How to repent to Allah

Salaam everyone and welcome back to the fourth and last article of Topic 1 of our Chemical Bonding series: How to repent to Allah? 

Why have we chosen this topic? 

We as humans are not sinless; many of us tend to look at other people’s actions and even their intentions without considering how we are imperfect ourselves. No matter what type of your relationship/bonding with Allah is, we are all prone to error, and with Istighfar (forgiveness) and Tawbah (repentance), our relationship with Him strengthens.

Do you regret something you are currently doing?

Something you did or said recently or ages ago over worldly matters?

Is it recurring?

Was it intentional or unintentional?

Is it playing upon your mind and heart with high beats?

Keep playing the tune.

Why?

This is a sign of growth and accountability of our actions where it then proceeds with controlling our nafs (self) and thinking of how to repent.
Repentance begins with the heart spiritually followed by outward actions. We need to make the intention from the chambers of our hearts, not just the atria or ventricles, both.

The ability to have yaqeen (certainty) in Allah’s control in all matters and to live with contentment and gratitude can naturally shake or vibrate every time we are faced with a trial or calamity. This is an indication that you may have a misunderstanding of what yaqeen is which is then followed by weakening of the iman (faith).

The beauty of the error(s) or trial is we return to Allah (The Most High) and we seek His forgiveness and His help. However, one may consider:

‘you don’t understand, the sin I did was so bad it is unimaginable’

No matter how BIG or SMALL.
He is always willing to forgive.

Amongst the names of Allah is ‘Al-Ghafoor’ and ‘Al-Raheem’ which translates to Most Forgiving and Most Merciful. The term ‘Most’ emphasises there is a high degree that Allah will forgive you.

Allah (Most High) says in the Quran:
“Say, ‘O My servants who have transgressed against themselves [by sinning], do not despair of the mercy of Allah. Indeed, Allah forgives all sins. Indeed, it is He who is the Forgiving, the Merciful.’ ” 
[Quran, 39:53]

It was narrated that Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
"I heard the Prophet (peace be upon him) say: ‘A person committed a sin and said: "My Lord, I have sinned; forgive me". His Lord said: "Is My slave acknowledging that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for them? I have forgiven My slave". Then as much time passed as Allah (The Most High) willed, then he committed a sin and said: "My Lord, I have sinned; forgive me". His Lord said: "Is My slave acknowledging that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for them? I have forgiven My slave". Then as much time passed as Allah (The Most High) willed, then he committed a sin and said: "My Lord, I have sinned; forgive me". His Lord said: "Is My slave acknowledging that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for them? I have forgiven My slave", – three-time" 
[Al-Bukhari and Muslim]

However, amongst the issues we have as humanity is we wait for the opportunity to seek repentance rather than doing it immediately or hastily. 

For instance, we wait for Ramadan to come each year to seek the Night of Power.

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) says:
“Whoever prays during the night of Qadr with faith and hoping for its reward will have all of his previous sins forgiven.” [Bukhari and Muslim]

One should reflect and ask what is the probability that you will be present at the time?

Repentance has no start but it does have an end.
What I mean by this sentence is that we can start seeking repentance at any time, however when we are on our deathbed and when the sun rises from the west, there is no more forgiveness as stated by the two hadiths below:

Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said:
“Whoever repents before the sun rises from the west, Allah will forgive him.”
[Muslim]

Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Allah accepts a slave’s repentance as long as the latter is not on his deathbed (that is before the soul of the dying person reaches the throat)”.
[Al-Tirmidhi]

So do you want to take the risk?

No one is perfect and Allah alone is perfect and this short article serves as a reminder for us first and foremost before you. We aim to encourage each other and overlook the positive with the negative. It is like a battery cell; for a device to function you need to place the negative and positive side in their position.

However, you have some people that remind you of your errors, won’t forgive and mock you every time you try and make a BETTER version of YOU.

My response to anyone in this situation is to pick yourself up and move forward. Those who stay are meant to stay and those who go are meant to go. No one is supposed to be by your side forever, the most everlasting relationship is with Allah. This is the reason why the chemical bonding project initiated with Allah because it is Allah who created us. Everything we do, we do it for Allah. Allah is whom we return to every time there is a blessing or a calamity. Allah who forgives us. Allah who strengthens us. It is all Allah. 

So please re-wind and re-read the previous paragraph again and again until it adheres. 

At times, the actions and words of people can hurt and is unbearable, I admit that in some situations I forgive easily and in some cases, it takes time and I eventually do forgive.

Why?

It is better to forgive everyone in this world before the Hereafter where we are faced with either the eternal Jannah or the eternal Hell-fire. May Allah forgive and protect us.  It is better to forgive for your own peace of mind. 
​
 “And let not those of virtue among you and wealth swear not to give [aid] to their relatives and the needy and the emigrants for the cause of Allah, and let them pardon and overlook. Would you not like that Allah should forgive you? And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.”

[Quran 24:22] 

There are so many Dua (supplications) that we can say to seek forgiveness, here are some of them:

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"Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and efface our bad deeds and take our souls in the company of the righteous"
​ [Quran 3:193]

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Abu Hurairah narrated that Prophet (peace be upon him) said“Whoever says SubhanAllah wa bi hamdih (Praise and glory be to Allah) one hundred times, morning and evening, his sins will be erased even if they are like the Foam of the sea.” 
​[Al-Bukhari]

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"Our Lord! We have sinned against ourselves and unless You grant us forgiveness and bestow Your mercy upon us, we shall most certainly be lost. "[Quran: 7:23]

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"Oh, Allah! Forgive me all my sins, great and small, the first and the last, those that are apparent and those that are hidden"
[Muslim]

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"Our Lord! Forgive us our sins and the lack of moderation in our doings, and make firm our steps and succour us against those who deny the truth"
 [Quran 3:147]

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"I seek the forgiveness of Allah and repent to Him" [Bukhari, Muslim]

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"My Lord, forgive me and my parents and whoever enters my house a believer and the believing men and believing women. And do not increase the wrongdoers except in destruction."
[Quran, 71.28]

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"Oh, Allah! You are Forgiving and love forgiveness so forgive me"
[Al-Bukhari].
This dua is said in the Night of Power.

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"Our Lord! Forgive us, and our brethren who came before us into the Faith, and leave not, in our hearts, rancour (or sense of injury) against those who have believed. Our Lord! Thou art indeed Full of Kindness, Most Merciful"
[Quran, 59:10]

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Always remember Allah is the Al-Tawwab (Accepter of Repentence), please repent and follow it with a good deed to heal. We hope you enjoyed this topic, because we did alhamdulilah.

My husband, Najib will be covering the next Topic which is Relationship with father. Please find the schedule below: