|
Question:
Dear Sheikh, As-Salamu `alaykum. I am currently undergoing a spiritual change and I have discovered a closeness to Allah. I am reading the Qur’an and I have stopped my past destructive behavior. There is one problem: I feel that because of the sins I have committed in my past through so much ignorance, I will be punished by Allah in the Hereafter. This fear haunts me everyday. What must I do? Jazakum Allah khayran.
Name of Counselor: Sheikh Ahmad Kutty
Answer:
Wa `alaykum As-Salamu wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuh.
In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
All praise and thanks are due to Allah, and peace and blessings be upon His Messenger.
Your question is indicative of your remorse and sorrow for your past sins. The fact that you feel sorry for your past sins and you have embarked on a path of repentance is indeed a most happy sign. You should know that Islam is a religion of hope; it teaches us that Allah is All-Compassionate and All-Merciful. Allah has declared that His mercy is waiting to embrace those sinners who have decided to repent, no matter how ugly their sins are. Allah, the Most Exalted and Glorious, says: [Do they not know that it is Allah Who accepts the repentance of His servants and receives (approves) their charity, and that Allah is the Relenting, the Compassionate](At-Tawbah 9: 104)
[Say: ‘O My servants who wronged against their souls, do not despair of Allah’s mercy! For Allah forgives all sins; for He is indeed Forgiving, Compassionate’] (Az-Zumar 39:53).
Thus if you are guilty of sins involving the rights of Allah, then ask forgiveness of Allah by doing the following: First, feel deeply remorseful for your sins; second, refrain from the sins and all their associations and leads; third, resolve firmly in your mind never to sin again; and finally, be occupied in whatever good works you can do to expiate for your past sins.
All of the above involve sins involving the rights of Allah. If, however, your sins involve the rights of human beings, then you must also do whatever it takes to return, compensate or redress the grievances of the person or persons you have wronged by paying them their dues or compensating them in whatever ways possible.
Having done this, it is important for you in your present condition to focus on the future and dwell on the mercy of Allah rather than living in the past. It is equally important for you to recognize the fact that just as Satan led you astray from the straight path by prompting you to sin in the past, he is now actively working to dissuade you from repentance by making you think all bad thoughts about Allah. The snares and traps of Satan are indeed most beguiling and subtle. Allah says: [O Children of Adam! Let not the Devil seduce you as he caused your (first two) parents to leave the Garden] (Al-A`raf 7:27).
Satan is therefore diligently working to pull you away from the straight path. So you must be on guard against him. He is now playing the card of fear of Allah to make you perish. Remember the Deceiver plays different cards with different types of people; with the sinners he uses the card of divine mercy; with the penitent he uses the card of fear of divine wrath.
So never allow yourself to be beguiled and trapped by Satan and his troops. Try to remain steadfast in repentance, be assured of divine mercy and forgiveness, and be consistent in istighfar (seeking Allah’s forgiveness) and asking Allah to make you remain on the path of repentance:
Here are a few Prophetic supplications you should use on a regular basis:
Allahumma anta rabbi, la ilaha illa anta. Khalaqtani wa ana `abduka, wa ana `ala `ahdika wa wa`dika ma astata`tu. A`udhu bika min sharri ma sana `tu. Abu’u laka bi ni`matika `alayya wa abu’u bi dhanbi, fa ighfir li, fa innahu la yaghfiru adh-dhunuba illa anta.
(O Allah! You are my Lord, there is no god but You. You created me and I am Your servant, I stand by my covenant and promise with You according to the best of my ability. I seek refuge in You from the evils of my own actions. I acknowledge Your favors upon me, I confess my sins to You, so forgive me, for none can forgive sins except You.)
Allahumma inni as’aluka ath-thabata fi al-amri wa al-`azimata `ala ar-rushdi; wa as’aluka shukra ni`matika wa husna `ibadatika; wa as’aluka qalban saliman wa lisanan sadiqan; wa as’aluka min khayri ma ta`lamu; wa a`udhu bika min sharri ma ta`lamu; wa astaghfiruka lima ta`lamu; innaka anta `allamu al-ghuyub.
(O Allah! I ask you to grant me steadfastness and consistency in all my affairs; make me resolute on the path of rectitude; I beseech You to inspire me to be grateful for Your favors, to worship You well; I beseech You to grant me a pure heart and a truthful tongue; I beg You for all the goodness that You know of; and I seek refuge in You from all the evils that You know of; I ask forgiveness of You from all that You know of; verily, You are the Knower of all the secrets and hidden mysteries.)
Allah Almighty knows best.
|
