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.
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