the Pleasure of Allah; otherwise, that deed is in vain.
And those deeds and pursuits that we would otherwise think of as “worldly” can easily become a source of reward for us. How? By means of a sincere intention.
For example, if you are studying purely for status, then you will receive the certificates and the attention that you desire. On the other hand, if your intention for studying is sincere and your aim is noble, for example, to be of benefit to others, then for you will be the reward of this life and the excellent reward of the Hereafter.
Another example, if you are working so that you can buy the fanciest of cars and the latest of gadgets, then for you will be what you desire. On the other hand, if you are working and earning money with a sincere intention and your aim is noble, for example, to support and build a righteous family, then you will see the fruits of your work in this life and the next.
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