By Haroon Balogun

‘Bismilahi-Rahmani-Raheeem’

No man is infallible. Errors and sins are undoubtedly part of human nature and so, no one will ever be free from it. All of us fall short of errors, commit sins, and make mistakes.

Sometimes, remorsefully, we turn to Allah in obedience, especcially those who are conscious of their actions; but most times people willfully or forgetfully turn away from Allah. 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 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? 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 with the load of atrocities.

So, the man set off, but when he was halfway to the town, the angel of death came to him and took his life. Thereafter, the angels of mercy and the angels of wrath began to argue over him.

The former said: ‘He had repented and was seeking Allah,’ but the latter retorted: ‘He never did any good thing.’

God asked them to measure 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.

This anecdote showed the sincere intention of man to repent even when he had committed a sin inadvertently.

Repentance is by returning to Allah, giving up sins and showing deep remorse for having committed the sin and the readiness to shun sin. Making sincere repentance or Tawbah raises a Muslim’s status with Allah. By choosing to stay the course prohibited by Allah, we consciously forego Allah’s mercy and the associated benefits and rewards, His protection and help.

However, the moment we sincerely repent, we can be assured of Allah’s help in our lives that in turn is a precursor to success in this life and the hereafter. Allah tells us in the Quran: …And beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful. “ (Quran 24: 31)

“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. But if you turn away, then I fear for you the torment of a Great Day (i.e. the Day of Resurrection).” (Quran 11:3)

We know that our sins can haunt us in this life and the hereafter. The more sins we commit, the more we could be deprived of Allah’s blessings and the more trials and challenges we could be put through. Repentance, therefore, can provide us a way out of our miseries and troubles of this life.

Allah tells us in Suratul Taubah:   “See they not that they are put in trial once or twice every year (with different kinds of calamities, disease, famine)? Yet, they turn not in repentance, nor do they learn a lesson (from it).” Quran 9: 126) Again, “…Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves” as contained in Suratul Baqarah, verse 222).

In narrating one of the popular hadith, Ibn Masud stated that Allaah’s Messenger (s.a.w said:

Allah is more pleased with the repentance of his slave than a man who encamps at a place where his life is jeopardized. But he has his riding animal carrying his food and water. He then rests his head and sleeps for a short while and wakes up to find his riding animal missing.

He starts looking for it and suffers from severe heat and thirst or what Allah wished him to suffer from. He then says: ‘I will go back to my place.’ He returns and sleeps again.

Then when he wakes up, he raises his head to find his riding animal standing besides him. So one can imagine the happiness that this brings to him. (The prophet continued by stating that) Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than the situation of happiness that this person experiences after he was saved from death.’

If you 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. His doors for accepting repentance are always open. So, repent.