Taubah (Repentance)
Taubah is the act of turning towards Allah Ta 'ala to approach near to Him from afar. Uttering of words of istigfar is not Taubah, because Taubah is a complete process with several stages:
 | I. Attainment of knowledge. (What is sin, what is not sin). |
| 2. Recognition. (Detection of sins within one's self). |
| 3. Grief. (Remorse felt at having sinned.) |
| 4. Renunciation. (Rejection of the sinful act.) |
| 5. Resolution. (This involves making a mental resolution not to sin again, uttering words of istigfar, and performing two rak'at salaat of Taubah.) |
| 6. Reparation. (Harm done to others has to be made good). |
| 7. Avoidance. (The sin to be avoided in the future). |
Nabi
said:
All Bani Aadam are sinners and the best of sinners are those that repent.
Undermentioned are few effective methods of attainting repentance. By making Amal on these it is hoped that our sins will be forgiven and it will assists in leading an upright life.
REPENTANCE AT BEDTIME:
It comes in the hadith that whoever seeks forgiveness in these words (with a sincere heart) he will be forgiven even Though he may have fled from the battlefield.
In another narration it comes: "Even though his sins are equal to the foam of the sea (countless).
REPENTANCE AFTER WUDHU
It is reported in a hadith that whoever after performing wuzu recites the abovementioned Duaa, a paper of forgiveness will be written for him. This paper will then be sealed and kept away. Until the day of Qiyamah this seal will not be broken (and the order for his forgiveness will remain unchanged).
REPENTANCE AFTER EVERY FARDH SALAAT:
Rasulullah
said: "Whosoever recites Subhanallah 33 times after every Salaat and recites
AlhamduLillah 33 times and then recites Allahu Akbar 33 times, which equals to 99 and
completed the 100 by reciting:
all his sins will be forgiven even though it be equal to the foam of the ocean.
TO SEEK REPENTANCE AFTER FAJR AND ASR SALAAT:
According to a Hadith, whosoever after far and ASR recite thrice the following Repentance:
all his sins, even if huge like the sea, will be forgiven.
TO SEEK Repentance through DUROOD (SALAWAAT)
Sayidina Abu Hurairah (Radiailahu Anhu) reports that Nabi
said: The person who recites 80 times on
the day of Friday immediately after the Asr
Salaat, before standing up from his place:
80 years of his sins will be forgiven by Allah and the reward equivalent to the worship of 80 years will be written for him.."
The subject of repentance is one which concerns all people who believe in God, and is vital one for the Muslims to understand because our salvation in the hereafter is dependent on our repentance to Allaah, as is shown by Allaah's order:
"AND TURN YOU ALL TOGETHER IN REPENTANCE TO ALLAAH O BELIEVERS, THAT YOU MAY BE SUCCESSFUL" [An-Noor (24):31]
In Soorah al-Baqarah, Allaah tells us:
"SURELY ALLAAH LOVES THOSE WHO TURN UNTO HIM IN REPENTANCE AND LOVES THOSE WHO PURIFY THEMSELVES." [2:222]
This shows how pleasing our repenting
is to Allaah. Also, the Prophet,
gave us an example of just how pleasing to
Allaah our repenting is an authentic hadeeth in which he,Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam
said:
"Allaah is more delighted with the repentance of His servant than one of you would be, who suddenly finds his camel laden with supplies after losing it in a barren land" (1)
Someone might say, 'I want to repent but my sins are too many.' But Allaah says:
"SAY: O MY SLAVES WHO HAVE TRANSGRESSED AGAINST THEMSELVES! DESPAIR NOT FOR THE MERCY OF ALLAAH, VERILY ALLAAH FORGIVES ALL SINS. TRULY HE IS OFT FORGIVING, MOST MERCIFUL." [Az-Zumar (39):53]
Therefore, we should never lose hope or stop asking for Allaah's forgiveness. Its importance is shown to us in a hadeeth in which the Prophet, Sallallaahu 'alaihi wa sallam said:
"O people! Turn to Allaah in repentance and seek His forgiveness, for surely I make repentance a hundred times every day." (5)
Repentance is such a great act of
worship that doing it can totally erase our sins altoghether, as the Prophet,
said: "One who repents from sin is like one without sin." (6)
ONLY ALLAH TA'ALA CAN FORGIVE SINS
Forgiveness for our sins is not
something that comes automatically, it is something that must be sought sincerely and with
consciousness. Also we should remember that it is only through Allaah's Mercy that anyone
will ever enter Paradise. The Prophet,
advised:
"Do good deeds properly, sincerely and moderately, and rejoice, for
no one's good deeds will put him in Paradise." The Companions asked, "Not even
you O Messenger of Allaah?" He replied. "Not even me unless Allaah bestows His
pardon and mercy on me." (7)
Therefore in Islaam, salvation rests
on faith (which includes), good actions and hope in Allaah's mercy, all combined in truly
unique manner which is not found in any other religion or system. Furthermore, it is only
Allaah who can forgive our sins and He is not in need of any intercessor. The proof for
this is in a du'aa (supplication) which the Prophet
taught his closest Companion Abu Bakr(8):
"O Allaah, truly I have wronged myself and none can forgive sins except you." (9)
Therefore it is a complete waste of
time asking forgiveness from the people such as "saints", pious people or even
the Prophet
. Allaah say in reply to people who do such things:
"VERILY, THOSE YOU CALL UPON BESIDES ALLAAH, ARE ONLY SLAVES LIKE YOURSELVES." [al-A'raaf (7):194]
"Do not look at the insignifance of your sins, but consider the greatness of The One you are disobeying." (10)