Namaz-e-tawbah (Isteghfar)

Messenger of Allah (s) emerged from his house on Sunday the 2nd of Zilqad and said: O people! Who among you intends to perform Tawbah? 

The people replied: All of us would like to do Tawbah. 

The Messenger of Allah (s) said: Perform the Ghusl (bath) and Wuzu (ablution) and recite four rakats prayer. In each rakat after Surah Hamd recite Surah Tawheed thrice and Surah Falaq and Surah Naas once each and after the prayer do Isteghfar and then say: Laa hawla wa laa quwwata illa billaahil a'liyyil a'zeem. Then say: Yaa A'zeezo yaa ghaffooro ighfirli zunoobi wa zunooba Jamee'il mo-mineena wal mo-minaate. Fa innahu laa yaghfiro illa ant.

 

And the Holy Prophet (s.) said: No servant of my Ummat performs this prayer that a caller does not call out from the sky: O slave of Allah! This deed has been elevated and your repentance (Tawbah) has been accepted and your sins are forgiven. An angel will call out beneath the heavens: O slave of Allah! Congratulations to you and your family members. 

An angel would call out: Your enemy would be satisfied with you on the day of Judgment. Another angel would call out: O slave of Allah! You would leave this world with faith. You would not be arrested. Your grave shall be expansive and illuminated. 

Another angel would call out: O slave of Allah! Your parents are happy with you though they were dissatisfied with you before. Your parents and your descendants shall get salvation and there shall be increase in the livelihood in the world and the hereafter. 

Hazrat Jibraeel (a.s.) would call out: At the time of death I would come with the Angel of death and would be kind to you and you shall not have any problem. Your body would not be pained at the time the soul is taken out.

 

The people asked: O Messenger of Allah (s.), how should one perform this if one desires to perform it in any other month? The Prophet (s.) replied: In the same way with the merits. And said: Jibraeel has taught me these words on the night of ascension (Shab-e-Me'raj).(Ref;dua.org)

Pray to Allah for forgiveness

A man complained to Al-Hasan (a.s) about a drought, and he said to him: “Pray to Allah for forgiveness.” Astaghfirullah rabbi wa atubu 'ilayh

Another man complained to him of poverty and he said to him: “Pray to Allah to forgive you.”

Another man said to him: “Pray to Allah to bless me with a child.” He said: “Pray to Allah for forgiveness.”

Another complained to him that his garden was dry. He said to him: “Pray to Allah for forgiveness.”

He was asked about it and he said: “This is not my personal opinion, for Allah says in Surah Nooh (interpretation of the meaning): ‘Ask forgiveness from your Lord, verily, He is oft forgiving; He will send rain to you in abundance. And give you increase in wealth and children, and bestow on you gardens and bestow on you rivers.” Tafseer Al-Qurtubi (18/301-302

Sins Blacken the Heart

The first tradition is reported from Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.): He said,
"There is no man who does not have a white spot in his heart. When he commits a sin a black spot emerges from this spot. If he repents, the blackness goes away but if he sinks in sin and continues to sin the blackness keeps on increasing till it surrounds the whiteness of the heart completely. When the white spot is totally covered by the blackness, the owner of this heart will never revert towards goodness. This tradition is in consonance with the utterance of Allah:
"By no means! But on their hearts is the stain of the (ill) which they do."
(Surah Mutaffefeen 83:14)

The Blackened Heart is Immune to Advice and Counsel

The people with the 'blackened heart' are totally unaffected by any counsel because their sins have caused the darkness to spread all over their heart. The loss of the inner eye prevents them from perceiving truths nor can they recognise the truth when they see it. They cannot accept any exhortation and revert to the path of virtue. It is in this connection that Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) explains:
"A man resolves to perform a sinful action but does not act upon it, but sometimes does commit it; Allah sees him and says: "By My Glory, after this I shall never forgive you."

According to another report, the person (sinner) is kept away from the Mercy of Allah due to his sin. He also does not get the impetus to seek repentance, hence his sin is never forgiven. Allama Majlisi (r.a.) writes in the explanatory note of the above tradition: "The purport of this tradition of Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq (a.s.) is that, the Imam has commanded us to fear all types of sins because every sin seems to be such that it may not qualify being overlooked. 

- Greater Sins, Vol.1

Greater sins and smaller sins

Abstaining From the Greater Sins Cause the Lesser Sins to be Overlooked

If one avoids the Greater Sins, the Lesser sins shall be overlooked. Allah, the Almighty, by His grace, excuses the Lesser sins. As it is mentioned in the following verse of the Holy Qur'an
"If you shun the Greater Sins which you are forbidden, We will do away with your smaller sins and cause you to enter an honourable place of entering."
(Surah Nisa 4: 31)

The Gates of Paradise are Open for the Pious

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) is reported to have said,
"I swear by Allah, in Whose power is my life, there is not a single person who prays five times a day, fasts during the month of Ramadhan and abstains from sins that the gates of Paradise will not be opened for him."
After this he recited the Qur'anic verse quoted above.
(Tafseer Minhaajus Saadeqeen)

Intercession

A person who commits a Greater Sin and does not repent for it, is a transgressor. Namaz is not allowed behind him (he cannot lead a prayer assembly). His testimony is unacceptable. After death, he is liable for Divine punishment. By the Grace of Allah such a person may yet get salvation; and the Grace of Allah that can make this possible is the intercession of Muhammad (s.a.w.s.) and his Progeny (a.s.).

As the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) says in one of his traditions:
"My intercession has been kept for the sinful among my followers."
(Behaarul Anwaar vol.3).

He (s.a.w.s.) also said,
"My intercession is specially for the sinful ones among my followers. But those who abstain from the Greater Sins, for them there is no accounting (of deeds)."

That is, they would be admitted to Paradise right away. 

Intercession Should not Prompt one to Commit Sins

There is hardly any doubt regarding the reality of Shafa'at (intercession). Actually it is the right bestowed upon the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.s.) and the purified Imams (a.s.), by Allah, to show their greatness and position. The other aim of intercession is to make their respect evident. The people who have committed Greater Sins shall be entrusted to them. By the grace of their intercession the sinful people will be able to ascend the heights like other groups of people. All this is evident from the Holy Qur'an and the authentic reports. It is also clear from Mutawatir (most frequently related) traditions. It would be needless to relate all such traditions for such a short discussion.

Only one point must be stressed at this stage. Intercession should not be taken as a license for committing sins nor should it make one heedless of repentance. 

Suicide in the Hope of Salvation

To sin and not to repent in the hope of intercession is akin to consuming poison or putting ones hand in the snake's mouth with the hope that a doctor would arrive and cure you. It is against logic, because after consuming poison it cannot be taken for granted that medical assistance would be available. Even if a doctor and medicines arrive on time it is still difficult to say that life would be saved. Before the medicine could have any effect the poison may spread to the whole body and death may occur.

In the same way, one who performs lewd actions in the hope that he would be interceded after death; cannot be sure that intercession will come to the rescue immediately. 

- Greater Sins, Vol.1

Leakage of the Heart

These days I have been listening to a series of lectures based on the topic of how to become an excellent teacher of Quran. Surprisingly I have learned things which I had not even expected. For example, the concept that external problems or hurdles are not the real obstacle in the way of success . Rather it is our sins which have the most damaging effect on our lives.


This reminded me of the countless times I have told others that I could not do such and such thing or could not complete the target I had in mind because of this problem or that hurdle. Sometimes blaming people, other times crying over health problems, always a string of excuses which are nothing more than that excuses! Because If I had truly wanted to do something and sincerely asked Allah (SWT), then why would he not let me do things which I want to do only for his sake? Surely there must be something wrong inside my own self?

I remember a few years ago I had gone to visit my parents. The next morning there was no water in the taps ... very strange! Because the night before they had got the water tank refilled ... so where did those gallons of water disappear? Plumbers were called and they began digging to find the leakage ... the whole house was in an uproar, with people coming in and out ... nothing else could be done because everything depends on water. Finally the broken pipe was discovered and repaired, the tank was filled again and life restored back to normal.

But when the same story happens with our tank of faith and knowledge; it never becomes an issue of concern. We fill our hearts and minds with the knowledge of Quran and Hadith ... but the next day when we face any situation and open the tap, nothing comes out ... no patience, no gratitude, no kindness with others ... where did all the faith and knowledge go? No body is worried ... no one tries to find the leakage of the heart ...

But we must realize that just as life stops if there is no water, similarly the soul dies if there is no faith ... our very survival depends on it ... so if the faith and knowledge is not coming out in deeds then it means that there is some serious leakage problem.

For me it remained a mystery for many years but Alhamdulillah (All praise is due to Allah), I just found out that every sin for which we do not feel guilty nor do Taubah (Seeking Forgiveness) nor correct it ... then it creates a crack in our heart from where faith keeps dripping out and we don't even realize it.

So whenever we feel lack of motivation, lack of energy, then immediately we should pray to Allah (SWT) to show us where we went wrong and then honestly and sincerely ask Allah (SWT) for forgiveness. So as to mend the crack and ensure that our tank of faith remains full.

May Allah protect us from our self conceit and give us insight with which we might realize our mistakes and correct our ways. Because no one else can do it for us. Each one of us has to be responsible for his own life.

Moral of the Will Power Story: Knowledge and actions are the two arms of Islam. Just as a bird cannot fly without two wings the Messenger of Allah, Muhammad (saw) has said: Knowledge without action is a curse and action without knowledge is deviation.

O Allah Hide my Sins ..!

It was narrated that in the days that Prophet Musa (as) wandered with Bani Israeel in the desert, an intense drought befell them. Together, they raised their hands towards the heavens praying for the blessed rain to come. Then, to the astonishment of Prophet Musa (as) and all those watching, the few scattered clouds that were in the sky vanished, the heat poured down, and the drought intensified.

It was revealed to Prophet Musa that there was a sinner amongst the tribe of Bani Israeel who had disobeyed Allah (swt) for more than forty years of his life.
“Let him separate himself from the congregation,” Allah (swt) told Musa (as). “Only then shall I shower you all with rain.”

Nabi Musa (as) then called out to the throngs of humanity, “There is a person amongst us who has disobeyed Allah for forty years. Let him separate himself from the congregation and only then shall we be rescued from the drought.”

That man waited, looking left and right, hoping that someone else would step forward, but no one did. Sweat poured forth from his brow and he knew that he was the one. The man knew that if he stayed amongst the congregation all would die of thirst and that if he stepped forward he would be humiliated for all eternity.

He raised his hands with a sincerity he had never known before, with humility he had never tasted, and as tears poured down on both cheeks he said, “O Allah, have mercy on me! O Allah, hide my sins! O Allah, forgive me!”

As Nabi Musa (as) and the people of Bani Israeel waited for the sinner to step forward, the clouds hugged the sky and the rain poured. Musa (as) asked Allah (swt), “O Allah, you blessed us with rain even though the sinner did not come forward.”

And Allah (swt) replied, “O Musa, it is for the repentance of that very person that I blessed all of Bani Israeel with water.”

Prophet Musa (as), wanting to know who this blessed man was, asked, “Show him to me O Allah!”

Allah (swt) replied, “O Musa, I hid his sins for forty years, do you think that after his repentance I shall expose him?”

“O God, cause me to fear You as if I were seeing You; give me felicity through piety toward You; make me not wretched by disobedience toward You; choose the best for me by Your decree and bless me by Your determination, that I may love not the hastening of what You have delayed, nor the delaying of what You have hastened.  O God, appoint for me sufficiency in my soul, certainty in my heart, sincerity in my action, light in my eyes, and insight in my religion.” (From Dua of Arafaat by Imam Hussein (as)

SHA’BAAN - The great spiritual blessing

The Holy Prophet said Sha’baan is my month”.
Imam Ali bin Husayn Al Zaynul Aabideen (A.S.) told his companions: “The Holy Prophet (Saww) used to observe fast during the whole month of Sha’baan. Therefore whosoever, in love of the Holy Prophet (S.A.), wishes to seek nearness to Allah and receive bounties, favours and rewards in this world and in the Hereafter, must connect Sha'baan with Ramadhan (in the matter of fasting and special prayers). 1) It is highly desirable to observe fast on 1st, 2nd and 3rd of Sha’baan, &  Pray a 2 Rak-a’t Namaaz every night  In every Rak-a’t, after the recitation of Soorah Al Faatih’ah, recite Soorah Al Ikhlaas 11 times.. 2) Give Alms/Charity  in HIS name “What are the best deeds that should be done in Sha`ban.” The Imam (a.s) answered, “Alms giving and seeking forgiveness are the best deeds in Sha`ban. Verily, if anyone of you gives alms in Sha`ban, Almighty Allah will breed that alms in the very same way as you breed your small camels. Hence, this alms will be as huge as Mount Uhud on the Resurrection Day.” (use www.Eternal-Investment.org )
3) Recite 70 times daily: ASTAGHFIRULLAAHALLAD’EE LAA ILAAHA ILLA HUWAR RAHMANO RAH’EEMUL H’AYYUL QAYYOOMU WA ATOOBU ILAYHI According to narrations, the best supplications and invocations that are advisably recited in Sha`baan are the prayers of seeking forgiveness of Almighty Allah (swt) (i.e. istighfar). Hence, to seek Almighty Allah’s (swt) forgiveness seventy times a day in Sha`baan is equal to seeking His forgiveness seventy Thousand times a day in the other months 4) Recite the following 1000 times, whenever the count reaches 1000, at any time within the month, the a’mal is complete: LAA ILAAHA ILLALLAAHU  WA LAA NAA’-BUDU ILLAA IYYAAHU MUKHLIS’EENA LAHUD DEEN WA LAW KARIHAL MUSHRIKOON
5) On every Thursday Fasting is recommended & Recite 2 Rak-a’t Namaaz. In every Rak-a’t, after the recitation of Soorah Al Fatih’a, recite Soorah Al Ikhlaas 100 times. After the Salaam recite Salawaat 100 times  اللّهُمَّ صَلِّ عَلَى مُحَمَّدٍ وَآلِ مُحَمَّدٍ In this respect, a Hadith reads that the heavens decorate themselves each Thursday in Sha`ban and the angels pray Almighty Allah, saying, “O our God: (please do) forgive him who observes fasting on this day and respond to his prayers.” The Holy Prophet (saww) is also reported as saying, “If one observe fasting each Monday and Thursday in Sha`baan, Almighty Allah will settle forty of his needs— twenty appertained to the worldly life and twenty to the Hereafter.” 6) Recite the Special Salawaat taught by Imam Ali bin Husayn Al Zaynul Aabideen (A.S.)  7) Recite Munajat e Shabaniyah with presence of heart.

Why Forgive others during the Month of Holy Ramadhan?

Holy Prophet Muhammad (saw) said: Musa (as), the son of Imran once asked, "Oh my Lord! Who is the most honourable of Your servants? And He replied, the person who forgives even when he is in a position of power."

Imam Jafar Sadiq (as) said: "Whoever wishes that Allah (SWT) may favor him with His blessings and accommodate him in Paradise should refine his morals, behave justly with the people, take pity on orphans, help weak and the helpless and be humble before Allah who has created him."

You know what I'm referring to - those times when you get into an arguments with a family member, friend, boss, employee, coworker, classmate, teacher or whoever. You know your facts are right or that you've been wronged with an insulting remark, sarcastic comment or rudeness.
And so, you choose to hold a grudge. After all, you've got a right to. Nobody should be treated this way. Why should you forgive? You're not the one who started this. You're not the one who doesn't have the facts straight.

True. You may be right. You may be in that position of power mentioned in the Hadith above. But forgiving others, apart from positively affecting our health (less stress) and our minds (one less negative thing to focus on), is a necessary step to closeness to Allah (SWT).

How can we move up the ladder of spiritual development when we hold bitterness and anger towards another person? While we may have been in the right, is it worth sacrificing our energy on a grudge instead of on growth?

Is there not something strange about asking for God's forgiveness of our sins while withholding our forgiveness from someone who has hurt us?

We cannot expect for Allah's forgiveness unless we also forgive those who do wrong to us. Forgiving each other, even forgiving one's enemies is one of the most important Islamic teachings. Allah (SWT) says in Holy Quran: And those who shun the great sins and indecencies, and whenever they are angry they forgive. (al-Shura 42:37)

One of the distinguishing features of Ramadhan is forgiveness. Holy Prophet Muhammad (saww) explained in one Hadith:
"Ramadhan is a month whose beginning is Mercy, whose middle is Forgiveness and whose end is freedom from the Hellfire".

This makes it a great time to ask Allah (SWT) for His Forgiveness. It's also a wonderful time to open our hearts and cleanse them of grudges and bitterness by forgiving others. Let us use these remaining days of forgiveness this Ramadhan to open our hearts to those who have wronged us and forgive them as we beg Allah (SWT) to forgive us. Please forgive me; if I have wronged you in anyway!

Click 'Yes' to Save the Changes

Nearly everyone in this age of modern technology has at some stage worked with a P.C. We have used it to draft documents, amend these documents, copied and pasted onto documents, used the 'undo' icon, edited documents, just to mention a few of the time saving operations that we find on this device.

After opening a document that we have worked upon previously and made the necessary changes and improvements a little box appears on the screen asking the question: Do you want to save the changes you have made to this document? You are then given the option of selecting the YES tab or the NO tab. Selecting the YES tab will give you the desired results while selecting the NO tab literally takes you back to square one. All the effort made in editing, improving and shaping the document becomes an exercise in futility.

Don't we all find ourselves in a similar predicament when the blessed month of Ramadaan passes us? Just think of your book of deeds like a document on your P.C. During the month of Ramadaan we have done amongst other things the following: Increased our ibaadah and acts of charity; Taken control of our feelings and emotion; Responded with compassion and sensitivity to the needs of other; Multiplied our good deeds.

At the same time we have spent many hours on the Musallah begging for Allah's forgiveness for our sins, errors and transgressions.

The vital question that needs to be asked is : Do we want to save the changes that we have made in the month of Ramadaan? Are we going to press the YES tab or the No tab? Pressing the YES tab will leave us with a new, improved version. A version of heightened spirituality, a version of righteousness, a version that is pleasing to our Creator. Pressing the NO tab will take us back to square one; back to our old habits before Ramadaan, back to the life of sin and immorality, back to a life of heedlessness and back to a life subjecting ourselves to the wrath of the Almighty.

How do we improve on this document; the document of our lives, the document of our deeds, the document that we are going to present to Allah the Almighty on the Day of Reckoning. Here are some hints: Copy and Paste from the life of our illustrious master Muhammad (Sallallahu alayhi wa Aalihi wasallam).

Use the 'undo' icon by making taubah immediately after any transgression as the Hadith states "The one who repents from sin is like one who has committed no sin at all"

There may not be a need to do a "spell check" but there is certainly a need to do a "sincerity check" and a "shari'ah check" Are we complying?

There may be files and folders that we want to keep while there could be some others we would not even want others to know exist. Many of us begged Allah to "delete" our sins and dark deeds. We cried before Allah, shed tears of remorse and vowed not to commit those sins in future. Going back to the sins that we have asked Allah's forgiveness for would be like making a visit to the "recycle bin".

What about viruses? P.C. users are also very wary about e-mails they receive and the sites that they visit, fearing the admission of a virus that may pollute their system and cause it to malfunction.

Why do we then subject our minds and thoughts to immoral sites and dens of vice which would pollute our moral system and cause us to malfunction? What anti-virus software have we installed to ward off the variety of fitnahs that confront us everyday?

Fortunate is the person who has saved the changes. Even more unfortunate is the person who has made no changes as he/she has nothing to save.