Seerat Shahina
Jan. 21,2021
Significance of Repentance (Tawba)
Repentance (Tawba) is the Islamic concept of repenting to God due to performing any sins and misdeeds. A major theme of the Quran is mentioned over seventy times and an entire surah (9) has been titled as At-Tawba. Usually, it is interpreted as turning toward God, asking forgiveness, and being forgiven. Repentance and forgiveness are a direct matter between the individual and Allah, requiring no intercession. Repentance signifies a sincere effort to no longer oppose the Divine Lord in one's feelings, thoughts, intentions, and acts, and to comply earnestly with His commands and abstaining from what has been prohibited.
O ye who believe! Turn to Allah with sincere repentance: In the hope that your Lord will remove from you your ills and admit you to Gardens beneath which Rivers flow, - the Day that Allah will not permit to be humiliated the Prophet and those who believe with him. (66:8)
After Repentance whatever may have been the faults of the past, may be transformed in good deeds. Allah will remove difficulties and distresses, and all the evils from which one suffers. Indeed, He will grant the Bliss of Heaven and save from any disgrace which may have been brought on oneself by his conduct. The darkness of evil will be dispelled, and the enlightenment from Allah will be realized more and more. The essence of tawba is to return to Allah and to adhere to what He loves and renounce that which He dislikes. Tawba is a journey from the 'disliked’ to the 'liked'.
Repentance with all its external transformations like giving up sin, performing what he had missed in the past, and not returning to it again; all these indicate an eternal behavior which starts to grow in man's self and which extends out in the form of behavioral correctness and perfect human manners.
The Holy Qur'an has always taken a firm stance against the act of disobedience and the door of repentance and forgiveness are open for everyone.
“... and turn to Allah all of you, O believers, so that you
may be successful.” (24:31)
Repentance is a turning point of behavior, an ideological alternation and a change which occurs in the life of an individual or a group. Thus, it cannot be achieved in the life of an individual unless other main elements like self-confrontation, self-control and self-sacrifice are also practiced. Self-confrontation involves recognizing that a sin has been committed and that repentance is needed. Also, experiencing sorrow or remorse, making confession, and suffering the consequences of having broken the moral law are involved. Self-control requires forsaking the sin and developing a pattern of self-regulation that is incorporated into a new and morally benevolent lifestyle. Self-sacrifice seems more difficult because of deficiencies in understanding of repentance and in one`s ability to implement. It is the power which limits the situation; takes a decision after achieving the right conclusion and ideological lucidity.
In cases of sin against another person, if one violated the rights of others then together with Tawba, compensation for the transgression becomes necessary.
On the Farewell Pilgrimage Nabi (Muhammad sallallahu alaihi wasallam) said
" O mankind, your blood, wealth and honor are Haram upon each other". (Bukhari)
Many people believe that Shayṭan is beguiling human beings into error and sin. Shayṭan is therefore, the counter to the concept of humanity. The individual dimension of repentance, have also tied individual actions to larger issues of public morality, ethics, and social reform as public expiation for sins.
The messengers of God (PBUT) have, throughout history, been calling humanity back to God. It is always possible for a sinner to repent and redeem himself by a genuine conversion to the truth. Because our salvation in the Hereafter depends on our repentance to Allah.
Surely God loves those who turn much (to Him), and He loves those who purify themselves. (2:222)
“Just as you have taken returning to sins as a habit, then also take returning to Tawba as a habit, because through Tawba you expiate your past sins, and it is very possible that you may have the fortune to die while in a state of Tawba”. (Hojatolislam Imam Ghazali)
Istighfar, meaning seeking forgiveness, is mentioned in the Qur'an in two ways: either by itself or coupled with Tawba (repentance)
"And seek forgiveness of Allah, for Allah is Forgiving, Merciful." (2:199)
Ask forgiveness of your Lord. Indeed, He is ever a Perpetual Forgiver. (71:10)
Istighfar means asking for forgiveness and safety from the evil and harm of what has occurred, or before its occurring. Tawba means returning to Allah and begging for safety from the evil of what one fears in future. Tawba is the determination not to do it again. A complete return to Allah includes and necessitates both of these: Istighfar as well as Tawba.
Repent as soon as possible. The door of repentance is open and the horizons of mercy are very wide for those if they wake up, and wish to return to the life of purity and righteousness.