“Glad tidings are for him who finds abundant invocations for forgiveness recorded in the book of his deeds.”{ibn majah}
We need to make a habit to always seek Allah’s forgiveness every day. Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wa Sallam is the best of all creatures and the most powerful man in history, but yet he sought forgiveness 70 to 100 times a day according to some narrations. So, even when you think you’ve not sinned it’s really important you inculcate that habit of seeking forgiveness for it comes with a lot of benefits both in this world and in the akhirah.
Abu Huraira reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “By Allah, I seek forgiveness from Allah and I repent to him more than seventy times in a day.”
{Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī }
Benefits of Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness
We learned from the Quran and Hadith that Allah gets very pleased when we leave all our wrongdoings, repent and revert to the straight path. But then we know It’s the nature of man to make mistake, but we need to make it a habit to rectify our mistakes for then we become amongst the best.
Rasulullah Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam said in a Hadith that “Every son of Adam sins and the best of those who sin are those who repent.”
{Narrated by al-Tirmidhi}
So, therefore, we would derive all these benefits from the Qur’an and Hadith
1. Repentance/Seeking Forgiveness Opens Doors to Success: Through repentance, Allah opens our doors he bestows his mercy upon us, grant us goodness in this world and the next, you become successful that you just can’t figure out how things are happening when you make it a habit to always seek for Allah’s forgiveness. Need proof? Here we go:
“…And beg Allah to forgive you all, O believers, that you may be successful. “__Quran (Surah An-Noor, Verse 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 (Surah Hud, Verse 3)
Allah also tells us in the Quran what Prophet Hud(AS) told his people:
“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, evil doers, etc)”__Quran (Surah Hud, Verse 52)
2. It pleases Allah: Now, we need to remind ourselves that turning to Allah in repentance greatly pleases Him because it is one of the most beloved acts of worship to Him. By joining the rank of those who repent, we also earn Allah’s love. Allah says in the Quran:
“…Truly, Allah loves those who turn unto Him in repentance and loves those who purify themselves”__Quran (Surah Al-Baqarah, Verse 222)
And the fact is that those who make a sincere Taubah (repentance) experience a particular happiness, which has a profound influence on one and the person’s heart.
3. It keeps us away from hardships and trials: 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 with a way out of our miseries and troubles of this life. Allah tells us in the Quran:
“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 (Surah At-Taubah, Verse 126)
Etiquette of Seeking Forgiveness
- Recognize and admit your sin.
- Repent sincerely.
- Be remorseful for the sin.
- Never go back to the sin.
Tauba Vs Istigfaar
Tauba: Means true repentance. And I could remember my ustadha said this is with regards to major sins, but then scholars are of the opinion that we should consider anything that displeases Allah as a major sin, and when you do this you become really conscious of your deeds.
Istigfaar: It’s generally a way of seeking forgiveness, for things we’ve done knowingly or unknowingly. It should be done every day, and she said it’s with regards to minors sins, it covers even those sins were not aware of.
So, Alhamdulillah. I hope this benefits someone, may Allah accept our repentance, and forgive our shortcomings. Ameen.
