Ask an Alim

Salam Alaikum,

We appreciate you being concerned about your relation with God. May Allah bless you.

Asking Forgiveness is a critical aspect of Islam as everybody makes mistakes in life and unintentionally commits sins. No believer would willingly want to earn the wrath of Allah s.w.t.
In Islam, it is very important to recognize the mistake or sin, improve it and seek forgiveness from Allah and also from other human beings if one has done any injustice to them. Allah gives us many chances to undo the wrong we have done towards Him. It is infact ourselves that we have been doing wrong to, by disregarding our worth that we as human beings have so much potential and could reach great heights of perfection if we obeyed the commands of Allah.
Getting rid of the sin committed will happen gradually so you should try all you can and never be despondent of Allahs mercy.
Remember, shaitan will always make you feel a sense of hopelessness towards Allah and stop you from seeking forgiveness, so never fall into this trap.
Try as much as possible to amend your mistakes and InshAllah there will come a time that you will have forgotten to even think about your sin because of true and sincere repentance.

The Holy Qur’an says about seeking forgiveness:

• “And hasten to forgiveness from your Lord, and a Garden the extensiveness of which is the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who guard against evil.” (3:133)

Say: “O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls! Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful. (Zumar:53)

• “And whoever does evil, and oppresses his soul, then seeks forgiveness of Allah, he will find Allah to be Forgiving, Merciful.” (4:110)

• “Will they not turn to Allah and seek His forgiveness, and Allah is oft-forgiving, Merciful.” (5:74)

The following Hadith talk beautifully and eloquently on Istighfar (seeking forgiveness):

• Fortunate is the person who finds in his record of deeds a lot of seeking forgiveness.

Holy Prophet (S)

• The similitude of Istighfar is like the leaves on a tree. The tree is shaken, and the leaves fall off.

Imam Ridha (a)

• Fragrance yourselves with Istighfar so the stench of sins does not disturb you.

Imam Ali (a)

• Seek forgiveness abundantly, for Allah has not taught you how to seek forgiveness except because He wishes to forgive you.

Imam Baqir (a)

• (It has been narrated) from Abu Ja’far(a)  having said: ‘O Muhammad Bin Muslim! The sins of the Momin when he repents from these, are Forgiven for him, so let the Momin do (good deeds) to what he can resume after the repentance and the Forgiveness. But, by Allah swt ! It is not for anyone except for the people of Emān’.

I said, ‘Supposing if he repeats after the repentance and the Forgiveness from the sins, and repeats in the repentance?’ So he(a) said: ‘O Muhammad Bin Muslim! Do you see that Momin servant regretting upon his sin and seeking Forgiveness from it and repenting, then Allah swt does not Accept his repentance?’

I said, ‘Supposing he does that repeatedly, sinning then repenting and seeking Forgiveness of Allah swt ?’ So he (a) said: ‘Every time the Momin repeats with the seeking of the Forgiveness and the repentance, Allah swt Repeats upon him with the Forgiveness, and that Allah swt is Most-Forgiving, the Merciful. He swt Accepts the repentance and Forgives the evil deeds. So the Momineen should beware from despairing from the Mercy of Allah swt ’.

Try working on one of the ahadith or Quranic Ayat and keep begging to Allah to wipe away any thought of sinning.
Also remember, Allah helps those who help themselves so never stop struggling to refrain from sinning.

Regards
Salma Alavi