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Seeking Forgiveness

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Seeking Forgiveness
bhaloo
07/29/03 at 01:12:33
[slm]


al-Istighfaar (Seeking Forgiveness)
Imam Ibn Taymiyyah
Majmu' al-Fatawaa 10/88-90

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The Messenger of Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, said:

"The master of invocations for forgiveness is that the servant says:

'Allăhumma 'anta rabbee, lă 'ilăha 'illă 'anta, khalaqtanee, wa 'ană
`abduka, wa 'ană `ală `ahdika wa wa`dika mastata`tu, 'a`outhu bika min
sharri ma sana`tu, 'aboo'u laka bini`matika 'alayya, wa 'aboo'u bithambee,
faghfirlee fa'innahu lă yaghfiru 'aththunooba 'illă 'anta.

O' my 'ilăh You are my Lord, there is no 'ilăh but You. You created me, and
I am your bondservant, and I will stick to my covenant and promise [of faithand sincere obedience] to You, as to my ability. I seek refuge in You from
the evil of what I have done, I acknowledge, to You, your bounties upon me,
and I acknowledge, to You, my sin. Thus forgive me, for none forgives sins
except You.

Whoever says this as he enters upon evening, then, dies that night, he would
enter Paradise; and if one says this as he enters upon morning, then, dies
that day, he would enter Paradise". [Al-Bukhari]

The servant is always in the blessings of Allah, which necessitate
thankfulness, and in sinfulness, which requires seeking forgiveness. Both of
these matters are required and essential for the servant at all times, as
the servant does not cease to alternate between Allaah's (various) favors
and blessings, and does not cease to be in need of repentance and seeking
forgiveness.

This is why the Master of the Children of Adam, and the Leader of the Pious,
Muhammad, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam sought forgiveness in all
circumstances. He said in an authentic hadeeth reported by al-Bukhari:

"O people, repent to your Lord, for verily I seek forgiveness from Allah and
repent to him more than seventy times in a day."

It is reported in Saheeh Muslim that he said: "I seek forgiveness one
hundred times in a day." [Muslim]

`Abdullah ibn `Umar said: We counted in a single sitting the Messenger of
Allah, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, saying one hundred times:

"Rabbi-ghfir-lee wa tub `alayya innaka anta-t-tawwabu-l-ghafoor."

[My Lord, forgive me and accept my repentance, verily you are Acceptor of
Repentance, Oft-Forgiving.] [Ahmad, Abu Dawood, Ibn Maajah]

This is why seeking forgiveness was legislated at the end of actions. Allah
the Exalted said:

"Those who seek forgiveness before dawn (at late night)." [Aal `Imraan(3):17]

Some of them said: "Give life to your nights by performing Prayer, and when
the time of late night comes, concern yourself with seeking forgiveness."

It is related in the Saheeh that the Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam,
when he finished his Prayer, he would
seek forgiveness three times and say:

"Allăhumma 'antas-salamu, wa minkas-salămu, tabărakta yă thaljalăli wal
'ikrămi."

[O' my 'ilăh You are 'As-Salăm [One free from flaws], and from You comes
Salăm [peace, or safety], blessed are Thee O' haver of glory and kindness.]
[Muslim]

Allah says:

"And seek forgiveness of Allah. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving and Merciful."
[al-Muzammil (73):20]

(Even) After the Prophet conveyed the Message, fought in the path of Allah
with true jihad, and performed what Allah ordered more than anyone else,
Allah commanded his Prophet (to perform istighfar), as He the Exalted said

"When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest, and you see the people
entering into the religion of Allah in multitudes, then exalt [Him] with
praise of your Lord and ask forgiveness of Him. Indeed, He is ever Accepting
of repentance." [An-Nasr (110):1-3]

This is why the Deen is established with Tawheed and Istighfaar, as Allah
the Exalted said:

"Alif Lam Ra. [This is] a Book whose verses are perfected an then presented
in detail from [one who is] Wise and Acquainted. [Through a messenger,saying], "Do not worship except Allah. Indeed, I am to you from Him a warner
and a bringer of good tidings," and [saying], "Seek forgiveness of your Lord
and repent to Him, [and] He will let you enjoy a good provision."
[Hood(11):1-3]

And Allah says:

"So take a straight course to Him and seek His forgiveness."[Fussilat(41):6].

And He says:

"So know [O Muhammad], that there is no deity except Allah and ask
forgiveness for your sin and for the believing men and believing women."
[Muhammad (47):19]

This is why it was it came in a narration: "The Shaytan said: People are
destroyed with sins, and they destroy me with 'Laa ilaha ill Allah' and
seeking forgiveness." [Reported by Ibn Abi Asim and Abu Ya`la, but its chain
is a fabrication].

Yoonus, `alayhis salam, said:

"There is no deity except You; exalted are You. Indeed, I have been of the
wrongdoers."
[al-Anbiyaa' (21):87]

The Prophet, sallallahu `alaihi wa sallam, when he would ride his mount, he
would praise Allah, then say Allahu Akbar three times, then say:

"Lă 'ilăha 'illa 'anta subhănaka, thalamtu nafsee, faghfirlee."

[I testify that there is no 'ilah except You, Glorified are You, I have
transgressed upon myself, so forgive me] [Abu Dawood and at-Tirmidhi, who
said it is hasan saheeh]

Expiation of a gathering with which the gathering is completed is (the
supplication):

"Subhănaka 'allăhumma wa bihamdika, 'ash-hadu 'an lă 'ilăha 'illa 'anta,
'astaghfiruka wa 'atoobu 'ilayka."

[Glorified are You O' my 'ilăh and I am in Your praise, I testify that there
is no 'ilah except You, I ask Your forgiveness and repent unto You.] [Abu
Dawood and At-Tirmidhee, who said it is hasansaheeh]

Allah knows best, and may His blessings and peace be upon [the Prophet]
Muhammad.
Re: Seeking Forgiveness
timbuktu
07/29/03 at 04:10:42
[slm]

jazakallah brother

is it possible fo you to modify your post to add the arabic as well.

& i have been asking a  question, to which i have yet to obtain a satisfactory reply:

How does one get the love of Allah (swt) in the heart?
NS
07/29/03 at 04:13:06
timbuktu
Re: Seeking Forgiveness
se7en
08/10/03 at 00:31:14
as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah,

[quote]How does one get the love of Allah (SubHana Wa Ta`ala) in the heart? [/quote]

Our imam talked about this at a halaqa a few Fridays ago.  He said that the level of a qalb's attachment to Allah is dependent upon its level of *detachment* from other than Him (whether that be material things, people, ideas, philosophies, etc.)

Our hearts output goes through channels, and if there are many channels, the output is spread out to many recipients and is weak.  But if all of the channels are cut except one, then the output of the heart towards that one open channel is strong and complete.  So, we should strive to cut off all channels, connections, and attachments in our hearts except one - that one that attaches our hearts to Allah.  All our relationships to people and things should be through Him and subsumed by Him.. so that the total output of our quloob - love, attachment, connection, is solely to Allah, azza wa jal.  

And in so doing, our hearts will acquire the deepest, truest, and most meaningful type of happiness.  
 
Any other attachments that reside in our hearts are highway robbers on our journey to Allah, and they drown our quloob in confusion and delusion and submerges them in the murkiness of doubt and dhunoob.

He went on to say that the 'freedom of self' we pride ourselves in is actually the freedom of slaves.. and the only true freedom, true liberation, is liberation *from* the lower self, freedom of the heart from any and all worldly attachments, and sole attachment to Allah, azza wa jal.

w'Allahu a'lam.

may Allah turn our hearts towards Him, and nurture within us love and attachment to Him.  Ameen

wasalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah :-)
08/10/03 at 02:08:39
se7en
Re: Seeking Forgiveness
BrKhalid
08/10/03 at 02:34:48
Asalaamu Alaikum ;-)

[quote]But if all of the channels are cut except one, then the output of the heart towards that one open channel is strong and complete[/quote]

Sounds like an excellent reason not to get cable to me ;)


But seriously just look at the advice above in the context of Ramadhan when we tend to switch these other channels and focus on just one.


Of course part of the problem is actually trying to identify what these other channels are in this first place but that's a completely different thread! ;-)


Jazakhallah for sharing Sr se7en.




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