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Friday Talks |
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Asking for forgiveness
Written by: Sk Abd-Razzag Taher Farih
Translated by: Dr. Faheem Bukhatwa
13 Shawal 1438.
07 July 2017.
Dearly beloved,
Allah says: { And those who, when they do an evil deed or wrong themselves, they remember Allah and appeal forgiveness for their sins - Who forgives sins except Allah alone? - and will not knowingly repeat (the wrong) they did.}3:135 .
Slave of Allah, Allah Has placed a lot of advantages and benefits in just asking for forgiveness, it includes those benefits: it wipes off sins and evil deeds. It provides forgiveness of sins if one does not insist on sinning. Allah says: {And yet whosoever does evil or does wrong against himself, then seeks pardon of Allah, will find Allah Forgiving, Merciful.} 4:110. The messenger ppbu said: {Allah says: O son of Adam, As long as you call me and beg me to pardon you of all that you have done; I will not mind. O son of Adam, if your sins piled up to reach the heavens then you asked My forgiveness, then I will forgive you and I don’t mind. O son of Adam, if you come up with as much as the earth of sins and evil deeds, then when you die you meet Me, associating no one else with me, then I would come to you with its equivalent forgiveness}.
If a slave refrains from committing a sin, and if he asks his God to forgive him then his heart shall be purified, and dirt is washed off him, and relieved of his stresses and troubles. The messenger ppbu said: {if a slave commits a sin a black dot is dropped into his heart. If he restrains from committing it; and if he asks forgiveness and if he repent then his heart is scrubbed and wiped}
Slave of Allah, asking for forgiveness is a gateway to increasing your provisions or income and gets you to a more comfortable living. Asking forgiveness also leads to a good enjoyment of worldly benefits, and Godly blessings. So whosoever feels his predefined earnings are slow to come then let them ask their God forgiveness for their sins. Prophet Noah ppbu was quoted saying in the Quran: {And I have said: Seek pardon of your Lord, for He was ever Forgiving. (10) He will send the heavens on to you in generous and plentiful rain, (11) And will supply you with wealth and sons, and will assign unto you Gardens and will assign unto you rivers. (12) } 71:10-12. Indeed, he who keeps up asking to be forgiven and to be pardoned then Allah will honor him/her with blessings in his/her lifetime, and by clearing off his/her distresses and solves his problems, and eases his stresses and hardship. The messenger ppbu said: {whosoever plentifully asks forgiveness and pardon, then Allah will relief every stress he has, and will ease every hardship he has, and will provide for him from where he least expects}.
You who have faith, remember that asking forgiveness was a habit of the prophets; despite their quite high status, and despite the protection from committing sin they had; and despite that they were the chosen and selected few by the Almighty, the Lord of the worlds. Their asking for forgiveness was a form of worship and closeness to Allah. It was also a form of thanks giving to Allah; and praise of Allah. Adam and his wife pbu asked for forgiveness as they said: {They both said: Our Lord! We have wronged ourselves. If you do not forgive us and if do not have mercy on us, then surely we are of the lost} 7: 23. And Noah said: {My Lord! Forgive me and my parents and him who enters my house believing, and all believing men and believing women,} 71:28. Moses also said: {He said: My Lord! forgive me and my brother; bring us into (or under) your mercy, for You are the Most Merciful of all who show mercy. } 7:151. Prophet David said: {And he sought forgiveness of his Lord, and he dropped bowing himself and repented.} 38:24. Prophet Suliman pbu said in his supplication: {He said: My Lord! Forgive me and bestow on me sovereignty such as shall not belong to anyone else after me. Lo! You are the Bestower.}38:35. The messenger ppbu said: {I ask Allah’s forgiveness a hundred times a day}.
Dear Muslim be sure to follow the habit of the prophet ppbu and seek forgiveness from Allah every morning and every evening. Be active and seek out the times when a prayer is most likely to be responded to. Especially; immediately after finishing one of the worships. Immediately after each of the fived daily prayers; the messenger ppbu used to aske Allah’s forgiveness three times. Also seek forgiveness a lot during Sahoor time (Just before Fajr prayer). Allah complimented the God fearing people in the Quran by saying: {They used to sleep very little of the night, (17) And at pre-dawn time they would seek forgiveness, (18)} 51:17-18.
Be certain to ask forgiveness when you finish chatting with others. The messenger ppbu said: {whoever chats with much talked about; then before he leaves the chat says: “Praise be to you dear Allah, and thanks be to you. I testify there is no God other than You, I ask your forgiveness and to You I repent”. If they say that then sins earned during that chat session are all forgiven}
You, slave of Allah, do plenty of asking your God for forgiveness. That is the toolkit for those who repent, and it is the refuge for those who are regretful for what they did; and it is a character of those who are God-fearing people.
O Allah, Lord of the worlds, We ask you forgiveness of your sins, Allah red us and free us from our evil deeds. Always, aid us be obedient to You and your messenger Muhammad ppbu.
I say this and I ask Allah’s forgiveness for you and I. Do as His forgiveness, He is the most Forgiving the most Merciful.
Second part:
All thanks be to Allah the Lord of the worlds.
Slaves of Allah, be God fearing; and remember the messenger ppbu taught us some forms of seeking forgiveness. Some of those is:
Abu-baker Seddique may God be pleased with him said to the messenger ppbu: Teach me a prayer I can use in my daily prayers. The messenger ppbu said: {Say: O Allah I have wronged my self a lot, No one forgives sin except You. Do grant me forgiveness from You, and put Your mercy on to me, You are the most Forgiving the most Merciful}.
The messenger ppbu was also reported saying: {The master of all prayers for seeking forgiveness is to say: “O Allah, You are my Lord, There’s no other God but You. You created me and I am Your servant. And I shall remain sincere to your covenant, pledge and promise; for as long as I can. I seek your support from the evil of what I have committed. I admit and acknowledge Your favor upon me, and I confess to you my sin; so do forgive me. No one forgives sin except You”. And whoever says it during the day; while having faith in it; and if he/she dies on that day before night time comes; then he/she is one of the people of paradise. And whoever says it at night; while having faith in it; and if he/she dies that night before morning comes then he/she is one of the people of paradise.}
I say all this and I ask Allah forgiveness for you and I and all Muslims from all sins. Ask Him for forgiveness, He is the most Forgiving, the most Merciful.
Notes:
Adhan - The call to prayer.
Ahmad (Ahmed)- Another name for the messenger Muhammad (PPBU).
Allah - The Arabic word for "god." It is often used as a name for God in Islam.
- The inhabitants of the city of Al-Medina that received and supported the messenger (PPBU) when he immigrated from Mekkah in the very early years of Islam.
Ansar (or Al-Ansar):
Assalam Alaikum - The Islamic greeting, literately means: Peace be with you. Used when approaching or leaving. When used during approaching it will be like saying: I bring no harm to you . and when said during leaving somebody it will mean: No harm will come to you after I leave.
- is a verse of the Koran. It also means a miracle or a sign from God.
Aya (or Ayah):
- is a mountain outside the city of Mecca that represents the climax of the Hajj worship. All doing Hajj must stay at this location on the same day.
Arafa (or Arafah or Arafat):
Badr - The place of the first significant battle between the Muslims and the pagans of the Quraish. It is located in Saudi Arabia.
Caliph - A Muslim ruler. See: (Khalifa)
Dajjal - Antichrist or the False Massiah.
Dawah - The proliferation of Islamic teachings through word and deed.
Deen (Din) - Religion or way of life.
- talking to Allah; praising him and asking him for help.
Duaa: a prayer in the form of
Fatwa - Legal verdict given based on the Qur'an (Koran) and the Sunnah which are the recorded sayings and deeds of Muhammad.
Ferdose: is the highest level of the all the gardens of Eden or paradise.
Fiqh - Religious law.
Hadeeth: is something reported that the messenger have said. It includes all the speeches and ceremonies he gave. It is usually narrated or told by one of his companions. There is a list of hadeeths approximately 14000 that are reported and checked to be genuine. No more hadeeths are acceptably added to this list.
Hajar - The Black Stone set into the corner of the Ka'aba in Mecca. It is said to be a stone from Heaven.
Hajj - The pilgrimage to Mecca which takes place in the last month of the Islamic calendar. One of the five pillars of Islam.
Hasana or hasanas: is the reward for a good deed. a hasana is a point or a merit for a good deed.
Hadith - The sayings and not deeds of the prophet Muhammad recorded by his followers. Considered authoritative and perfect.
Hajj: is the worship of pilgrimage.
Hijra (or Hejrah): the event of the immigration of the messenger from Mekkah to Madina. This event marks the start of the Islamic calendar. the Islamic calendar has 12 months based on the lunar cycle, each is 29.5 days. Hijra is also used as a name for the Islamic dating system.
Ibadah - Worship. All the words and deeds with which Allah is pleased. These deeds could be prayer and charity.
Iblis - (Ibleese): On of Satan's names.
Ibn (Ebn): the son of. Used by Arabs as part of an individual's name. Example: Ali whose father is Omar or the son of Omar, would be called: Ali Ibn Omar.
Imam (or Emam)- The leader for a prayer. In the Shiaa sect, an Imam is the individual who has the religious authority.
Iman: belief or faith
Injil (Enjeel) - The Bible. The book inspired to Jesus for the Christians.
Islam - Submission, the religion of all the prophets of Allah culminating in Muhammad.
Jannah - The heavenly garden, Paradise. The place of the faithful in the afterlife.
Jihad: is striving in the line of Allah in many forms. Includes a very wide scope varying from improving oneself to fighting a defensive war in protection of Allah's word. The greatest Jihad is the fight one's self against temptations. It also means "holy war."
Jinn - Supernatural, invisible beings race of beings, below angels. They were made from fire. Like humans, there amongst them are the faithful and the non beleivers and Jinn shall be judged on Judgment Day.
Ka'aba: A cube shaped building in Mecca containing a stone laid there by Abraham and Ishmael. Some say Ka'aba was first built by Adam, and some say by Abraham. It is the holiest place for Muslims. It is where all Muslims face in their daily prayers. Ka'aba also makes a major part of the pilgrimage in a ritual known as Tawaf.
Khalifa: is the Muslim ruler. Head of the Islamic empire. Exact translation: "Successor".
Khutbah - A sermon given in a Mosque, usually on Friday.
Kufr - Denial or Disbelief. A term Muslims use for anyone who denies existence of Allah or the prophecy of Muhammed.
Koran - Also spelled Qur'an. The holy book of Islam revealed to Muhammad by Allah through the Archangel Gabriel. Koran literally means "the recital." It is the final revelation of Allah given to the prophet Muhammad. It consists of 114 surahs (or chapters.)
Madinah - (Medinah): A city in the Arabian peninsula (in the country known now as Saudi Arabia). A city where the messenger had to immigrate to. Then it was called Yathrib.
Masjid - A center for Muslim activity. It is referred to as a mosque.
Masiah - A sin, or a sinful act
Mecca or Makkah: is the holiest city for Muslims. It contains the Ka'aba mosque with the famous black cubical shape. Mecca is the birth place of the messenger (PPBU).
Mosque - A Muslim house of worship.
Muhajir - (Muhajireen) Immigrant, one who leaves his home town due to lack of religious freedom. It was first used to describe early Muslims immigrating from Mecca to Median and Ethiopia.
Muhammad - the final messenger and prophet of God whose message abrogated all previous revelations. He received the Koran through the angel Gabriel over a 23 year period. Born in Mecca and died in Medina at the age of 63. His full name: Muhammad ibn Abd-Allah
Muslim - One who holds faith to the religion of Islam.
- Nafilah: a voluntary prayer other than the five obligatory prayers; performed at any time.
Nasara - Christians. Nasrani: A Christian individual. Nasraniah: Christianity.
Ommah: is the Arabic word for a nation. It usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise specified.
Paradise - Another word for heaven. A garden of bliss, fruits, rivers and all forms of pleasures imaginable and imaginable. No suffering, disease or death. Service is provided by angels. All live in it an ever lasting youthful life. Promised by Almighty Allah to all faithful, true Jews, true Christians and True Muslims. Paradise is one of two places every person will go to, either Paradise or Hellfire.
- PPBU (P.B.U.H.) : Peace and Prayers Be Upon him. A statement Muslims use any time they mention the name of the messenger or make a reference to him.
Qadar - Fate. Preordainment is the teaching that all things, good and bad, are preordained to occur.
- Qadr - (night of Qadr): The night when the first revelation of the Koran took place. Most likely it happened during one of the last ten nights of the month of Ramadan. Or when the Koran was brought down to the nearest heaven in one go, and from there it was brought down in bits and few verses at a time over a period of 23 years. This night is considered the holiest night for Muslims with tremendous advantages.
Qibla - The direction which Muslims turn for daily prayers, towards Mecca.
Quraish - An ancient Arab tribe to which the messenger Muhammad belonged.
Ramadan - The ninth month of the Islamic calendar which is the month of the fast. The holiest month in the Muslim colander.
Salat - Prayers. Generally it covers all forms of worship, but more specifically refers to the Muslim rituals which is performed to worship Allah five times daily.
Shiaa: A sect of Islam that teaches that a religion leader (Imam) should be the political ruler and must be direct descendants of the messenger (PPBU). Therefore, disapproving of all Muslim leaders who ruled After the messenger (PPBU) except Ali, the messenger's grandson.
Shirk - Associating another god with Allah. Or associating anyone or anything with Allah. Or using anyone or anything as a medium to Allah. The opposite of Monotheism or Tawheed.
Siam or Soam- Fasting
Sunni: is a the title of those Muslims who are suppose to be following the life style of the messenger. This differentiates them from the Shiaa of Iran.
Sunna (Sunnah): Is how the Messenger PPBU lived, what he did or said. It includes the way he dressed, ate, drank, prayed, interacted with other people and fought. Basically, sunnah is the life style of the messenger PPBU. It is considered the second source of legislation in Islamic laws and it is considered to be an important reference to be used for concluding arguments and disputes. It is also a title give to the main stream Muslims who make 90% if all Muslims.
Surah - A chapter of the Koran.
Tawaf: part of the pilgrimage (Hajj) ritual. It involves walking round the Ka'aba Mosque in anti-clock wise direction a number of seven circles.
Tauhid - Tawheed - Monotheism, in Islam is the teaching that there is only one God who alone is worthy of worship. The first requirement of becoming a Muslim. It is included in the testimony of faith for new Muslims when declaring that God is one: (No God but Allah)
Taqwah - Proper fear and veneration of Allah. A divine spark that enables the person to understand God.
Taurat: The old Testaments and scriptures of Mosa.
Ummah - the word means: a Nation. Usually refers to the Islamic nation unless otherwise stated.
Umrah - (Amrah): A mini hajj. A Minor form of pilgrimage to Mecca. Unlike Hajj which can only be done on the 12th month of the Islamic year, Umrah can be performed at any time.
Wathoo (wadoo): a washing up ritual done by Muslims before each of the five daily prayers known as ablution.
Zaboor - The Psalms
Zakat - The third pillar of Islam. Alms giving, charity that is given to the poor.
