Repentance

36. Khutba Tawbah part one

اَلْحَمْدُ للهِ كَسَّرَ بِالْمَوْتِ اَعْنَاقَ الْجَبَابِرَةِ وَ جَعَلَ الْمَوْتَ تُحْفَةً لِلْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ وَ مَخْلَصًا لِلْمُتَّقِيْنَ وَ بَلَاءً لِلْفَاجِرِيْنَ وَالْفَاسِقِيْنَ ـ

وَالصَّلَاةُ عَلٰى مُحَمَّدٍ وَ اٰلِهِ وَ صَحْبِهِ اَجْمَعِيْنَ وَ تَسْلِيْمًا كَثِيْرًا كَثِيْرًا

وَاَشْهَدُ اَنْ لَا اِلٰهَ اِلَّا اللهُ وَاَشْهَدُ اَنَّ مُحَمَّدًا عَبْدُهُ وَ رَسُوْلُهُ

اَمَّا بَعْدُ

فَأَعُوْذُ بِاللهِ مِنَ الشَيْطَانِ الرَّجِيمِ

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمَانِ الرَّحِيْمِ

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1) Surah Zumar

 V.10 Say, "O My servants who have believed, fear your Lord. For those who do good in this world is good, and the earth that belongs to Allah is spacious. The patient will be given their reward without account."

It is not just enough to believe the person has to fear Allah (the Exalted). Enough, that he refrains from sins and repents if he sins. The earth is vast indicates that if people are suffering extreme hardship then they can move to a place where they can be safe. As well as the promise that those who are patient will get a reward that does not cease. Patience  is hard but the reward is great.

V.11 Say, indeed, I have been commanded to worship Allah sincerely for Him in the religion.

The servants are commanded to say that there were ordered to worship Allah (the Exalted) sincerely.

V.12 And I have been commanded to be among the first of the Muslims."

First of the Muslims meaning those who superseded the remainder of the companions or those who accepted Islam in the early period.

V.13 Say, "Indeed I fear, if I should disobey my Lord, the punishment of a tremendous Day."

Another command to fear Allah so one does not commit sin because the day of judgement will be when its been counted. We cannot hide on that day.

V.14 Say, "Allah [alone] do I worship, sincere to Him in my religion,

Sincerity is one of the great matters of the religion. It is disregarded by most people who are very insincere and thus their actions are mere ostentation. Without the core of sincerity that should be present.

V.15 So if worship other than Him." Say, "Indeed, the losers are the ones who will lose themselves and their families on the Day of Resurrection. Unquestionably, that is the manifest loss."

Only those who worship Allah (the Exalted) have truly lost a great deal because there is no greater loss than loss in the afterlife. That loss is permanent and forever, what we do here affects how we are treated in the world. Parents are responsible to bring their children up as good Muslims and if they do not do this then they are sinful. If the parents disbelief and the children believe then the parents will have no benefit from their children. Then what can someone expect on the day of judgment except destruction.

V.16 They will have canopies of fire above them and below them, canopies. By that Allah threatens His servants. O My servants, then fear Me.

This passage describes hell for disbelievers. They are totally surrounded by fire above them and below like being in a burning house. How fearful would a person be in a house that is burning? He would be sacred and he would be fearful of death. Except a person in hell does not die and remains like this forever.

V.17 But those who have avoided Taghut (satan) and if they worshipped it,  repented to Allah - for them are glad tidings. So give glad tidings to My servants

Those who avoided satan and did not worship it and if they did repented to Allah (the Exalted). They will have glad tidings and the servants of Allah (the Exalted) should be  joyous. Never be hopeless in Allah (the Exalted) always be hopeful.

V.18 Who listen to speech and follow the best of it. Those are the ones Allah has guided, and those are people of understanding.

So those who avoided worshipping satan and then followed the best of what they hear, are those who are truly guided. The best speech is the Quran then hadith of the Messenger of Allah (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) and so forth. When someone hears the Quran where there is goodness and follows it does the person become blessed.

V.19 Then who is more deserving of the word of punishment? Can you save one who is in the Fire?

Disbelievers who are destined to remain in hell forever cannot be saved. Bad Muslims will enter hell for a period of time and then be taken out. This is by the intercession of the noble Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) that is specifically for believers. There is no help or support for disbelievers on the day of judgement.

V.20 But those who have feared their Lord - for them are chambers, above them chambers built high, beneath which rivers flow. [This is] the promise of Allah . Allah does not fail in [His] promise.

This is an interesting juxtaposition to the description of the fire before. As they were surrounded by fire and now the people of paradise have chambers above them and rivers flowing before them. What a difference a small movement in a heart makes from disbelief to belief. The promise of Allah (the Exalted) is true and this cannot be changed. When Allah (the Exalted) has made a statement such as this then only the foolish would disagree.

V.21 Do you not see that Allah sends down rain from the sky and makes it flow as springs [and rivers] in the earth; then He produces thereby crops of varying colours; then they dry and you see them turned yellow; then He makes them [scattered] debris. Indeed in that is a reminder for those of understanding.

Within this passage are the many signs that someone can witness in their surroundings. The water is one type but the fruits are many. These and other points of this passage need to be pondered over.

V.22 So is one whose breast Allah has expanded with Islam and he is upon a light from his Lord. Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against the remembrance of Allah. Those are in manifest error.

The breast meaning heart is expanded when light enters it then Islam enters and he follows guidance. This expansion cmes from an opening when dhikr is made because those who do not make dhikr are punished with a harsh heart. Thereafter they become clearly misguided because they have rejected guidance.

V.23 Allah has sent down the best statement: a consistent Book wherein is reiteration. The skins shiver are those who fear their Lord; then their skins and their hearts relax at the remembrance of Allah. That is the guidance of Allah by which He guides whom He wills. And one whom Allah leaves astray - for him there is no guide.

This passage affirms that the Quran is the best speech  in which there is affirmation of some passages with others.  The reason for the affirmation and repetition is because no one will read the Quran at once in its entirety. So important points are reiterated or the same matter is explained in a different manner.

V.24 Who will shield with his face the worst of the punishment on the Day of Resurrection? And it will be said to the wrongdoers, "Taste what you used to earn."

Oppressors will be repaid all the punishment they gave to innocent people. How one treats people in the world so they will be treated on the day of judgement.

V.25 Those before them denied, and punishment came upon them from where they did not perceive.

Often oppressors are so stepped in their sins that they cannot imagine being punished but the punishment is due on them. It will reach them in this life or the next but one cannot get away with it. Usually the punishment comes from an unexpected source.

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2) Surah Ghafir

V.1 Ha, Meem.

V.2 The revelation of the Book is from Allah , the Exalted in Might, the Knowing.

Ha min, affirming that the book (the Quran) came from Allah (the Exalted).

V.3 The forgiver of sin, acceptor of repentance, severe in punishment, owner of abundance. There is no deity except Him; to Him is the destination.

Allah (the Exalted) is the forgiver of sin, accepts repentance; so the sinful should always have hope in being forgiven. Yet for those who do not repent there is severe punishment.

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3) Surah Nisa V.64

And We did not send any messenger except to be obeyed by permission of Allah . And if, when they wronged themselves, they had come to you, [O Muhammad], and asked forgiveness of Allah and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah Accepting of repentance and Merciful.

Prophets and Messengers are meant to be obeyed by the permission of Allah (the Exalted). This verse is also asking believers to come to the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings be upon him) to ask him to pray to Allah (the Exalted) so they are forgiven. This is one of the proofs of tawassul. Where Allah (the Exalted) tells believers to come to him and for him to pray for forgiveness to the believers. After the passing of the Prophet (may Allah bestow peace and blessings upon him) muslims would come to the grave and seek repentance.

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4) Surah Baqarah V.54

And [recall] when Moses said to his people, "O my people, indeed you have wronged yourselves by worshipping the calf. So repent to your Creator and kill yourselves. That is best for [all of] you in the sight of your Creator." Then He accepted your repentance; indeed, He is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

This was an instance when the people of Musa (upon him peace) disobeyed him. So Allah (the Exalted) ordered them to repent by killing themselves because of the magnitude of the sin because of all the manifest signs that they had experienced. They were saved from the pharoih and the red sea split and so forth. Yet despite all this did they look for an idol to worship. This was a very grave sin but Islam has aboragated this. It does not apply to Muslims now.

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5) Surah Baqarah V.37

Then Adam received from his Lord [some] words, and He accepted his return. Indeed, it is He who is the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

We do not interept this verse to mean that  Adam (upon him peace) sinned then repented. Rather we say that Adam returned to Allah (the Exalted) and there was no sin because what was written occurred.

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6) Surah Baqarah V.128

Our Lord, and make us Muslims [in submission] to You and from our descendants a Muslim nation [in submission] to You. And show us our rites and accept our repentance. Indeed, You are the Accepting of repentance, the Merciful.

This is part of the dua given to Adam (upon him peace) which was manifest by the community of Muslims.

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7) Surah Isra V.25

Your Lord knows best of what is within yourselves. If you should are righteous, He forgives those who constantly turn to him.

No one can fool Allah and he is a fool if he thinks he can! Allah (the Exalted) know well the contents of the heart that repents and whether it is sincere or not.

1) عَنْ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه و سلم فِيمَا يَرْوِيهِ عَنْ رَبِّهِ تَبَارَكَ وَتَعَالَى، أَنَّهُ قَالَ: "يَا عِبَادِي: إنِّي حَرَّمْت الظُّلْمَ عَلَى نَفْسِي، وَجَعَلْته بَيْنَكُمْ مُحَرَّمًا؛ فَلَا تَظَالَمُوا. يَا عِبَادِي! كُلُّكُمْ ضَالٌّ إلَّا مَنْ هَدَيْته، فَاسْتَهْدُونِي أَهْدِكُمْ. يَا عِبَادِي! كُلُّكُمْ جَائِعٌ إلَّا مَنْ أَطْعَمْته، فَاسْتَطْعِمُونِي أُطْعِمْكُمْ. يَا عِبَادِي! كُلُّكُمْ عَارٍ إلَّا مَنْ كَسَوْته، فَاسْتَكْسُونِي أَكْسُكُمْ. يَا عِبَادِي! إنَّكُمْ تُخْطِئُونَ بِاللَّيْلِ وَالنَّهَارِ، وَأَنَا أَغْفِرُ الذُّنُوبَ جَمِيعًا؛ فَاسْتَغْفِرُونِي أَغْفِرْ لَكُمْ. يَا عِبَادِي! إنَّكُمْ لَنْ تَبْلُغُوا ضُرِّي فَتَضُرُّونِي، وَلَنْ تَبْلُغُوا نَفْعِي فَتَنْفَعُونِي. يَا عِبَادِي! لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَتْقَى قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ، مَا زَادَ ذَلِكَ فِي مُلْكِي شَيْئًا. يَا عِبَادِي! لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ كَانُوا عَلَى أَفْجَرِ قَلْبِ رَجُلٍ وَاحِدٍ مِنْكُمْ، مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِنْ مُلْكِي شَيْئًا. يَا عِبَادِي! لَوْ أَنَّ أَوَّلَكُمْ وَآخِرَكُمْ وَإِنْسَكُمْ وَجِنَّكُمْ قَامُوا فِي صَعِيدٍ وَاحِدٍ، فَسَأَلُونِي، فَأَعْطَيْت كُلَّ وَاحِدٍ مَسْأَلَته، مَا نَقَصَ ذَلِكَ مِمَّا عِنْدِي إلَّا كَمَا يَنْقُصُ الْمِخْيَطُ إذَا أُدْخِلَ الْبَحْرَ. يَا عِبَادِي! إنَّمَا هِيَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ أُحْصِيهَا لَكُمْ، ثُمَّ أُوَفِّيكُمْ إيَّاهَا؛ فَمَنْ وَجَدَ خَيْرًا فَلْيَحْمَدْ اللَّهَ، وَمَنْ وَجَدَ غَيْرَ ذَلِكَ فَلَا يَلُومَن إلَّا نَفْسَهُ

1) O My servants! I have forbidden oppression for Myself, and I have made it forbidden amongst you, so do not oppress one another. O My servants, all of you are astray except those whom I have guided, so seek guidance from Me and I shall guide you. O My servants, all of of you are hungry except those whom I have fed, so seek food from Me and I shall feed you. O My servants, all of you are naked except those whom I have clothed, so seek clothing from Me and I shall clothe you. O My servants, you commit sins by day and by night, and I forgive all sins, so seek forgiveness from Me and I shall forgive you. O My servants, you will not attain harming Me so as to harm Me, and you will not attain benefiting Me so as to benefit Me. O My servants, if the first of you and the last of you, and the humans of you and the jinn of you, were all as pious as the most pious heart of any individual amongst you, then this would not increase My Kingdom an iota. O My servants, if the first of you and the last of you, and the humans of you and the jinn of you, were all as wicked as the most wicked heart of any individual amongst you, then this would not decrease My Kingdom an iota. O My servants, if the first of you and the last of you, and the humans of you and the jinn of you, were all to stand together in one place and ask of Me, and I were to give everyone what he requested, then that would not decrease what I Possess, except what is decreased of the ocean when a needle is dipped into it. O My servants, it is but your deeds that I account for you, and then recompense you for. So he who finds good, let him praise Allah, and he who finds other than that, let him blame no one but himself.”

This hadith highlights many things but most of all it underlines that whatever we have it is from Allah (the Exalted) and He accepts repentance.

2) اللَّهُ أَفْرَحُ بِتَوْبَةِ عَبْدِهِ مِنْ أَحَدِكُمْ سَقَطَ عَلَى بَعِيرِهِ، وَقَدْ أَضَلَّهُ فِي أَرْضِ فَلاَةٍ

 وفى رواية لمسلم‏:‏ لله أشد فرحا بتوبة عبده حين يتوب إليه من أحدكم كان على راحلته بأرض فلاة، فانفلتت منه وعليها طعامه وشرابه فأيس منها، فأتى شجرة فاضطجع في ظلها، وقد أيس من راحلته، فبينما هو كذلك إذا هو بها، قائمة عنده ، فأخذ بخطامها ثم قال من شدة الفرح‏:‏ اللهم أنت عبدي وأنا ربك، أخطأ من شدة الفرح‏"‏‏.‏

2) Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than anyone of you is pleased with finding his camel which he had lost in the desert.

In another version of Muslim, he said: "Verily, Allah is more pleased with the repentance of His slave than a person who has his camel in a waterless desert carrying his provision of food and drink and it is lost. He, having lost all hopes (to get that back), lies down in shade and is disappointed about his camel; when all of a sudden he finds that camel standing before him. He takes hold of its reins and then out of boundless joy blurts out: 'O Allah, You are my slave and I am Your Rubb'. He commits this mistake out of extreme joy".

Always be hopeful of forgiveness and never be without hope.