By Ishola Balogun

No man is infallible. Errors and sins are undoubtedly part of human nature and no one will be free of it. All of us fall short, commit sins, and make mistakes. Sometimes we turn to Allah in obedience, and most times we willfully or forgetfully turn away from His ordinances. Imam Tirmizhi reported: “Every son of Adam sins, and the best of those who sin are those who repent.”

Allah has bestowed His mercy and compassion. He is Forbearing and does not wield the stick every time we erred. He gives man respite, and He commanded His Prophet (s.a.w) to proclaim His generosity as stated in Suratul Zumar, 39:53 “Say: O ‘Ibaadi (My slaves) who have transgressed against themselves (by committing evil deeds and sins)! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah, verily, Allah forgives all sins. Truly, He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful.

Repentance is meant for all classes of people. Those who disobey Allah and commit sin, those who follow a middle course, and even those who are foremost in good deeds are enjoined to seek Allah’s forgiveness. The doctrine of remenission of sins has no place in Islam and that is why the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “O people, repent to Allah and seek His forgiveness, for I repent one hundred times a day.”

The reward of repentance is blessings coming down from heaven, blessings coming from the earth, an increase in one’s wealth and offspring, blessings in productivity, good physical health and protection from diseases. Allah says of Hood (a.s)

“Seek the forgiveness of your Lord, and turn to Him in repentance, that He may grant you good enjoyment, for a term appointed, and bestow His abounding Grace to every owner of grace (i.e. the one who helps and serves the needy and deserving, physically and with his wealth, and even with good words)”

“And O my people! Ask forgiveness of your Lord and then repent to Him, He will send you (from the sky) abundant rain, and add strength to your strength, so do not turn away as Mujrimoon (criminals, disbelievers in the Oneness of Allah)” (Hood 11: 3,52)

It was narrated from Abu Sa’eed Sa’d ibn Maalik ibn Sinaan al-Khudri (r.a) that the Prophet (s.a.w) said: “There was a man among the people who came before him a man who killed 99 people. Then he asked about the most knowledgeable person on earth, and was directed to a hermit, so he went to him, told him that he had killed 99 people, and asked if he could be forgiven. The hermit said, ‘No,’ so he killed him, thus completing 100.

Then he asked about the most knowledgeable person on earth and was directed to a scholar. He told him that he had killed 100 people, and asked whether he could be forgiven. The scholar said, ‘Yes, what could possibly come between you and repentance?

*An Islamic school

He was asked by this scholar to immediately proceed to a town where its people always worship God and shun sin, warning him never to return to his own town full of atrocities. So the man set off, but when he was halfway to the town, the angel of death came to him, and the angels of mercy and the angels of wrath began to argue over him. The
angels of mercy said: ‘He had repented and was seeking Allah.’

The angels of wrath said: ‘He never did any good thing.’ The matter was however resolved by measuring the distance between the two lands (his home town and the town he was going). It was discovered that he was closer to where he was going and farer from where he was coming. So, he had the pleasure to follow the angels of mercy.

What is meant by repentance is returning to Allah, giving up sin hating it, and show remorse for having committed the sin.

For you who have trampled on the rights of the weak, the orphan, you must as a matter of urgency restore their rights. If you have been unduly unfair to a widow, you need to seek redress, ask for pardon and repent. If you have used your position and power to amass wealth or property, you must return them, before seeking forgiveness from Allah. As condition necessary for a valid repentance, you must give up the sin, show remorse of having done it, and exhibit a practical resolve never to go back to it.

But the truth again remains, that anyone who repents to Allah from any sin is to be congratulated, because it is as if they have been born anew through their sincere repentance. The reward of repentance is a good life in the shade of faith, contentment, peace of mind and tranquility. This is usually followed by blessings in this world and in the Hereafter. You will have the purity of heart and closeness to Allah.  He is the most forgiving and compassionate.

ASK YOUR IMAM

How do I overcome a bad dream?

As-salamu alaikum. What is the significance, if any, when a Muslim had a bad dream at night? If the dream involves doing a haram activity and feeling guilty about it in the dream, even though I don’t do any haram activity in my daily life, what does it portend for me?

Answer:

Wa alaikum-Salam, All you need to do is try and forget it. Disregard it and do not bother  to talk about it anymore.  This is the way we have been taught by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w). What you can do is to seek refuge in Allah from Shaytan,  ask Allah to keep the accursed enemy away from you, and God willing, you will again become calm and overcome the shaytan. The prophet said, ‘’ A good dream is from God. So, if any of you have a dream of what you love, do not speak of it except to someone you love. And if any of you had a dream of what you dislike, then seek refuge in Allah from its evil, and from the evil of obsession; and spit out thrice and do not tell anyone of it, for in fact it will not harm you’’.

Again, make sure you perform ablution before you go to bed and recite Suratul Ikhlas, Falaq and Nas with Ayatal-Qursiy. God knows best.

SISTERS’ CORNER: The new hijabite sister

By Aminat Yusuf

It often occurs to me that many of our sisters in Islam are not properly encouraged once they begin to observe the requirements of Hijab. It may be that a sister has been obliged to wear the Hijab without truly pondering over its social benefits.

Perhaps she has reached the age of puberty and her parents have instructed her to wear it. Perhaps she has recently accepted Islam and her close companions have told her of its obligation. Alternatively, perhaps her husband has commanded her to wear Hijab.

A sister who does not truly know the superiority of Hijab will always remain envious of disbelieving women. Why? Because they observe these misguided disbelievers attempting to look beautiful for all to see. Hence, the Muslim woman then compares herself to that woman which causes her to feel ashamed of her own Hijab.

Therefore, what follows is a reminder for sisters in Islam. It is a reminder of the true status of these so-called beautiful women. It is a reminder of the excellence of the women who wear Hijab.It is well known that the Muslim woman is a creature of modesty.

Again, it is their outer protection from the decadence of this life. They are modest and they are not like those women who show themselves off to the world. How can you compare the world of a woman with hijab with others who flaunt their bodies with tights and mini-skirts, open chests and others.

It may be quite difficult for the Muslim woman to go out wearing Hijab in a society that mocks wearing of hijab but the gains are incomparable. However, if you know how useless and undignified the unbelieving women who flaunt their bodies are before decent men and God, you will crave to wear hijab always and with dignity.