36. FORGIVENESS-SEEKING AND REPENTANCE

God says

. ….Verily. God loves those who turn unto Him in repentance …. Q.2: 222

And vie with one another to attain to your Sustainer`s forgiveness and to a paradise as vast as the heavens and the earth, which has been readied for the God-conscious who spend [in His way] in time of plenty and in time of hardship, and hold in check their anger, and pardon their fellow-men because God loves the doers of good; -- Q.3: 133,134

...and who, when they have committed a shameful deed or have [otherwise] sinned against themselves, remember God and pray that their sins be forgiven – for who but God could forgive sins? – and do not knowingly persist in doing whatever [wrong] they may have done. These it is who shall have as their reward forgiveness from their Sustainer, and gardens through which running water flow, therein to abide: and how excellent a reward a reward for those who labour! -- Q.3: 135,136

…. O our Sustainer! Forgive us, then, our sins, and efface our bad deeds; and let us die the death of the truly virtuous! -- Q.3: 193

Forgiveness-seeking, Istighfar, is for commissions and omissions whether specific or general. Repentance, Taubah, is turning away from a sin committed that can recur. (Al-Hads)


Prophet said

1. “He who seeks forgiveness is not a confirmed sinner”– H: Tirmizi, Abu Daud.
N: Abu Bakr Siddiq.

2. “One who is repentant of his sins is like one who has committed no sins” – H: Ibn Majah and Baihaqi. N: Abdullah-b-Masud.

3. “Indeed God loves a believing servant tried (by sin) but greatly repentant”–
H: Ahmed and Baihaqi. N: Ali.

35. ANIMALS & OUR DUTY

God says

…Yet most human beings are unaware of this* -- although there is no beast that walks on earth and no bird that flies on its two wings but [forms part of] communities like yourselves: no single thing have We neglected in Our decree. … *I.e., that God manifests himself always, as verse 38 points out, through the ever-recurring miracle of His creation.- Q.6: 37,38

Art thou not aware that it is God whose limitless glory all [creatures] that are in the heavens and on earth extol, even the birds as they spread out their wings? Each [of them] knows indeed how to pray unto Him and glorify Him; and God has full knowledge of all that they do. -- Q.24: 41

And unto David We granted Solomon [as a son – and] how excellent a servant [of Ours he grew up to be]! Behold, he would always turn unto Us -- [and even] when, at the close of the day, nobly-bred, swift-footed steeds were brought before him, he would say, “Verily, I have come to love the love of all that is good because I bear my Sustainer in mind!” – [repeating these words as the steeds raced away,] until they were hidden by the veil [of distance – when he would command], “Bring them to me!” – and would [lovingly] stroke their legs and their necks. -- Q.38: 30-33

[The truly virtuous are they] who give food- however great be their own want of It -- unto the needy, and the orphan, and the captive.* -- Q 76: 7,8
*Applies also to animals dependent on man.


Prophet said

1. “Don’t cut short the forelocks of horses’ main or their tails, because the tail keeps off the flies and as for the main, it keeps them warm..” – H: Abu Daud. N: Otbah-b-Abd as-Solami.

2. The Messenger of God passed by a camel whose back reached its belly. He said, “Fear God about these animals. Ride them (while they are) healthy and leave them (while they are still) healthy”– H: Abu Daud. N: Sahl-b-al-Hanzalia.

3. “A woman of questionable character passed by a dog who was panting hard near a well, almost dying of hunger. She took off her socks, tied those with her head cloth and (thus) drew water from the well for the dog. For that she was forgiven (of her sins).”-- H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

4. The Messenger of God prohibited that animals should be set to fight each other – Tirmizi and Abu Daud. N: Ibn Abbas.

A word before we proceed
Careful observation of several topics, that have gone by on “duties for others”, would have shown that all of us lapse in the fulfillment of our duties. This is beside those sins that are due to our failings towards God and to our souls. Before we leave this world, we must get rid of sins clinging to us as they will be our worst enemy in the Hereafter. And no one knows when one is going to leave. It will be too late at the point of death says the Quran. Situation is grave, but the beauty of Islam is that a believer is asked never to loose hope. To the sinner who truly repents and turns to God sincerely seeking forgiveness, He says “O you servants of Mine who have transgressed against your own selves! Despair not of God’s mercy : behold, God forgives all sins-- for, verily, He alone is much-forgiving, a most gracious!” (39 : 53)Hence, from next Friday, inshaAallah, topic begins about “Forgiveness-seeking and Repentance.” Let us take to heart, the way shown by God and His Apostle. Remember that we have to act first, always.

34. DUTY TOWARDS EVERYONE

God says

…and speak kindly to mankind, … Q.2: 83

A kind word and the veiling of another’s want is better than a charitable deed followed by hurt, … Q.2: 263

O you who have attained to faith! Do not deprive your charitable deeds of all worth by stressing your own benevolence and hurting [the feelings of the needy], as does he who spends his wealth only to be seen and praised by men, and believes not in God and the Last Day. …. Q.2: 264

If, however, (the debtor) is in straitened circumstances, (grant him) a delay until a time of ease; and it would be for your own good – if you but knew it – to remit (the debt entirely) by way of charity.... Q.2: 280

Behold, God bids you to deliver all that you have been entrusted with unto those who are entitled thereto, and whenever you judge between people, to judge with justice. … Q.4: 58

God does not like any evil to be mentioned openly, unless it be by him who has been wronged* (thereby) …. Q.4: 148
*It also implies that behavior which affects the society as a whole may be made public if the interest of the wronged party -- in this case, the society as such -- demand it.


Prophet said

1. “The creation is the family of God. So dearest of the creation of God is he who is best (in conduct) with His family.”-- H: Baihaqi. N: Abdullah and Anas
What could be better service to the family of man than to introduce the words of God and His Messenger to them. Get all, relatives, friends (even non-Muslim) interested, in this Friday Post that you are reading. You will have your reward, inshaAllah, because: “Whoever rallies to a good cause becomes a partner therein;” (Q.4: 85).

2. “God said: There are three (types of men) whose adversary I shall be on the Day of Resurrection: a man who has given a word by Me and has broken it; a man who has sold a free man and consumed the price; and a man who hired a workman, got his complete work done by him and did not give him the wage” – Hadis Qudsi: Bukhari, Ibn Majah, and Ahmad. N: Abu Hurairah

33. DUTY TOWARDS MUSLIMS

God says

When you are greeted with a greeting [of peace] answer with an even better greeting, or [at least] with the like thereof. -- Q.4: 86

Help one another in furthering virtue and God-consciousness, and do not help one another in furthering evil and enmity; and remain conscious of God …. Q.5: 2

If two groups of believers fall fighting,* make peace between them; but then, if one of the two (groups) goes on acting wrongfully towards the other, fight** against the one that act wrongfully until it reverts to God`s commandment; and if they revert, make peace between with justice and deal equitably (with them), for, verily, God loves those who act equitably! -- Q.49: 9
*The expression “fighting” comprises in this context all modes of discord and contention, both in word and deed. ** We may have to fight and put down evil -- never in a sprit of malice and hatred, but always in a sprit of justice and righteousness.


Prophet said

1. “Help your brother whether an oppressed or an oppressor.’ When asked how the oppressor? The Prophet replied, ”Prevent him from oppression’ – H: Bukhari and Muslim. N: Anas

2. “Duties of a Muslim toward another Muslim are five: to return greetings, to visit the sick, to follow the funeral, to accept invitation, and to respond to one who sneezes” – H: Bukhari. N: Abu Huraira.

3. “Whoever forsakes his brother (Muslim) for a year is like one who sheds his blood” – H: Abu Daud. N: Abu Kherash -as-Solami

4. “Every Muslim’s blood, property and honour are sacred to a Muslim” – H: Muslim. N: Abu Hurairah.

5. “Remove nuisance* from the path of a Muslim” – H: Muslim. N: Abu Barzata.*
This could be social, spiritual or financial.